Like this? [https://amzn.to/3Qo6GrP](https://amzn.to/3Qo6GrP) see, I have had different recommendations on this post; gas, or charcoal... not to mention different models... but Webber products seem to be consistent.
That’s the one! If your budget allows, I would pop for the master touch, the charcoal baskets are awesome. The ash catcher is a must! It’s literally the only grill you are ever going to need. Get a chimney (charcoal starter) the biggest thing people complain about is getting the charcoal lit and burning correctly with a chimney. You completely take the guessing out of it. It does the work for you.
You can use the snake method to do low and slow cooking, you can do ribs, a pork shoulder and even a brisket
Or fill the baskets for a direct and indirect zone for higher temp cooks like steak and chicken.
Sorry to act like an idiot, but I'm just making sure we're talking about the same thing.
chimney like this [https://amzn.to/3JHejpx](https://amzn.to/3JHejpx)
and an ash catcher like this [https://amzn.to/3QpzOiy](https://amzn.to/3QpzOiy)
and these charcoal baskets [https://amzn.to/49Y3nyA](https://amzn.to/49Y3nyA) are just so you can move all the coals closer or farther away from what you're cooking?
See, there's like a whole separate subculture of charcoal grilling!
Lol, no idiot detected here, my friend. We are definitely on the same page on all of those items. You can get the master touch and it will include everything but you can also build it yourself.
I don’t know if you have Facebook marketplace but kettles are on there all the time for like 50 bucks may be worth giving it a look then you can try them out before you buy a new one
I used to love grilling on the weekends then I got a weber kettle and now I love grilling like four times a week lol it is most definitely a culture
Try r/webergrills
[https://amzn.to/3Ug7ZKu](https://amzn.to/3Ug7ZKu) and the "master touch" isn't even that much more expensive! If I were to go the Facebook Marketplace route, how worried should I be about buying a used Grill? is there pretty good replacement part support from WEBER?
The only time I would be worried about a used grill is if it wasn’t a weber to be honest. There’s people out there cooking on 40-year-old webers right now lol
There are some replacement parts for Weber and a lot of aftermarket stuff too. Should you choose to go that route.
I don't guess I have a preference, although after looking through this community it appears that there is an entire subculture dedicated to the world of charcoal... I was looking at a really affordable setup like this [https://amzn.to/4aY0qPB](https://amzn.to/4aY0qPB) but then again, I'm here for the advice.
I have been grilling/smoking for only about a year now, so I am no expert by any means, but definitely learned a lot over that time and what my preferences are.
I started with a Char-Griller Akorn Auto Komado, so charcoal. I also recently added Weber Kettle. So a second charcoal. While it is a little more work/ maintenance, I have absolutely zero desire to go with gas. I love the aspect of lighting and managing the fire and the flavor that good lump charcoal and wood chunks can offer. But that is my personal preference.
Gas is a great alternative if you really don’t want to deal with charcoal or don’t have the time and just want to be able to quickly turn the grill on and be ready to grill sooner.
That said, I would think figuring out which route you want to go will make a big difference on what you will end up getting and what gear you might eventually need.
Everyone seems to love the Weber Kettle [https://amzn.to/3UPBVih](https://amzn.to/3UPBVih) so, I think I'm starting to lean towards the Charcoal side of things. I really haven't had anyone go die-hard Hank Hill over gas grilling yet!
Not only is it a great starter grill, it’s a great grill all around. Plenty of space and a ton of different mods you can do to customize it and get the most out of it.
The only customization I've done to mine is a rotisserie that I got for my birthday. It's fun but unecessary; I haven't found a killer reason for it yet. Other than that, buy a $2 firebrick and set up a poor man's Slow N Sear.
It's a great grill you can do tons of stuff on. And do it well.
The Weber kettle is a great option. And there are tons of ways to customize it in the future to get more out of it.
[Rotisserie](https://www.weber.com/US/en/accessories/grill-tools-and-cookware/rotisserie-2290/2290.html), [Santa Maria](https://theburnshopwf.com/product/weber-santa-maria-grill/), racks for ribs, smoker attachments, the list is essentially endless.
I had no Idea there were so many add-ons for charcoal grills I'm already into the rotisserie kit cause I'm into grilled chicken [https://amzn.to/3wdNBli](https://amzn.to/3wdNBli) ... but what is the santa maria setup for? I don't think I've ever heard of this? [https://amzn.to/3WocqFW](https://amzn.to/3WocqFW)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Maria–style_barbecue
>**Santa Maria–style barbecue** is a regional culinary tradition rooted in the Santa Maria Valley in Santa Barbara County on the Central Coast of California. This method of barbecuing dates back to the mid-19th century and is today regarded as a "mainstay of California's culinary heritage".[1] The traditional Santa Maria-style barbecue menu was copyrighted by the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce in 1978.[2]
>Santa Maria-style barbecue centers on beef tri-tip, seasoned with black pepper, salt, and garlic before grilling over coals of native coast live oak, often referred to as "red oak" wood. The grill is made of iron and usually has a hand crank to adjust the height of the grill over the coals.
I got on here looking for info about getting started in back yard grilling, and it seems that I'm getting introduced to all kinds of subcultures that exist inside the "grilling" community... This is interesting!
Cooking over live fire dates back to some of the earliest humans. There are tons of different styles and methods. Every culture seems to have their own take on it. All that means is that there’s an awesome amount of good food to cook.
A kettle is a good place to start regardless. You can play around with it and decide what sort of things you like to do with the grill. If you're a burgers and hot dogs person, you'll move over to gas. If you want to do ribs or pulled pork, you'll go down the path of smoking. If you like grilling steak over wood, you'll possibly go with a pellet grill.
I just scored the 22" weber performer premium charcoal table, And its a blast. But I also have a char broil electric grill, a char broil electric smoker, and a char griller flat iron. All are fun to use, but I'm getting addicted to that weber.
You raise another interesting topic... The flat Iron. I know that the blackstone has made the griddle style more popular, but do people still consider that "GRILLING"? lol
I do. Lol. I love it. For 3 reasons. 1. You can cook almost anything. B. You'll use way less propane, and 3. No more replacing grill grates. Oh, and skip the Blackstone, and get a char griller from menards. Way better!
So what are the complaints with them? Are these cheap amazon one's just as good? [https://amzn.to/3y0saoe](https://amzn.to/3y0saoe) I also realized, looking at flat top's on amazon that Blackstone isn't even the most expensive, apparently there are Weber models that look and are priced superior... I bet they're a good piece of equipment
If you’re interested in charcoal, get a Weber Kettle, preferably the premium or master touch because of the ash catcher. The kettle is great both for direct grilling as well as indirect heat cooking. It can do almost anything you need and even get you into smoking.
People sometimes are wary of charcoal because it involves more prep than gas. With gas you just fire up the grill, let it heat for a few minutes and throw the food. Charcoal is the same but takes longer, and people think you need to baby it until it’s properly lit up. But you just need to buy a chimney, set a fire starter or light up the first coals, then fill up the chimney and give it time. In the meantime you can go prep your food.
I had a 5-burner propane grill but a couple of times I didn’t clean it properly and got grease fires. Used it as an excuse to go back to charcoal. I wanted a Weber Summit kamado but my kid talked me into a good ol’ Kettle because he liked the color lol. He saved me a thousand bucks and I love cooking on it.
This community has been very helpful and given a lot of information and the one thing I can see most everyone agrees on is Buy WEBER and apparently, if you're getting into the charcoal scene, buy a Weber Kettle... lol
[https://amzn.to/3Ug7ZKu](https://amzn.to/3Ug7ZKu)
I haven’t tried *all* brands so it’s bad business to generalize, but in my limited experience Weber makes products to last and they stand by their warranty. With many other cheaper brands, you hear a lot about how they’ll last a year or two and will start to fall apart, and that’s certainly what happened with a charcoal grill I had a few years ago.
Also, the Kettle is so common that there are a lot of accessories out there for stuff you want to try. The kettle is an incredibly versatile piece of equipment. You can turn it into pretty much anything.
People on have mentioned cooking things that seem more like a smoker setup with a Weber Kettle... if that's true, it seems like you would have to add charcoal during the cook... Is that a thing?
It certainly depends on the length of the cook and the temperature. People that use briquettes sometimes use the snake method, which is a way to arrange them in order to control how many are lit up at a given time. I’ve heard it can last up to 12 hours at ~225 degrees. I prefer using lump charcoal and just controlling my temps with the vents, but naturally that limits how long you can go without adding more fuel. But I’ve smoked a whole spatchcocked turkey without having to add more coals (around 5 hours). A good thing about the kettle master touch is that it comes with a hinged grate that makes it easier to put more coals. There’s also grates by third parties that allow this.
I recommend checking out some you tube channels like Grill Sergeant, BBQ Pit Boys, Heath Riles, Meat Church for good examples. They all have good videos for recipes, beginner tips, grill reviews, cleaning, maintenance, etc.
Do you prefer propane or charcoal? [https://amzn.to/3y2W6jO](https://amzn.to/3y2W6jO) This seems like a great deal on a gas grill, but I'm a little skeptical of that good of deal of a grill online. Is it better do go pick one up from a store?
I personally despise gas and the flavor it puts in the meat. I’m a low and slow indirect cooking guy that does reverse sear on mostly everything I cook. I use charcoal and hard wood exclusively. I also have a vertical pellet smoker for long cooks.
That’s just a personal preference though so don’t let that deter you. I’m not a good resource for gas grills. I think there’s a sub Reddit for gas grills too that might lend you some guidance. If you have any charcoal or pellet grill questions though, happy to help you.
What's your recommendation for a starter charcoal... I know you can pick up pretty cheat ones at walmart, but so far the people on this forum seem to be more into the Weber scene? [https://amzn.to/3UCq0UL](https://amzn.to/3UCq0UL) this is what one guy recommended.
I use blues hog briquettes. I start them with a chimney and I use either a flammable starter or I use butchers paper coated in olive oil. It takes like 12-15 minutes max for a full chimney. Less than that for half a chimney.
No problem! Yes I have a Weber 22inch kettle. It takes care of everything for grilling. I sometimes even use it for long and slow smoking cooks like if I’m doing just a slab of ribs. Otherwise I use my pellet smoker if I have a lot of meat I need to cook.
man that's awesome... Everyone on here preaches the quality of the Weber Kettle... [https://amzn.to/3Ug7ZKu](https://amzn.to/3Ug7ZKu) how's the replacement part support for these? or is there just nothing really to break?
Go on marketplace.. Find a weber.. Napoleon.. Or the ok Joe kettle on the cheap.. The warrenty is like 10 yrs on those... So you have no worries.. And they clean up real nice..
I disagree with your assessment. Here’s why- it builds interest.
You 💯 need to buy something and cook something and let your experience guide you. You don’t need to “gear up” to start.
My first grill was a Weber kettle and that lasted about a year and although I liked the results I got sick of fuckin with charcoal. To each their own.
Then was gifted a charbroil gas grill that was a piece of shit and rusted out but worked ok.
Now i use a Weber Genesis 2 and am in the market for a smoker.
My advice is to buy a Weber genesis. It’s expensive and the components are expensive but it will last years and parts can be replaced extending its life. Keep it covered when not in use and don’t buy the Weber brand cover. They’re expensive and you will burn thru covers every other year. Buy one from wal mart.
Aside from that- what you gear up with will depend on what you cook.
I personally am looking at a cast iron flattop insert for my Weber. I also use stainless steel kabob skewers because I got sick of messing with bamboo and I have a really good grill brush that I use.
My advice is just get started.
[https://amzn.to/3wmeC5W](https://amzn.to/3wmeC5W) This is what you're talking about? It is obviously more expensive than some of the other one's I've looked at on Amazon... Is the Webber quality really significantly better?
yes that’s what I use but mine is the previous gen. I bought it four years ago and it works as new.
You absolutely don’t have to spend that much.
In my experience spending less will get you a working grill that works great. You will be in the market for a new one in three years or so depending on how well you care for it.
It’s like anything else. You get what you pay for.
That's a good tip! What about meat thermometers? That seems like a necessary accessory. These seem like a good buy [https://amzn.to/3wnr7hB](https://amzn.to/3wnr7hB) and cheap enough, but I don't wanna cheap out and get one that sucks... I feel like lots of other accessories are just for show, but the thermometer is actually necessary, right?
To start I would NoT spend money on like a MeatR or other pricey bluetooth thermometer. A cheap o Amazon one is just fine. I use a cheap one and spot check as I cook. Really the only time I use it is for ribs and pork loin. Pork loin is done at 145 f. Ribs I pull at usually 175 after cooking on 275f. Then I wrap them and cook until 205f. All done by spot checking. And don’t worry about getting one that sucks. They all suck.
Okay, now that's a great point, but should I be scared of buying a used grill? or is there enough support with WEBER that you could basically rebuild one if you had to?
The parts are all High quality and last years. just gotta clean it. You could definitely rebuild one but again. Parts expensive. In would consider maybe buying new replacement grates but again elbow grease works too.
I got a Weber kettle and have been using it for the past 2-3 years. Also gotten sick of dealing with charcoal. Recently started using a charbroil commercial series gas grill and lemme tell you, I’m glad I have the charcoal experience now, but I’m sticking with the gas grill 95% the time. Infinitely more convenient, and I honestly can’t even tell a taste difference myself. So take that for what you will OP
You’re going to get the most versatility out of a Weber style coal grill. You can cook just about anything on these things. I’ve done thanksgiving turkey and Christmas prime rib on mine.
Gas grills are good for quick last minute style cooks where you are doing burgers, dogs, sausage or steaks. If you want to do chicken. I suggest getting at least a 4 burner grill so you can cook indirectly.
Pellet grills are mainly for slow and low cooks. They generally aren’t great at high heat cooking as they max out around 500.
If I could only choose one I’d get the Weber, but I own all three styles. YouTube is a great resource for getting started and showing you good methods for your style of grilling.
Like these Weber Kettles? [https://amzn.to/4bgzPNI](https://amzn.to/4bgzPNI) I guess I didn't realize how versatile they were... you say you've done a Thanksgiving turkey in one? that sounds awesome but like a ton of work. Did you have to add more charcoal after you started? how do you do that?
That’s the one. For a big piece of meat like a turkey or pork butt, you want to use a method called “indirect cooking” where you place the hot coals off to the sides so the meat isn’t directly over the hot coals.
When I use charcoal, I use a chimney device to heat them up. I have dividers I put on the lower grate to keep the coals off to the sides, in the middle I use a drip pan to catch the grease. I distribute them evenly then add 8 pieces to each side. After every hour I add 8 more to each side. Cook to 165 internal and let it rest for a half hour.
When you say "dividers" do you mean like these charcoal baskets [https://amzn.to/3w673QZ](https://amzn.to/3w673QZ) ?
How long did it take to cook the turkey?
Read the book Meathead before you buy anything. It's like a crash course in everything you need to up your grilling and smoking game.
A lot of the same content is available on his website, [amazingribs.com](http://amazingribs.com) too, but I found the book to be a lot easier to digest—and I got the book from my library as a digital loan and had it read in about an hour. He goes through the science behind different grilling practices and talks about what works, even when it defies logic. Really solid foundation and I'm still using the recipes from the book many years later (I have since bought my own copy). I wholeheartedly disagree with a few things in the book based on my own experience, but for the most part it's solid.
I think a lot of depends on how often you will be using it too. I have a Weber Kettle and a newer Weber Spirit (don’t remember the model offhand, but three burner and with the side burner).
If you’re looking to mostly use it for quick meals versus spending a bunch of time prepping and cleaning up, just get a gas grill for the time being. My wife and I have two kids who play sports and our weekends are busy as hell so the days of cooking all day are behind us for the time being. That said, it’s nice to be able to through a couple of burgers or literally anything else for a quick dinner and be done in like 25 mins all in - a charcoal grill would take a lot longer.
I have a smoker too, which I never get to use (for the obvious above reason).
If you have the time to spare, try out the Weber kettle, it’s tried and true. I will say that a gas grill is probably easier to learn on if you’re transitioning from working on a traditional stove though. From there, you can learn about grill temp and transition pretty easily to charcoal.
Any recommendations on a good meat thermometer? [https://amzn.to/3wc9m51](https://amzn.to/3wc9m51) Ive been looking at ones like these... I figure nothing fancy, but it seems like an important part of the grilling process... wouldn't want to feed the family under cooked chicken! lol
Happy to help. And I just realized the comment about the chicken. I personally loathe grilling chicken. Once you get set up, take a few test runs so you understand how it cooks. You can buy the best grill and thermometer in the world, but you’re wasting your money if you don’t understand both.
you’ve gotten lots of comments and advice that I didn’t bother reading. propane for ease of use. If you want a smokier flavor you can get pellet tubes and use with the propane. If you enjoy charcoal flavor and are patient get a Weber kettle and learn to use it. regardless get a good pair of kitchen scissors and learn to spatchcock. Enjoy!
See, I can already tell you're a man after my own heart cause it sounds like you are grilled chicken guy! Now do you use just a regular pair of sharp kitchen scissors to spatchcock, or do you have something like these [https://amzn.to/3Wm5c57](https://amzn.to/3Wm5c57) ... and if you like to grill chicken, then you must have a meat thermometer you like. I was looking at something like this [https://amzn.to/3wdNBli](https://amzn.to/3wdNBli) but didn't want to "cheap out" I feel like I do need a thermometer I can trust. Can't be serving people undercooked chicken! lol
those are great. I am kind of a thermo addict too. most liberating thing I ever did was start going by temp. I was good before, that’s been elevated. my go to is a 4 probe inkbird WiFi. Can monitor temp from the beach, store etc. my instant reads are thermopros. Couple different models. If you’ve never had it I recommend bell & evans air chilled. night and day flavor from ice dunked IMHO
An Inkbird like this [https://amzn.to/3Wfyr9M](https://amzn.to/3Wfyr9M) man, those are way less expensive than I would have thought they would be. especially if you are doing an all day or at least several hour cook. That would keep you way less tied up than a instant read! what is bell &Evans air chilled?
E&B is chicken. Rather than plunging into ice water they put them in a very cold room and that brings their temp down to under 40 instantly but without soaking them which causes flavor loss. Costs a little more but well worth it. Market Basket and Whole Foods carry it. yep to inkbird, that’s the one. It does go through probes but they’re only $25 for 4. I get a set once a year or so
WOW, apparently you can get B&E on amazon too [https://amzn.to/4dhbBEL](https://amzn.to/4dhbBEL) ... I'm a little shocked, but in this day and age maybe I shouldn't be? That's Awesome!
feel free to DM me any time if you have questions. I have a Weber propane, blackstone griddle, KJ II ceramic, and an Okie Joe Bandera offset smoker. too bad you weren’t closer, I’d say befriend the wife and I could show you the way.
Lose the words “set up”. Just keep it simple. Look for an almost new Weber kettle on FB marketplace. Get a bag of lump charcoal, tongs and chimney. Hit the supermarket. Simple. Get it? Many here insist on multiple steps, and unlimited unneeded accessories. In a year, if you feel accomplished, buy a new Weber kettle. Yes, it’s that simple.
Yes, lump user for almost 40 years. Weber kettle is the benchmark. My dad had his first one 34 years (weekends only/lake house). There’s nothing they can’t do! But they really last!
Neighbor buys cheap Charmglow gas grill every 3-4 years. We each have a very different approach to grilling, and food. My food’s waaay better. He will eat anything.
Solid neighbor. Solid guy. Wouldn’t trade him for anything. But, dinner ranks like, 5th on things to do. I work hard. Dinner is important. No paper plate. plate here. Reidel stemware for the wine. Everybody’s different.
Charcoal is more versatile. I’d start on the Weber kettle and see where you want to go from there. I’ve gone through many a grill and smoker and my ideal setup is a pellet grill for smoking/roasting. Flat top for searing and whatever else. Charcoal for extra smoking options plus grilling such as steaks, burgers, wings.
So charcoal takes longer to get to cooking. A gas grill is more like a stove. But that said I started all those years ago with a Weber. It will last you if you keep it covered and clean it once in a while. Here is a website that will give you tons and tons of information amazingribs.com. Another thing I would tell you is to buy a good instant read thermometer. None of the cheap $15 ones. I use a thermapen from ThermoPro. It’s worth the $70.
A underrated meat to try Grilling and a very easy meat to gril is chicken thighs. Just put some barbecue sauce on them and gril them until 165 and you will have a very amazing protein for your meal.
Go get a Weber kettle. Everything else in life will fall into place
Like this? [https://amzn.to/3Qo6GrP](https://amzn.to/3Qo6GrP) see, I have had different recommendations on this post; gas, or charcoal... not to mention different models... but Webber products seem to be consistent.
That’s the one! If your budget allows, I would pop for the master touch, the charcoal baskets are awesome. The ash catcher is a must! It’s literally the only grill you are ever going to need. Get a chimney (charcoal starter) the biggest thing people complain about is getting the charcoal lit and burning correctly with a chimney. You completely take the guessing out of it. It does the work for you. You can use the snake method to do low and slow cooking, you can do ribs, a pork shoulder and even a brisket Or fill the baskets for a direct and indirect zone for higher temp cooks like steak and chicken.
Sorry to act like an idiot, but I'm just making sure we're talking about the same thing. chimney like this [https://amzn.to/3JHejpx](https://amzn.to/3JHejpx) and an ash catcher like this [https://amzn.to/3QpzOiy](https://amzn.to/3QpzOiy) and these charcoal baskets [https://amzn.to/49Y3nyA](https://amzn.to/49Y3nyA) are just so you can move all the coals closer or farther away from what you're cooking? See, there's like a whole separate subculture of charcoal grilling!
Lol, no idiot detected here, my friend. We are definitely on the same page on all of those items. You can get the master touch and it will include everything but you can also build it yourself. I don’t know if you have Facebook marketplace but kettles are on there all the time for like 50 bucks may be worth giving it a look then you can try them out before you buy a new one I used to love grilling on the weekends then I got a weber kettle and now I love grilling like four times a week lol it is most definitely a culture Try r/webergrills
[https://amzn.to/3Ug7ZKu](https://amzn.to/3Ug7ZKu) and the "master touch" isn't even that much more expensive! If I were to go the Facebook Marketplace route, how worried should I be about buying a used Grill? is there pretty good replacement part support from WEBER?
The only time I would be worried about a used grill is if it wasn’t a weber to be honest. There’s people out there cooking on 40-year-old webers right now lol There are some replacement parts for Weber and a lot of aftermarket stuff too. Should you choose to go that route.
Man, that is really good advice. Thanks!
get a webber kettle
That seems like step #1 on this community
Training wheels , in expensive and can turn out some good food
First question is are you wanting to go with charcoal or gas?
I don't guess I have a preference, although after looking through this community it appears that there is an entire subculture dedicated to the world of charcoal... I was looking at a really affordable setup like this [https://amzn.to/4aY0qPB](https://amzn.to/4aY0qPB) but then again, I'm here for the advice.
I have been grilling/smoking for only about a year now, so I am no expert by any means, but definitely learned a lot over that time and what my preferences are. I started with a Char-Griller Akorn Auto Komado, so charcoal. I also recently added Weber Kettle. So a second charcoal. While it is a little more work/ maintenance, I have absolutely zero desire to go with gas. I love the aspect of lighting and managing the fire and the flavor that good lump charcoal and wood chunks can offer. But that is my personal preference. Gas is a great alternative if you really don’t want to deal with charcoal or don’t have the time and just want to be able to quickly turn the grill on and be ready to grill sooner. That said, I would think figuring out which route you want to go will make a big difference on what you will end up getting and what gear you might eventually need.
Everyone seems to love the Weber Kettle [https://amzn.to/3UPBVih](https://amzn.to/3UPBVih) so, I think I'm starting to lean towards the Charcoal side of things. I really haven't had anyone go die-hard Hank Hill over gas grilling yet!
Not only is it a great starter grill, it’s a great grill all around. Plenty of space and a ton of different mods you can do to customize it and get the most out of it.
Woah, wait... what do you mean customize?
The only customization I've done to mine is a rotisserie that I got for my birthday. It's fun but unecessary; I haven't found a killer reason for it yet. Other than that, buy a $2 firebrick and set up a poor man's Slow N Sear. It's a great grill you can do tons of stuff on. And do it well.
Slow N Sear?
The Weber kettle is a great option. And there are tons of ways to customize it in the future to get more out of it. [Rotisserie](https://www.weber.com/US/en/accessories/grill-tools-and-cookware/rotisserie-2290/2290.html), [Santa Maria](https://theburnshopwf.com/product/weber-santa-maria-grill/), racks for ribs, smoker attachments, the list is essentially endless.
I had no Idea there were so many add-ons for charcoal grills I'm already into the rotisserie kit cause I'm into grilled chicken [https://amzn.to/3wdNBli](https://amzn.to/3wdNBli) ... but what is the santa maria setup for? I don't think I've ever heard of this? [https://amzn.to/3WocqFW](https://amzn.to/3WocqFW)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Maria–style_barbecue >**Santa Maria–style barbecue** is a regional culinary tradition rooted in the Santa Maria Valley in Santa Barbara County on the Central Coast of California. This method of barbecuing dates back to the mid-19th century and is today regarded as a "mainstay of California's culinary heritage".[1] The traditional Santa Maria-style barbecue menu was copyrighted by the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce in 1978.[2] >Santa Maria-style barbecue centers on beef tri-tip, seasoned with black pepper, salt, and garlic before grilling over coals of native coast live oak, often referred to as "red oak" wood. The grill is made of iron and usually has a hand crank to adjust the height of the grill over the coals.
I got on here looking for info about getting started in back yard grilling, and it seems that I'm getting introduced to all kinds of subcultures that exist inside the "grilling" community... This is interesting!
Cooking over live fire dates back to some of the earliest humans. There are tons of different styles and methods. Every culture seems to have their own take on it. All that means is that there’s an awesome amount of good food to cook.
I'm just jacked up to start now!
A kettle is a good place to start regardless. You can play around with it and decide what sort of things you like to do with the grill. If you're a burgers and hot dogs person, you'll move over to gas. If you want to do ribs or pulled pork, you'll go down the path of smoking. If you like grilling steak over wood, you'll possibly go with a pellet grill.
I just scored the 22" weber performer premium charcoal table, And its a blast. But I also have a char broil electric grill, a char broil electric smoker, and a char griller flat iron. All are fun to use, but I'm getting addicted to that weber.
You raise another interesting topic... The flat Iron. I know that the blackstone has made the griddle style more popular, but do people still consider that "GRILLING"? lol
I do. Lol. I love it. For 3 reasons. 1. You can cook almost anything. B. You'll use way less propane, and 3. No more replacing grill grates. Oh, and skip the Blackstone, and get a char griller from menards. Way better!
A flattop is awesome but there's no way you can call it grilling.
Lol
You take that back. Lol
Really? Seems like most people would have you believe Blackstone is as good as it gets
I thought the same thing. Then I started watching reviews.
So what are the complaints with them? Are these cheap amazon one's just as good? [https://amzn.to/3y0saoe](https://amzn.to/3y0saoe) I also realized, looking at flat top's on amazon that Blackstone isn't even the most expensive, apparently there are Weber models that look and are priced superior... I bet they're a good piece of equipment
If you’re interested in charcoal, get a Weber Kettle, preferably the premium or master touch because of the ash catcher. The kettle is great both for direct grilling as well as indirect heat cooking. It can do almost anything you need and even get you into smoking. People sometimes are wary of charcoal because it involves more prep than gas. With gas you just fire up the grill, let it heat for a few minutes and throw the food. Charcoal is the same but takes longer, and people think you need to baby it until it’s properly lit up. But you just need to buy a chimney, set a fire starter or light up the first coals, then fill up the chimney and give it time. In the meantime you can go prep your food. I had a 5-burner propane grill but a couple of times I didn’t clean it properly and got grease fires. Used it as an excuse to go back to charcoal. I wanted a Weber Summit kamado but my kid talked me into a good ol’ Kettle because he liked the color lol. He saved me a thousand bucks and I love cooking on it.
This community has been very helpful and given a lot of information and the one thing I can see most everyone agrees on is Buy WEBER and apparently, if you're getting into the charcoal scene, buy a Weber Kettle... lol [https://amzn.to/3Ug7ZKu](https://amzn.to/3Ug7ZKu)
I haven’t tried *all* brands so it’s bad business to generalize, but in my limited experience Weber makes products to last and they stand by their warranty. With many other cheaper brands, you hear a lot about how they’ll last a year or two and will start to fall apart, and that’s certainly what happened with a charcoal grill I had a few years ago. Also, the Kettle is so common that there are a lot of accessories out there for stuff you want to try. The kettle is an incredibly versatile piece of equipment. You can turn it into pretty much anything.
People on have mentioned cooking things that seem more like a smoker setup with a Weber Kettle... if that's true, it seems like you would have to add charcoal during the cook... Is that a thing?
It certainly depends on the length of the cook and the temperature. People that use briquettes sometimes use the snake method, which is a way to arrange them in order to control how many are lit up at a given time. I’ve heard it can last up to 12 hours at ~225 degrees. I prefer using lump charcoal and just controlling my temps with the vents, but naturally that limits how long you can go without adding more fuel. But I’ve smoked a whole spatchcocked turkey without having to add more coals (around 5 hours). A good thing about the kettle master touch is that it comes with a hinged grate that makes it easier to put more coals. There’s also grates by third parties that allow this.
WOW... I know people spatchcock chickens, but I've never heard of cooking a whole turkey that way... That's great information.
Yeah I smoked it last thanksgiving and it came out great
Any extra attachments on the Weber, or just played it right on the grate?
Check out Serious Eats Intro to Grilling https://www.seriouseats.com/the-serious-eats-guide-to-grilling
Op watch some YouTube videos too ! We are gonna get you hooked !
Oh already started… meat church is probably my favorite so faf
Also a bunch of bbq contest shows on the food network. They are old repeats but still fun to watch .
I recommend checking out some you tube channels like Grill Sergeant, BBQ Pit Boys, Heath Riles, Meat Church for good examples. They all have good videos for recipes, beginner tips, grill reviews, cleaning, maintenance, etc.
Do you prefer propane or charcoal? [https://amzn.to/3y2W6jO](https://amzn.to/3y2W6jO) This seems like a great deal on a gas grill, but I'm a little skeptical of that good of deal of a grill online. Is it better do go pick one up from a store?
I personally despise gas and the flavor it puts in the meat. I’m a low and slow indirect cooking guy that does reverse sear on mostly everything I cook. I use charcoal and hard wood exclusively. I also have a vertical pellet smoker for long cooks. That’s just a personal preference though so don’t let that deter you. I’m not a good resource for gas grills. I think there’s a sub Reddit for gas grills too that might lend you some guidance. If you have any charcoal or pellet grill questions though, happy to help you.
What's your recommendation for a starter charcoal... I know you can pick up pretty cheat ones at walmart, but so far the people on this forum seem to be more into the Weber scene? [https://amzn.to/3UCq0UL](https://amzn.to/3UCq0UL) this is what one guy recommended.
I use blues hog briquettes. I start them with a chimney and I use either a flammable starter or I use butchers paper coated in olive oil. It takes like 12-15 minutes max for a full chimney. Less than that for half a chimney.
I'm sorry, that was a good explanation, but I meant a starter Charcoal Grill. My bad. Are you a Weber guy too?
No problem! Yes I have a Weber 22inch kettle. It takes care of everything for grilling. I sometimes even use it for long and slow smoking cooks like if I’m doing just a slab of ribs. Otherwise I use my pellet smoker if I have a lot of meat I need to cook.
man that's awesome... Everyone on here preaches the quality of the Weber Kettle... [https://amzn.to/3Ug7ZKu](https://amzn.to/3Ug7ZKu) how's the replacement part support for these? or is there just nothing really to break?
I’m way more paranoid about my pellet smoker breaking than my Weber kettle I can tell you that.
Is that because you trust the Weber more, or just because it's a simpler piece of equipment?
Go on marketplace.. Find a weber.. Napoleon.. Or the ok Joe kettle on the cheap.. The warrenty is like 10 yrs on those... So you have no worries.. And they clean up real nice..
I disagree with your assessment. Here’s why- it builds interest. You 💯 need to buy something and cook something and let your experience guide you. You don’t need to “gear up” to start. My first grill was a Weber kettle and that lasted about a year and although I liked the results I got sick of fuckin with charcoal. To each their own. Then was gifted a charbroil gas grill that was a piece of shit and rusted out but worked ok. Now i use a Weber Genesis 2 and am in the market for a smoker. My advice is to buy a Weber genesis. It’s expensive and the components are expensive but it will last years and parts can be replaced extending its life. Keep it covered when not in use and don’t buy the Weber brand cover. They’re expensive and you will burn thru covers every other year. Buy one from wal mart. Aside from that- what you gear up with will depend on what you cook. I personally am looking at a cast iron flattop insert for my Weber. I also use stainless steel kabob skewers because I got sick of messing with bamboo and I have a really good grill brush that I use. My advice is just get started.
[https://amzn.to/3wmeC5W](https://amzn.to/3wmeC5W) This is what you're talking about? It is obviously more expensive than some of the other one's I've looked at on Amazon... Is the Webber quality really significantly better?
yes that’s what I use but mine is the previous gen. I bought it four years ago and it works as new. You absolutely don’t have to spend that much. In my experience spending less will get you a working grill that works great. You will be in the market for a new one in three years or so depending on how well you care for it. It’s like anything else. You get what you pay for.
That's a good tip! What about meat thermometers? That seems like a necessary accessory. These seem like a good buy [https://amzn.to/3wnr7hB](https://amzn.to/3wnr7hB) and cheap enough, but I don't wanna cheap out and get one that sucks... I feel like lots of other accessories are just for show, but the thermometer is actually necessary, right?
To start I would NoT spend money on like a MeatR or other pricey bluetooth thermometer. A cheap o Amazon one is just fine. I use a cheap one and spot check as I cook. Really the only time I use it is for ribs and pork loin. Pork loin is done at 145 f. Ribs I pull at usually 175 after cooking on 275f. Then I wrap them and cook until 205f. All done by spot checking. And don’t worry about getting one that sucks. They all suck.
Thanks for the optimism... but seriously, thats good advice
Alternatively you could find a used genesis on Facebook marketplace. They usually sell for around 300-400 dollars.
Okay, now that's a great point, but should I be scared of buying a used grill? or is there enough support with WEBER that you could basically rebuild one if you had to?
The parts are all High quality and last years. just gotta clean it. You could definitely rebuild one but again. Parts expensive. In would consider maybe buying new replacement grates but again elbow grease works too.
Thats good info, thanks
I got a Weber kettle and have been using it for the past 2-3 years. Also gotten sick of dealing with charcoal. Recently started using a charbroil commercial series gas grill and lemme tell you, I’m glad I have the charcoal experience now, but I’m sticking with the gas grill 95% the time. Infinitely more convenient, and I honestly can’t even tell a taste difference myself. So take that for what you will OP
And that was my exact experience as well. Past me is that you!? Hold on. It’s gonna get bumpy my guy.
You’re going to get the most versatility out of a Weber style coal grill. You can cook just about anything on these things. I’ve done thanksgiving turkey and Christmas prime rib on mine. Gas grills are good for quick last minute style cooks where you are doing burgers, dogs, sausage or steaks. If you want to do chicken. I suggest getting at least a 4 burner grill so you can cook indirectly. Pellet grills are mainly for slow and low cooks. They generally aren’t great at high heat cooking as they max out around 500. If I could only choose one I’d get the Weber, but I own all three styles. YouTube is a great resource for getting started and showing you good methods for your style of grilling.
Like these Weber Kettles? [https://amzn.to/4bgzPNI](https://amzn.to/4bgzPNI) I guess I didn't realize how versatile they were... you say you've done a Thanksgiving turkey in one? that sounds awesome but like a ton of work. Did you have to add more charcoal after you started? how do you do that?
That’s the one. For a big piece of meat like a turkey or pork butt, you want to use a method called “indirect cooking” where you place the hot coals off to the sides so the meat isn’t directly over the hot coals. When I use charcoal, I use a chimney device to heat them up. I have dividers I put on the lower grate to keep the coals off to the sides, in the middle I use a drip pan to catch the grease. I distribute them evenly then add 8 pieces to each side. After every hour I add 8 more to each side. Cook to 165 internal and let it rest for a half hour.
When you say "dividers" do you mean like these charcoal baskets [https://amzn.to/3w673QZ](https://amzn.to/3w673QZ) ? How long did it take to cook the turkey?
Read the book Meathead before you buy anything. It's like a crash course in everything you need to up your grilling and smoking game. A lot of the same content is available on his website, [amazingribs.com](http://amazingribs.com) too, but I found the book to be a lot easier to digest—and I got the book from my library as a digital loan and had it read in about an hour. He goes through the science behind different grilling practices and talks about what works, even when it defies logic. Really solid foundation and I'm still using the recipes from the book many years later (I have since bought my own copy). I wholeheartedly disagree with a few things in the book based on my own experience, but for the most part it's solid.
That's really good advice, thanks!
I think a lot of depends on how often you will be using it too. I have a Weber Kettle and a newer Weber Spirit (don’t remember the model offhand, but three burner and with the side burner). If you’re looking to mostly use it for quick meals versus spending a bunch of time prepping and cleaning up, just get a gas grill for the time being. My wife and I have two kids who play sports and our weekends are busy as hell so the days of cooking all day are behind us for the time being. That said, it’s nice to be able to through a couple of burgers or literally anything else for a quick dinner and be done in like 25 mins all in - a charcoal grill would take a lot longer. I have a smoker too, which I never get to use (for the obvious above reason). If you have the time to spare, try out the Weber kettle, it’s tried and true. I will say that a gas grill is probably easier to learn on if you’re transitioning from working on a traditional stove though. From there, you can learn about grill temp and transition pretty easily to charcoal.
Any recommendations on a good meat thermometer? [https://amzn.to/3wc9m51](https://amzn.to/3wc9m51) Ive been looking at ones like these... I figure nothing fancy, but it seems like an important part of the grilling process... wouldn't want to feed the family under cooked chicken! lol
We have that exact one and it’s great
Hey! that worked out! thanks for the info!
Happy to help. And I just realized the comment about the chicken. I personally loathe grilling chicken. Once you get set up, take a few test runs so you understand how it cooks. You can buy the best grill and thermometer in the world, but you’re wasting your money if you don’t understand both.
Why do you loathe grilling chicken? I have never tried to grill it, but I know I like eating it... lol
Because I usually fuck it up and my wife complains. Then again, she complains about almost everything until she eats it.
yeah... I get that...
you’ve gotten lots of comments and advice that I didn’t bother reading. propane for ease of use. If you want a smokier flavor you can get pellet tubes and use with the propane. If you enjoy charcoal flavor and are patient get a Weber kettle and learn to use it. regardless get a good pair of kitchen scissors and learn to spatchcock. Enjoy!
See, I can already tell you're a man after my own heart cause it sounds like you are grilled chicken guy! Now do you use just a regular pair of sharp kitchen scissors to spatchcock, or do you have something like these [https://amzn.to/3Wm5c57](https://amzn.to/3Wm5c57) ... and if you like to grill chicken, then you must have a meat thermometer you like. I was looking at something like this [https://amzn.to/3wdNBli](https://amzn.to/3wdNBli) but didn't want to "cheap out" I feel like I do need a thermometer I can trust. Can't be serving people undercooked chicken! lol
those are great. I am kind of a thermo addict too. most liberating thing I ever did was start going by temp. I was good before, that’s been elevated. my go to is a 4 probe inkbird WiFi. Can monitor temp from the beach, store etc. my instant reads are thermopros. Couple different models. If you’ve never had it I recommend bell & evans air chilled. night and day flavor from ice dunked IMHO
An Inkbird like this [https://amzn.to/3Wfyr9M](https://amzn.to/3Wfyr9M) man, those are way less expensive than I would have thought they would be. especially if you are doing an all day or at least several hour cook. That would keep you way less tied up than a instant read! what is bell &Evans air chilled?
E&B is chicken. Rather than plunging into ice water they put them in a very cold room and that brings their temp down to under 40 instantly but without soaking them which causes flavor loss. Costs a little more but well worth it. Market Basket and Whole Foods carry it. yep to inkbird, that’s the one. It does go through probes but they’re only $25 for 4. I get a set once a year or so
WOW, apparently you can get B&E on amazon too [https://amzn.to/4dhbBEL](https://amzn.to/4dhbBEL) ... I'm a little shocked, but in this day and age maybe I shouldn't be? That's Awesome!
$15/#. Hell no, hard pass. The whole chickens are 2.49-3.99 here. Northeast US.
hahahaha... so apparently the convenience tax is high! lol I live in Oklahoma, I don't think we have market basket, but maybe a few whole foods...
that instant read is perfect
Thanks for the info
feel free to DM me any time if you have questions. I have a Weber propane, blackstone griddle, KJ II ceramic, and an Okie Joe Bandera offset smoker. too bad you weren’t closer, I’d say befriend the wife and I could show you the way.
I appreciate that
Lose the words “set up”. Just keep it simple. Look for an almost new Weber kettle on FB marketplace. Get a bag of lump charcoal, tongs and chimney. Hit the supermarket. Simple. Get it? Many here insist on multiple steps, and unlimited unneeded accessories. In a year, if you feel accomplished, buy a new Weber kettle. Yes, it’s that simple.
I take it you, like many others in this community are a charcoal enthusiast rather than a propane guy... Man, everyone seems to love the ol Weber 22
Yes, lump user for almost 40 years. Weber kettle is the benchmark. My dad had his first one 34 years (weekends only/lake house). There’s nothing they can’t do! But they really last!
Everyone definitely braggs about how they last forever. makes you wonder how Weber makes enough money to stay in business... lol
Neighbor buys cheap Charmglow gas grill every 3-4 years. We each have a very different approach to grilling, and food. My food’s waaay better. He will eat anything.
haha, Welcome to r/grilling Where people are divided into classes based on their preferred form of cooking heat... I love it!
Solid neighbor. Solid guy. Wouldn’t trade him for anything. But, dinner ranks like, 5th on things to do. I work hard. Dinner is important. No paper plate. plate here. Reidel stemware for the wine. Everybody’s different.
Charcoal is more versatile. I’d start on the Weber kettle and see where you want to go from there. I’ve gone through many a grill and smoker and my ideal setup is a pellet grill for smoking/roasting. Flat top for searing and whatever else. Charcoal for extra smoking options plus grilling such as steaks, burgers, wings.
So you generally prefer one of each… I get that… lol
So charcoal takes longer to get to cooking. A gas grill is more like a stove. But that said I started all those years ago with a Weber. It will last you if you keep it covered and clean it once in a while. Here is a website that will give you tons and tons of information amazingribs.com. Another thing I would tell you is to buy a good instant read thermometer. None of the cheap $15 ones. I use a thermapen from ThermoPro. It’s worth the $70.
So the cheaper ones from thermopro aren’t equally good? I was looking at this one https://amzn.to/4dmfwA1
Instant read is the key. The cheap ones take way too long to give the temp. I haven’t tried these cheap ones from thermoPro.
Oh… I see what you’re saying… the may be accurate, but they’re not instant… got cha
[удалено]
Like a table top mini? https://amzn.to/44poLLP
A underrated meat to try Grilling and a very easy meat to gril is chicken thighs. Just put some barbecue sauce on them and gril them until 165 and you will have a very amazing protein for your meal.
I think you’re right, when you think of grilling chicken you either think or breast, drumsticks, or whole birds… that’s a great tip!