Grilling question

[wallyuwl]

So my 4 or 5 year old cheap grill died yesterday. Went to clean it and the heating element literall crumbled in my hands. It was a wedding present, and served its purpose. So we went and bought this one yesterday (well, it is on order, should get it in a few days):

http://www.homedepot.com/Outdoors-Grills...p;storeId=10051

So I have a dumb question: do these type of grills take lava rocks? Or the large wood chunks?

We also bought one of these (smoker box) for wood chips, if it matters: http://www.homedepot.com/Outdoors-Grills...p;storeId=10051

 

[tdpark]

neither, they have metal heat radiant sheilds that spread the heat out evenly, no need for either wood or lava rocks. I think webers are stainless steel so they should last for a long long time

 

[mpvue]

webers are great grills, very long lasting and reliable. the heat shields are called flavorizer bars; the grease and whatnot kind of cooks to them, and the grill smells great as soon as you light it.
yours will probably be porcelain coated. the stainless ones are on the higher end models.
best thing about webers is all the replacement parts are readily available, though maybe not at home depot, but at independent dealers (ACE hardware is a good place to start)

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: tdpark
neither, they have metal heat radiant sheilds that spread the heat out evenly, no need for either wood or lava rocks. I think webers are stainless steel so they should last for a long long time


That is exactly what they have. Triangular heat shields. They lasted about 10 years on my Weber; they'll, for lack of a better term, melt from dripping fat. The hot fat slowly eats through them, but they serve their purpose by shielding the burners. The fat then gets funneled into a drip pan at the bottom.

 

[dparm]

The shields will corrode and fall apart eventually, but as others said, this takes many years. You can easily replace them -- takes all of 90 seconds.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: wallyuwl
So I have a dumb question: do these type of grills take lava rocks? Or the large wood chunks?

The Weber one you linked to takes propane. That's it.

 

[bepperb]

I think you'll really like that grill, but as stated the vaporizer bars take the place of lava rocks. They'll last a decade then you can buy new ones for what should be about 10 bucks, but in Weber money probably closer to 40. Mine still look good four years in.

 

[wallyuwl]

Thanks guys. Can't wait to get it and set it up.

 

[Mr_Incredible]

The big issue is not that the burners or burner sheilds will rust, they will. It's that you'll have to order them from somewhere because HD doesn't sell them at the stores. They are not cheap.

I have an all stainless grill with a heavy stainless grate set. The only things that are rusting are the burners and burner covers. It's been a very good grill and I've had to change two of three burners in however many years I've had it. Ten or so. I think. Used it just last night. Haven't had to change the igniter buttons yet. I clean everything out every year or so, and all is well. Charmglow, I think it is...

 

[mpvue]

Originally Posted By: Mr_Incredible
The big issue is not that the burners or burner sheilds will rust, they will. It's that you'll have to order them from somewhere because HD doesn't sell them at the stores. They are not cheap.

plenty of weber dealers around like I said earlier, with the parts in stock. there ARE other places to buy stuff besides HD...

 

[dwcopple]

I bought a Broil-Mate cast aluminum after seeing how recommended they were on a grilling forum. (LOL, I know). The cast "oven" is the real deal at retaining heat in the cooking area. Stainless burners and grates are a MUST nowadays.

 

[wallyuwl]

Just got the grill tonight after much to-do. Needed one in a box (couldn't fit an assembled one in our vehicle) and ordered one last Tuesday. Was told it would be in Saturday. On Saturday was told it would be in today. Today we were told it would be in on the 14th. So we canceled the order and bought one in a box at the HD across town. Took about two hours to put together, but now it is ready to go. Will try it out tomorrow.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Did you get the 3-burner one or the 2? The 3 gives you some more flexibility in terms of utilizing indirect heating method.

 

[wallyuwl]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Did you get the 3-burner one or the 2? The 3 gives you some more flexibility in terms of utilizing indirect heating method.


2 burner. Had a hard time justifying the price as it was, and the 3 was $100 more. And very infrequently would we utilize the extra cooking surface. I don't use it for indirect cooking, so that isn't an issue really.

 

[rg200amp]

I can attest to Weber charcoal grills. I have a big Weber from 1990 (dad bought it) and it is still cooking like a mad man to this day. It sits outside all year round. No rust or anything!

 

[Shannow]

Too right, I bought my parents one when I left school and started work before University (1987 ??), it was $199 at the time, a fortune, but it's still cooking and looking new.

Bought mine ($225) last year, and it's awesome.

$450 Brinkmann fell to bits in 5 years.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Current low-end and mid-range Weber stuff sold in the US is made in China. Quality-wise, it doesn't look particularly bullet-proof. My Spirit E310 is now 3 years old. It still works and there is no visible rust, but I'd be really surprised if I get more than 10 years out of it...

 

[HTSS_TR]

We had Weber charcoal grill before we moved in to this house, that one lasted more than 10 years and still in good condition when we gave it away. We bought Weber Genesis Gold with 4-burner in 2004, it is a excellent condition as of now and expect it will lasted another 10 years.

 

[123Saab]

I have a weber gold kettle, Best grill I ever owned.

Grills, Slowcooks and smokes very well.

My inlaws still have one they bought first year when they came out, in a funky 70's kind of green....still works...

Some of the newer webers are made in china tho.