Dang, this is fun

[Aimless1]

For many years I grilled using a succession of charcoal grills. Then the decision was made to go to gas. That was the end of my grilling. I have no interest in learning how to grill on a gas grill and my bride took over grilling. Needed a new grill for my seasonal and decided to get a pellet pooper. I'm back!

I generally apply the doctor's creed to my grilling "do no harm". Honestly, it is difficult to fail with a pellet pooper. What ever i do, I am trying to enhance the flavor of the food, not mask it, not over power it, not to make it taste like something it is not. The pellet smoker adds just enough smoke, provides easy temperature control and checks most of the boxes on my grill want list.

It has been pure pleasure to grill again. I truly enjoy creating great food. According to what my wife, family and friends say, I have had some success. I am unable to go to the seasonal this weekend and am actually sad that I won't be grilling. I take pride in my food and joy in making it.

Still can't bring myself to use a gas grill. Personal bias. I prefer food done over wood or charcoal. Perhaps I'll pick up a Weber kettle for home use or another pellet pooper. This is too much fun to miss out

[vandy]

I have had pellet poopers as you so eloquently put it for 7 years or so and while I do enjoy the food I cook on them I just broke down a couple months ago and finally got a Webber 22 and added the SNS and DnG. I am now having more fun with charcoal than I ever have had with the pellets. I still use the pellets but I find that I would rather light up the charcoal more than just turning on the pellet pooper. Enjoy your new found freedom my friend!

[Mr. Bones]

Welcome back Aimless1 !!!
Enjoy th' charcoal cookin'!

[HawkerXP]

I'll cook something on the Weber or the PBC every night if I can get away with it. After a hard day of aeroplane fixing there is nothing I enjoy more then fiddling with fire with a cold one near by.

[FireMan]

Ditto Hawker. I got my gasser & found I'm using my Weber just as much, just doin more cookin. PBC tomorrow.

[bten]

Interesting observation on a gasser. I found the same thing at first. When I was buying Char-Broil type cheap gassers, i would get frustrated and take out the flame tamers and put in a grate with lava rocks or ceramic. I did not like grilling on an "all metal" gas grill.

I finally went to a Members Mark with ceramic plates and used that grill for 15 years, before handing it down to my nephew. I purchased a fancy gas grill with ceramic brickets and really like it. Heating it up takes a bit longer, but the temps are stable and very controllable.

One of the things I noticed is that very little liquid makes it to the drip pan. Most of it is vaporized back to the food. The same thing happens over charcoal.

Don't get me wrong, cooking over charcoal does impart more flavor. It takes more time and cool down takes much longer.

In my opinion, cooking over ceramic is much better than cooking in an all metal gas grill.

I like the convience of quick startup and shut down. It is much easier when I want to do the cooking after work. My better half really likes it when I cook outside.

That being said, it is much harder to cook a brisket or ribs on a gas grill (I have done both). A pellet pooper is an excellet way to do this. I am fighting MCS right now, trying to convince my better half that I need the pellet grill to suppliment my gasser for ribs and brisket.