Has anybody tried a Cobb charcoal grill?

[Mattman]

I'm looking for an outside grill.  I was intitially looking for the gas grill that is made to hang on the side of my pup but, when I found it was over $250 I started looking at other options.  I've always like the flavor of things cooked with charcoal better than gas.  The Cobb grill/charcoal cooker seems pretty cool it uses only about 8-10 briquets and sells for under $150. They are fairly new on the US market I think.  They seem to be pretty nice and quite inovative.  It also seems like they would be very versatile if you shell out the extar cash for the optional parts.   Has anybody got one of these?  Are they all they are cracked up to be?

[fallsrider]

...The Cobb grill/charcoal cooker seems pretty cool it uses only about 8-10 briquets and sells for under $150....

Here's a thread that discussed that grill. You'll find some who love it and others who hate it!

[beacher]

....They are fairly new on the US market I think.  They seem to be pretty nice and quite inovative. ....

Camping World started selling them two years ago for $69.00, then discontinued them last summer for $29.00 each, (the classic model with the plastic base).  They have been around in the U.S. since 2004.

I am one of the folks who loves my Cobb BBQ.  It's kinda like a Crock Pot of BBQs.  You set it up, let the food cook slowly, go and do other things then return to a cooked meal.  It can smoke, grill, bake, fry, and steam.  If you have some leisure time, it's a nice appliance.  If you need to grill your food quickly, this is NOT the way to go.

It's only limitation is it's size.  If you are cooking for up to four people then it's fine.  But if you need to cook for more folks then you need to be creative about what you can cook to feed so many, (I have cooked hot dogs, chicken pieces, kielbasa, pork loin, and prime rib for up to six using the Cobb).



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[fallsrider]

I am one of the folks who loves my Cobb BBQ....
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How easy or hard do you find it is to clean up?

[maromeo]

We have one also. We are one of the mediocre ones. We had taken it on the road with us and liked the fact the outside didn't get so hot with our little on (at the time) around.

I had premade 10 paper lunch bags with 10 briquetts in them. When it was time to cook I took a bag and placed it in the center and lit it. It worked out well.

We had wanted to grill our steak and what it seemed to do was steam it.  Ours did not come with an actual grill grid rack but a more solid one. I think if we get the right bbq rack in there it will work fine. It did cook our veggies wonderfully.

I think we will have to give it some more time. As far as the clean up I sprayed the flavor ring or drip pan, and grill with pam and it made the clean up easier.

I would definitely pass on the outside hanging bbq. I have seen too many threads where damage has occured to the tenting or vinyl windows.


Mary Romeo

[beacher]

How easy or hard do you find it is to clean up?

If it's used while camping or at a picnic, I just wipe it down with paper towels before stowing it in it's included travel bag.  It fits into it's travel bag with the lid on.  So as long as the outside is reasonably clean, you're good to go between uses.

When at home I make it look like new, (with the exception of some seasoning with the steel), and give it a good cleaning.  Using PAM or vegetable oil on the surfaces before use does make cleanup of baked on splatter easy.  The lid, the cooking grill,  and roasting rack, and lid are all dishwasher safe.  The original black plastic base is not dishwasher safe, but the new stainless steel mesh version is.

[Mattman]

After checking out the replys and the other thread, I'm a bit clearer on the strengths and weaknesses of the Cobb.  It sound like it can cook a great tasting meal once you figure it out but, I'm kind of thinking I'll look for something that will cook faster and require less planning ahead.  A Napoleon infrared cooker was mentioned in the other thread so, now I'm looking into those and similar ones by Solaire, both pricey but they look like they are good quality and will put out the BTUs.

I was really leaning towards charcoal because I've never gotten the same good flavor from my gas grill at home that I used to with the old Charcoal Weber grill.
Then again, somehow almost anything seems to taste good when camping, and it's hard to beat the convenience and speed of gas.  Decisions, decisions.

[tlhdoc]

I was really leaning towards charcoal because I've never gotten the same good flavor from my gas grill at home that I used to with the old Charcoal Weber grill.

I have to agree.  Charcoal is much better than gas for flavor.