So I know the short answer is both, or you can never have too many grills. But, if you could only have one would it be the 26" Weber or the PBC? They are the same price and both can do long cooks. Which one is better at a set it and forget it cook? Do you have to babysit the Weber or the PBC? I think the Weber is going to be a lot better for fast cooks, which is why I am now leaning in that direction. I was all in for the PBC until I started researching the Weber. Darn internet!
Thanks
Scott
Hi, my name is Darrell. I'm an OTR truck driver for over 25 years. During my off time I love doing backyard cooks. I have a 48" Lang Deluxe smoker, Rec-Tec pellet smoker,1 Weber Genesis 330, 1 Weber Performer (blue), 2 Weber kettles (1 black and 1 Copper), 1 26" Weber kettle, a WSM, 8 Maverick Redi Chek thermometers, a PartyQ, 2 SnS, Grill Grates, Cast Iron grates, 1 ThermoPop (orange) and 2 ThermoPens (pink and orange) and planning on adding more cooking accessories. Now I have an Anova sous vide, the Dragon blower and 2 Chef alarms from Thermoworks.
I went with the Weber 22, SnS, and DNG. I believe it came to right around $300 or maybe a little over. I was making the same decision and decided to go with the Weber for the following reasons:
1. I wanted a multi-function device. I can't reverse sear a steak on the PBC.
2. I don't need the capacity of a PBC for my cooking
3. Every cook on the PBC involves a full basket of charcoal that eventually just burns out. I can cook chickens at 300-325 on my Weber using B&B and only use up 20 coals. I can also close down my Weber and reuse charcoal.
4. I had some concerns with meat possibly falling off in the PBC. I know there are ways to avoid it but I don't have to think about that with the Weber.
5. I had a Weber 18 Gold, was very familiar with how it cooked. and loved it. I figured I'd love the Weber 22 with the SnS.
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Oh boy, this is gonna get complicated! Burgers and Dawgs were a lot easier.
Thanks for the link, They have some great ideas, and well made products. I like the Handrafted Made In USA Manufacturer!
Here's why I'd give a very slight nod to the Weber, assuming you'll get the Slow n Sear also (a must):
1) Versatility - you can do pretty much anything on a kettle, given the temperature control that is possible. Unless you plan on adding an auber fan, you'll cook in the 275 range all the time (I have a BBQ Guru on my PBC for temp control)
2) Water/drip pan - This may seem minor, but the PBC can't hold a water/drip pan below the meat. I had this epiphany when I smoked my first turkey on it and realized "well damn...no place for my gravy pan." The same for a water pan, but some would argue a water pan isn't essential. Your call. It can be adapted for a lower rack, but that depends on how fond you are of punching holes in your barrel.
3) Searing - the last S in SnS. If you're into reverse searing (and I say you should be), you can't sear on the PBC.
What I like better about the PBC:
1) Capacity - i have a 22" kettle, so the PBC offers more capacity for most things, especially ribs. Depends on the quantity you cook, but I don't host many people too often, so the kettle gets it done 95% of the time. I'd love to upgrade to a 26".
2) Magic PBC Flavor - There's no denying that there is a little extra goodness that comes with meat smoked on a PBC, presumably due to the juices dripping down onto the coals and steaming back up to the meat.
However, as you said, the right answer is: get both.
If you are only going with one I'd say the 26 + SnS is a no-brainer. With that set up you can cook just about anything. The 26 has real nice capacity as well. The PBC is a great product (I have it on my birthday wishlist) but it's not as versatile as the kettle.
Agreed with the 26" being the way to go with the Slow N Sear. I love my PBC, but if you can only get one cooker, get the kettle. You can always pick up a PBC later when you feel you need more capacity for smoking.
Weber Summit Charcoal Grilling Center
Pit Barrel Cooker
Weber Kettle 22" Original
Ultra Chef Gas Grill
Slow n Sear Low Profile with Drip n Griddle Pan
Thermoworks Thermapen MK4 - Blue
Thermoworks Smoke and Gateway
Maverick ET not sure which
GrillGrates
Golf
Beer
Brisket
I would give the nod to Weber as well, the versatility of grilling and smoking is the deciding factor for me. I like my PBC and I think it is a little more "set it and forget it". Your cook times are less with the PBC as well, which may or may not be important to some. I do not have the SNS or DNG (yet) but have read great things
My toys:
Weber Summit Charcoal Grilling Center (WSCGC) aka Mr. Fancypants
Pit Barrel Cooker (which rocks), named Pretty Baby
Weber Summit S650 Gas Grill, named Hot 'n Fast (used mostly for searing and griddling)
Weber Kettle Premium 22" named Kettle Kid, eager to horn in with more cooks in the future
Camp Chef Somerset IV 4-burner outdoor gas range named AfterBurner due to its 30kBTU burners
Adrenaline BBQ Company Gear:
SnS Low Profile, DnG, and Large Charcoal Basket, for WSCGC
SnS Deluxe for 22" Kettle
Elevated SS Rack for WSCGC
SS Rack for DnG
Cast Iron Griddle
Grill Grate for SnS
Grill Grates: five 17.375 sections (retired to storage)
Grill Grates: six 19.25 panels for exact fit for Summit S650
gasser
Grill Grates for 22" Kettle
2 Grill Grate Griddles
Steelmade Griddle for Summit gas grill
Fireboard Gear:
Extreme BBQ Thermometer Package
Additional control unit
Additional probes: Competition Probes 1" (3) and 4" (1), 3 additional Ambient Probes. 1 additional Food Probe
2 Driver Cables
Pit Viper Fan (to pair with Fireboard Fan Driver Cable)
Pit Viper Fan new design (to pair with Fireboard Fan Driver Cable)
Thermoworks Gear:
Thermapen MK4 (pink)
Thermapen Classic (pink too)
Thermoworks MK4 orange
Temp Test 2 Smart Thermometer
Extra Big and Loud Timer
Timestick Trio
Maverick ET 73 a little workhorse with limited range
Maverick ET 733
Maverick (Ivation) ET 732
Grill Pinz
Vortex (two of them)
18" drip pan for WSCGC
Ceramic Spacers for WSCGC in Kamado Mode: 2 sets each 1/2", 1", 2". The 2" spacers work best with the 18" drip pan. The 1+1/2 inch spacers work best with the 14 inch cake pan.
Two Joule Sous Vide devices
3 Lipavi Sous Vide Tubs with Lids: 12, 18 and 26 quarts
Avid Armor Ultra Pro V32 Chamber Sealer
Instant Pot 6 Quart Electric Pressure Cooker
Instant Pot 10 Quart Electric Pressure Cooker
Charcoal Companion TurboQue
A-Maze-N tube 12 inch tube smoker accessory for use with pellets
BBQ Dragon and Dragon Chimney
Shun Classic Series:
8" Chef Knife
6" Chef's Knife
Gokujo Boning and Fillet Knife
3 1/2 inch Paring Knife
If you have no other way of grilling, then for sure the answer is 26" Kettle+SnS. You'll be able to smoke, sear, and grill on it. But you are limited for real estate on that grill. OTOH, if you have another grill, like a gasser for instance, then the PBC is a great way to smoke really good food. It's not good for searing, though. Of course you could get a PBC and a little Smokey Joe just to sear. There are lots of options.
I like the ability to load up the PBC for company and turn out good food consistently. I also like it when just cooking for two and perhaps throw something extra on for leftovers or lunches. You don't always have to use a full load of charcoal, but I do, figuring that the cost of charcoal is the least of my smoker expenses anyway.
Whichever way you go, you may be buying the other option in another year or two. That's what happened to me. Started with the PBC (already had a gasser) and then bought the WSCGC later on. If I only had room for a stickburner or KBQ, I'd have it all covered.
I've been using the Weber 22 for about a year without the SnS. I grill with it, turned out brisket and pork shoulder using the snake method. I've been thinking of the PBC, but we just don't cook large enough amounts to be practical. I'm looking to pick up the SnS and maybe the griddle pan too. I think that the Weber is versatile enough and fills our needs at the moment. You certainly couldn't go wrong picking up a Kettle.
I still have my 22" Weber, no SnS, and love it for certain things (steaks), but adding the PBC changed how I grill. I now smoke a few chix at a time, then vac-seal and freeze. Lots of choices for dinners!
I purchase the 26 inch Weber kettle and the SnS, a week or two later I purchase the DnG. I'm glad I did for all the reasons mentioned above and the other posts best decision I've made in a long time. I don't think you'll be disappointed at all.
Thanks for all the replies everyone. I am waiting for a response from a Craigslist ad for a 22" Weber. If that falls through, I will more than likely have the Treasury dept order me a 26" from Amazon. Nobody local stocks the 26". Will have to run it stock for awhile then try the Accessories reccomended.
I know the PBC is pretty special, but for my money I went 26 with the SnS & the Drip pan - I also went with a Craycort Cast Iron Grate - I love the heaviness of the grates in the full size Weber 26, it makes it feel like a 'full size' American car - if that makes sense.
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