Hybrid Grill

[snubbyfan]

I recently found out that there's a thing called a "hybrid grill" that can be used with either propane or charcoal in the same grill.
I've got an old Sunbeam propane grill that needs new guts and my charcoal grill that's getting kinda rickety.
I might just havta take them both to the metal scrapper and get myself one of them there hybrid grills.
That's pretty cool, charcoal when there's time and propane for cooking a bit quicker.
We don't have A/C and in the middle of summer when it's hottest, I'll cook outside to keep from heating up the house.
Cooking on propane would work great for that.
Plus it has a side burner for cooking the side dishes.
Should still have time for a beer or two and an Arturo Fuente Cubanito cigar.

Does anybody here have one of these "hybrid grills" and does it work well?

 

[kwselke]

I've seen some in big box store grlls which have two separate cooking compartments, one for propane the other for charcoal/wood fire. They were of lower quality and basically two grills on the same cart. Weber makes one call the Profomer (I believe) that uses propane to light charcoal in a kettle style grill all in a cart with a table. I've heard of grills that use gas or charcoal in the same cooking compartment, but they were crazy expensive so I never paid much attention to them. I my opinion the most versatile grill available is a standard 22" Weber Kettle. The basic kettle will cost less than $100 and last a lifetime. Cheap propane grills only last a year or two before costly overhauls are needed. Your home appears to have room for two grills, that's probably going to be your best bet.

 

[chief38]

Snubby,
I do not have a "hybrid" grill but would think that the charcoal residue would eventually clog the outlet jets of the propane burner. Maybe I am just being a skeptic but I'd personally buy one or the other. Charcoal is probably a little better for taste (once the starter fluid totally burns off) and while I do sometimes miss my old Charcoal grill, I quickly get over it with the sheer convenience of a Propane grill.

We grill often and I have sort of lost my patience waiting for the Charcoal to get gray - although it's a PERFECT excuse to smoke a Stogie and have a drink . Hey maybe THAT"S why you like Charcoal - LOL!

 

[raisedin99]

Weber makes one call the Profomer (I believe) that uses propane to light charcoal in a kettle style grill all in a cart with a table.

We have a Performer by Weber, comes with a 5#gas tank to be filled with propane, lower grill is heavy duty and you pile charcoal on it directly above the gas burner, turn on the gas, hit the push button ignition and the charcoal will be ready to cook in about 7 minutes, turn off the gas spread out the hot coals thrown the top grate on and the meat. The convenience is it takes very little gas to get the charcoal to light, although they seem to be getting pretty much pricey these days

terry

 

[Tradewind36]

Sounds interesting, I'm kinda set in my ways and can't see me using anything but my Weber and a bag of Kingsford.

 

[Onomea]

I'm with the two grills camp. Get your Sunbeams new guts, and fix up the rickety charcoal grill.

Or, look for deals on replacements on Craigs List or OfferUp.

For stove top burner cooking outdoors, check out Camp Chef's propane rigs, e.g., Camp Chef Maximum Output Single Cooker Stove at $60.

A hybrid grill sounds to me sort of like one of those cars that can fly: Neither a very good car, nor a very good airplane. (Not that I have experince with a hybrid, ya understand.)

 

[H Richard]

I resisted a gas grill for years, and just this last month purchased my first gas grill. Since I've used Weber charcoal grills for years, I went with a Weber gas, 3 burner. So far I'm wondering why I waited so long. I've done steaks, chops and burgers so far and don't think I'll be going back to the charcoal very much, probably for doing an whole turkey though. Love those on the Weber.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

When ONE item is task to do two things......Usually it does neither well.....

Me. I'm a charcoal guy......Never could get good wood smoke flavor out of propane......

 

[chief38]

I resisted a gas grill for years, and just this last month purchased my first gas grill. Since I've used Weber charcoal grills for years, I went with a Weber gas, 3 burner. So far I'm wondering why I waited so long. I've done steaks, chops and burgers so far and don't think I'll be going back to the charcoal very much, probably for doing an whole turkey though. Love those on the Weber.

IMHO Weber is about the best you can get in a "normal priced grill". Yes, you can buy a Linx or other $5,000 - 8,000 professional type grill, but unless you are cooking for a small army nor using it for professional catering, the Weber will do all that is asked of it. Just finished eating what I cooked on mine tonight!

Mine ( Weber Silver - C ) is about 22 years old and the only part that's been replaced has been the gas tank regulator.

 

[DeathGrip]

My combo is a Weber Q1000 and a Weber Smokey Joe.

That combo will run you a little over $200.

I use the gas on my covered porch and the charcoal out in the yard. No weather issues and no time constraints. Both are economical to run.

Snubby, Look into it. For what y'all cook it might be a good thing.

 

[Onomea]

I like having both charcoal and gas/propane. In my case the gas is a Weber Genesis 1000 from circa 1997. I keep it covered but have replaced the lid handle with homemade handles twice, and three years ago replaced the flavorizer bars and the grill grates, as they were rotting through. (Probably should have cleaned it more often.) Replaced the regulator maybe ten years ago. Works great.

For charcoal I have a Weber kettle, bought maybe seven or eight years ago. Keep it covered, too. I recently bought for it an a heavy stainless steel attachment called a Slow 'n Sear, which has been getting rave reviews. Turns the kettle into a slow and low smoker, as well as a super high heat searing device for steaks. Been thinking about trying some smoking.

 

[DeathGrip]

Another good point, Weber parts are always available but as above in Onomea's post you can get extra things to do even more.

 

[coltle6920]

snubby... What ever you do try to get something with a rotisserie.This way you wont have to put down the beer or cigar to turn the food.

 

[coltle6920]

Not trying to sell this product but it seems to cover all bases.It has a side burner to put a pan on,separate section for propane,separate section for charcoal and another for smoking.Seems you can use one section at a time or all of them.Cost was $380.A longer search online would probably give more results including better known brands.

 

[chief38]

While we all have our different opinions on Grills the IMPORTANT THING is we GET OUT AND GRILL - no matter what the equipment is!!!

 

[snubbyfan]

I've seen some in big box store grlls which have two separate cooking compartments, one for propane the other for charcoal/wood fire. They were of lower quality and basically two grills on the same cart. Weber makes one call the Profomer (I believe) that uses propane to light charcoal in a kettle style grill all in a cart with a table. I've heard of grills that use gas or charcoal in the same cooking compartment, but they were crazy expensive so I never paid much attention to them. I my opinion the most versatile grill available is a standard 22" Weber Kettle. The basic kettle will cost less than $100 and last a lifetime. Cheap propane grills only last a year or two before costly overhauls are needed. Your home appears to have room for two grills, that's probably going to be your best bet.

I'm inclined to agree. We do have room in our garage for storing two grills.
I don't need anything big and fancy, it's usually just for my wife and myself.
Back when we were making decent money we usta host back yard barbecues. We'd supply the food and beer.
Our one charcoal grill was plenty big enough.
Our Sunbeam propane grill worked fine when it works. I've already replaced the guts. They rusted into a pile of scrap after a couple of uses.
I'm reluctant to spend any more money on it.

 

[snubbyfan]

Snubby,
I do not have a "hybrid" grill but would think that the charcoal residue would eventually clog the outlet jets of the propane burner. Maybe I am just being a skeptic but I'd personally buy one or the other. Charcoal is probably a little better for taste (once the starter fluid totally burns off) and while I do sometimes miss my old Charcoal grill, I quickly get over it with the sheer convenience of a Propane grill.

We grill often and I have sort of lost my patience waiting for the Charcoal to get gray - although it's a PERFECT excuse to smoke a Stogie and have a drink . Hey maybe THAT"S why you like Charcoal - LOL!

I used to keep the propane grill just inside the overhead garage door. Open the door, fire up the grill and cook meat. It was convenient.
I do prefer the taste coming off the charcoal grill.
And, well, I gotta do something while waiting on the charcoal.

 

[snubbyfan]

I'm with the two grills camp. Get your Sunbeams new guts, and fix up the rickety charcoal grill.

Or, look for deals on replacements on Craigs List or OfferUp.

For stove top burner cooking outdoors, check out Camp Chef's propane rigs, e.g., Camp Chef Maximum Output Single Cooker Stove at $60.

A hybrid grill sounds to me sort of like one of those cars that can fly: Neither a very good car, nor a very good airplane. (Not that I have experince with a hybrid, ya understand.)

That's what I was wondering. a grill that does both but does it do it well? Or will it be a frustrating mess?

 

[snubbyfan]

While we all have our different opinions on Grills the IMPORTANT THING is we GET OUT AND GRILL - no matter what the equipment is!!!

Yup, planning on grillin' some pork today.
Today's cigar? I'm gonna try a Cuban Rounds natural in toro.

 

[kwselke]

I'm inclined to agree. We do have room in our garage for storing two grills.
I don't need anything big and fancy, it's usually just for my wife and myself.
Back when we were making decent money we usta host back yard barbecues. We'd supply the food and beer.
Our one charcoal grill was plenty big enough.
Our Sunbeam propane grill worked fine when it works. I've already replaced the guts. They rusted into a pile of scrap after a couple of uses.
I'm reluctant to spend any more money on it.

If you normally grill for two you could get by with one of the 18.5" Weber Kettles or smaller portable Smokey Joe models. What you give up is flexibility for indirect cooking of large items like pork butt, baby back ribs, whole birds, and such.

A 22" base level Weber Kettle should be $100 or less. A small Weber Q model gas grill that runs on a 20# Propane tank will probably be $200 and will be handy for quick burgers, steaks, or chicken breasts. It cost more to keep fixing a cheap gas grill than to buy a new cheap gas grill. If you are just looking for a gas side burner, a Cajun style turkey fryer/craw-fish boil burner will be $50 to $100 and last for years.

On a limited budget I'd get a 22" Weber Kettle and a chimney style charcoal starter. Lighter fluid is expensive and stinky.