Give me your input... in the market

[twins que]

Hi guys new to the forum and have read plenty of good stuff the last few days. Some of the posts have me wanting to run to the store now. I am in the market for a new grill but want the flexibility to do some smoking as well. I may eventually add on my own separate smoker, but right now looking at propane grills with good temperature control to indirect cook and smoke with. Just wanted some opinions on the direction to look, primarily interested in stainless steel cookers for longevity. Really like the MHP, Phoenix line of grills please don't hesitate to tell me to look another direction. Many thanks in advance.

 

[gmc2003]

Sorry I can't help you with your propane choices, but it does sound like the ideal situation for a Weber Kettle.

Chris

 

[browneyesvictim]

Smoke on a gas grill? BAHAHAAAAA!

Ok... seriously though... Why propane? Most gas grills have too much venting to smoke well. You can always add a pellet tube or such, but that's not optimal. Come to the dark side with charcoal! I would second the Kettle or a WSM.

 

[RiversideSm0ker]

I'm just not sure about smoking with propane. At least not a grill that wasn't specifically designed to smoke using propane. Those grills all just seem to run too hot to control easily for smoking. I tend to agree with Chris that something like a Weber kettle is versatile and can do indirect without a heavy investment. If you decided to go charcoal and dedicate a device to charcoal then the Weber Smokey Mountain is ideal if you are willing to spend a bit more money. You could get a propane smoker that was designed to be a smoker and probably get great results but I think due to the design of a gas grill with no controllable ventilation, there is just not the right control of smoke to get good results especially on a long cook. This is speaking from my own experience trying to smoke on the various gas grills that I have owned over the years. It's not impossible but it just makes the process harder to perfect. That's just my opinion of course.

George

 

[Will Smoke]

pellet grills may be something to look into for less babysitting or hands off style of cooking... with propane you have to stand guard(s)

 

[twins que]

Seems like I should join the "dark side" browneyes and man up and start with some charcoal smoking. Going to have to do some more research and work on some skills. Has anyone used a Traeger? I know they seem to show off how good they smoke, but claim to have the versatility of grilling too. Thinking this through I will likely get the grill I want and invest in a kettle to start.

 

[oldsmokerdude]

Having tried to smoke on a propane grill for a couple years using various chip holders, smoke boxes, etc., I can tell you that you may get a slight smoke flavor but it will not properly smoke meat; there is way to much ventilation. Propane grills are great for grilling and sometimes baking. Propane smokers on the other hand do a good job smoking meat but can't easily be used as a grill. Charcoal or pellets would be the way to go for multi purpose use.

Just as an aside, I have seen a grill that uses charcoal on one side and propane on the other. Not sure if the charcoal side would be good for smoking or not.

 

[oddegan]

My 2 cents on the multi purpose is for the Weber. I have a couple and they work very well for direct heat grilling and I can do 4 hour low and slow smokes running a snake.

 

[banderson7474]

Yea I think you could get a better smoke by using one half of a cheap charcoal grill for wood/charcoal than trying to smoke in a standard gas grill.

I started off with a cheap offset but it rusted and fell apart pretty quick so I upgraded to a OK Joe.

 

[joedube70]

Like the other guys said.. WSM or Kettle would be the way to go.
I have both and learned a lot of my smoking lessons on the WSM.
Good luck!

 

[RiversideSm0ker]

Seems like I should join the "dark side" browneyes and man up and start with some charcoal smoking. Going to have to do some more research and work on some skills. Has anyone used a Traeger? I know they seem to show off how good they smoke, but claim to have the versatility of grilling too. Thinking this through I will likely get the grill I want and invest in a kettle to start.

That's really a good way to approach it. A Weber kettle is about $100 to start. You can get bigger or fancier versions but this model at this price point will still do it all and has so many accessories available to up your game that it's not even funny. Whatever direction you choose I hope that you have a great time with it.

George

 

[Geebs]

I get the ease of cooking with gas as I do that every once in awhile. Before I had my pellet grill, I just had a Weber Q to grill things quick on and my WSM. The weber Q is a great little gas grill. I can fit about 10 good size burgers on it. Just a thought on investing in both for the same price of a good gas grill.

 

[Rings Я Us]

Seems like I should join the "dark side" browneyes and man up and start with some charcoal smoking. Going to have to do some more research and work on some skills. Has anyone used a Traeger? I know they seem to show off how good they smoke, but claim to have the versatility of grilling too. Thinking this through I will likely get the grill I want and invest in a kettle to start.

You might not want everything you eat off a grill to be wood smoked. Pellet grills have that limitation.

 

[bregent]

You might not want everything you eat off a grill to be wood smoked. Pellet grills have that limitation.

Not completely. At higher temps (275+), most pellet grills do not add any smoke flavor.

 

[browneyesvictim]

twins que - Ask yourself honestly if you want and are willing to tend a Q or you want a set-and-forget? Do you want more of a smoker or more of a grill? For many, the "instant gratification" of a gas grill or a pellet grill works well for a lot of busy families and produce some really great food. What makes a WSM or Kettle an ideal smoker is its ability to manage cooker temps fairly accurately by adjusting the vents without wild temp swings with charcoal and a few chunks of wood mixed in. A gas grill or pellet grill is whatever you set it to. A WSM is NOT designed as a grill, but you can grill on it without the upper, and is basically the same thing as a kettle. It is designed for vertical indirect smoking with multiple levels. With a Kettle you get only 1 level but is better at grilling but you can also smoke with it.

 

[twins que]

twins que - Ask yourself honestly if you want and are willing to tend a Q or you want a set-and-forget? Do you want more of a smoker or more of a grill? For many, the "instant gratification" of a gas grill or a pellet grill works well for a lot of busy families and produce some really great food. What makes a WSM or Kettle an ideal smoker is its ability to manage cooker temps fairly accurately by adjusting the vents without wild temp swings with charcoal and a few chunks of wood mixed in. A gas grill or pellet grill is whatever you set it to. A WSM is NOT designed as a grill, but you can grill on it without the upper, and is basically the same thing as a kettle. It is designed for vertical indirect smoking with multiple levels. With a Kettle you get only 1 level but is better at grilling but you can also smoke with it.

This is precisely the question that you all have running through my mind. Seems like I need the grill for the instant gratification and decent grilling and a separate smoker for exactly smoking meats, just have never been a charcoal user, but I am sure there are plenty of resources on the threads to help with that direction. I appreciate all the input.

 

[Geebs]

This is precisely the question that you all have running through my mind. Seems like I need the grill for the instant gratification and decent grilling and a separate smoker for exactly smoking meats, just have never been a charcoal user, but I am sure there are plenty of resources on the threads to help with that direction. I appreciate all the input.

If this is the route you are thinking of going you should really consider the Weber Q, its small, doesnt take up a ton of space and leaves room and money to get like a Smokey Mountain.

 

[gmc2003]

Twins, click on a couple of the threads listed below(pork shots, fatties, meatloaf turkey etc...). Some are cooked on a Kettle and some on a WSM. I have both for convenience. Any and all of them can be smoked on either. I gave up on gas a long time ago and haven't looked back. At least it will give you an idea of what we're all pretty much talking about. And yes I know another shameful plug for Weber cooking...


Chris