Need a Grill - any advice?
 

I have a crappy electric grill that I never use but I want to get into grilling more this year and get good at doing steaks, chicken and veggies too.

I don't have a price range really, I am thinking 4-500 but would maybe go up to 6-700 if I really find something worth it.

The problem, I know crap about grills. I am actually going to go look and might buy tonight but figured I could maybe get some advice before I head out.

I always assumed Weber was where its at and that may still be true. I will look at the construction of the grill the most but not sure I will know more beyond that, like design considerations, size etc.

I will probably error on the side of going bigger as when people are over I want to be able to entertain and cook stuff for everyone.

I am going gas as well, propane just for convenience.

Any help is appreciated. I am planning to hit up Home Depot, Lowe's, Sears and maybe Menards tonight with Knoxville who is also looking.

Spent all my bonus money paying off debt in one fashion or another, so figured I deserve to have something nice as i am not putting the evo back together just yet.

Thanks guys.

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

We have a weber and love it. Would love to get a big green egg but are more than I would spend.

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

What's a big green egg?

Weber to me seems like a safe bet. Charboil online seemed a bit riskier as they had negative reviews but they are a lot cheaper.

Feel free to link suggestions :)

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

lol 400-700 for a grill?? A basic but nice gas grill ranges from more like 200-400, but if you want something baller I suppose you could spend more.

Ive been using an older webber charcoal for a few years now and you cant beat the flavor, but id like to put this one on the deck and have something a bit easier for those quick eats.

My rents bought the smaller version of this grill and love it, the infrared really makes for even temps, and it has good reviews.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Char-Broi...3?N=5yc1vZc5t2

Here is the smaller verision, which still is plenty big enough for me, I could always fire up the charcoal grill if needed too. Those are cheap if you wanted a backup.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Char-Broi...2?N=5yc1vZc5t2

Just get a good cover for it and it will last years.

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

That is why i posted lol, I don't know shit about grills.

I don't need the "best", I do have more expensive test typically as I hate buying shit more than once. I just don't want a POS that lasts 6 months.

All I know is that home depot you walk in and they have grills from 2-300 all the way up to 1500 and even 2000+ if you get those crazy stainless steel ones.

I was hoping to pick up a reliable/sturdy, good sized one that is more or less middle of the road.

I did plan to buy a cover for sure.

What is the infrared? Somehow monitor heat and try to keep it even?

That one looks decent for sure. I was contemplating maybe slightly bigger but something like that is what I had in mind.

So Char Boil is a decent one though? I am sure everything in grills is made in China like anything else, but I just don't want something that breaks in its first year.

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

I edited my original post to include the small version too, but for you it might be a bit too small.

The infrared is a plate over the burner I guess, that evens out heat, from what ive read. Only charbroil seems to have that model, the rest seem like regular gas grills or maybe they have their own terminology for it.

If you want to spend quite a bit, you should build an in ground one and pipe natural gas to it, but youd have to have a patio or something to build it into, that would be sweet. Not something I need thats for sure.

I think most charcoal grills are decent, just dont buy the 100 dollar model lol. Look at the reviews online, thats usually what I base things off of.

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

This is the one I picked up after having a cheaper, large SS grill for the last few years. All the internal components rusted and I just threw it away. This Char Broil works great and the Infrared cooks really evenly, making steaks a breeze to cook. I did get the factory cover for it as well, very good grill for ~$250.

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

Well sounds like I am going to give the char broil a close look tonight then!

There are two people that seem to have had good experiences.

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

If you ain't spending a G, you ain't shit.

Then you are also an imposter.

We got one from sears I think it's made by Charbroil but was cheaper, by now before they go up in price~!

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

I guess I am an imposter and shit then lol. I don't want to spend a G on a grill haha.

I will probably make a judgement call when I see them in person. Webers online reviews seem to be much more favorable but they are also an extra 100-200 bucks.

The char broils that I have seen in person all look nice, so I will probably risk it and save a bit and go with one of those.

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

My only advice would be wait until fall when they all go on sale. We bought our SS Char-broil from Lowe's a few years ago when it went on clearance in late fall. We love it.

I think this is damn close to ours, except ours just has 1 temp gauge, not 4. I think we paid probably closer to $300-350 for it on sale in the fall.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_404325-82210...etInfo=4.0|Yes

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

Yea, I am always poorly timed like that :(

I should've been looking last fall but this time of the year I am always ahead on the money side with bonus and tax returns so now is when I buy bigger stuff typically.

I would wait but then I won't have one all summer when I really want it. Maybe I will look again in fall if I want to get one of the big bad ass ones and stick with something smaller for now.

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

http://www.lowes.com/pd_404329-82210...etInfo=4.0|Yes


Just seen that one, looks pretty nice for the price, similar to ours.


Also we never use the side burner. So if you find one you really like but are torn because it doesn't have a side burner, don't be. Chances are you'll hardly ever use it, if not never.

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

Mine looks just like the one Brandon posted in his first post, but I have the sear burner on also. LOVE the sear feature for steaks. I also never use the side burner unless I am keeping something warm while something else needs to cook longer. Mine was normally $500 at Target, but got it for $98 on clearance :D

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

I have a Weber propane grill and love it. Very convenient to use and great for the money.

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

Murlo,

I bought a weber gensis grill with all stainless steel hardware and it has been the best thing I ever did. It stays outside on our deck year round for the past 6 years and still looks brand new. The burners, flavor bars,and grill grate last forever. And it grills very well. After spending money on 2 other grills to have them rust out quickly, I will never go back to a cheap grill.

Mine is similar to this one but has the bronze exterior.: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Weber-Gen...specifications

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

I bought a Kenmore grill at Sears a few years ago and it is still doing awesome--I love it. My neighbors liked it so much they bought the exact same model a few years later! 3 burners, no side burners, no frills. It gets up to 600°F in no time so its perfect for cooking steaks!

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

I have a Weber Q 3200. Nice simple grill that's enough to cook burgers/steaks for probably ~10 people if you need to. 3rd year on mine and it still works like new. I also have an Original Bradley Smoker for the good BBQ. :D

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

Sounds like I probably have the same model as Brandon; got it for around $350 at Home Depot about 4 1/2 years ago. It works well, but it's definitely not a Weber in terms of quality or durability. It just depends what you're wanting to spend. In the end, a $100 grill or a $1000 grill will all cook about the same. Decide how large of a cooking surface you need, how long you'd like it to last, and how baller you want to look in the process :)

Next grill I buy will likely be a Weber, but for now the CharBroil is working just fine.

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

Well, it was a hard battle last night. I kind of wish I would've waited until tonight as reading some of these comments makes me sort of wish I had got the weber haha.

Last night was crazy, took me 1.5 hours just to get from my work in Plymouth to Champlin (knoxvilles house, needed his services for hauling in his new Avalanche). Anyway, we made the rounds. Stopped at Home depot, the went to menards, then sears and finally lowes.

I almost just picked one up at Home depot but then figured i should see if anywhere else has anything good. Menards had a few decent ones but nothing different really. Sears just made my decision harder as they had a few kenmore elites that I really liked but at the time I hadn't heard anyone really recommend them and I just sat there looking at them and decided if I wanted something last night I should leave as it was just mucking up my decision making process. Then off to Lowe's. Basically the same stuff as home depot so I figured, time to pick.

After looking, I for sure thought that the Weber was more durable and seemed better quality overall. But for the ones I was looking at it was almost double the price.

Finally, I ended up going with the charbroil below, it has the infrared deals which seem cool, individual thermometers per burner and the side burner if I eve need it (i was thinking I could pan sear steaks on this then toss them on the grill, we shall see).

For 350 bucks for the grill(it was 50 off from normal, which made it too cheap to not buy), 45 for a new full propane tank, 40 for the 4 season cover and then a warranty (just because I felt like since I didn't get the weber i should buy this) it was too good of a deal and I felt like enough people liked them to justify it. The guy beyond me in line, like the only other guy in the store as we were the only idiots out driving last night, said he just bought the same one and loved it which was cool.

Anyway, all said and done like 550 or something in that neighborhood, so a solid deal I think.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_404324-82210...nfo=Char-Broil

I will try this out and maybe in a few years I upgrade to the weber but I think this is a vast improvement from the shitty electric one I got for free that I never use. Steaks are hopefully going on this thing Saturday for its maiden voyage.

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

So uhh, when's the grillin party?

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

Maybe in May sometime :)

I need practice first so I am not a total grill noob.

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

Enjoy! Eat a steak or two for me. I'll be grilling some cilantro lime chicken breast on mine tonight...hopefully while sipping [guzzling?] a margarita :)

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

Done and done.

I still feel like this is a gamble as there are a lot of people that say this thing requires a lot of extra maintenance with the infrared deals and many say this thing rusts easily. But I guess that is why I have an extended warranty. I am sure it will do alright, if it ends up sucking balls after 1 year I will post up to warn others.

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

Im sure youll be fine and it will last at least 5 years or more. Im rocking a charcoal grill from the 90s thats still in good condition, just needs the bottom tray painted this year. Keep it covered and clean it properly and it will last...

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

5 years from a CharBroil is definitely doable if you keep it covered when not in use. Mine is on it's 5th grilling season and it still works just fine. I've had to buy a few replacement parts, but I blame that on bad storms knocking it over twice.

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

Looks like it'll cook a steak just fine. We've had ours probably 3 years now and is still in pristine condition. Just take good care of it (keep it covered and halfway clean), simple as that.

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

Buying a grill is half the battle, now grilling a steak to perfection is whole another mystery!

Congratulations Murlo, looks like a decent buy. Now go grill some bacon!

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

Buying it is the easy part, it's the assembly that kicked my ass! Tiny little pieces scattered all about the garage. What I expected to take me 20 minutes turned into 3 hours of sweating & swearing :lol:

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

Yea, I am really hoping it doesn't take that long but the way my stuff goes it will. Going to start sat morning, then do the family nonsense for easter then hopefully get it wrapped up later that night and do a bedtime steak or something, we shall see.

I also have new blinds for my guest bedroom and a new beer, dopplebock to brew as well. Lots to do, no time to do it!

And yes, I agree, grilling the steak will be much more difficult to be good at then buying a damn grill, just need some practice :)

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

If you buy steaks from Omaha Steaks, their included instructions are pretty much spot on.

Sounds like you have a busy weekend ahead of yourself too. I'm in the middle of redoing my front yard landscaping so Home Depot has been my 2nd home as of late.

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

Agree, I just follow their simple chart for cooking mine (not just Omaha but any steak). Takes the guess work out of it and they turn out awesome every time.

http://www.omahasteaks.com/servlet/O...cipe_cookchart

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

Nice chart!

Are the time in there per side I am guessing? Like top number is first side then bottom is second? I am pretty confident that is it but want to be sure.

I will test this on my grill for sure!

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

Very cool chart! Ive become pretty good at timing, charcoal is tricky though because the temps are a bit hard to control.

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

Correct. Top number is the 1st side, bottom number is the 2nd side. I keep this chart in my kitchen.

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

I use the shit out of that chart, good stuff.

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

Funny that we all have the exact same chart LOL

Re: Need a Grill - any advice?
 

Nice!