Might Be Upgrading - Input

[Old Glory]

What about the M1? Comparable to the Lone Star Adjustable.

[ecowper]

I’ve looked at the M1 a couple times. Seems awkwardly set up to me. Maybe I’m just different

[Old Glory]

ecowper Biggest difference to me is the baffle on the Lone Star creating two separate fire boxes. The M Grill uses a baffle similar to a vertical smoker. My set up would be an M36 with two sear boxes. Seems like that would give you great versatility to have indirect charcoal fires in the main box, offset in the fire box on the side, and still have full use of the entire cooking surface when you need it.Both seem really nice to me. You never really know a grill until you live with her a while

[Old Glory]

...I wonder how the Lone Star would be when you want to use the full grate to direct cook. You would have to manage two separate fires in each fire box. That is also a positive on the Lone Star because each side can be independently raised and lowered. Again you'd have to cook on them both to really know.

[RonB]

I know that with gas, you can set the exact amount of flame you want, (which is very appealing compared to an electric that cycles on and off), but does the oven operate the same way or does id cycle on and off?

[Dewesq55]

Gas ovens cycle, just like electric ovens.

[Smoldering Flea]

Congrats on the bonus. Probably not the most popular opinion on a bbq board but I would go gas range. maybe I’ve just not cooked on a good quality electric but that would be a non-starter for me.

[ecowper]

Our LG electric is actually pretty nice .... and the last time I touched gas, I was a kid, many moons ago.

[STEbbq]

I'd agree with the others and go with the gas range. The upgrade in cooking experience with gas range is significantly better than electric. You will really wonder how you used electric for so long once you have a gas range because it provides a much wider range of temps and lets you tailor your results accordingly.

If I had to pick among the charcoal options I would go with the LSG. In my opinion, it seems.to me to be built with a lot of quality of life design choices made to improve your experiences while also being solidly built. But I don't think the upgrade here is that huge compared to your current set up and the massive improvement you will get with gas over electric.

No experience with any of the grills but have mostly used gas ranges for 30 years. All electric range experiences have been terrible even for simple things like scrambled eggs and I had one in an apartment for probably about 4 years.

[tenphases]

Your outdoor setup is really nice and if both cookers are in good condition......an upgrade would be very nice. The range though, thats not a nice upgrade that is a complete game changer! I would go with the range.

[ecowper]

Outdoor cooking includes a Blackstone pizza oven, HB Gourmet, WSM 22. It’s pretty solid. I’ve more or less decided on the gas range :-)

[Mr. Bones]

I'd personally go with a gas range, Brother...

Ya know I have a few cookers hereabouts, yes?

I'd forfeit alla them to have a gas range, vs. this deity condemned lectric range I currently haveta endure.

Grew up cookin on wood, coal, gas ranges...much more control. Some original ol skool WYSIWYG...

Lectric ones make me wanna alternately punch holes in th wall, an worse things that I won't divulge, in this forum.

I might add that I effakin HATE lectric ranges, in case that was not made apparent, previous like...

</rant>

[Mr. Bones]

ecowper fer th record, I am again lectric ranges, Brother lol!

[ecowper]

Mr. Bones .... Against electric ranges .... Check

[Mr. Bones]

ecowper check roger!

[bbqLuv]

Up grade you kitchen, gas stove. Then up grade out doors piece by piece. Best of both worlds.

[Mr. Bones]

Great plan, with proper prioritizin already done. Kudos.

[TripleB]

Gas range. Easy choice.

[Mr. Bones]

Every time.

[Dadof3Illinois]

I vote for the gas cooktop/oven. I hate my electric cook top and will be installing a gas cook top myself next spring.

[DavidNorcross]

Man it is hard to turn down a Lone Star....

[Jfrosty27]

Agreed

[ecowper]

That was the really hard choice. Prices were pretty comparable between installing gas to the kitchen and a top notch gas range .... and a Lone Star Adjustable 24x48

[Uncle Bob]

Let's start with the gas range. If you do that, likely when you move from your house you'll leave it there. That will give you another opportunity to buy a new "toy" sometime in the future. Win, win. More seriously, we have changed out to gas from electric in multiple homes over the years, so good call on that, it's worlds better experience. I dislike brushed stainless tops, the area around the burners. Splashed crud gets on it, crusts hard from the heat, and then various "assistants" seem prone to using all manner of medieval torture equipment to remove said crud and make the top of the stove look terrible over time. I look for one with either ceramic or porcelain top panel. Easier to clean usually and stays looking nice. There are heat resistant plastic like sheets that can be used as an alternative. Second, a small thing, but ball bearing rails on the oven grates are really a nice thing to have. Great for things like turkey basting and such where the product and container are bulky or heavy. Ergonomic thing.

On the outdoor cooker I don't have experience directly with the choices you have listed. As we discussed on AzFogey's thread I have a similarly functioning cooker to the LSG made by Cajun Grill, the Preaux. All 304 stainless is it's best differentiating feature, but lacks the front doors for fuel adds if needed (rare as that is). The split chamber/grate/fire bin design makes both good for small or larger cooks. As I said to Michael, if I didn't already have the Preaux I'd likely get the LSG for the "little" niceties it has. But a qualifier in my case is that I only live a couple hours from LSG so high shipping cost wouldn't be a deterrent for me. Lead time, shipping cost impact, are things that could get in the way of an LSG purchase. All about the trade offs.

I too look at those Az BBQ rigs with lust, but haven't read or heard any feedback from actual owners. That alone would be a reason to encourage you to be the guinea pig .

Enjoy your process, feeding the MCS monster is fun.

[Skip]

Wow ecowper you're asking an almost impossible question-(for me). I'd probably use the process of elimination and hopefully you end up with only a couple to choose from. Then there's always next year to buy/replace another cooker!

[ecowper]

Skip, it was painful because I only had $X .... but I think the gas range is the way to go. It’s a tremendous upgrade from electric.

[ecowper]

Thanks everyone for all the input ...my wife and I talked a lot about it and included all this input. Ultimately, I decided that the kitchen range upgrade is the right way to go. I have to pull a gas line to where the range is at (about 20 feet extension from my gas fireplace). My wife took this as the opportunity to upgrade too .... I will be putting in a white subway tile backsplash :-)

I really do already have a solid outdoor cooking capability. Eventually I’m going to upgrade outside. I want to get to one cooker and build the outdoor cooking space around it. But I’ll do that next year.

Here’s current setup that gets that backsplash added

[ecowper]

MrMeat I have the entire venting system in place and the microwave has an exhaust fan connected to the exterior vent. It's not as good as a pure vent hood, but it's better than nothing.

[Panhead John]

I must also commend you on your taste in crackers!

[ecowper]

who doesn't like Cheez-Its?

[Attjack]

Gas range.

[ecowper]

Bought the LG Range .... now to get the gas line in place

[MrMeat]

Awesome! Now you can use your cast iron and carbon steel (I don't know why they call it that) pans at high heat without them getting destroyed by having the bottoms get rounded.