SNS Launches New Product….Slow N’ Sear Masterkettle

[Panhead John]

I just got this in an email from SNS. Pretty cool looking! I haven’t read up on it too much yet, but it looks like they’re having a special launch price of $399.

https://snsgrills.com/products/slow-n-sear-masterkettle-charcoal-grill-smoker?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=campaign&_kx=fYlI8o7MttltDgu4w4ZoxinHg7_STTkVwjUDVTfW8SQ.SZVUz2

[58limited]

I just got that e-mail too, ya beat me to the post.

[Panhead John]

Posting speed….Retiree vs working dude….retiree usually wins. 😂

[captainlee]

Looks like it can double for a walker when you get old.

[Purc]

Uncle Bob I had to look up dotage. I'm always learning here at The Pit!

[58limited]

Imagine walking into the doctor's office with this - you can tailgate while you wait.

[tenphases]

Great now I can't unsee it 🤣

[Dick Anderson]

It looks to me like they put the steering handle on the wrong end. Clumsy.

[jfmorris]

Well, they have it on the end with no wheels, as I guess you lift and roll like a wheelbarrow or hand truck, with the wheels on the front end.

[Panhead John]

The handle also doubles as a cradle for the lid. I like that SNS has their cradle on the left, and not in the back like Weber does with their 3 legged kettles. I always hated having to reach over the coals, or move to the side, when putting the Weber lid in the cradle. Not a huge deal, but it’s easier the way SNS does it.

[jfmorris]

I saw this - it's a great competitor to the basic Weber Performer. And I like it better than the folding side table version of the SNS kettle.

Unfortunately, it's still not a Performer Deluxe/Premium replacement. I love the carts on those with the huge table and the charcoal storage bin, plus storage for stuff like my Vortex and SNS underneath.

[Razor]

I could never do without the table area of the Performer Deluxe. If you know, you know. 😉

[jfmorris]

Yes Razor! IYKYK!

[Huskee]

I like this. It looks handy, lightweight, and portable at the same time. And anyone who knows kettles, specifically the SnS Kettle, knows it's arguably a better kettle than the Weber 22 in a few ways.

[Panhead John]

+1

[tenphases]

Yup this looks great

[Panhead John]

I have 2 SNS kettles, one here and one at Mom’s, and besides the obvious difference in looks, here’s a few things I’ve noticed that are different between the 2 versions.

1. The storage rack at the bottom looks to be sturdier than the original version. This one has support braces all around it. It also looks to be considerably larger than the original version.
2. The side shelf is fixed, vs a fold down shelf in the original. I’m split as to which I’d prefer. The fold down version does save a little storage space, but the fixed shelf “might” support more weight?
3. Underneath the side cradle/handle is a support bar which could be used to hang extra utensils or hand towels. You would need some S hooks for utensils though. The side shelf has 3 prongs which serves the same purpose, but it’s nice to be able to hang more utensils if needed.
4. The wire storage rack under the side shelf is a nice touch for bottles of condiments/spices etc.

To me, this isn’t a radical departure from the original version, feature wise, but it’s an improved version if you ask me. It also comes with their Deluxe SnS insert and their EZ spin grate, all for only $399. If I needed a kettle and was in the market for one, I’d definitely give this one a look! A few more things that sets SNS apart from the comparable Weber kettles is their inclusion of a smoke hole, with slide away cover, for a controller if you like to use one. They also have a probe hole, with slide away cover, for running your temp cables into the grill….rather than having to run them under the lid. Their factory thermometer is also more accurate than the Weber for judging your grate temps. They mount their thermometer closer to the bottom of the lid than the Weber, which is near the top. After I got mine, I tested the temps compared to my ThermoWorks grate probe. There was only about a 20*-25* difference I found. Close enough to get by without having to use my grate probes, for the most part.

[Panhead John]

Ok, one more gripe about Weber’s 3 legged kettles and I’ll shut up. I’ve owned their cheaper $99. version as well as their Master Touch, which is now $479. They’re great kettles, don’t get me wrong! But they continue to do one thing that really chaps my ass! Unless you step up to their Master Touch kettle, or above, they don’t include the heat proof clip which attaches to the lid vent! Why?! It must cost what? maybe $1.00 tops? If you try to adjust the lid vent, you’ll burn the crap out of your fingers unless you use gloves or some type of utensil to move it….trust me, I know! I even emailed them years ago asking why they don’t include it on all their models. I got some kind of, “We’ll pass that on to our engineers” or some type of canned response, I don’t remember now. I had to call Weber and order the part myself! SNS wisely includes the lid vent heat clip on all their kettles. Here’s a picture of a Weber kettle, minus the heat clip on the lid vent.

[Uncle Bob]

You might want to get some butt butter for that chapping, just sayin'.

[Alan Brice]

I hear ya! PJ, I thought mine got lost in the packaging. Hard to believe.

[Panhead John]

It really is hard to believe Bruce! It’s like, well, if you don’t buy our most premium products, we don’t care if you burn yourself or not….cheap bastards.

[radiodome21]

I love my SNS kettle. If I were in the market for another kettle I would buy this. What stood out to me the most in the link is that I had to purchase it through Walmart?

glad to see a new product from them. If only they would come out with a stainless steel kettle like the Summit Kamado.

[au4stree]

Or maybe a 26" SnS kettle, with cart! Now that I'd buy without blinking

[tenphases]

They come out with a 26 sns in a cart I'm just throwing my wallet at them

[Huskee]

Good news, we hope to add the new SnS Grills MasterKettle to the sweepstakes list in the next month or two! More info to come.

[Panhead John]

Holy crap Batman! 😳
👍👍

[ecowper]

okay, hold off on drawing my name until you do

[58limited]

I was showing this to a friend at the brewery and he ended up buying the regular SnS Deluxe Grill.

[ecowper]

If I didn't already have the SnS Kettle, I'd be buying this. I wonder if I can just get the cart and move my current Kettle into it.

[jfmorris]

Interesting that it appears the only way to buy the new kettle is through Walmart. It even says "Walmart Exclusive" on the web page for the Master Kettle.

The purchase link on the SNSGrills website takes you now to Walmart.com for many of their items. Some links take you to Amazon. Maybe they decided to not run their own web store anymore?

What's bad about that is now if you click on the link to buy for example the Kamado, it takes you to Walmart, where there is a SINGLE 1 star review saying how ridiculous it is that a grill could cost that much, from someone who knows nothing about what a kamado grill is. They lost all the GOOD 4 star reviews of the kamado, one of which was from me, on their own web site...

[fuzzydaddy]

I just bought a MasterKettle. Did some searching first and found it at Lowe's for $350 which is $50 cheaper than the current SnS sale price. Turns out it was shipped directly from SnS Grills. Lowe's is not mentioned on SnSGrills but Google knew.

Here are a few things I really like about it. FYI I also have a regular SnS Kettle.

-While having extra parts in a hardware kit can save you if you lose an item, it’s comforting to end the assembly with zero extra pieces knowing you didn’t forget a washer or bolt, or anything.
-Every part lined up without any issues screwing in a bolt, etc.
-The bowl is secured by 9 bolts so it is solid.
-The top vent is spring loaded and easy to move.
-The ash sweep assembly is also spring loaded.
-The ash sweep handle is designed so that it doesn’t have to be twisted to lock into place. Great to see.
-The ring that the ash bucket hangs on is bolted to the bottom bowl with 4 bolts.
-The side shelf is a very nice size, full depth.
-The basket for tools, condiments, etc will come in handy.
-The bottom shelf is a great size and will definitely get used.