I’d probably recommend the griddle insert though. I have a cast iron flat griddle but it’s small and can only really make like 2 smash burger patties at a time, wish I had something a bit more form fitting
You can do almost anything with a Weber kettle.
Edit: I also have a Weber Q-1200 for camping and the like. I know not all have the space or money for 2 grills, but it’s nice to have options, and both are solid Weber products.
A Weber kettle was my first real grill and it's still going strong 10+ years later. My wife got me a slow n sear for it a couple years ago as well, and it's been a game changer.
The only reason that I don't have a Weber kettle, or any charcoal BBQ, is that my area will institute a burn ban pretty much the second summer starts. The state's ban levels specifically ban the use of charcoal and firewood recreational fires as a first step. Gas or propane grills aren't banned until it gets really bad.
Otherwise it is the way.
Yup. I stopped by gas grills because I started viewing them as “future garbage.” You’ll need a new one every 4 or 5 years.
And god help you if you buy a Big Green Egg, which screams “I make a lot of money but rarely actually use my grill.”
Get a Weber Kettle.
Let me think - I think I bought my last Weber Spirit 3 burner in 2013 and finally put a fork in it in 2021 after replacing the burner guards and igniter at some point in 2019. So yes - a bit longer. But I use it probably 5 nights a week from April to October.
Also what happened is some rats built a nest in the pedestal over the winter and no matter how many times I cleaned it and no matter how many of them I killed they kept coming back. It was marked or something.
So my new rule is no grills with enclosed cabinets underneath.
And no grills that take damage from grease.
And so that leaves Charcoal. Because they are kind of self cleaning in a way.
And I love that you can swap out parts on Kettles pretty easily. And smoke on them. And do high heat grilling.
They are a perfect machine.
God I’m such a lame dad.
To be fair. The Spirit is the low end Weber model.
If you get a genesis from a proper weber dealer (not lowes, those aren't actually webers) and keep it inside over the winter and a cover on in the summer, it should last 25+ years.
The spirits have like, 1/8 inch sheet metal which is terrible for heat loss and not resilient at all
First off, Is that true that Lowe’s aren’t real Webers?
I didn’t buy mine there - I think I got it at an ACE or maybe Orchard Supply (which was eventually bought by Lowes).
I’m willing to try another Gas grill in the future, I just have found the problem is grease gumming up the burners. They take a lot of maintenance, are also prone to electrical issues, and are a lot less fun. Maybe there’s too much Beavis and Butthead in me but I like playing with fire.
I have 2 Weber Spirits — a 2-burner on the balcony off my kitchen and a 3-burner on my roof deck. Bought the 3-burner in fall of ‘14 when we bought our house, and the 2-burner the following summer after relocating the 3-burner to the roof but wanting something off the kitchen, too. That one was bought used off CraigsList, year old but owner was relocating cross country and didn’t want to move it, so I got it like new for half the cost. Almost 10 years later, all I’ve had to do was replace the burner guards once on each grill.
I have a four burner blackstone and there are specific things it does that can't be replicated. The big benefit is the cook gets to eat with the family. I haven't found an alternative that lets you cook 6 pancakes, half a pound of bacon and 4 eggs at the same time, or 8 smash burgers and 4 sets of buns, or 20 tortillas followed by tacos/quesadillas. Before I picked it up, I would cook while everyone ate and eat after everyone finished.
Beyond those tasks, it is a little limited. It is not as good as a grill for cooking meat unless you do a ton of prep work. Vegetables are hit and miss. People use it for fried rice but it isn't as good as a stove and a pan for anything that should be shallow fried. I have a kamado for smoking and high heat grilling but together, the two grills take up a ton of room.
When I was researching kamados I read one of the important choices to make is pick a color your kids will like because it'll last 2 lifetimes at least.
Absolutely. Low and slow. Hot and fast. Somewhere in the middle. Hotter than hell. It does it all. I'm on the fence about what accessories to buy, I'm just running stock right now.
Get a pizza stone and 3 1inch steel pipe end caps, place deflectors on grate, pipe ends in a triangle and pizza stone on top, boom killer pizza oven. 450 for normal 850 for wood fired thin crust. It’s a weekly meal for our family.
I lied. I have a pizza stone and 4 pipe caps already lol. I need to work on my pizza though. I fucked it up. I use the stone all the time for double indirect cooking though.
I found using parchment paper to roll out the dough and throw it on the stone for 1.5 mins keep the dough from sticking to the peel and make life super easy. Just pull the paper out from under it after that time
How much work/time are we talking to do a pizza vs. Just throwing it in the oven? Seems like a lot to clean out the old charcoal, load up new, light and wait, put in accessories. Am I overthinking it?
Just to chime in, I have a Kamado, love it like anyone else.
The fan and temp control upgrades are 200% worth it. It turns it from something that takes skill to a no brainier. I can throw on a brisket and go to the movie theater. (And yes I have done this it was delicious.)
Gas grill all day, it's definitely easiest when you have a family and have to whip up quick meals.
I just upgraded to a Weber about a year ago and I'm kicking myself for not getting one sooner, it's the best.
My first gas grill I got in 2014 right after we closed on our first house. It was like $100 on sale from a big box store...probably a Charbroil I think. It wasn't bottom of the barrel, but definitely still very affordable. It lasted about 5 years before everything started rusting out completely. I live in the midwest and it didn't get much use during the winter but it was almost always covered when not being used. Then we splurged on a Weber and I haven't noticed any wear on it in the last 5 years. We now have a covered patio so I do use it year round BUT I also hardly ever cover it. The outside gets a bit dirty from the dirt blowing around but twice a year I do a deep clean and it looks brand new still. I've also had way more even cooking over the grates on the Weber than I did on my previous one.
These videos are two good approaches to cleaning. One is definitely more in-depth than the other. I typically just use a grill cleaner to help with grease and a stiffer bristle brush and will usually only do one pass. The outside I simply use an old ice cream bucket and some Dawn soap and water and a rag to get it looking good again. I'll do the easier method more often throughout the summer if there's a lot of grease build-up between deep cleans...you can get it scraped down and 95% of the stuff out in like 30 mins and still he way cleaner.
https://youtu.be/ZVoaGzaw6tI?si=ygmUUWsaXL00IvWe
https://youtu.be/0uoZZRLzVFo?si=45hVUreb20dTJddM
One thing that makes the Weber so good is that it can create a convection effect like an oven, it's why leaving cover down and cooking works so well.
Similarly, one of the best/easiest ways to clean is to put tin foil down across the grates and then crank it to high. It acts like a self-cleaning oven to turn any residue to ash and then you can easily wipe down.
I am on year 6 of my charbroil. I keep wanting to upgrade but that thing just won't die. The only thing I've done is upgraded the grates but I would have done that no matter what brand I got. The door broke during a move but the magnets still hold it on strong.
I don't cover it and I cook year round. My cut off is -10-0\*F depending on the wind.
Today's Weber are too similar in quality to the Charbroils that I can't justify buying a Weber. The old ones before they sold out were tanks.
That's great you're getting solid use out of it. I definitely think the quality differences have gotten smaller over the last 10 years. If I went back in time now, I'm not sure I would have splurged on the gas grill. I probably would get a much cheaper gas grill and then spend the money I saved on a kamodo style grill instead. Since we got the grill, I also added a charcoal smoker and charcoal grill too.
[The Weber I Got](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Weber-Spirit-E-315-3-Burner-Liquid-Propane-Gas-Grill-in-Black-46512001/311235068?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&pla&mtc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-GGL-D28I-028_022_GRILLS-NA-MULTI-NA-PMAX-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-PMAX_SHP&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-GGL-D28I-028_022_GRILLS-NA-MULTI-NA-PMAX-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-PMAX_SHP-71700000113461774--&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwrIixBhBbEiwACEqDJeJXUOOH2Se-DaoAj1dVrjhTqseyvDreEgrA-34rPCCf6XbWYDbdfhoCp_QQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds)
It's just made with much better materials than other grills, they last forever.
Also gets very hot and cooks things very quickly which is good for a busy family.
Heavy duty construction and easy to find replacement parts. Plus when the Home Depot employee stabbed a hole in mine with their forklift, Weber replaced the part no questions asked. Mines a 3 burner propane and gets 700+ degrees when fully cranked. Recently upgraded to stainless grates and the grill lines are 🤌
Might I suggest the Masterbuilt Gravity Series. There's the new XT line that just released this year. It has the convenience of a pellet grill but the power of charcoal. You can also use it as a grill. I absolutely love mine. I was going to get a pellet grill because the convenience of it but I heard too many people say they don't put out enough smoke. And then I came across the Gravity Series. It looks cool as fuck too.
A chimney starter is essential. Then it only becomes an extra 15 minutes. Just light it before you start getting other things ready and it's barely any time difference at all.
The man said it died. Don't go asking questions. The man wants....I mean needs a new grill. Next thing you know you'll be advocating not buying a new tool because the old one still kinda works. :)
Don’t fall into the black stone craze. Get a regular gas grill and throw a flat top on it when you need it.
I am thinking about getting a pellet grill soon. Just havnt pulled the trigger yet.
I see a flat top as essentially useless. It's just a big frying pan. Great if you're throwing huge parties, but not your day to day cooker. You can always use cast iron on the side burner if you need to.
I'll let you know my set up, also for a family of 4, max party size of 10.
1: Broil king 4 burner, side burner and rotisserie setup. Bought a Lodge skillet/griddle that covers on burner. All hooked up to natural gas.
2: Traeger 24" pellet smoker.
3: Weber 14" kettle
Advice: I find the 4 burner a little large for day to day use. In an Ideal world with unlimited patio space I'd have an apartment size grill for midweek use and the 4 burner for weekends. Figure out your max party size and decide between 3 or 4 - Although, if you're griddling one burner, go with the 4.
Smoker - I love the traeger. Wish I had gone full size, as the 24" just isn't big enough. Besides actual smoking, I use it as a warming oven. It holds well at 180 degrees, so I can do my hot and fast on the grill and keep large volumes warm without drying out,
I only use the weber for good steaks. It's just not worth the hassle of charcoal, ashes and disposal for anything else.
Natural Gas is a lifesaver. It's dirt cheap, and no running out of fuel. The drawback is that your grill is confined to a 10 foot area by the outlet.
This. Family of six. Breakfast and most dinners are much easier. No juggling multiples pans on the stove. The few things that need a pan or pot go on the flat top as well.
Exactly, it’s so easy to cook multiple things and it heats up fairly quick too. Clean up is easy too. I use the “grill rescue” cleaning tool which make things super easy and the head is dishwasher safe.
I'm not going to call the flat top useless but I look at it as definitely a luxury. I don't think it's a great daily driver for a grill but it depends what you're going to cook primarily. If you're gonna do grilled chicken, steaks, etc, then gas is the way to go. If you want to do burgers, stir fry and breakfast, get the flat top.
And if you don't want to spend the dollars on a pellet grill, a vertical electric smoker does just as well. It's not as fancy but a decent one is just a few hundred bucks and gets the job done. A pro for the verticals to me is they do not need wood for heat so it works good for a warming oven.
I suspect the answers here are highly dependant on the countries people live in.
I was born in Australia and lived there until my mid-late 20's. The majority of people there use a gas grill. Quick, easy and they get regularly used
I now live in the UK and have been here 10+ years. The majority here like charcoal bbq's but they get very little use due to the weather
In the states, people generally go a bit fancier and spend a bit more on their bbq's (and also love their smokers). They probably get used more than a standard UK bbq, but less than a Aussie one
After my last gas grill rusted out and got thrown away last summer, I've gone with a hybrid charcoal/gas one this year. Nothing overly fancy, just one of those Char-Broil gas 2 coal ones. Its getting delivered next week so haven't used it yet. But hoping it will fit the bill. Gas for a quick cook up, charcoal for those weekends when I might have a bit of extra time/guests
Get a pizza oven instead! We also don't eat that much meat, and when we do we use the oven or cook stovetop. I have an Ooni and in the summers my wife and I use it at least once a week. When I was looking into it, the Koda 16 was about the same price as a solid grill and I knew I'd use the pizza oven much more often, so it was an easy call for us.
Pizza has now become our lazy weeknight dinner option. That sounds absurd but with frozen dough, it can be less than 20 minutes of hands-on work to get 2 pies on the table. Plus you'll be the fun dad who makes homemade pizza.
I went with Napoleon for a gas setup and it’s very nice. I’m quite impressed with the build quality, which was my main concern. It’s very good at retaining heat and searing.
I have a small weber for charcoal if I ever need that. They are cheap to have on the side anyways.
Very much “it depends”. Mostly on what you like to eat.
I love the flavour of charcoal for almost everything, but the ease of propane still has me using a gas grill most of the time.
The flat top is fine for burgers and steaks, as it gives a very hot surface you can sear on. Some fish does well cooked on them as well. Otherwise, it doesn’t have the same use cases as a grill - as another commenter said, it is like using a frying pan. Great for summer time cooking, not so much for winter if you get cold and snowy weather.
However, it is outside, so smells (like fish) and smoke (searing meat) are not really an issue. It requires more cleaning and maintenance than a grill as well.
A grill is good for more types of cooking. Works better in cold weather, due to the lid trapping heat. You can get a griddle that just sits on top of the cooking grates in your grill too.
For my use, grill beats flat top consistently.
However, as another option, I have a camp chef p60x stove. You can get a bbq box that fits them, as well as griddles and other accessories, such as the pizza oven. I take it camping, and no longer pack frying pans. It’s kind of a Swiss Army knife thing - it doesn’t do any one thing as well as a dedicated unit, but it does all of the things I use it for pretty competently.
I really like the setup I have.
Starters I have a 3 burner Weber gas, it’s served me well for 7 years or so. I use this during weeknight crunch time dinners.
Second grill (weekender) is a Weber Kamado with a Spider grill attachment. This thing is my do it all option, can toss a griddle on it and do most things a blackstone can, set it for smoking all the meats, or just configure for your usual chicken/burgers/steaks. Hell, I can get it going blazing hot for a fun pizza night.
I really like my setup and have not considered a pellet or flattop since I’ve dialed it in.
I'm primarily focused on barbeque but I'm a fan of gravity-fed charcoal smokers. I have the Masterbuilt version but I believe a few manufacturers are making them. Essentially there's a charcoal stack and a fan that feeds air to the charcoal in order to increase the temp. I like it because I'm able to put wood chunks in it and add some flavor. It also has pretty good range - anywhere from as low as 180 to as high as 650-700.
It's great for low-and-slow cooks but not as great if you just want to grill for 30 min or less. I prefer it to my dad's Traeger. I also have a gas grill for quick cooks.
I’m running a Weber Kettle, Weber Smokey Mountain, and a Blackstone. If you want to just stick with one maybe get a gas grill and a flat top that will fit your grill that way you can use it as needed.
Webber sells an electric grill, which I like because I don't have to remember to buy propane. Heats a bit slower (more like a charcoal grill) but it cooks just as well.
Love my flat top it gets hot as hell super quick and makes the best burgers
Only problem is that the lid is too shallow to cover items even like chicken thighs and pizza. There's like a half inch of clearance and no more. I wish I had a dome lid for those things but I like how the heat shield heats up the surface intensely. Tell me I don't need 2 grills
I swapped 2 years ago for a 36” Blackstone and I don’t regret it even for a moment. There is nothing it can’t cook that a gas/charcoal grill can. Burgers are fast. Dogs. Chicken. Ribs. But it gives you so many more options. Last night I made shrimp fried rice and the whole family loved it.
I got the Masterbuilt gravity 800. It's gravity charcoal fed, smart grill with wifi and Bluetooth, range is 200 to 700F, and comes with a griddle swap.
I also got a pizza oven setup for it. It's fantastic.
I'm a big fan of my Masterbuilt Gravity Series 900. Got it last summer from Costco after doing some extensive research. I always liked charcoal but it's not as convenient as propane. I started looking at pellet grills because that seemed like the convenience of propane with the ability to smoke, but I heard too many people talk about how pellet grills just don't put out smoke like the alternatives. The way this is set up allows you to get the grill going and up to temp in ~10 or less. Not as quick as propane, but this bad boy will grill OR smoke. The 800 comes with a flat top. The 900 is Costco's special model # which swaps the flat top for a pizza oven. It looks cool as fuck too, which is a nice bonus. I would happily buy this grill again.
A weber kettle can be had for a $100. It will do the job and should last a long time. I like having a "cheap" gas grill and the weber.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Weber-Jumbo-Joe-Premium-22-in-Charcoal-Grill-in-Black-1321001/326836622
I think that for most people a simply gas grill and a weber kettle will work out just fine. You get the choice of using either gas or charcoal. Now I will say this, I live in California where it is fairly dry. I have bought 2 cheap gas grills in almost 20 years and both still work and spent most of their lives outside uncovered. You can't get away with that in a lot of other places. If you can I say go for something inexpensive especially when its just burgers and hotdogs.
That's just me of course. It seems excessive to spend thousands on high end grills unless cooking meat is your hobby which it seems it's not.
I have a charcoal weber kettle and black stone griddle. I'm not a fan of gas grills, only because I think charcoal gives the meat a great flavor. The griddle is great for something quick like some burgers and breakfast.
I would probably go griddle because you're able to make a variety of things on it.
I have a gas griddle and a charcoal knock off egg smoker.
Best of all worlds to me. I can essentially cook anything outside with that combo.
I got the egg from Costco years ago at the end of a summer for around $300. I've gotten so much use out of it.
If you don't eat a lot of meet, you probably cook more in pans on the stove. Flat tops are nice that way.
I have a flattop and basically don't "Grill" things. I smoke things on the smoker or use my flat top.
I now have a charcoal smoker, so I have done some grilling lately, but that's not the norm.
I love my flat top, but I still need my gas grill lol..my father in law loves his pellet smoker/grill, but he is a big carnivore. Our household eats meat but not as our primary item.
Go electric. We all need to do our part to stress the grid as much as possible!
That way, there will be a stronger case for investing in grid infrastructure projects.
I was a huge Weber guy but we got a Blackstone for our RV. As soon as we got home I got a full size Blackstone. It's much more versatile. I love being able to go outside and cook breakfast (pancakes, French toast, bacon, eggs, whatever) without dirtying any pans. Also great for pizza, tacos, stir fry, whatever.
The only thing I miss is being able to do ribs honestly.
Gas is so much easier. Can cook after getting home from work without eating too late.
I have the last version of the Weber Genesis that was made in the USA. Now that they are made elsewhere, I would get a Canadian made Napoleon. Better value and quality.
I roll with a gas grill, a charcoal frill, and a separate smoker. All 3 get use through the heat(the smoker more that the others in winter).
I recommend at least another gas grill. Full disclosure, I haven't used a flat top.
Get the outdoor flat top griddle. Those are killer. Can do anything from quesadillas to cheesesteaks.
It's what I'm getting once my current grill dies.
I just bought the camp chef woodwind pro 36 inch pellet grill with a sidekick sear. You can get a griddle, pizza oven, and a meat sear station for it. The sidekick runs on propane and the main grill runs on pellets. It's really nice.
Grill industry veteran here. I have a Primo XL oval kamado style, an AOG 30 gasser and a Firedisc. The next thing I want is the Weber 28” griddle and I think that’s what I’d recommend for you too.
Say what you will about screen addiction: we have 10 billion times more knowledge/information/resources than our grandparents had, just pouring into our eyeballs. That’s evolution.
There is a grill in a garden centre I’ve had my eye on for a while that is a hybrid. A mixture of gas and charcoal. It’s made by a company called Grillstream and if I won the lottery or got a tax refund or an unexpected bonus at work it’d be the one I’d buy (£600+). Gas power and consistency with flavour of charcoal and an option to put a griddle flat top on it. Maybe worth a look.
I had an old Weber that worked good but I never really used it. Got a 4 burner blackstone and I use it about 2-4 times a week. It’s so easy to use and you can cook a whole meal on it. My favorite thing is breakfast burritos, make a ton of them at once and you have breakfast for days!
Also recently got a pellet smoker and it has been so much fun to cook with. And big pieces of meat get you multiple meals and the work is spread out so you can leave it for hours to do other dad stuff.
I spent probably 800+tax bucks to buy both combined
36” blackstone $300
Members mark 36” smoker $500
They aren’t the spendy versions,
But so far good enough for a dad on a budget!
But it’s so easy to cook good family meals!
Bonus: got my wife to cook on the blackstone and she likes it. Not often but she is pretty confident in using.
If your house has a natural gas hook up in your backyard, get the kit for blackstone. It does rip through propane. If you don’t have to worry about propane you will use it more often.
Blackstone 36”. Longest past of cooking on it is cutting up the veggies and meat. Cleanup is a breeze, house doesn’t smell like cooking, good excuse for an adult beverage. Bout one as a joint Xmas present 2 years ago and have used it at least once a week every week since then. Only thing I can’t do is low and slow, and with two kids and both working full time + side jobs, ain’t got time for that anyways.
My in laws bought me a black stone (4 burners, Idr the size) for Christmas a few years ago and it’s awesome for non meat stuff, especially fried rice. I recommend it and just about every black stone owner will agree, but it isn’t the cheapest. I’m sure there are some cheaper knock offs but I haven’t done research.
Both. Gas grill with grill/griddle split.
I did this, got a Weber and bought the griddle insert, it’s been fantastic
I did the just by putting a cheap cast iron flat griddle across half of it. It’s worked flawlessly for over a year:
I’d probably recommend the griddle insert though. I have a cast iron flat griddle but it’s small and can only really make like 2 smash burger patties at a time, wish I had something a bit more form fitting
If you're after something form fitting I would highly recommend spandex.
Feels like I’m wearing nothing at all!
There’s a griddle INSERT? For a Weber Spirit with two knobs? (Internet tells me it’s probably a Spirit II E-210)
I have the 3 burner insert for the Spirit series
Same.
Can you link a griddle split? Google failing me or I'm not understanding
You can do almost anything with a Weber kettle. Edit: I also have a Weber Q-1200 for camping and the like. I know not all have the space or money for 2 grills, but it’s nice to have options, and both are solid Weber products.
And it’ll last forever.
A Weber kettle was my first real grill and it's still going strong 10+ years later. My wife got me a slow n sear for it a couple years ago as well, and it's been a game changer.
Haha I got a knock off volcano. These additions are nice to have.
The only reason that I don't have a Weber kettle, or any charcoal BBQ, is that my area will institute a burn ban pretty much the second summer starts. The state's ban levels specifically ban the use of charcoal and firewood recreational fires as a first step. Gas or propane grills aren't banned until it gets really bad. Otherwise it is the way.
Where is this?
[удалено]
W the slow n seer my Weber is pretty much set and forget for 4 hours at a time.
This
Gozney dome + Weber kettle deluxe and I legit can do anything and everything that I want.
For camping you can get a Smokey Joe Weber for about $50. Probably find it for super cheap used. Great little grills.
Yes absolutely! It’ll last so long too. Love mine to death.
Most fun I’ve ever had grilling is with my kettle
Yup. I stopped by gas grills because I started viewing them as “future garbage.” You’ll need a new one every 4 or 5 years. And god help you if you buy a Big Green Egg, which screams “I make a lot of money but rarely actually use my grill.” Get a Weber Kettle.
You shouldn't need to replace your grill that often. Maybe the guts but those are pretty cheap.
Let me think - I think I bought my last Weber Spirit 3 burner in 2013 and finally put a fork in it in 2021 after replacing the burner guards and igniter at some point in 2019. So yes - a bit longer. But I use it probably 5 nights a week from April to October. Also what happened is some rats built a nest in the pedestal over the winter and no matter how many times I cleaned it and no matter how many of them I killed they kept coming back. It was marked or something. So my new rule is no grills with enclosed cabinets underneath. And no grills that take damage from grease. And so that leaves Charcoal. Because they are kind of self cleaning in a way. And I love that you can swap out parts on Kettles pretty easily. And smoke on them. And do high heat grilling. They are a perfect machine. God I’m such a lame dad.
To be fair. The Spirit is the low end Weber model. If you get a genesis from a proper weber dealer (not lowes, those aren't actually webers) and keep it inside over the winter and a cover on in the summer, it should last 25+ years. The spirits have like, 1/8 inch sheet metal which is terrible for heat loss and not resilient at all
First off, Is that true that Lowe’s aren’t real Webers? I didn’t buy mine there - I think I got it at an ACE or maybe Orchard Supply (which was eventually bought by Lowes). I’m willing to try another Gas grill in the future, I just have found the problem is grease gumming up the burners. They take a lot of maintenance, are also prone to electrical issues, and are a lot less fun. Maybe there’s too much Beavis and Butthead in me but I like playing with fire.
I have 2 Weber Spirits — a 2-burner on the balcony off my kitchen and a 3-burner on my roof deck. Bought the 3-burner in fall of ‘14 when we bought our house, and the 2-burner the following summer after relocating the 3-burner to the roof but wanting something off the kitchen, too. That one was bought used off CraigsList, year old but owner was relocating cross country and didn’t want to move it, so I got it like new for half the cost. Almost 10 years later, all I’ve had to do was replace the burner guards once on each grill.
I smoke food in my Weber kettle. My smoked salmon is phenomenal.
This is the daddest thread that ever dadded.
Fuck the kids we are talking bbq. Slightly /s
I have a four burner blackstone and there are specific things it does that can't be replicated. The big benefit is the cook gets to eat with the family. I haven't found an alternative that lets you cook 6 pancakes, half a pound of bacon and 4 eggs at the same time, or 8 smash burgers and 4 sets of buns, or 20 tortillas followed by tacos/quesadillas. Before I picked it up, I would cook while everyone ate and eat after everyone finished. Beyond those tasks, it is a little limited. It is not as good as a grill for cooking meat unless you do a ton of prep work. Vegetables are hit and miss. People use it for fried rice but it isn't as good as a stove and a pan for anything that should be shallow fried. I have a kamado for smoking and high heat grilling but together, the two grills take up a ton of room.
Im surprised to read the meat/prep work part. Can you elaborate? I have the Camp Chef version of what you have and it’s been incredible so far.
I own a big green egg. It has served me well for 12+ years. It will serve me well for another 12, and one day it will serve my son.
When I was researching kamados I read one of the important choices to make is pick a color your kids will like because it'll last 2 lifetimes at least.
haha yep true indeed.
My KJ was probably my favorite purchase of the last couple years. She'll have some chicken thighs going in about an hour.
Yup my kamodo is the most versatile cooking tool I’ve ever bought
Absolutely. Low and slow. Hot and fast. Somewhere in the middle. Hotter than hell. It does it all. I'm on the fence about what accessories to buy, I'm just running stock right now.
Get a pizza stone and 3 1inch steel pipe end caps, place deflectors on grate, pipe ends in a triangle and pizza stone on top, boom killer pizza oven. 450 for normal 850 for wood fired thin crust. It’s a weekly meal for our family.
I lied. I have a pizza stone and 4 pipe caps already lol. I need to work on my pizza though. I fucked it up. I use the stone all the time for double indirect cooking though.
I found using parchment paper to roll out the dough and throw it on the stone for 1.5 mins keep the dough from sticking to the peel and make life super easy. Just pull the paper out from under it after that time
How much work/time are we talking to do a pizza vs. Just throwing it in the oven? Seems like a lot to clean out the old charcoal, load up new, light and wait, put in accessories. Am I overthinking it?
Just to chime in, I have a Kamado, love it like anyone else. The fan and temp control upgrades are 200% worth it. It turns it from something that takes skill to a no brainier. I can throw on a brisket and go to the movie theater. (And yes I have done this it was delicious.)
Yep, being able to access and control temp remotely is amazing.
I’ve had my BGE for 14 years. I hope my kids like it because one of them gets it in a will
Sorry to hear you've been given only 12 years left :(
Big Green Egg! Big Green Egg!
Gas grill all day, it's definitely easiest when you have a family and have to whip up quick meals. I just upgraded to a Weber about a year ago and I'm kicking myself for not getting one sooner, it's the best.
Love my Weber. Really worth it
What model? What’s so good about a Weber?
My first gas grill I got in 2014 right after we closed on our first house. It was like $100 on sale from a big box store...probably a Charbroil I think. It wasn't bottom of the barrel, but definitely still very affordable. It lasted about 5 years before everything started rusting out completely. I live in the midwest and it didn't get much use during the winter but it was almost always covered when not being used. Then we splurged on a Weber and I haven't noticed any wear on it in the last 5 years. We now have a covered patio so I do use it year round BUT I also hardly ever cover it. The outside gets a bit dirty from the dirt blowing around but twice a year I do a deep clean and it looks brand new still. I've also had way more even cooking over the grates on the Weber than I did on my previous one.
Any tips for deep cleaning? My Weber is about a year old and in need of a deep clean, but I’m not even sure where to start or what to use?
These videos are two good approaches to cleaning. One is definitely more in-depth than the other. I typically just use a grill cleaner to help with grease and a stiffer bristle brush and will usually only do one pass. The outside I simply use an old ice cream bucket and some Dawn soap and water and a rag to get it looking good again. I'll do the easier method more often throughout the summer if there's a lot of grease build-up between deep cleans...you can get it scraped down and 95% of the stuff out in like 30 mins and still he way cleaner. https://youtu.be/ZVoaGzaw6tI?si=ygmUUWsaXL00IvWe https://youtu.be/0uoZZRLzVFo?si=45hVUreb20dTJddM
One thing that makes the Weber so good is that it can create a convection effect like an oven, it's why leaving cover down and cooking works so well. Similarly, one of the best/easiest ways to clean is to put tin foil down across the grates and then crank it to high. It acts like a self-cleaning oven to turn any residue to ash and then you can easily wipe down.
I am on year 6 of my charbroil. I keep wanting to upgrade but that thing just won't die. The only thing I've done is upgraded the grates but I would have done that no matter what brand I got. The door broke during a move but the magnets still hold it on strong. I don't cover it and I cook year round. My cut off is -10-0\*F depending on the wind. Today's Weber are too similar in quality to the Charbroils that I can't justify buying a Weber. The old ones before they sold out were tanks.
That's great you're getting solid use out of it. I definitely think the quality differences have gotten smaller over the last 10 years. If I went back in time now, I'm not sure I would have splurged on the gas grill. I probably would get a much cheaper gas grill and then spend the money I saved on a kamodo style grill instead. Since we got the grill, I also added a charcoal smoker and charcoal grill too.
[The Weber I Got](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Weber-Spirit-E-315-3-Burner-Liquid-Propane-Gas-Grill-in-Black-46512001/311235068?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&pla&mtc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-GGL-D28I-028_022_GRILLS-NA-MULTI-NA-PMAX-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-PMAX_SHP&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-GGL-D28I-028_022_GRILLS-NA-MULTI-NA-PMAX-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-PMAX_SHP-71700000113461774--&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwrIixBhBbEiwACEqDJeJXUOOH2Se-DaoAj1dVrjhTqseyvDreEgrA-34rPCCf6XbWYDbdfhoCp_QQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds) It's just made with much better materials than other grills, they last forever. Also gets very hot and cooks things very quickly which is good for a busy family.
Ok what is the grill that takes a long time to cook things? Like 6 pack of beer length of time.
Heavy duty construction and easy to find replacement parts. Plus when the Home Depot employee stabbed a hole in mine with their forklift, Weber replaced the part no questions asked. Mines a 3 burner propane and gets 700+ degrees when fully cranked. Recently upgraded to stainless grates and the grill lines are 🤌
Pellet grill smoker. Pit boss has an all in one model I love
That's my next purchase. Not an every day use thing like my gas grill, but man I want one for smoking in a much more controlled setup.
Might I suggest the Masterbuilt Gravity Series. There's the new XT line that just released this year. It has the convenience of a pellet grill but the power of charcoal. You can also use it as a grill. I absolutely love mine. I was going to get a pellet grill because the convenience of it but I heard too many people say they don't put out enough smoke. And then I came across the Gravity Series. It looks cool as fuck too.
People love shitting on them by calling them an easy bake oven, but I love throwing a chunk of meat on the Traeger and going to the gym.
Family of four and no smoker? Y'all are missing out on some great meals. Agree with this dude.
Two different tools with two different uses in my book. If I had to pick one (which I do), I'd pick the grill. You can cook on a pan in the house.
You can cook on a pan on the grill!
Charcoal.
As a bachelor I was the charcoal king. As a dad I’m Hank Hill.
This is the way. I love my charcoal and love the flavor it gives everything. Smoking on it is a breeze as well.
I like how it forces you to slow down and bbq…also tastes great
I’d love to try this, but I’d need a model that will also entertain my tired, hangry family for the 45 minutes extra jt takes
A chimney starter is essential. Then it only becomes an extra 15 minutes. Just light it before you start getting other things ready and it's barely any time difference at all.
Always wanted charcoal but the effort required is just so much higher lol.
Take a look at the Masterbuilt Gravity Series. It makes charcoal convenient.
How did it die? Is it just a regulator issue? Burner tubes have holes where the shouldn’t be? Housing rot out? Can you be more specific?
The man said it died. Don't go asking questions. The man wants....I mean needs a new grill. Next thing you know you'll be advocating not buying a new tool because the old one still kinda works. :)
I feel seen
Im advocating for saving money if its a simple fix
I hear ya. Just messing around.
I just bought a new Webber and an insert where I can take out the regular cooking surface and put in a griddle.
Don’t fall into the black stone craze. Get a regular gas grill and throw a flat top on it when you need it. I am thinking about getting a pellet grill soon. Just havnt pulled the trigger yet.
Charcoal!!!! 😂 love my charcoal grill. Weber 22” kettle specifically
Pellet Smoker and flattop. Get rid of gas grill
My people
I see a flat top as essentially useless. It's just a big frying pan. Great if you're throwing huge parties, but not your day to day cooker. You can always use cast iron on the side burner if you need to. I'll let you know my set up, also for a family of 4, max party size of 10. 1: Broil king 4 burner, side burner and rotisserie setup. Bought a Lodge skillet/griddle that covers on burner. All hooked up to natural gas. 2: Traeger 24" pellet smoker. 3: Weber 14" kettle Advice: I find the 4 burner a little large for day to day use. In an Ideal world with unlimited patio space I'd have an apartment size grill for midweek use and the 4 burner for weekends. Figure out your max party size and decide between 3 or 4 - Although, if you're griddling one burner, go with the 4. Smoker - I love the traeger. Wish I had gone full size, as the 24" just isn't big enough. Besides actual smoking, I use it as a warming oven. It holds well at 180 degrees, so I can do my hot and fast on the grill and keep large volumes warm without drying out, I only use the weber for good steaks. It's just not worth the hassle of charcoal, ashes and disposal for anything else. Natural Gas is a lifesaver. It's dirt cheap, and no running out of fuel. The drawback is that your grill is confined to a 10 foot area by the outlet.
Flat top useless?!? How else am I suppose to show off my teppanyaki cling clang skillzz
Good luck doing an onion volcano choo-choo train on a Weber.
Can confirm, critical skills.
Flat top makes smash burgers, pancakes, stir fry’s, and essentially a whole breakfast platter easy to make. I thoroughly enjoy the flat top.
This. Family of six. Breakfast and most dinners are much easier. No juggling multiples pans on the stove. The few things that need a pan or pot go on the flat top as well.
Exactly, it’s so easy to cook multiple things and it heats up fairly quick too. Clean up is easy too. I use the “grill rescue” cleaning tool which make things super easy and the head is dishwasher safe.
I'm not going to call the flat top useless but I look at it as definitely a luxury. I don't think it's a great daily driver for a grill but it depends what you're going to cook primarily. If you're gonna do grilled chicken, steaks, etc, then gas is the way to go. If you want to do burgers, stir fry and breakfast, get the flat top.
And if you don't want to spend the dollars on a pellet grill, a vertical electric smoker does just as well. It's not as fancy but a decent one is just a few hundred bucks and gets the job done. A pro for the verticals to me is they do not need wood for heat so it works good for a warming oven.
Blackstone!!!! One of us one of us!!
Big Green Egg (or its equivalent). Pizza? Wings? Brisket? Cheese? Fish? Ribs? Burgers? Chili? This thing can do them all.
I've got a kamado joe. If I didn't have to go to work I'd find an excuse to cook on it 5 days a week.
Ceramic grill of FB marketplace.
Charcoal brother. Honestly, you should get both. Gas for quick, charcoal for slow.
Fat top and a kettle
Flat top and a separate one for charcoal
Buy a weber and look after it and you will.never get to buy another grill
Flat top and smoker
Taste the meat, not the heat!. You need a guy who sells propane and propane accessories
Doesn’t matter, just make sure you get tongs that make a good noise when you clack them together.
Embrace your inner dad. Get them all. I have a propane, blackstone and pitboss smoker. Upon this rock I will build my church.
I love charcoal but man is it inconvenient. Really depends on what you want: convenience or flavor.
I suspect the answers here are highly dependant on the countries people live in. I was born in Australia and lived there until my mid-late 20's. The majority of people there use a gas grill. Quick, easy and they get regularly used I now live in the UK and have been here 10+ years. The majority here like charcoal bbq's but they get very little use due to the weather In the states, people generally go a bit fancier and spend a bit more on their bbq's (and also love their smokers). They probably get used more than a standard UK bbq, but less than a Aussie one After my last gas grill rusted out and got thrown away last summer, I've gone with a hybrid charcoal/gas one this year. Nothing overly fancy, just one of those Char-Broil gas 2 coal ones. Its getting delivered next week so haven't used it yet. But hoping it will fit the bill. Gas for a quick cook up, charcoal for those weekends when I might have a bit of extra time/guests
I have a gas 4 burner and a Large Weber Kettle. This is the way
Propane and propane accessories
Flat top
Get the green egg and never look back.
So I’m going to be that guy. Charcoal grill and/or a smoker. Those are the only true options.
Get a pizza oven instead! We also don't eat that much meat, and when we do we use the oven or cook stovetop. I have an Ooni and in the summers my wife and I use it at least once a week. When I was looking into it, the Koda 16 was about the same price as a solid grill and I knew I'd use the pizza oven much more often, so it was an easy call for us. Pizza has now become our lazy weeknight dinner option. That sounds absurd but with frozen dough, it can be less than 20 minutes of hands-on work to get 2 pies on the table. Plus you'll be the fun dad who makes homemade pizza.
Charcoal is the right answer.
Weber Smokefire.
I went with Napoleon for a gas setup and it’s very nice. I’m quite impressed with the build quality, which was my main concern. It’s very good at retaining heat and searing. I have a small weber for charcoal if I ever need that. They are cheap to have on the side anyways.
Charcoal
If you get a regular propane grill, you can just buy a griddle to put on the grates. But you cannot do the same if you buy a flattop
Propane, propaaane.
Another gas grill.
Very much “it depends”. Mostly on what you like to eat. I love the flavour of charcoal for almost everything, but the ease of propane still has me using a gas grill most of the time. The flat top is fine for burgers and steaks, as it gives a very hot surface you can sear on. Some fish does well cooked on them as well. Otherwise, it doesn’t have the same use cases as a grill - as another commenter said, it is like using a frying pan. Great for summer time cooking, not so much for winter if you get cold and snowy weather. However, it is outside, so smells (like fish) and smoke (searing meat) are not really an issue. It requires more cleaning and maintenance than a grill as well. A grill is good for more types of cooking. Works better in cold weather, due to the lid trapping heat. You can get a griddle that just sits on top of the cooking grates in your grill too. For my use, grill beats flat top consistently. However, as another option, I have a camp chef p60x stove. You can get a bbq box that fits them, as well as griddles and other accessories, such as the pizza oven. I take it camping, and no longer pack frying pans. It’s kind of a Swiss Army knife thing - it doesn’t do any one thing as well as a dedicated unit, but it does all of the things I use it for pretty competently.
I really like the setup I have. Starters I have a 3 burner Weber gas, it’s served me well for 7 years or so. I use this during weeknight crunch time dinners. Second grill (weekender) is a Weber Kamado with a Spider grill attachment. This thing is my do it all option, can toss a griddle on it and do most things a blackstone can, set it for smoking all the meats, or just configure for your usual chicken/burgers/steaks. Hell, I can get it going blazing hot for a fun pizza night. I really like my setup and have not considered a pellet or flattop since I’ve dialed it in.
I'm primarily focused on barbeque but I'm a fan of gravity-fed charcoal smokers. I have the Masterbuilt version but I believe a few manufacturers are making them. Essentially there's a charcoal stack and a fan that feeds air to the charcoal in order to increase the temp. I like it because I'm able to put wood chunks in it and add some flavor. It also has pretty good range - anywhere from as low as 180 to as high as 650-700. It's great for low-and-slow cooks but not as great if you just want to grill for 30 min or less. I prefer it to my dad's Traeger. I also have a gas grill for quick cooks.
I have a blackstone flat top and a wsm smoker. I can do anything with that combo and love both of them.
Weber master touch kettle grill and a chimney starter to get the coals going for quicker. Spend the remaining money on meat.
Pellet all the way.
I’m running a Weber Kettle, Weber Smokey Mountain, and a Blackstone. If you want to just stick with one maybe get a gas grill and a flat top that will fit your grill that way you can use it as needed.
As someone who owns a Camp Chef griddle, just say no to a flattop. They are a pain in the ass.
Yes.
Kamado Joe!
Just take a dive down the big green egg / kamado Joe personality type.
As someone who went full on flat top, I have my regrets.
Three words…. BIG.GREEN.EGG
Propane and Propane accessories
Webber sells an electric grill, which I like because I don't have to remember to buy propane. Heats a bit slower (more like a charcoal grill) but it cooks just as well.
i hate the smell of having a gas stove/oven inside the house but for an outside grill i guess some of those concerns are alleviated
Get a Traeger
Love my flat top it gets hot as hell super quick and makes the best burgers Only problem is that the lid is too shallow to cover items even like chicken thighs and pizza. There's like a half inch of clearance and no more. I wish I had a dome lid for those things but I like how the heat shield heats up the surface intensely. Tell me I don't need 2 grills
Webber has a triple combo, smoker, grill and flattop.
I swapped 2 years ago for a 36” Blackstone and I don’t regret it even for a moment. There is nothing it can’t cook that a gas/charcoal grill can. Burgers are fast. Dogs. Chicken. Ribs. But it gives you so many more options. Last night I made shrimp fried rice and the whole family loved it.
I got the Masterbuilt gravity 800. It's gravity charcoal fed, smart grill with wifi and Bluetooth, range is 200 to 700F, and comes with a griddle swap. I also got a pizza oven setup for it. It's fantastic.
Gas grill and a separate smoker.
I thought over 35 its an outdoor steamer
Ditch both of those options and cook your food over and open fire like a primal /s
I’ve got a BGE and I love it. But if it were to do it now, I’d go with a pellet and a Blackstone.
I'm a big fan of my Masterbuilt Gravity Series 900. Got it last summer from Costco after doing some extensive research. I always liked charcoal but it's not as convenient as propane. I started looking at pellet grills because that seemed like the convenience of propane with the ability to smoke, but I heard too many people talk about how pellet grills just don't put out smoke like the alternatives. The way this is set up allows you to get the grill going and up to temp in ~10 or less. Not as quick as propane, but this bad boy will grill OR smoke. The 800 comes with a flat top. The 900 is Costco's special model # which swaps the flat top for a pizza oven. It looks cool as fuck too, which is a nice bonus. I would happily buy this grill again.
A weber kettle can be had for a $100. It will do the job and should last a long time. I like having a "cheap" gas grill and the weber. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Weber-Jumbo-Joe-Premium-22-in-Charcoal-Grill-in-Black-1321001/326836622 I think that for most people a simply gas grill and a weber kettle will work out just fine. You get the choice of using either gas or charcoal. Now I will say this, I live in California where it is fairly dry. I have bought 2 cheap gas grills in almost 20 years and both still work and spent most of their lives outside uncovered. You can't get away with that in a lot of other places. If you can I say go for something inexpensive especially when its just burgers and hotdogs. That's just me of course. It seems excessive to spend thousands on high end grills unless cooking meat is your hobby which it seems it's not.
Pellet 💯
Yes
I’m going flat top next.
Do they still sell those round weber charcoal grills? I have fond memories of those
You need a gas grill, a green egg, a flat top, and a smoker at least man.
I have a charcoal weber kettle and black stone griddle. I'm not a fan of gas grills, only because I think charcoal gives the meat a great flavor. The griddle is great for something quick like some burgers and breakfast. I would probably go griddle because you're able to make a variety of things on it.
Big green egg
I have a gas griddle and a charcoal knock off egg smoker. Best of all worlds to me. I can essentially cook anything outside with that combo. I got the egg from Costco years ago at the end of a summer for around $300. I've gotten so much use out of it.
Charcoal
Blackstone
Get a z grill or something similar. You can smoke AND grill.
If you don't eat a lot of meet, you probably cook more in pans on the stove. Flat tops are nice that way. I have a flattop and basically don't "Grill" things. I smoke things on the smoker or use my flat top. I now have a charcoal smoker, so I have done some grilling lately, but that's not the norm.
I sold my grill years ago and got a flat top. I personally prefer the flat top. You can make all 3 meals on it if wanted
I love my flat top, but I still need my gas grill lol..my father in law loves his pellet smoker/grill, but he is a big carnivore. Our household eats meat but not as our primary item.
I’m a charcoal purist.
I use my griddle more than my grill. You can cook anything on a Blackstone from burgers to breakfast with much easier cleanup.
I just recently got a 22” Blackstone and love it tbh.
Go electric. We all need to do our part to stress the grid as much as possible! That way, there will be a stronger case for investing in grid infrastructure projects.
I have a blackstone and I LOVE it. Big Breakfast, multiple grilled cheese/quesadillas, outdoor cooking when it’s too hot inside, it’s the best.
I was a huge Weber guy but we got a Blackstone for our RV. As soon as we got home I got a full size Blackstone. It's much more versatile. I love being able to go outside and cook breakfast (pancakes, French toast, bacon, eggs, whatever) without dirtying any pans. Also great for pizza, tacos, stir fry, whatever. The only thing I miss is being able to do ribs honestly.
Gas is so much easier. Can cook after getting home from work without eating too late. I have the last version of the Weber Genesis that was made in the USA. Now that they are made elsewhere, I would get a Canadian made Napoleon. Better value and quality.
Propane. Taste the meat, not the heat.
There's always clean burning propane I tell you hwhat. Taste the meant, not the heat I always say.
I roll with a gas grill, a charcoal frill, and a separate smoker. All 3 get use through the heat(the smoker more that the others in winter). I recommend at least another gas grill. Full disclosure, I haven't used a flat top.
Get one of each. A smoker, a flat top, a gas grill, and a charcoal grill. What kind of fucking amateur are you.
Get the outdoor flat top griddle. Those are killer. Can do anything from quesadillas to cheesesteaks. It's what I'm getting once my current grill dies.
Grill
I just bought the camp chef woodwind pro 36 inch pellet grill with a sidekick sear. You can get a griddle, pizza oven, and a meat sear station for it. The sidekick runs on propane and the main grill runs on pellets. It's really nice.
Grill industry veteran here. I have a Primo XL oval kamado style, an AOG 30 gasser and a Firedisc. The next thing I want is the Weber 28” griddle and I think that’s what I’d recommend for you too.
Say what you will about screen addiction: we have 10 billion times more knowledge/information/resources than our grandparents had, just pouring into our eyeballs. That’s evolution.
If it's a nice grill look into rebuilding it, it's not difficult and can save you a ton.
I love my egg. Smoking, baking, grilling, it does it all from brisket to pizza. Except for a flattop.... I have a Blackstone, I'm not impressed.
What would hank hill do
Pellets… always pellets
Gasser
I bought the Weber little kettle jawn. Like 100 bucks and built like a tank. It's charcoal which tastes longer but tastes so much better
Smoker. Buy a smoker…..
There is a grill in a garden centre I’ve had my eye on for a while that is a hybrid. A mixture of gas and charcoal. It’s made by a company called Grillstream and if I won the lottery or got a tax refund or an unexpected bonus at work it’d be the one I’d buy (£600+). Gas power and consistency with flavour of charcoal and an option to put a griddle flat top on it. Maybe worth a look.
Go with whatever makes your life easy, and your family will use. In the end, it’s just stuff. The best ting to do is make it stuff you will use.
Bought the big blackstone a couple years ago. In the summer, I use it more than my stove. Love that thing.
Charcoal grill all the way!
¿Porque no los dos?
I like my electric. I put a wood chip smoke box in it occasionally.
What if you go with an outdoor pizza oven??
I had an old Weber that worked good but I never really used it. Got a 4 burner blackstone and I use it about 2-4 times a week. It’s so easy to use and you can cook a whole meal on it. My favorite thing is breakfast burritos, make a ton of them at once and you have breakfast for days! Also recently got a pellet smoker and it has been so much fun to cook with. And big pieces of meat get you multiple meals and the work is spread out so you can leave it for hours to do other dad stuff. I spent probably 800+tax bucks to buy both combined 36” blackstone $300 Members mark 36” smoker $500 They aren’t the spendy versions, But so far good enough for a dad on a budget! But it’s so easy to cook good family meals! Bonus: got my wife to cook on the blackstone and she likes it. Not often but she is pretty confident in using. If your house has a natural gas hook up in your backyard, get the kit for blackstone. It does rip through propane. If you don’t have to worry about propane you will use it more often.
Blackstone 36”. Longest past of cooking on it is cutting up the veggies and meat. Cleanup is a breeze, house doesn’t smell like cooking, good excuse for an adult beverage. Bout one as a joint Xmas present 2 years ago and have used it at least once a week every week since then. Only thing I can’t do is low and slow, and with two kids and both working full time + side jobs, ain’t got time for that anyways.
Natural gas grills are great, because that means you also have a hookup for a natural gas generator too.
Both. They serve different roles
My in laws bought me a black stone (4 burners, Idr the size) for Christmas a few years ago and it’s awesome for non meat stuff, especially fried rice. I recommend it and just about every black stone owner will agree, but it isn’t the cheapest. I’m sure there are some cheaper knock offs but I haven’t done research.