Webber or not to barbeque

Kiwi cop

Kiwi cop

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A number of years ago Karen and I bought a new four burner gas barbeque for the house for Christmas from a big box retailer. I put it together just after the New Year then, before we had a chance to use it, a fall at work saw me with a rotator cuff injury for 18 months that required two surgeries to fix. During this time the unused barbeque sat on our back deck.

The following summer wasn’t. It was more of a 6 month wet spring, and then Karen got sick, so that barbeque just sat on the deck.

It had a cover over it but it would get blown off in every storm. Being a cheap unit the top and frame began to rust. Several months ago I went o move the barbeque to get the house ready for painting and the wheels fell of. Literally.

The rust had cut through the axles and parts of the frame, so the barbeque ended up on a trip to the landfill.

Now I have a taste for barbeque meat, preferably occasionally sm smoked and slow cooked. I am looking at getting another new barbeque. The issue is that there are really just the two of us (Ryan prefers to cook his own meals) and after such a long time as housebound hermits we don’t entertain at home any more, so we do not need the big four burner.

I can get a small two burner from a big box store relatively cheaply but my eye has been caught by the Webber range, specifically the baby Webber with the transportable stand. The issue is that the cost is about five times the big box unit.

So my delimma is, is the Webber worth’s the extra cost?
 
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Consider an electric meat smoker to replace the Webber. I find it works great.

I also had a Webber. All I saved from the rust bucket was the grill which I keep hanging on the garage wall until I put it to use on my DIY backyard fireplace (a concrete pad with stacked bricks positioned to allow airflow into the fire chamber).
 
I have a Green Egg, 4 burner propane and a Weber. They all have a useful purpose. I think the 22 inch Weber is one of the great American inventions. Beware of cheaper imitations, they just don't cook the same. Thanksgiving Turkey on the Weber is one of the tastiest and easiest meals I cook. The propane grill is best for steaks. The Green Egg is good for a lot of things, but especially for wood fired pizza.

P.S. to the Kiwi cop. I spent a lot of time in your beautiful country and had several great BBQ meals there. I did have a really hard time finding iced tea. I had to order a hot tea and a glass of ice and make it myself. I must have seemed like a Martian to the waitress.
 
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URIT said:
Consider an electric meat smoker to replace the Webber. I find it works great.

I also had a Webber. All I saved from the rust bucket was the lgrill which I keep hanging on the garage wall until I put it to use on my DIY backyard fireplace (a concrete pad with stacked bricks positioned to allow airflow into the fire chamber).
Click to expand...

Growing up, and into my 30’s, a real man barbecued on flames using a hollow block fire pit and later poured concrete. It would take at least an hour to get good hot coals/charcoal to cook over using a 1/4” steel plate to cook on.

Afterwards we would sit around the barbecue drinking a beer or three and telling tall tales. Then I discovered gas. So much easier. Turn it on, push the ignition button, wait for it to reach temperature and cook. No more singed hairs on the thighs from the heat of the coals. :D:D:D

The Webber probably will not cold smoke as well as a smoke chamber, but that can be added on a concrete or brick pad later (I have quite a few old chimney bricks that were used for garden edging that I pulled out and have stacked up in a corner) but it may make do as a hot smoker.

I have actually even looked at an electric Webber :eek::eek::eek:
 
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windypoint said:
I have a Green Egg, 4 burner propane and a Weber. They all have a useful purpose. I think the 22 inch Weber is one of the great American inventions. Beware of cheaper imitations, they just don't cook the same. Thanksgiving Turkey on the Weber is one of the tastiest and easiest meals I cook. The propane grill is best for steaks. The Green Egg is good for a lot of things, but especially for wood fired pizza.

P.S. to the Kiwi cop. I spent a lot of time in your beautiful country and had several great BBQ meals there. I did have a really hard time finding iced tea. I had to order a hot tea and a glass of ice and make it myself. I must have seemed like a Martian to the waitress.
Click to expand...

To us iced tea is a sweetened drink sold in dairies and gas station convenience stores. It is a non fizzy soft drink usually flavoured with peach, lemon and lime.

I tried iced tea a few times while in the US. Strong and a bit bitter to my taste, even though I don’t usually add sugar to food and drink I did add a spoonful the last time I ordered it.
 
Webers, taken care of, do last darn near forever. Spare parts readily available, too. You need a cover that has velcro straps that let you strap it down against the wind.

I have a big gas Weber, Genesis 1000, built in 1998, that is still going strong. I’m on my third cover at this point. I have replaced some of the parts over the years.

I also have a Weber charcoal kettle, and prefer the taste, but it is of course more work. I’ve had that one since 2010 or so, and am on my second cover. I use it every Christmas to cook up a large roast of beef when my boys come home.

For the two of you, “occasionally smoked and slow cooked,” would you consider charcoal? Can’t beat the flavor. If so, what about the Weber 121020 Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill? In the US, about $50 or so off Amazon. I bought this one for my patio in Oregon, but have not used it yet.

When all I want is steak, but don’t want to smoke up the kitchen, I use an Iwatani 35F butane stove on the patio that puts out 15K BTUs, more than a typical burner on a range, and a cast iron frying pan. Quick and simple.

For fish, the Japanese have cheap (maybe $30 or so?), easy to clean, fish grills, which have electric elements above and below the grill, one temperature, and all you do is set the time. Keeps that fishy smell outside, but does a perfect job cooking ‘em up.

While I don’t own any, I admire Camp Chef products. Look compact and very well built. Might be worth looking into.

I think your decision should rest on what you want to cook, and how frequently you anticipate cooking.

amazingribs.com is an excellent site about barbecuing, grills, reviews, recipes, etc. Worth a look for sure.
 
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Eric300 said:
Get a Treager pellet grill and you won't be sorry. I used to love to BBQ on my Weber grills until I got a Treager.
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That's Traeger and yes they are very nice but, they are also VERY expensive. They do however, offer features I've never seen offered on any other brand grill (wood burning or charcoal) ............like controllable, consistent temperatures. Takes the guess work out of figuring out how much or how little fuel to use to get the correct result.
 
I can't answer for how today's Weber's are built BECAUSE my 23 year old Weber Silver C is still going strong and I've never had to replace it. The only parts I've replaced are the tank regulator valve, the ignitor and the grill cover. Other than that, it has never failed me. :) I'd buy another in a heartbeat!
 

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I'm still using my 18 year old Weber. It is a 4 burner, I find it just the right size for the two of us. Turn the front off back burners on and a chicken/Turkey on the front and perfect. Complete meals, ribs, corn on the cob, veggies all on the grill, no mess in the kitcken.
Pork Tenderloin no problem. And let's not forget the Stripped Bass. Life is good!
 
As I type, I enjoy grilling and love smoking.. Over the years I was always a Weber gas grill guy after purchasing my 1st one. To date, I believe I purchased 4 of them, and there's a good chance they are all working still.
Purchased a couple for a couple of girlfriends many moons ago, when I left, they stayed. When I hooked up with my wife, 15 years ago, I of course purchased another 3 burner one... It's still like new and I use it lots. It's been flawless, cept for a couple of covers.. Now the problem is, they ain't cheap, but worth every penny if one can afford it.

Now, the little Weber is dynomite too. I have one of those in the motor home, had that one forever too.. cheap money and plenty big enough for a cooking surface. Cheap money too, around $200... get the bigger of the 2 little ones if you go that route.


Now, if you want to smoke, lots of options there too. I started smoking about 3-4 years ago when the wife bought me a Bradley electric smoker, I fell in love with that. In fact, I'm probably gonna cook up a batch of ribs tomorrow. But my dilemma is.... I have 2 smokers now, which I will tell you about next cause that may be the perfect choice for what you want …. a griller\smoker combo. The Bradley smoker is great for a pretty much set and forget it for long periods of time smoker. Since I plan on hitting the gun club tomorrow morning for some trap, sight in one of my muzzle-loaders and maybe a turkey shoot, I'll probably use my Bradley. I'll have 3 hours to play while the 1st step of my rib cooking is 3 hours.


Let me tell you about what I think will be the perfect choice for you …. the Char-Griller Akorn Kamado. It's so damn neat, you can grill, smoke, cook a pizza, anything you like. I use hardwood lump charcoal, it's easy to fire up, almost as easy and just as quick to get up to temp as my Weber. Meats cooked on charcoal taste better than on a gas grill. Lets just say, I haven't used my Weber since I got the Akorn. I smoked our turkey for Thanksgiving on the Akorn, it was awesome. When I'm done cooking, I close the vents, it cuts out the oxygen, puts out the coals and saves them for the next cook... I could go on and on … but I hope this helps .. if you want more info, I'll be happy to come on back...

The best price I found for this is Home DEpot, check it out, $300 is a homerun. I researched reviews and choices for months, this was the one for me..
 
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Kiwi cop said:
A number of years ago Karen and I bought a new four burner gas barbeque for the house for Christmas from a big box retailer. I put it together just after the New Year then, before we had a chance to use it, a fall at work saw me with a rotator cuff injury for 18 months that required two surgeries to fix. During this time the unused barbeque sat on our back deck.

The following summer wasn’t. It was more of a 6 month wet spring, and then Karen got sick, so that barbeque just sat on the deck.

It had a cover over it but it would get blown off in every storm. Being a cheap unit the top and frame began to rust. Several months ago I went o move the barbeque to get the house ready for painting and the wheels fell of. Literally.

The rust had cut through the axles and parts of the frame, so the barbeque ended up on a trip to the landfill.

Now I have a taste for barbeque meat, preferably occasionally sm smoked and slow cooked. I am looking at getting another new barbeque. The issue is that there are really just the two of us (Ryan prefers to cook his own meals) and after such a long time as housebound hermits we don’t entertain at home any more, so we do not need the big four burner.

I can get a small two burner from a big box store relatively cheaply but my eye has been caught by the Webber range, specifically the baby Webber with the transportable stand. The issue is that the cost is about five times the big box unit.

So my delimma is, is the Webber worth’s the extra cost?
Click to expand...

No, steel rusts; look at the PK Grill - it is cast aluminum. I have had mine for over 15 years in very humid and rainy Florida; it is a great BBQ and smoker
 
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