We're going to spend most of the spring, summer and fall at our seasonal campsite in both our TT and popup. I've got a $20 CharBroil gas grill that we've been using for a couple of years. But, as anyone who owns one knows, it's really small...although it's ok for Peggy & me. Now, during the new season we're probably going to have guests (from home, west & south) visiting from time to time. I figure we'll need a full size grill but, there's enough room in our storage shed to only hold ONE full size grill. I can't leave them outside because of the bears and other creatures in the area.
I like the gas as it's quick to heat up and easy to adjust the temperature. But, there's the lugging of another LP tank to/from a filling station and gas grills aren't the easiest things to clean after the fat starts dripping and gets under the burner. Plus, you can spend $10,000 on one and it wears out in the same time as a $20 one does. I figure a good one for us would run about $150.
The charcoal takes a long time to heat up and the temperature isn't adjustable (aside from keeping something in it to separate the coals yielding a hot & warm area on the grill). But, cleanup is easier (dump the ashes in the stream LOL), and I feel safer hauling a bag of charcoal over a LP tank. A full size one of these is about $80.
So, the question is: if you were getting one, which would you choose & why?
Yes, one more piece of junk that I really don't want................ :(
We purchased a Coleman Grill to Go last spring and love it. You can either run it off of the small propane canisters you get at the store or buy the adaptor that will let you run it off of the large tanks. They break down so you could even take it with you when camping. The grill space isn't quite as large as our outdoor grill but we have used it as a substitute when we ran out of gas in our big tank. I think it's one of the better purchases that we have made. We paid the full price $170 when they first came out and you can get them for less now. We also bought a second set of grilling surfaces (grill and griddle) for about $20.00 each, and also purchased the carrying case for $30 (well worth it. Has wheels). When not in use we take the grill to the basement and it stays out of the elements.
You mentioned cleaning up. There is a space under the grill that you fill with water and you are able to just pour off the water and grease into your grey water and wipe off the surfaces. I'm pretty particular with how clean the grill is and it only takes me about 5 minutes to clean it up.
We grill every night when it gets warmer and I think I would feel comfortable using it as our main grill unless we had a lot of people over.
Hope this helps some.
If you're talking charcoal there isn't anything better than a Weber Kettle.
You'll find with the lid and the adjustable air vents you can control the heat pretty well. It's also high enough for beer can chicken. With a set of $10 racks for the charcoal plate you can turn it into a respectable indirect smoker as well.
Get a charcoal chimeny starter and in 10 minutes you've got hot coals ready to cook.
As for a propane house size grill, any of the ones at the big box hardware store will work.
Then there is what folks call grills , but are actually griddles. Nothing but a plate with ridges with heat under it. Might as well use a grill ridge frying pan and save a $100.
I like our Grill2Go, but it is bulky. We have plenty of room since we have a truck, but it may be a problem for those with a minivan. I also bought the carrying case, which has wheels. This runs off a 1lb propane bottle. Very quick and easy to use. However "I" prefer cooking over charcoal. The wife usually cooks while we're camping, so we take the grill. Since this uses teflon coated plates, they must be removed after cooking to clean them. A little more work, but there's a trick to cleaning it. Pour some water on the grill while it's still hot. Most of the gunk can be wiped off with paper towels.
(http://2manytoyz.com/camp/lksp2/DSCN2660s.jpg)
I still have the small grill that we used to take. It worked okay, but easily blew the flame out any time there was a breeze. It's sitting on the picnic table in the background: http://2manytoyz.com/camp/wdw/campsite2.jpg The advantage was it is very small and easy to pack.
I have one of those small portable grills that uses the propane bottles but it isn't meant for large crowds....might be able to cook enough steaks or chicken for 4-6 on it. Some people have the Webers that they take in the tow vehicles. For smaller size, some use the Smokey Joe for charcoaling. I've looked at the Road Trip Grill and Grill to Go in the campgrounds and people seem to swear by them as being the best. I think it depends on your grilling style whether gas or charcoal. Loved seeing your campsite photo, 2manytoyz.
Check out the Weber Q (http://www.weberbbq.com/q/#lastTwinkle) and soon to be released Baby Q. We have used the our Q a couple of times. The little Weber gas grill cooks hot for a single buner unit. The BTU ratings on the Weber's can be a bit misleading. The MSRP on the Q is around $179 in the Chicago area.
Quote from: topcat7736...Now, during the new season we're probably going to have guests (from home, west & south) visiting from time to time. I figure we'll need a full size grill...
. :(
:D...soooo...Elisa and Toni have a question: "Does this mean we can expect you to fix thick, juicy staeks for us when we visit you?" :J
(Enquiring eaters want to know!) :W
Yep, for sure you will need a full size grill, now that your announcement has been made L'il Brother. Shall I just bring a salad to go with the steaks?:D Oh you say that kind of conversation is only allowed on the campfire? Well, I did say full size grill and a Weber, Road Trip or Grill to Go should be checked out. Go over to your local Home Depot, Sam's Club, or the Home & Garden Center at WallyMart as they are all beginning to get ready for the spring season.
I have to agree with Mike4947 on NOTHING comparing with a Weber Kettle. You just don't get the "real" grilled taste from any type of gas or electric grill in our opionion. The chimney starters are wonderful..they're quick and easy and you don't get the lighter fluid smell. Plus, it IS much easier and safer to tote a bag of charcoal instead of a tank of gas.
My vote is always for chacoal ( or real wood ) for cooking over the gas or electric grills.
I, too, agree with "mike4947". I like to use our big Weber at home. It's not real portable nor conducive to our camping needs. So, we use the Camp Chef grill (SPG60) which is much more versatile. Here's the link: http://www.campchef.com The legs fold up & the side shelves fold in to cover the grill/burner surfaces.
DH & I definately agree the Grill2Go & similar units are nothing more than griddles with nowhere near the versatility in cooking options as the Camp Chef. These so-called grills are great for breakfast preparations, grill cheese sandwiches, & not much else.
So, if you plan on cooking for a crowd at any point, I highly suggest the Camp Chef line of grills. JMHO.
Use charcoal. I bought a new charcoal grill on clearance last fall. I bought the chimney the year before. I couldn't believe how quickly the chimney worked to make hot, no-lighter fluid coals. Charcoal or wood coals add the best flavor to food. Yum yum.
PS the charcoal chimney is very hot, even when you dump the coals out of it. Don't bump your arm against the hot chimney. It will take several layers of skin off and leave a nice scar. :rolleyes:
Well, the gas grills are fine. I like the one by Coleman & we can get it cheap at the Coleman outlet store in Tannersville, Pa. But, I don't need a portable grill...I need a big one to just stay at the permanent site (our immediate family members total 27 and cooking at outdoor partys is always a problem).
Looks like, as I don't have the cleaning gene in my body, we'll opt for a charcoal grill over the LP gas. (I still have the small one for quick things for the two of us).
Now comes the which one to buy. There's a Lowe's place located a few miles from our site, so I looked to see what they sell. The website shows a Char Griller (http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=44754-000001646-2121) and a Weber (http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=27071-000000505-741001).
The Char Griller has double the cooking surface and received higher ratings than the Weber, so I'm undecided as to which to buy. Help! LOL :confused:
We just bought the Char-griller last fall. It's an awesome grill and smoker. We also bought the side firebox so that we can smoke meats on it. The grill itself is cast iron and is in four sections that can be removed as needed. The charcoal portion can be raised and lowered even while you are cooking.
The first thing we cooked on there was a mess of steaks and we covered the whole thing!
One thing is for sure, that thing is HEAVY!
My vote is for the Char-griller.
Quote from: tlhdocPS the charcoal chimney is very hot, even when you dump the coals out of it. Don't bump your arm against the hot chimney. It will take several layers of skin off and leave a nice scar. :rolleyes:
OUCH!!! That made me hurt to read it! :>
Quote from: vjm1639OUCH!!! That made me hurt to read it! :>
It did hurt! I stuck my arm right in a basin of water that I had been soaking the corn in, but it hurt for days. :o
I got one of these. It works great. No worry of forgetting to fill tank and no charcoal to woory about. Has a temp gauge and is easy to regulate and clean. Tastes just like using charcoal due to the ceramic briquits on the bottem. Here is a link to k-Mart where you can get it and learn more....
http://www.kmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1300547&cp=784868.1035270.821289.784604&parentPage=family (//%22http://www.kmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1300547&cp=784868.1035270.821289.784604&parentPage=family%22)
I have used it for two years almost every weekend even in winter. At the time I purchased it, it was $149.00. A little more now.
Any decision on the grill yet?
Hmmmm....are you a troublemaker Gary? ;)
Well, just because it has the "easy to dump ash pan" (dump those ashes in the stream & watch them fertilize the world), we're going to get the Char-griller.
People around us have LP grills & a few have the Webers. But, this is the coolest looking one of all. (Everyone walks around the campground & checks out the stuff you have, and for once I want to be the winner! LOL)
We can't get into the campground to store it for another month, (and we can't keep it in our apartment), so I keep checking the Lowe's site to see if it's on sale. 800 square inches of cooking space & the neat stovepipe thing sticking up into the air (like a smokestack on a battleship) should get us some second "looks". :cool:
When the family gathers this summer to see our new-to-us trailer, no one will be waiting for firsts or seconds in the food department!
Sorry to be persistant, but we got ours last December and the wife couldn't wait to use it for smoking meats. We added the side fire box and got the cover for it also. Yes it goes over the smoke stack.
You don't have to get the side fire box to smoke meats. Just keep the fire to the right side and the meat on the other.