Replacing a weber

[DVal]

For those of you that own an Argentine or Santa Maria grill, do you find that it completely replaces other charcoal cookers like a Weber kettle? I'm planning to buy one and I was going to keep my kamado joe, but I'm wondering if I'd be better off getting something specific to smoking like a smokey mountain or drum smoker since the Santa Maria can do high heat stuff.

[STEbbq]

The KJ would be ideally suited for smoking so it would probably be more time consuming and fuel inefficient to use the SM. I would use the KJ for smoking and the SM for shorter fun cooks.

[Uncle Bob]

I have a couple SM options in the fleet; one an attachment for 22" cookers the other a dedicated SM. As occasional change up cookers they are enjoyable, and fun to experiment with different methods. They do demand more attention during the cooking process as temperature intensity depends more on your fire building/maintaining skills than damper adjustments on other style cookers. If you're only planning quick cooks with the SM then it's closer to a trade off, but your fuel costs will likely be higher building and maintaining an open fire, and you won't be able to shut down the fire to preserve carry over fuel as you can with a kettle, kamado or drum.

[Murdy]

I would keep the KJ and add a drum.

[jfmorris]

Well, I can't see a Santa Maria or Argentine grill as a replacement for a regular grill like a Weber kettle or a kamado. Both are open fire cookers, meant for direct grilling, and really cannot do indirect cooking at all - just control the distance above the heat to control heat intensity. You won't smoke or otherwise cook indirect on them, and there are times you need indirect cooking.

Also, there are times you want to use charcoal versus logs for direct grilling. I'm thinking stuff like burgers and dogs - sure, you CAN do them on the Argentine grill, but might be quicker and easier on another cooker.

[Panhead John]

I agree with Jim. I couldn’t see myself ever without a kettle, they’re just way too versatile and easier to cook on in a lot of cases. If there’s one cooker that most people should have in their arsenal, it’s a kettle.

[jfmorris]

Panhead John yes indeed. If I only had ONE grill, it would be a 22" kettle. So many accessories for 22" kettles, and so many ways you can cook on it (rotisserie, pizza oven, Santa Maria, direct grill, 2 zone grilling, smoking, even a plancha for griddling).

No one tell Yvonne I said that! She might expect me to clear out some of the cookers in the backyard... I don't think she would let me get rid of the griddle though, as she likes the stir fries and fried rice too much!

[Bad Hat BBQ]

I use my SM for direct grilling and live fire cooking....My Off Set and the SM work well together

KJ & SM seems to be a good mix !

[Donw]

SM owner here. Wonderful and enjoyable way to do direct cooking. I still keep using my kettle and smoker for most of my cooking needs though.

[Santamarina]

If I have an offset for low & slow then a Santa Maria style is the only other grill I need!

[BBQPhil]

Use a Argentinian like grill for direct cooking such as steak. Use a Yoder pellet for smoking. Also have a BGE, but rarely use it now that I have these other 2 options.

[TripleB]

I have a SM attachment for my PK360. It does not replace any of my charcoal grills. It’s strictly an attachment, like my rotisserie, Vortex, griddle, wok, etc. Also, a SM is not really a smoker. There is no lid to close.

The SM attachment is fun to use, especially when cooking for company. A wood fire in the box, lowering/raising the food, etc. It’s definitely a conversation piece during a party. But everyday grilling is just done normally on my PKs and Webers.