What's a good, basic charcoal grill?

Question

My husband's birthday is coming up and he wants a charcoal grill. What kind of grill brand/model do you recommend?

Answer 1

I have grilled and BBQ'd for over 30 years. My favorite grill is the "Meco Stand Up 4100 Square Utility Charcoal Grill". It is a covered grill with draft vents on the bottom and on the top so you can regulate temperature. The top is hinged (unlike Weber) and is very convenient. There is an ash pan in the bottom. The grate is adjustable to three positions (unlike Weber). There are wheels on the back legs that make moving the grill easy.

You can grill steaks, burgers, etc. with the top open. You can smoke ribs, and even slow smoke a boston butt pork roast with the lid closed. I use wet hickory chips for the smokey flavor.

I have used these grills for many years. I use mine year around and do not cover it when not in use. I find that they last about ten years before the bottom rusts out. I have tried many other types of grills over the years, and I like this one the best. They used to be widely available in many retail stores, but I have not seen them for several years. Therefore, I ordered a new one from Amazon.com two weeks ago.

On the Amazon home page, type "meco grill" in the search box. Scroll through the results until you see the grill that I identified. Their price is $75.76 plus tax. Super Saver shipping is free.

By the way, here is a link to my favorite grilling/BBQ website:

http://www.thesmokering.com/

I'm guessing you and/or your husband will spend a couple of hours exploring this site and that it will become one of your favorites.

Good luck with your grilling.

Answer 2

I own 3 different means for cooking outdoors...a dedicated smoker, a gas grill, and a Weber charcoal grill. I am an amateur at best when it comes to grilling, but my food usually turns out pretty good.

I recommend something from the Weber line. I own the One-Touch Gold...it's a basic kettle grill that has a steel hinged cooking grate, which I think is rather important, as it allows you to 'feed' the coals with things like small pieces of wood to get a smoky flavor. You can use this grill to cook steaks, chicken, etc. and also it sets up nicely for indirect fire cooking, which will allow you to slow smoke for things like roasts. I have used the Weber succesfully as a smoker, but I honestly prefer my dedicated smoker with offset firebox for that purpose. It's very easy to clean, with a method to 'sift' the ashes down into a collection bowl which detaches for easy dumping.

As a bonus, when you pick a grill for your huband, do him a favor and get some whole lump charcoal and some gel fire starters, too. The grill is important, but what's more important is the right fuel. Kingsford briquets and the like are not as good as whole lump charcoal, which burns cleaner, hotter, and makes things taste better. Too many chemicals in the mass-market briquets. I learned this in a grilling class, and once I tried it, I was hooked!

Answer 3

Weber makes a model called the "Performer." It is their classic charcoal kettle grill, but uses gas to ignite the fire. This is my personal all-time favorite charcoal grill which we have owned since 1997.

For charcoal grilling we also like to use the cookout calculator at charcoalbob.com. Just enter the items you will be grilling and it will give you printable instructions for how to grill steaks, boneless chicken breasts, pork chops, etc. with excellent results. It also has grilling tips for charcoal grilling.

I'm sure your husband will love that new grill.

Answer 4

Weber grill. Impress him and assemble it yourself! Back it up with some charcoal and steaks! Good thing is, a grill allows for more gift ideas for Father's Day and stuff like that. He'll need accessories. Great gift idea!

Answer 5

the old fashioned Weber kettle

Answer 6

webber, or before summer time williams sonoma sells them in there stores and will sometimes build them for you

Answer 7

here's a link on ebay food service, where you can find them in your home town.

Answer 8

WEBER