somertimeoh
Harrison West
Login to Send PM
I'm going to buy my first grill this weekend (wooo!) and wanted some input from you guys.
Still undecided between charcoal and gas. How long does it take to get a charcoal grill going? The majority of the time I will just be cooking for one or two people so for the convenience I thought gas would be the way to go, but I know flavor-wise charcoal is preferred.
There's such a huge range of prices, is there that much of a quality difference from a $150 grill to a $300 grill?
rus
Login to Send PM
Charcoal requires a bit more planning; depending on fire size, I think 10 minutes to get to coals is about right. A chimney starter can speed that up though.
For one or two people, low end isn't bad. The more expensive grills that I've seen usually have larger frames for more prep space; depending on your circumstance you might not require that.
osulew
My house...in the middle of my street
Login to Send PM
Charcoal tastes so much better, but it's a pain in the ass when you just want to get home and cook. There's also a much greater learning curve to cooking with charcoal...knowing when the coals are just right for cooking, learning to make sure you don't end up with hot spots, adjusting temperature...
It's fun and challenging, but when you just wanna cook a burger and relax and be done with it, it'll make you want to hurt someone. Definitely go for gas.
osulew
My house...in the middle of my street
Login to Send PM
Oh...and for burners and grates, look for stainless steel or cast iron...other stuff ends up a rusty, corroding, disintegrating mess.
You can buy replacement grates and burners for most models, but you won't have to for a long time if you stick with those materials.
dru
IV
Login to Send PM
we have a Weber charcoal with the gas ignite feature. i suggest if you go charcoal to go that route as it speeds up the process and means you can avoid lighter fluid, etc... even with the gas ignite, it is about a 20-25 minute procedure to get the coals and the grill primed for cooking. so you have to plan ahead, and it pretty much means I only grill in nice weather.
*on this subject there are several other people's opinions on these boards I'd take into account before mine, i.e. snarf, rockmastermike
Twixlen
Westgate, Columbus
Login to Send PM
I agree with the previous peeps. Charcoal DOES taste better, and who doesn't love FIRE, but there's more time and much more planning involved. And, osulew is totally on target with the learning curve - a gas grill has knobs that adjust how much heat you get, which is tricky with charcoal.
I have a very cheap gas grill - purchased eons ago at a big box store. It's moved all around the country, and the starter no longer works (this is TOTALLY common with gas grills), but it still grills just fine. I keep the grates cleanish, add new coals every season and light it with a stick lighter.
I ALSO have a small charcoal grill (camping size). It'll do about 6-8 burgers or three steaks, and I haul that out when I want the more authentic experience. I'll probably upgrade to a kettle grill later this summer, as I have the space to store it.
If you have the space, I'd say get both. It doesn't have to be expensive at all.
Rastapasta
Olde North
Login to Send PM
When it comes to convenient cooking for one or two you want gas no doubt IMO. If you're not constrained by space, you could always pick up a charcoal grill later-- a simple Weber is only about $50-60.
I am partial to Weber gas as well, which start around $300. I inherited mine, so I've never been in the market one myself personally. I think you could probably find something decent much cheaper.
somertimeoh
Harrison West
Login to Send PM
I hadn't even considered buying both, duhr. I have a really nice sized patio so plenty of room for 2 smaller grills.
During the week it's mostly chicken and fish so convenience wins over taste, but on the weekends it's all about the beef :)
Dru, I'm gonna come steal your green grill, I LOVE that thing :)
osulew
My house...in the middle of my street
Login to Send PM
You can do GREAT steaks on a gas grill...especially the way you like them...just preheat a section of that sucker on high, wait till it hits like 500 degrees, sear the hell out of the outside for a couple minutes, flip and couple on the other side. Voila. Nom. Throw a lil nub of butter on there when you flip it.
yep.
Rastapasta
Olde North
Login to Send PM
somertimeoh wrote >>
I hadn't even considered buying both, duhr. I have a really nice sized patio so plenty of room for 2 smaller grills.
During the week it's mostly chicken and fish so convenience wins over taste, but on the weekends it's all about the beef :)
Dru, I'm gonna come steal your green grill, I LOVE that thing :)
If it doesn't give you any mental hang ups, you could probably find a Weber charcoal grill on Craigslist from someone who was moving for like $20. Or like someone else said, get a mini portable charcoal.
Snarf
Dystopia
Login to Send PM
I have a Char Broil gas grill. It's a cheapie on ($180,) but it gets the job done. That said, would I buy another? HELL NO. The only thing stainless on it is the lid and the rest of it is painted silver to look like stainless and it's falling apart at every seam and cooks very unevenly. All this this after two years of use, albeit heavy, still though - FU Char Broil!
I would love to buy a new grill and there are lots out there that aren't shit, such as Weber, but lots of other good lesser known brands as well.
You might consider a used one that fits your budget and needs that isn't some $150-200 cheapie monster.
Here is a very basic and very decent two burner Weber, cast iron grates, $80.
http://columbus.craigslist.org/for/1664751191.html
Another nice Weber, three burner...the fact that they state it's ten years old is amazing. Only $50.
http://columbus.craigslist.org/hsh/1667565644.html
It's dumb easy to replace things like electronic igniters or clean them up with some high temp black paint, etc.
I bet that $50 Weber would whoop my Char Broils ass.
All those Webers will have easy to find replacement parts too.
Side Burners? Meh - mine burns too hot to simmer anything, but it's nice to have the option for deep frying outside or cooking a mess'o'bacon without stinking the house up. (A smell I love but your brunch party may not.)
I hope to come up in the grill game this year - heres a hottie from Dynamic Cooking Systems (same company that made my "Jenn Air" stove.) http://columbus.craigslist.org/app/1677823783.html
"Lynx" is also a really sweet brand.
For a charcoal grill I'd look no further than your basic Weber Kettle, theres a reason they've never changed the design beyond handles or wheels.
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
Login to Send PM
I've owned all kinds of grills over the years and I no longer use gas or recommend gas grills.
Charcoal is NOT actually more work and contrary to popular belief it does not take any longer than gas.
charcoal: put charcoal in chimney, light paper at bottom of chimney, wait 10 minutes until glowing red, spread coals and cook
gas: turn on gas, light, wait 10 minutes for heat media (usually lava rocks) to warm up to proper cooking temp and then cook.
No real advantage in time or effort if you're doing it right. You can even keep the chimney loaded and prepped so it's ready to light at a moments notice.
advantages of charcoal:
1) taste,
2) can burn MUCH hotter than gas if you get a grill that can handle it (I sear steaks at 650-700, holy crap it's good). I'm sure there is an expensive gas grill that goes that high, but I have not seen it.
3) lower cost of entry than gas grills.
4) Easier to do indirect heat cooking for slower cooking or smoking. Many gas grills you can turn one of the burners off, but because the burners typically cover fully half the grill area, that's not really as effective in a small grill as piling the coals completely away on one end.
5) heat control by opening and closing vents or moving coals.
6) longevity - charcoal grills have way fewer moving parts. I have one small charcoal grill that I have had for almost 20 years of heavy use and it is STILL cookin' but now only on camping trips.
advantages of gas:
1) you don't have to handle dusty charcoal or remove ash
2) heat control in limited range by turning gas higher or lower
3) can't think of any others
Trust me, once you get used to charcoal, you cannot go back.
Roland
Clintonville
Login to Send PM
Love the Weber Kettle style personally. Stupid simple and effective.
I have no room for a grill unfortunately but I've become very good at pan cooking a steak and using the oven. You get a great even sear and can make sauce with the fond.
I still wish I had a grill but it's not a necessity.
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
Login to Send PM
oh... by the way... here is the grill i have that has lasted 20 years.
someone's selling one on craigslist.
http://baltimore.craigslist.org/app/1659724362.html
The "Little Pal". it is rebranded by webber, but they were actually made by Worthington Cylinder. That one looks a little different than mine, so it might not be quite the same, but it looks like they havn't changed that much over the years.
It works really really well if you remember to only use 13-15 briquettes and cook with the lid closed. It burns them hot and burns them down to fine ash. I think the reason that it has lasted so long is that it's small enough you can bring it inside for storage and avoid rust.
As I said, I still use that one on camping trips. Now I use the Big Green Egg at home, which is probably massive overkill for most people.
Snarf
Dystopia
Login to Send PM
Weber Kettle is a design classic, so awesome, kind of like a Technics 1200.
I support charcoal but for grilling solo it seems a tad much.
My bro-in law has one of those barrel grills that is half charcoal and half propane, I've not seen it in action but I love the design of it.
somertimeoh
Harrison West
Login to Send PM
RMM, good info, thanks! I hadn't really thought about the time comparison in that way. Definitely going to pick up a small Weber Kettle and experiment with it on the weekends.
You must log in to post.
Launched in August 2010, TheMetropreneur.com is a local online resource devoted to small business development and entrepreneurship. Its aim is to tell the stories of Central Ohio's business community, foster regional economic development and assist entrepreneurs with its resource-heavy focus. Click here to visit TheMetropreneur.com.
RSS
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
