Looking for 1st Grill for my House

[N227GB]

Can't go wrong with a Smokey Joe! Or a Big Joe if cooking for more than two people.

[RichieB]

I'm a bit late to this dance. 1st welcome from Western Massachusetts. You can't go wrong with any kettle. Just make sure you hold funds for a Slow & Sear as well as a Vortex. You won't regret it.

[Troutman]

I'm in the Weber kettle camp. It's the first grill I owned back in the 1970's and learned how to cook over live fire using it. I still have two ( a 22" and a 26") and cook on them regularly to this day. It's the best value for cooking outdoors and with a few accessories you can smoke and grill as good as almost anything else out there. Good luck in your choices, you're actually in for a lot of fun in the hobby !!!

[ColonialDawg]

Congrats. Next you need to order a PBC and you’ll be set to cook anything.

[Razor]

Agree! I think I bought 4 or 5 copies now as gifts. 😂

[Razor]

Our Performer does great for our family of 4.

[Razor]

Mosca EXACTLY. I never understood that argument of "charcoal" takes too long. Even I’m subconsciously guilty of perpetuating that myth. If you start the grill THEN prepare your food, everything is ready at the same time.

I still have the gas Q but its now more of the "overflow"grill and "hotdog" machine than anything else.

[jfmorris]

Mosca only the Deluxe has gas assist. The Premium has everything except that.

[BGWolf]

My recommendation is the 26” Weber kettle. It comes standard with a stainless grate and has the space to cook a whole 20 lb brisket, spatchcocked turkeys etc. versatile enough to sear, grill or smoke low and slow.

I’d also consider this if I didn’t need the cooking space. It has some nice features that I’ve actually added to several kettles and would have saved me time and frustration (it was just released)

https://snsgrills.com/products/kettle-grill

I am a huge fan of pk and would consider that if you prefer the square design and 4- point vents. The pk360 can cook anything pretty much any way so long as it fits. It doesn’t quite accommodate a 18 lb packer brisket or a whole spatchcocked turkey without splitting them. The original pk is about as optimized for steak cooking as something that simple could possibly be, but on the small side.

I agree with Polarbear, I am a huge PK fan, they are very well built and the cast aluminum won't rust. You hear stories of people cooking on PKs that their grandparents bought in the 1950s. The rectangle shapr make it easy to cook indirect. I cook for my family of 4 on my PK classic with no issues. The Weber kettle is also a great grill if you go with the Weber, I recommend getting a slow and sear for indirect cooking.

[Mosca]

You will be forever happy that you got the gas assist. You’ll never miss the money, and every time you start the grill it will be a breeze.

Come home from work. Start the chimney. Change clothes. turn off the gas. Prep your food, by then the chimney should be orange to the top. Dump the coals, spread them where you want them, and start cooking. It’s the same as starting a gasser halfway through.

[Mosca]

Regarding the Weber Kettle, I have a 22” Kettle and a LBGE. I use the Kettle probably 90% of the time, because I do a lot more grilling and nothing grills better than a Weber Kettle. Other grills can grill just as good as a Kettle, but not better.

[Mosca]

It’s really about efficiency and telescoping tasks. I come home from work and start the chimney first thing. By the time I change clothes and prep the food, the Weber 22” is at temp. Same as a gasser, as far as I can tell.

[Fred G]

I think the Performer comes with a hinged cooking grate if not pick up one at Home Depot or any hardware store that carries Weber accessories. Makes it easy to add charcoal or wood chunks to the fire if you are smoking something like a brisket or a pork butt that requires a longer low and slow cook. Also add a chimney starter to your initial kit. Put your charcoal in it set it on the charcoal grate over the propane burner, light it off and get the charcoal started. In about 20 minutes you are ready to cook without having used any charcoal lighter to flavor your food.

Another good investment is a copy of Meatheads book advertised at the top of the page. I bought a copy for myself several years ago and copy for my son when he bought his first house and we both use it frequently for reference.

Happy cooking!

Fred G

[fzxdoc]

Enjoy that new Performer!

Kathryn

[jfmorris]

Davis Berryman enjoy the Performer. Mine is by far my favorite grill, and the most flexible. So many ways to cook on it, and endless accessories.