Grill/Smoke/Roast = SnS Grills Kettle + SnS Deluxe Insert & Drip n' Griddle
Grill/Smoke/Roast = Hasty-Bake Gourmet Dual Finish with HB rotisserie and Grill Grates
Smoke = Weber Smokey Mountain 22.5"
Pizza = Blackstone Propane Pizza Oven (Stacy's, but she let's me use it sometimes)
Indoor Cooking = LG Studio 30" gas range
Camp Cooking = Coleman 2 burner white gas stove
Thermometer = FireBoard FBX2 with 2 ambient and 6 meat probes
Thermapen Mk IV = Light blue
Thermapen Mk IV = Black
PID Controller = Fireboard Drive + Auber 20 CFM Fan (FB gen 1 fan)
PID Controller = Fireboard Drive + Fireboard 20 CFM Fan (FB gen 2 fan)
Knives
Wusthof Classic Ikon set: 9" carving knive, 2X 8" Chef's Knife, 7" Santoku and three utility knives
Kamikoto Kuro set: 7" Santoku, 6.5" Nakiri, 5" Utility
Amazing Ribs Brazilian Steak knife set
Favorite wine = whatever is currently in the wine rack
Favorite beer = Sam Adams Boston Lager or Shiner Bock
Favorite whisky = Lagavulin Distiller's Edition 16 year old single malt
Best Cookbooks - Meathead's "The Science of Great Barbecue and Grilling", Chris Lilly's "Big Bob Gibson's BBQ Book", Aaron Franklin's "Franklin BBQ"
Cookbooks to check out - Raichlen's "Brisket Chronicles" and anything by Adam Perry Lang.
Current fanboy cookbook - "Chasing Smoke: Cooking Over Fire Around the Levant"
You know, honestly, if you have the ability to do it I’d highly recommend a Hasty-Bake Legacy. It is a bit pricier than an OJ Bronco or loaded out SnS Kettle. BUT it is a lifetime investment that can be handed down to your kids. Plus a massive amount of cooking space, ability to run low and slow, or hot and fast. Direct grilling, steaks, ribs, and more. It’s the same amount of grill space as my Gourmet, but doesn’t have the the additional secondary rack and extra hood space.
Welcome to the Hasty Bake Legacy Model 131 - the epitome of charcoal grilling perfection! As the original Hasty Bake design and our top-selling model, the Legacy 131 is tailor-made for those who crave the ultimate grilling experience. Whether you're hosting large family gatherings or entertaining friends, this grill is
That's waaaaaaay out of my price range unfortunately... and I have no kids, so nobody's inheriting anything! (Except my nephew, he'll get all my guitars.) I didn't stipulate a price point in the OP cuz I wouldn't know what to stipulate, but I see that I'm likely to have to spend several hundred at least...
I’m not an expert on charcoal cooking, so I don’t have a suggestion here. Except that whatever you are going to do, you should decide and announce it before Panhead John wakes up and tries to sell you on buying a gas griddle. None of us need to live through that sales pitch again.
And my pellet rig is strictly a smoker, it does not function as a grill at all. So I have just one grill thus far. But MCS doesn't care how many you have, right??
Was in a similar situation, with a pellet and a gasser, and went with the Oklahoma Joe Bronco. After a couple years of ownership, I maybe would have gone with the Bronco Pro (the bigger bronco) or an SNS Kettle, but I do love my bronco.
The Bronco will take automation, but doesn't really need it. Once you get it to temp, it's automation level stable on it's own.
If you want full automation there's the other thing I was looking at, the Masterbuilt Gravity series, that's like a charcoal version of a pellet pooper. I think I decided against because I wanted something that I could cook on in a blackout.
The long and short of MCS existence is that every option will work and will produce good results. And every option will have some shortcoming, real or imagined, that will make the MCS start to itch again.
Guess what? I just went outside in the rain and measured, and while the overall length of a Weber Performer Deluxe is 48 inches (from the left side of the bail to the right edge of the table), the WHEEL base is much less. And guess what I get from outside of the big wheels on the left to the outside of the small casters on the right? 39 inches! The area touching the ground is about 36 inches, for the wheel base.
I vote for a Weber Performer Deluxe, as it opens you to the world of Weber kettle accessories, including the SNS, rotisseries, pizza ovens, the Vortex and so on. The side table and charcoal storage and propane ignition are bonuses to me.
Now, granted, the Performer at 22" doesn't have the cooking space of the 26" kettle, but I just love the stability of the cart versus the 3 legged variety, and the table and storage underneath are huge value added features to me.
Wow, that is contributing way above and beyond there sir! Thank you very much for those specific and detailed measurements, because just by eye I assumed it couldn't fit that little space. One other question: this little slab is not level. Are the wheels in any way height-adjustable, so that I could level the unit once in its final position? Thanks again!
Those wheels and legs are not adjustable. I’ve only seen this being suggested with a griddle to keep oil and grease from running but if it’s a small slope large fender washers seem to be a popular option for leveling. DaveD
I’m in a similar boat. I have the Grilla Silverbac, Weber genesis, Ooni pizza oven and a WSM. I’ve been going back and forth between the SNS kettle and Weber Summit Kamado. I’d like something with charcoal. Yesterday it was beautiful out in Chicagoland and I was thinking it’s a perfect day for some good old fashioned BBQ. I wanted something with charcoal and the WSM was my only option. While I like my WSM there are things that I don’t like. Charcoal hog, doesn’t work well in windy days and it’s really only a trick pony. Buts it’s very good at that. Plus it was free and is in rock solid condition. Honestly if I wasn’t back in my office three days a week I would’ve already bought one of these because I don’t know how much use these would get during the week.
I had a WSM 22†before I got the WSCG. Once that happened the only time I used the WSM was when I felt guilty for not using it and eventually I parted ways. It was a good gateway… smoker
Waiting for the Worms I hear ya. It’s fun to play with and learn on but it seems like as you start graduating in MSC university it’s only a matter of time until it just takes up space. I saw you said you were on the fence on keeping it and I was half tempted to call you up about buying it back, but I had to remind myself of what it was like.
radiodome21 I can comment somewhat to this subject, having both a Weber Performer Deluxe, and a SNS Deluxe Kamado.
Both are great cookers. As would be the SNS kettle, or the Summit Kamado. Where the kettle excels, especially the Performer Deluxe, is in fast startup time. You would probably get this with either the SNS kettle or the Summit kamado. Where the kamado wins is in efficiency, and at least with a ceramic kamado, high temperature cooking and temperature stability. The Weber Summit kamado gets some of those advantages - the double walled construction will insulate it and make it more efficient than a kettle. And it will change temperatures faster than a ceramic kamado like mine, since the metal construction does not hold heat like 1 inch thick ceramic does. But that is also a down side to the Weber versus conventional kamados. The ceramic heat retention is part of their efficiency, and stability. In kamado mode, I can open the lid and close it a minute later, and it very very quickly returns right to the temperature it was at, since the ceramic is soaked with that temperature. It will take longer to recover with the Summit kamado, or with any kettle cooker.
The other thing I've not seen anyone with the Summit talk about is high temp use, like for a pizza oven, which is one thing I do with my SNS kamado. The ceramic dome getting soaked to 700F stays hot and radiates heat to your pizza, even after being open a minute or two to load or change pizzas.
If I were on a budget, I would certainly look at a kettle. Kettles have the accessory availability going for them - especially 22" kettles. Weber kettles anyway. Unfortunately, the SNS 22" kettle is different than Weber in size, and you can only use the SNS rotisserie, and I assume other similar type 3rd party accessories won't work on the SNS kettle either. But for flexibility and being ready to smoke, grill and sear, the SNS kettle cannot be beat.
I've had my 2007 Performer since getting it used from a friend in 2017, and I pimped it out with the SNS accessories, as well as a Vortex. I've had the SNS Kamado since winning it in the Great Giveaway in January 2021. These days, I spend much more time cooking on the kamado and flat top grills than I do the kettle, offset or Weber Genesis grills.
For week night cooking, with charcoal, I would use my Performer with its propane ignition. I keep a Vortex in that grill most of the time, and can top it off and relight things with the push of a button, and be grilling in 30. The kamado I use lighter cubes, and it takes longer to startup and get stable. If my main purpose for a grill were GRILLING, I think the kettle would win. It's just easier to clean, easier to startup. If I wanted to smoke more than grill, or use as a pizza oven, kamado wins hands down. But for flexibility, I think I would have to give the win to the kettle.
Last edited by jfmorris; August 1, 2022, 01:12 PM.
Thanks Jim. I’ve been spying the Grilla Kong because it’s at the right price…..but I need mobility because I have a narrow grilling spot. But you do bring up good points about the Weber performer, which I never really considered…..until now.
radiodome21 the Grilla Kong is a GREAT buy right now. That said... my son in law found a practically new Vision kamado for $175 on FB marketplace. It would have cost him $700 new at Home Depot. While not the best kamado, and only 18", it was a great value, and has two full cooking levels, the deflector for indirect use, and so forth.
radiodome21 the Performer will roll around a lot easier than any ceramic kamado for sure. If I need to take a grill somewhere in my truck, the Performer is the one going, as it is still light enough to load. I won't be hauling the kamado anywhere - too heavy and too much risk of breaking it.
Alright every one else has an opinion and so do I. I think you should look at craigslist before making a choice. I was on the local one last night and was surprised to see better stuff than normal. There was a Large Primo for $700 and several other top of the line smokers and grills at very reduced prices. I have no idea if it’s the economy or some other reason, but the quality of what’s available is way up.
Agreed, I mentioned it in another post last week I think. My guess, in addition to the general economic concerns, is that some folks who joined the outdoor cooker frenzy during Covid have figured out outdoor cooking just isn't their thing and are get rid of stuff just sitting around. Some really nice, and lightly used, stuff has increased in availability.
Now this is excellent advice! I had not thought of that at all. I think you're both right, the novelty wear-off plus folks maybe having to rethink for economic reasons. I will absolutely check that out. One thing's for sure, going that route means pre-assembled!
Thanks everyone for the great input and engagement on this! Plenty to consider for sure. Some feedback & a question or two.
I see some suggestions for some serious-money options... I know at least some of those are tongue-in-cheek, and that's a good thing, things like that are way more than I can swing for this! Sure, I'd love to have a Hasty Bake, but that's gonna have to wait until I win the grand prize monthly drawing
It is quite likely that I would use this cooker for grilling less than I would for smoking, since the Weber Spirit 3-burner (with bespoke GrillGrates) makes 2-zone and Warp 10 very straightforward, fast, and clean. I can't see why I would choose to go to the effort of getting a charcoal fire going to do a hot sear when I could get there in minutes at the turn of a dial, for example.
I will definitely be doing more than just grazing the PBC/OKJ thread, something like that is worth considering. Also will take a close look now at the Performer and SNS kettle. Versatility is a big plus, because this really is almost sure to be the last thing I can put back here. I'm cool with that-- haven't really felt like I've been missing out on much yet, but...
Question for the distinguished jfmorris (or anyone else who knows): when you refer to a kamado's efficiency, how do you define/measure that? Getting to temp on a minimum of fuel? Or of its temperature steadiness owing to all that thermal mass, as you described above? Or...? One thing that puts me off a kamado is that thermal mass issue. It is both a blessing and a curse that it will hold the same temperature forever...
By efficiency, I am referring to being able to run a long time on a load of fuel and maintain even temperatures.
But I think the high efficiency can both a blessing and a curse. I can say for certain that if I use the SNS insert in my SNS kamado, treating it much like a kettle, that it has higher air flow (vents are more open) to get the same indirect temperature. And due to that, bark is in fact better in SNS mode than it is in traditional kamado mode, assuming we are talking 225F.
But I find that if I run a little hotter in kamado mode - say 275 - I can get better bark than I do at 225 in that mode of operation. It's all about air flow. But that higher air flow means higher fuel consumption, no matter what cooker you are talking about.
Oak Smoke is right in that they do provide a moist environment, and I don't use a water pan in kamado mode whether running at 225 or 275. Or 350. Or 700!
DaveD my son in law was in the market for a new grill.... and in the course of a week, ended up with two. A Cuisinart griddle grill from Woot (there is currently a great sale on the Cuisinart 30" flattop - look for a thread from today), and he got a great buy on a Vision kamado that was $700+ new, and which was barely used, for $175, from someone on Facebook Marketplace. He has a great combo there with the kamado for slow cooking and grilling, and the flat top for searing and general purpose griddle style cooking.
He is really happy with both the Cuisinart 22" griddle, and the Vision 18" kamado, especially given the price he paid for both. He sold his old dual fuel Chargrilled peice of junk for $50 on Facebook I think.
Last edited by jfmorris; August 1, 2022, 03:36 PM.
Do the Performers have any pre-drilled ports for temperature probe wires, fans, and such? I noticed in the SNS Kettle review that it has the "Smoke Hole" that can take a controllable fan and also at least one port for threading probe wires - very good features for me.
I think I got it….
First, buy a four or six burner griddle and put it there.
Second, once you do that you’ll realize you really don’t use the gasser anymore so you can sell that and replace it with the charcoal grill/smoker of your choice.
Third, you’ll find that now that you’re using charcoal you are losing interest in the pellet grill you have and convince yourself it’s because it doesn’t have something you need to take your pellet bbq over the top, so you order the Yoder YS640s… with the competition cart because you only live once.
Am I doing this MCS enabling thing right?
Ok, the dream is over, back to reality.
Checking FB and Craigslist is a great suggestion! Something may come up that you weren’t even considering to be an option, then suddenly it is.
Unless you need to smoke a lot in very cold weather or for 12+ hrs without worrying about how much charcoal you have left, I think Jim is on track with the SnS kettle or the Performer deluxe. From there you can pick apart the differences. You mentioned modding for automation. How I see it is the SnS has taken everything people mod or wish they had on the kettle and made it a standard offering, and as far as I can tell they nailed it. If you can appreciate the bells and whistles then go for the SnS. If you want the extra table space and a wider variety of accessories (for now I would assume) then you’re a step drill and two holes away from the kettle being ready for automation. This mod is well documented somewhere on here.
I’ve gone back and forth between the two, you know, for the sake of day dreaming, and I’m glad I don’t have to make that decision.
OK fine, since you’re forcing me to make a decision right now…. I think the SnS wins for me. And I say that with a 22†Weber rotisserie sitting in my garage with nothing to put it on.
I know a selling point for the Performer is the versatility of their system with the removable central piece, where all sorts of accessories can go. But if I'm being realistic, I'm not likely to use such things. I don't really want a whole bunch of other gadgets, and for a great many things those gadgets enable (e.g. pizza, to name just one), my lovely bride already makes such excellent versions indoors that there would be little point.
Love the Performer's pushbutton starting for sure though, and yeah having some table space would totally rock, along with the storage etc.
Still need to really think about the whole grill vs. smoker thing though. Some great points about that, e.g. ZeroBad's concise analysis. As someone (sorry) said, a good problem to have
jfmorris I have the SS version for my WSCG so rust isn’t the issue, but I can see where you’re coming from. I just really don’t need or want the removable insert for anything other than using the vortex. I could use wire to tie it together and untie when I want to use the vortex I suppose
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