A BBQ Grill question...

[smoke_chef]

Okay...some would say... why grill it when you can smoke it. But hey... I love to smoke meat but the grill has it's place too. I hope there is enough of you that agree so I'll get some feedback.

I'm in the market for a new grill. It will be stainless steel and propane. Those two things I have decided. But, I'm on the fence about the sear function and the rotisserie function. DO any of you have any thoughts?

 

[GaryHibbert]

Hey Smoke Chef

I have owned lots (Lady Linda says "was too many" BBQs over the years--all propane.   I would get cast iron grills for it, they sear and leave char marks that you just can't beat..  As far as the rotisserie goes, I've never had any luck with them--have had 3.  The last one I used, I TRIED to cook a small roast on it.  Would not cook.  Finally finished it off in the oven.  It is now stuffed somewhere out in the garage.  I would never buy another one.  Now, others may disagree with me on this,but it's just me saying.

Gary

 

[smokinadam]

What price range are you looking at? Want something that will last a long time?
Weber s310 and the s330 are really nice grills but little pricey. You get what you pay for and that's quality. The 330 has a side burner and a sear burner. A lot of people think it's a special burner but it's actually just a normal burner at 10k btu in between 2 12k btu burners.

 

[averagedave]

wertre

 

[bluewhisper]

Buried in the basement I have an electric Farberware rotisserie from the 1970s, I think we used it once or maybe twice when I was a kid. This one appears to be identical.

I should see if I can easily set up the rotisserie itself on a grill.

 

[jeepdiver]

I had a rotisserie and rotisserie burner on my old grill as well as a side infared burner.

I used tge rotisserie a lot but almost never used the rotisserie burner. It was too hot and too close to the food. I would just turn the regular burners on and get good results.

The infrared burner on my grill was a complete waste. The designed the grill way to far from the burner so it wasnt any better than grill grates and the regular burner on high.

I will say the rotisserie was some what a PIA to use. I still used it for roasts but beer can chicken was easier and less to deal with for the same result. The one I had was rated for 30 lbs but due to the rotisserie burner about a 12 lb turkey was as big as you could get on it

 

[bluewhisper]

Do the higher-end gas grills have a reliable way to show how much fuel is still in the tank? We just had cheapos where the tank hangs on a spring and moves a lever, very crude.

 

[jeepdiver]

Do the higher-end gas grills have a reliable way to show how much fuel is still in the tank? We just had cheapos where the tank hangs on a spring and moves a lever, very crude.

That is probably the best way. The gauges do not work well because the pressure in the tank is constant as the liquid turns to gas, then you start getting a rapid drop once you are out of liquefied gas. Weight is the best way to tell

 

[bluewhisper]

I need to get another little shoebox gas grill for quick/portable use.

Funny story - I organize volunteer events for the Friends of the Scioto River, including providing lunch for the volunteers. We used to have pizzas delivered or we'd get a bunch of carry-out, and it was usually more than $200. So I got a pop-up gas grill for about $130 and now I just grill basic burgers and dogs costing maybe $30.

 

[averagedave]

hey blue, hows the fish'n on the Scioto ?

 

[bluewhisper]

Getting better!

http://www.ohiogamefishing.com/community/

 

[smoke_chef]

Thanks for the input to all of you. In the end, I decided to cheap out and get a Better Homes and Gardens model from Wally World... No rotisserie and no sear function. However, it has a side burner and is all stainless steel. It has good reviews and seems sturdy. It seems while some put those functions to good use, most don't. I figured I would be one of the ones that don't. But, the decided vote game from Ms. Smoke Chef when she said... "You buy what ever you want... but I would rather have anything out of your smoker than off a grill any day". SO... there you have it. I'll be smoking more than grilling this summer!