OT: Grill/Smoker Suggestions?
My dilemma: purchased a Weber 22.5 inch Performer last summer and it has done a great job for me so far with both briquettes and lump charcoal. However, I am just now getting extremely interested in smoking and attempted a makeshift smoke on some wings tonight (turned out well but required a ton of babysitting).
I am now interested in adding a Weber Smokey Mountain ($299) in addition do my Weber Performer OR selling my Weber Performer and splurging on a Big Green Egg (large size - $700-$1,000).
Anyone have a similar situation in the past? Ideas? Options?
Thanks for the link. I'm going to try out some of the techniques suggested at amazingribs. I must admit, I'm of the school cook it as hot and fast as possible, but I learned a lot just by poking around that website. I'm going to try some offset cooking and see how that turns out.
The thing about that website is that there's so much information that it gets exhausting to read after awhile. It's the BBQ blog equivalent to what MGoBlog would be if all the articles were written by the Mathlete. Super useful but after awhile, you need to take a break to clear your head.
No brainer!
I second the suggestions to head over to www.amazingribs.com. If you're a fan of Alton Brown, you'll be a fan of this site.
I also have a performer and love it. There are some suggested mods on amazingribs that can help you add smoker fuctionality to your performer (or any weber kettle for that matter) that may make more financial sense than purchasing another piece of equipment...
Not sure if someone already recommended this, but the Traegger smoker is amazing.
I have my first competition coming up at the end of the month, and have both apprenticed and judged other competitions, so if you're interested in any pointers, hit me up.
My only immediate advice is if you're considering the WSM, get the 22.5". You'll be half to have the room when you need it.
Jeff Smoker, that is.
So anyone else have something on the smoker at the moment?
I have had a 8 pound blade-roast pork on the BSK for the last 30 minutes. Temp is coming up (at 200) at the moment, trimmed and rubbed overnight.
Lump charcoal, hickory and applewood, plan on foiling at 7 with applejuice/brownsugar, temp @ 325
Yeah we're going to eat late; brunch in Bal'more includes all-you-can-drink mimosas and bloody mary's, and we have access to great oysters.
who saw GRIII/Smoker suggestions?
The Smokenator is a pretty damn ingenious contraption for turning your Weber kettle into a smoker.
And as others have noted above, AmazingRibs.com provides a wealth of information on all things 'cue.
I'm in the middle of making a similar decision myself. I was originally just looking at getting a smoker, so I was leaning towards the WSM. However, the more I researched the more I liked the versatility of the BGE and my gas grill is in rough shape now anyway.
Now as I've been researching the BGE I've started comparing it to other kamado style grills such as the Primo, the Vision (sold at Costco), Kamado Joe, and the Big Steel Keg and weighing the pros and cons.
I like the Primo's oval shape but it's pretty expensive. The Vision looks nice, gets good reviews, and is quite a bit cheaper than the others, but it doesn't come with the lifetime warranty that some of the other ones come with (though I guess you can take advantage of Costco's liberal return policy).
I'm currently leaning towards a Kamado Joe Classic, which costs about the same amount as the Large BGE, but comes with the "nest" and side tables, which aren't included in the BGE and ends up adding a couple hundred dollars onto the BGE. The KJ gets excellent reviews, compares favorable to the BGE, and has a similar lifetime warranty. Not 100% sure I'm going to get it yet but hoping to make up my mind in the next week or so.
If you smoke with charcoal, you have to monitor the heat constantly (from my experience). But the food does taste better.
but I win cookoffs against the BGE with my $35 Webber every time.A webber is easier to controll the heat and where the heat is in the grill. Also, a Webber is actually a smoker and a grill.
I had this same dilemma last summer. I checked out the BGE, priced it, was ready to purchase, then walked away. BGE is certainly awesome. However, I watched a friend prep his BGE and then make burgers. My wife was not having it. Took too much time. She liked the idea of charcoal, but not lighting the chimney, getting ito going, etc. She was all for charcoal, but having a young family, she did not want to have to plan way in advance to start the grill.
So, I settled on a Webber Performer. COULD NOT BE HAPPIER. Best grill I have ever owned. It gives you the best of both worlds. You get a Webber grill, which others have mentioned how they can be used as smokers, and the Performer has electric starter w/ a small propane tank to get the charcoal started. Using a charcoal grill could not be easier. So, wife-approved because it doesn't take as long to get going and she can do it herself. Yet, still an awesome grill, with a nice work table and charcoal storage. Still built in the USA if that matters to you.
Nevermind.
I use a Chargriller smoking pro with side fire box. Grill itself runs about $100 fire box an additional $70. I have had great results with it -- there was a bit of a learning curve but after 4 yrs the grill is in great shape still.
Chargriller also has an Akorn Kamodo grill similar to the BGE available for around $300. I have not used one yet but hope to make it my next grill very soon
links:
Side fire box
Akorn grill