Prepare The Kettle For Preheating:
- Before preheating the kettle, make sure that the dampers on the bottom of the kettle and the damper in the lid are completely open.
- Remove the top cooking grate and hang it off the handle.
- Fill your chimney starter up halfway with charcoal.
- Using the bottom grate , place 2 lighter cubes under the chimney starter and light them. Wait 10-15 until the charcoal has completely ashed over.
How We Picked The Best Gas Grill
We had three firm criteria that our main contenders had to meet:
Finally, we restricted our search to grills that burn propane from refillable tanks, the most common fuel by far, but you should note that most grills can also run on natural gasthough converting to natural gas isnt cheap or simple.1
We didnt fret much over two other factors that grill-makers spend a lot of time talking about: total Btu count and the grates material. First, the total Btu count on three-burner grills tends to vary between 30,000 and 40,000, and the industry is making a strong push toward more is better. But our research and reporting convinced us that at least as important as the total output was whether those Btus were applied efficiently, steadily, and evenly across the grates. We decided to reserve judgment until our tests.
We knew we would be looking at intangibles, too, such as how well the grills were packed, if the instructions were clear, and if assembly was reasonably straightforward. And, of course, we would consider the biggest intangible of all: the grills ability to perform in our tests.
But those judgments would have to wait until we got our hands on the contenders. So after weeks of research, reporting, and discussion, we settled on four gas grills to test in our main $400 to $700 category, and two grills around the $200 mark to test as budget options.
You May Like: Pork Tenderloin Grill Temp
Can You Buy A Used Weber Gas Grill
Yes, you can buy a used Weber Gas Grill. However, the warranty of a Weber gas grill may not be transferred to you from the original owner. But, Ive heard that Weber support does not ask too many questions from their customers while claiming a warranty. So, chances are that you can avail it in the future. Buying used Weber gas grills is viable as you can save hundreds of bucks. But, you should first inspect all essential parts of it. Make sure that there are no amendments made in the design of a Weber gas grill i.e. propane type has not been converted to natural gas type.
Moreover, the side shelf of a Weber gas grill has not been removed as it can void the warranty. If there is any damage in the part of a Weber gas grill, it is easily accessible and more economical to replace compared to buying a brand new Weber gas grill.
Recommended Reading: Grilled Cheese On Griddle Temp
Don’t Miss: What Is The Best Wood Pellet Smoker Grill
Weber Grill Restoration: Interior And Exterior Kettle Cleaning
Cleaning years of crud out of someones old Weber BBQ is not a fun job. BUT, with a little TLC the end results can be downright shocking and well worth the effort. Even kettles that have been neglected for 30+ years can be brought back to life with a little steel wool and a razor scraper. This is all thanks to the extremely durable porcelain enamel finish present on all Weber kettle grills. This enamel is the same material used inside most household ovens and resists scratching, cracking and chipping even under extreme heat.
Although the two are drastically different in terms of scratch resistance I like to think of the kettles finish as a paint job on a high-end car. In order to get it looking really good you want to remove as many of the tiny surface contaminants as possible just like a detailer would. This article will show you how to do just that with a few basic cleaning tools.
First off I would like to introduce the kettle being used in todays demo. This is a no date stamp red MBH kettle that I found on craigslist in early January. Its clearly seen better days and at one point the previous owner even decided to eye ball some rattle can paint onto a few areas to cover damage. Thanks to the Age Guide we know this particular kettle was made sometime around 1978.
At first glance this poor kettle is a bit of a pooch! but dont give up just yet its time to get down to business!
Materials required:
On to the teardown!
Thanks for looking and happy hunting.
Matt
Flaws But Not Dealbreakers
We wish Weber would take a cue from some competitors and make the bars of its warming racks run front to back, parallel to the main grates. That way, you could easily slide a spatula under stuff thats warming. As it is, the warming-rack bars run edge to edge, and you have to awkwardly jimmy a spatula in there sideways.
The Spirit II E-310 should come with a grill cover. It doesnt, nor did any grill in our test group. Youll need to buy one separately Webers dedicated Spirit II cover costs about $55, and a well-regarded generic cover costs about $20.
Read Also: How To Cook Pork Tenderloin On The Grill
You May Like: Who Sells George Foreman Grills
Low Heat Direct Cooks
Many pitmasters think direct cooking can only be done with high heat. It is not true. You just need to use a simple trick for this purpose. So, how to use a Weber charcoal grill for low heat direct cook?
Here is the method:
You will need to perform a similar process that you did for simple cooking. However, coal selection would be different. If you want your meal to be cooked directly but with a slow heat, arrange the heat and fuel source. Burn some coals until they have a white coating all over them.
Now spread them over a charcoal grill sparingly. You need to place unlit coals between the burnt one. You can take around 50 unlit coals for the purpose of supplying fuel. Now, you can place a cooking grate over it. Whatever food type you are making, you can place them over the coal set-up.
If coals tend to reach a higher temperature, you can control it using the lid. Using this method, you can prepare a meal within 30 minutes without burning them.
Do You Have To Use Charcoal On A Weber Grill
Lucky for Weber users, our grills have dampers that give us complete temperature control, so this discrepancy is less of an issue. In the end, choosing your charcoal fuel source is really a matter of preference. There is no right or wrong answerthe fuel source truly depends on you as a griller.
Is it okay to use charcoal in a gas grill?
The best argument, however, is that the heat from burning charcoal can cause a significant amount of damage to the components of a gas grill. If you throw charcoal into a gas grill, you will probably have to replace several parts, if not the entire grill itself. The burners of many modern grills, in particular,
What kind of steel is a Weber grill made out of?
The main body of the barbecue is constructed from enamelled porcelain, the cooking grate is made from plated steel and the charcoal grate is made from slightly thicker heavy gauge steel. Out of the box, assembly is surprisingly easy.
Don’t Miss: Ways To Cook Salmon On The Grill
Retain The Moisture Of Food
You should have some water in the tray for a long cooking process since food will get dry when being grilled. Dont worry about too much liquid as hot temp makes water evaporate. By doing this, you will enhance the moisture and make the food juicier later. When you grill chicken or pork ribs, this tip helps retain the juiciness, which makes your dishes tastier.For your information, here is the link to teach you how to grill chicken with this product.
Can You Cook A Ham On A Charcoal Grill
If so, there are a few things you should keep in mind. The first is that hams are not typically cooked over an open flame. They are typically cooked over the coals of a stove or grill.
So, if youre going to cook a ham on your grill, be sure to use a charcoal or gas smoker. Additionally, make sure that the oven or stovetop is heated up to medium-high heat before trying to cook the ham. Lastly, be sure to check the temperature of the coals before starting to cook the ham.
Don’t Miss: How To Grill Salmon On Plank
What Temperature Should My Indirect Grill Be
Indirect grilling allows you to work at a more reasonable temperature and makes it simple to incorporate the taste of wood smoke into your meal without burning your hands. This is the method used to prepare ribs, hog shoulders, briskets, whole birds and turkeys, and other huge portions of food in a slow-cooking environment.
What Temperature To Cook A Turkey
The bigger the bird, the lower the temperature you should cook it , Guillard says. “You want to make sure it’s throughout without getting too brown on the outside,” he says.
For example, if he had a 20 pound turkey, Guillard says he would cook it at around 300 degrees. That’s less than the 350 degrees people most often cook turkey.
When roasting a turkey, Guillard says, some people like to start at a very high temperature and drop it down to a lower temp to finish cooking.
But not everyone cooks a turkey the same way. And there’s no right way, technically.
“Some people go completely the other way by starting slow at around 250 and then picking it up at the end to get browning on the skin,” Guillard explains. “The key thing to balance on this is having the right textures and making sure it’s properly throughout but to not have a dried meat.”
That’s why chefs often rely on two temperatures. “A low temperature will cook the meat very nicely inside and keep it juicy without drying it but you want to high temperature at some point whether it’s at the beginning of the end to crisp up the skin and the melted butter to get an extra crispy skin,” Guillard says.
Also Check: Can Any Gas Grill Be Converted To Natural Gas
Now That You Have The Right Tools Let’s Get Your Grill Set
Setting up a gas grill for smoking can be very easy, especially if the grill is equipped with a built-in smoker box however, there is a way to create smoke even without a built-in smoker box.
1. First, start soaking wood chips in water . They should soak in water for at least 30 minutes or else they are likely to light on fire and give you more flame than smoke.
2. Start the grill by preheating your grill for 10-15 minutes on high and then brushing the cooking grates clean using a stainless steel grill brush.
3. Add wood chips to your smoker box. Using long-handled tongs, open the lid of the smoker box. Grab some of the soaked wood chips with the tongs, let the excess water drain off, and drop the wood chips into the smoker box.
Spread out the wood chips so they cover the bottom of the box, directly exposing as many chips as possible to the burner below.
Continue to add as many wood chips as the recipe suggests. Close the lid of the smoker box.
Close the lid of the grill and wait a few minutes for smoke to pour out of the grill. Now its time to lower the heat of the dedicated burner under the smoker box to medium or low so that the wood will smolder slowly.
4. Start smoking your food. Arrange the food in the middle of the cooking grate, over the unlit burner. Close the lid as soon as possible and let the food cook.
Keep in mind that most of the smoke will accumulate around the smoker box. The closer your food is to the smoker box, the more smoke flavor it will absorb.
Upgrade Grill Pick: Weber Genesis Ii E
*At the time of publishing, the price was $780.
The Weber Genesis II E-310 gas grill is also an exceptional performer, and it offers several clever, life-improving design elements that we love. The grates are about 20 percent bigger, too, but overall the Genesis II takes up barely more area than the Spirit II, so theres no appreciable trade-off between the two if your patio space is tight. Essentially, the decision comes down to how youll use your grill: If you often cook for crowds, the Genesis II is worth the extra couple hundred dollars.
Performance-wise, we found the two Weber models nearly identical, with the Spirit just slightly edging the Genesis II on burger-searing performance. And that gap would probably close with a bit more time to learn the Genesis IIs finer points. In terms of materials, the two are almost twins, offering heavy cast-aluminum fireboxes and porcelain-coated cast-iron grates. The Genesis II, however, features a frame made of welded rails, while the Spirit II is made of folded metal . Theyre both sturdy enough, but the Genesis II is appreciably stiffer and more solid-feeling. And we like that it has casters: Its easier to swivel into a corner for storage than the casterless Spirit.
Moving the tank to the outside also frees up space below the grill, which Weber fills with a generous and sturdy storage shelf. Thats a nice feature you can keep trays, grill tools, or even a small cooler there.
Recommended Reading: What Is The Best Outdoor Grill For The Money
How Do You Defrost A Turkey
According to the National Turkey Federation, Americans consume 46 million turkeys at Thanksgiving. It’s estimated that some 50 percent of those are bought frozen.
The USDA recommends thawing your frozen turkey in a refrigerator as the safest method of defrosting it and suggests allowing one day for each 4-5 pounds of weight. So if your turkey weighs 16 pounds, it will take about four days to thaw. Once thawed, the turkey is safe for another two to four days before you cook it.
If youve missed that window, you can thaw it in cold water. Place the turkey breast side down, still in its original unopened wrapper, with enough cold water to cover it completely. Change water every 30 minutes.
You can expect 30 minutes of thawing per pound of turkey. Thats still a long time. If you have a 12 pound turkey, which is on the smaller side, youre looking at around 6 hours.
Here’s a how-to video from Problem Solved to walk you through thawing with cold water:
If you dont want to fuss with basically giving your turkey a cold bath, then just cook it from frozen. The USDA says its perfectly safe to cook a turkey from the frozen it just takes longer. They say a solidly frozen turkey takes at least 50 percent longer to cook than a thawed turkey. If your turkey is only partially frozen, theres not an equation to follow so use a food thermometer, and when your bird hits 165F-170F in the innermost part of the thigh and the thickest part of the breast, it is ready.
Live Life To The Full
Whatever the weather! Barbecue in the winter. Barbecue in rain and snow. Barbecue whenever and wherever you want with Weber. Weber barbecues are for life. Theyre durable, practical and fun all year round. Manufactured and tested in Chicago, theyre built to handle extreme conditions, giving you no excuse to put something on the barbecue right now!Obviously, wind can cause problems though. So, to maintain the required temperature inside the barbecue, place it in a sheltered spot but not inside! In the winter all youll need is a few more Weber Briquettes to keep the temperature at its optimum. So remember to store the briquettes somewhere dry and buy a good stock so you can indulge yourself whenever the mood takes you.Light your barbecue well in advance. In colder weather the briquettes take slightly longer to heat up. Place the ignited briquettes in the barbecue, remember to open all the vents fully, put in your food, close the lid and off you go. All you need to do now is keep yourself warm round the Weber Fireplace and bingo! Barbecues have never been this much fun!
Read Also: Where Can I Buy Propane Tanks For Grill
How To Carve Your Turkey
Carving a turkey, whether for Thanksgiving or any other holiday celebration, is a necessity that somehow became a grandiose tradition. In popular culture, the honor has traditionally gone to the family’s patriarch. That practice dates to the Middle Ages.
Check out the video below for a full how-to:
Contributing: Grateful
How To Light A Weber Smokey Joe
Well, this is the fun part of grilling using charcoal. Ask 20 people how to light a barbecue and they will tell you 20 different ways and swear that their way really works. The truth is that there are numerous options available.
Generally, we are against using fluids to get a barbecue going. First, they can be time-consuming, and second, in kettle barbecues, you can often find that fumes and droplets accumulate in the bottom of the barbecue, this can present a little bit of a dangerous scenario.
As a final point by using fluids you may also find that you get a slight chemical taste imparted on your food. Not good.
Perhaps the best advice when considering how to light a Weber Smokey Joe is to utilise a charcoal chimney. These are perfect for ensuring an even, controlled burn and they get your fuel up to temperature quickly.
A charcoal chimney is a small diameter tube in which you can pile your charcoal. You light a firelighter underneath in the grills charcoal grate and place the chimney above it. By exposing the coals to a heat source in a more direct manner they ignite quicker. Once they are burning well you just tip them into the charcoal grate and you are ready to go.
You May Like: Grilled Chicken Temp And Time
