Outdoor grill experts ?

[Micca]

DMIL is buying us a new grill for our anniversary She is not in any condition to go shopping for one, so I am picking it out. I don't know the first thing about this The grill we have now is a cheap charcoal grill that has been with us through most of our 30 years of marriage

We don't need a super duper "all the bells and whistles" grill, and I think we should stay in the under $200 range(if that's possible).
Any advice would be appreciated. Any particular type/brand/model you enjoy owning?

Thanks in advance

 

[amid chaos]

Charcoal or gas? I dont think you can go wrong with Webers...both the gas and charcoal.

 

[Micca]

I'd love opinions on which is better, charcoal or gas? I have no experience with gas Is it a hassle to deal with the propane? Expensive? Dangerous? As I said, I don't know the first thing about any of this(except that food cooked outdoors tastes good)

 

[amid chaos]

We used a Weber kettle charcoal grill for years and loved it.
Dh is in the restaurant business and works ALL the time. The kids and I are on our own during meal time.

The charcoal became a real hassle when I wanted to make 4 hot dogs or hanburgers so I got a gas grill. we have 2 propane tanks and always have a filled one so we never run out.

Make sure there is an easily accessible place to get your tanks filled. you dont want to be driving all over looking for an open place just before dinner..

On the Weber gas grills there is a funnel type thing underneath that funnels the grease to a pan. I have had this funnel type thing catch on fire if I dont keep it clean...something to look for when buying a grill. Even with this problem, I like the Webers...LOL

We just bought a new Weber gas grill that has a natural gas hook up...no more tanks for us, not that it has really been a problem.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Wow, Micca is on early here. I just mentioned to Pin Wizard she was on early. What's up with the DIS clock here? Now Amid, I know, she is an early bird!!

We have had 2 Weber gas (both natural) over the past 25 years. Had a Weber charcoal first few years. If you can access a natural line, it is easier, just no tanks, but cooking is the same for both gases, just a bit more concevient with the natural as Vanessa said above.

As for taste, the main taste of cooking on a grill comes from the dripping grease onto a hot surface, vaporizing and then permeating whatever is cooking. So from a taste aspect, there is virtually no difference (okay, to satify those who say there is, very little taste difference) between charcoal or gas, and gas is SOOOOO easy.

Here is Weber link, most Ace hardware, if you have in the area, and Home Depot for sure, have a big selection. You pay a bit more, but get what you pay for I think. http://www.weber.com/bbq/

Ours does not have the 'frills', like sideburners, things like that. Out model today would be the Genesi Gold B http://www.weber.com/bbq/pub/grill/feature.aspx?g=6240001&t=g . I think ours actually (about 8 or 9 years old now), is a Genesis 1000. Just the cooking in the middle and a work surface on either side.

Gessshh, how did I say THAT much at this early hour?? Enjoy.

Dan

 

[FroggyinArk]

loves to cook out dors,, i use several grills have a weber gas grill that i use if its a quickie,, and a brinkman grill king that takes 10 lbs of charcoal to heat up, the big chracoal is my favorite, it has really good air flow vrnts and a nice large cooking area, i hate itt when i have to cut a slab of ribs or brisket down to fit a grill the brinkmans are a wal mart brand, mine was around 180, the webers are universal, if you decfide to go gas,, try checking out your local propane dealers they ussually carry grills and cookers and assecories and can be a good info source.

 

[C.Ann]

I prefer a charcoal grill - had a VERY frightening experience with propane quite a few years ago and have never been able to get past it.. (We had a propane kitchen stove in our kitchen - in the mid-60's - and it blew up and sent my first DH flying across the room.. )

My old charcoal grill totally bit the dust a few years ago and I never replaced it because my days of having a ton of people here at the lake to cook for kind of faded into the sunset.. Well now it's getting to a point where I'm cooking quite a bit again - for DD, DH, their friends and my granddaughter (because I want to - not because I'm "expected" to) so I'm going to go out and purchase another charcoal grill.. It will be the basic square red one.. Course I could kick myself in the butt because Kmart had them for twenty bucks the week before last and I forgot to go and get one..

Best of luck with your decision! Barbecuing is so much fun!!

 

[crz4mm2]

Have had both. DH thinks charcoal tastes better (with some wood thrown in for smoking) and has a charcoal grill. dont' think we have used it in at least 2 years
We have a great gas grill on the back deck. It is propane. Use it regularly even through the winter. Nothing like turning the knob and being ready to cook (unlike waiting forever for charcoal to be ready!). I LOVE my gas grill. would never have anything else. I bought this last one at our local farm supply store (on sale) and it was $189. bucks. No side burners on this one (although we have had those in the past) as we never use those. Has plenty of surface area and I cooked about 18 hamburgers at the same time last weekend for mother's day. It also has a second "shelf" that you can do corn on the cob or warm things if you need to. I don't recall the brand name, but It does have a well made "grill" surface.
Good luck. Hope you find a nice one.
Oh, C-Ann. forgot to say, I blew the lid off my first weber gas grill... Had the lid still on when I lit the match. DH drove in just to see it flying in the air like a spaceship! Luckily it didn't hit anyone. landed on the handle and bent it, but that grill worked for us for at least 7 years.....

 

[helenabear]

We have a Weber Genesis Silver B grill. My husband absolutely loves it! No side burner and no major frills with it. My dad just got a very nice Kenmore grill with no frills on it either for a very good price. We all use gas grills now adn I admit they are much easier than charcoal. Have fun shopping!

 

[Micca]

Good info folks Looks like I need to do some shopping. Thanks a bunch

 

[DisneyVillain]

Gas grills are rated this month in the latest Consumer Reports magazine.

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by crz4mm2
Oh, C-Ann. forgot to say, I blew the lid off my first weber gas grill... Had the lid still on when I lit the match. DH drove in just to see it flying in the air like a spaceship! Luckily it didn't hit anyone. landed on the handle and bent it, but that grill worked for us for at least 7 years.....

--------------------------

Yikes!! I'm definitely looking for another charcoal grill this week - LOL..

 

[dennis99ss]

www.nbsmoker.com

Then, click on smokers

 

[stevenpensacola]

Another big THUMBS UP for Weber charcoal grills!

 

[shelbyjosh]

I have noticed nobody mentioned a natural gas grill. This is what I have and I love it. No more running out of propane, old tanks, etc. Charcoal grills, to me, are a pain. Gotta have the charcoal and lighter fluid. Then you have to wait forever for the coals to get hot enough to cook on. I never run out of gas and it takes my grill 10 minutes to heat up to 700 degrees. We have a Kenmore Elite stainless stell grill. It has 6 burners and a side burner, too. There are some really nice, less expensive Kenmore ones out there at sears.com . We would never go back to propane or charcoal.