Well my propane grill finally bit the dust. Got it used 4 or 5 years ago for $50 and this winter I noticed while pushing it around the base was completely rusted out. Settled on a Weber kettle premium 22". Normally around $220, found the copper colored one on Amazon for $175. Nothing fancy but I've never owned a charcoal grill so im excited.

I use one when I have time, need to have 30 or so minutes to fire up the charcoal and heat up the grill. If you’re new to charcoal, Weber’s char baskets are worth having, especially if there are just 2 or 3 of you. Work very well for creating a searing zone. Starting chimney helps too, get the Weber brand.

17 minutes ago, padlin said:

I use one when I have time, need to have 30 or so minutes to fire up the charcoal and heat up the grill. If you’re new to charcoal, Weber’s char baskets are worth having, especially if there are just 2 or 3 of you. Work very well for creating a searing zone. Starting chimney helps too, get the Weber brand.

Yeah I think ill pick up some char baskets to aid in indirect cooking. I do have some experience cooking on this exact model grill, my buddy has had one for 5 or 6 years and I've cooked on it several times. I did pick up a Weber chimney to aid in starting the coals. As far as the long start up time, I recently went back to a Monday thru Friday 7-330 schedule so ill have time!

My Weber Propane is on its last leg. I’ll be buying another in a few weeks. I used it hard this winter. At fall time never thought I’d make it through the winter. It owes me nothing, gets used hard, replaced burners and deflectors. Couple of igniters also. Broken tree branch bent my lid a few years back. 

I use a grill/smoker a lot also. Some things are just meant for that. 
 

Whether 100 deg. + days or when only 13 deg. with snow on the ground I love it. One of the few things that makes me happy. 

 

Good eats. 

I believe charcoal gives a better taste over gas.

I have a small travel and a large charcoal grill, haven't owned a gas grill in over 10 years.

 

 

Was out doing pork chops last night during the snow, any weather works for me. Of my 3 grills, the charcoal has the best flavor, gas is fast and convenient for lousy weather, and the pellet smoker lets me sleep on long cooks. 
 

Picked up a 20 year old Weber gasser for $100 2 years ago when my old one rusted out, didn’t care for the new ones, and a garage kept 22” Performer for $40 last fall when I wanted one bigger then my old 14”, both look great with a bit of TLC. Each has it’s purpose.

I have a Weber Kettle.  I replaced the grate with a cast iron one linked below.   It cooks much better and is a piece of cake to keep clean.   It adds a lot of weight and makes the grill very top heavy but I’ll never go back to a regular grate.  I highly recommend it.

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CKZ19YG/

 

 

2 hours ago, Bird said:

I believe charcoal gives a better taste over gas.

I agree. The issue with charcoal is the amount of time required to get it going, and the inconsistent heat. I don’t have 30-60 minutes to prep a charcoal grill. I need the instant heat of propane in this day and age.

25 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I don’t have 30-60 minutes to prep a charcoal grill.  

 

You need a drink or two. Here in the Mid South there are "outdoor ovens" and

there are grills. We like steaks seared and rare, but still smoked.  Most everything

else slow cooked.

 

Yes, I'll have another...

 

 

 

                                                

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

I agree. The issue with charcoal is the amount of time required to get it going, and the inconsistent heat. I don’t have 30-60 minutes to prep a charcoal grill. I need the instant heat of propane in this day and age.

I understand this completely..back when I was working 12s I only used a propane because it was ready fast. Now I'm on a 40hr a week Monday thru Friday schedule, plus I don't have any kids to chase around so I've got the time.

 

1 hour ago, roadwarrior said:

 

You need a drink or two. Here in the Mid South there are "outdoor ovens" and

there are grills. We like steaks seared and rare, but still smoked.  Most everything

else slow cooked.

 

Yes, I'll have another...

 

 

 

                                                

the ability to have a few beers while the coals heat up is a bonus

You have to watch the wind with a kettle, a lot of ash will blow around, not that it stops me. We eat a lot of chicken wings from the kettle, they don’t mind a little ash. My wife probably wouldn’t eat them if she knew.

Good luck with the new grill, I haven't used charcoal in over 30 years.

I'm still using a Weber Gold Genesis for about 25 years now.

I did have to replace the flavor bars and the grill grates, looks like I'm going to have to find replacement burners now.

I'm running on direct natural gas, don't have to worry about running out of propane, just have to remember to shut it off !!!!

I have a Weber kettle and Weber gas hooked straight into the houses natural gas line. A perfect combo for correct grilling and lazy grilling. 
 

A kettle can do it all. 

6 hours ago, gimruis said:

I agree. The issue with charcoal is the amount of time required to get it going, and the inconsistent heat. I don’t have 30-60 minutes to prep a charcoal grill. I need the instant heat of propane in this day and age.

I am with you on the time.  I haven’t had a charcoal grill in years (miss it, lol) but I am a believer in using a charcoal chimney. I think it cuts that 30-60 minute time to 1/3-1/2.

 

To the topic. Gosh I miss charcoal grilled steaks. But my wife wanted to get a traeger and that’s what we use now. 

I might have to buy a small hibachi grill for goodness sake to satiate that need that this thread rekindled, lol. 

6 hours ago, islandbass said:

 

I might have to buy a small hibachi grill for goodness sake to satiate that need that this thread rekindled, lol. 

If you are serious look at the Jumbo Joe, I use one while traveling (camper).They make a small chimney too.

13 hours ago, gimruis said:

I don’t have 30-60 minutes to prep a charcoal grill. I need the instant heat of propane in this day and age

 

Problem solved ?

 

 

12 hours ago, herder said:

I'm still using a Weber Gold Genesis

Those things are souped.  I have a Weber Spirit series and its pretty solid.

Y'all can laugh all ya want!

 

I switched from a charcoal chimney to the flame thrower after my brother bought one for clearing weeds. He tried on the charcoal & 5-10 minutes you're cooking.

 

Besides that it's cool as hell to use!

I have two Weber grills, both charcoal. I've never had a propane grill. Now it's just my wife and I so the little Weber Smokey Joe is a good size. The next grill I get will be a Lodge cast iron Hibachi. I've always wanted one for steaks, chops etc. I use a charcoal chimney to start my charcoal.                                             I'm also going to try and make my own BBQ sauce. I'd like to make one batch a little hot, and some sweet.

32 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

I have two Weber grills, both charcoal. I've never had a propane grill. Now it's just my wife and I so the little Weber Smokey Joe is a good size. The next grill I get will be a Lodge cast iron Hibachi. I've always wanted one for steaks, chops etc. I use a charcoal chimney to start my charcoal.                                             I'm also going to try and make my own BBQ sauce. I'd like to make one batch a little hot, and some sweet.

I love the little Smokey joe 

4 hours ago, Catt said:

Y'all can laugh all ya want!

 

I switched from a charcoal chimney to the flame thrower after my brother bought one for clearing weeds. He tried on the charcoal & 5-10 minutes you're cooking.

 

Besides that it's cool as hell to use!

I’ve been meaning to get one for the weeds but now it would be dual purpose. Tool monkey has awoken, lol. 

1 hour ago, islandbass said:

I’ve been meaning to get one for the weeds but now it would be dual purpose. Tool monkey has awoken, lol. 

 

I don't waste time with a charcoal chimney, I have a Oklahoma Joe Highland offset smoker. I put the charcoal in, hit it with the torch.

when i moved into this house 4 years ago, i was so psyched to get another grill. i had charcoal in the past, and they are good, no question.  i waited till last summer, (insert various excuses here) before i bought the gas grill i have now.  i like it because it's easy,  and  tastes sooo much better than the frying pan on my 'lectric stove.  one of these days i want  a smoker. 

I have 2 of the weber performer premium grills, arranged in an ell shape. 1 does meats, veggies on the other. I use strictly lump charcoal, imparts no taste like the gross briquettes. I use a chimney starter dedicated to each one, and use that starting time to get a couple beers down. We are a family of 4 and often have company eating over, so the 2 grills is a necessity.  I cook the entire meal out there, and breakfast on the grill on Sunday morning is a real treat. 

On 2/27/2023 at 12:48 AM, islandbass said:

I am with you on the time.  I haven’t had a charcoal grill in years (miss it, lol) but I am a believer in using a charcoal chimney. I think it cuts that 30-60 minute time to 1/3-1/2.

 

To the topic. Gosh I miss charcoal grilled steaks. But my wife wanted to get a traeger and that’s what we use now. 

I might have to buy a small hibachi grill for goodness sake to satiate that need that this thread rekindled, lol. 

before buying a hibachi, try two different things. One, crank up your traeger as screaming hot as it gets.  Throw your reverse seared steak on and when it comes time to flip the first time, use a kitchen or blow torch to torch the top side of the steak.  Flip again two minutes later and torch again. Two, if that’s still not enough, just get a charcoal chimney and sear on it. 

 

On 2/27/2023 at 10:15 AM, Catt said:

Y'all can laugh all ya want!

 

I switched from a charcoal chimney to the flame thrower after my brother bought one for clearing weeds. He tried on the charcoal & 5-10 minutes you're cooking.

 

Besides that it's cool as hell to use!

no laughing on this one. My buddy uses a smaller/less powered version to light up his charcoal in his egg. You can have a large size egg cranking to cooking temp in a couple minutes and hotter than you can stand next to in about 10.  They are great for lighting up a bunch of charcoal really quickly.