Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Gordon Cameron on May 25, 2009 at 6:43pm

Chargriller : I have to say that this was an entirely new experience for me. I've been using the Chargiller for about 7 years and it was finally showing it's age and was close to needing a third replacement fire pan. So I had to decide what I wanted to replace it with. The answer proved to be simple... I just went and got a current version of the same grill. There were NO significant items on a want list (something I've always dealt with when grill shopping) so it proved to be something of a 'no brainer'. The ample warming grate really opens up options when handling large numbers of items (chicken parts, etc).

The only big change is that I opted NOT to get the side fire box for this one. The SFB just doesn't allow enough control over temperature and can burn large quantities of charcoal over the course of a day. Instead, I'm determined to work out methods of indirect cooking in the main unit and let it go at that.

I routinely cook for 2~6 people and often do quantities that allow me to put a little aside for later. I'd rate the Chargiller as a fine choice overall and am well pleased with it.

Permalink Reply by Michael Kinworthy on May 26, 2009 at 12:37am

Absolutely agree! I've had my Chargriller for about 3 years now, absolutely love it, perfect when cooking for 2-6 people as previously stated. I did however get the side fire box, and will say it takes some getting used to, and will go through charcoal like crazy, but the end result of the meat was amazing!

Gordon Cameron said:

Chargriller : I have to say that this was an entirely new experience for me. I've been using the Chargiller for about 7 years and it was finally showing it's age and was close to needing a third replacement fire pan. So I had to decide what I wanted to replace it with. The answer proved to be simple... I just went and got a current version of the same grill. There were NO significant items on a want list (something I've always dealt with when grill shopping) so it proved to be something of a 'no brainer'. The ample warming grate really opens up options when handling large numbers of items (chicken parts, etc).

The only big change is that I opted NOT to get the side fire box for this one. The SFB just doesn't allow enough control over temperature and can burn large quantities of charcoal over the course of a day. Instead, I'm determined to work out methods of indirect cooking in the main unit and let it go at that.

I routinely cook for 2~6 people and often do quantities that allow me to put a little aside for later. I'd rate the Chargiller as a fine choice overall and am well pleased with it.

Permalink Reply by Danny Stine on June 2, 2009 at 8:16pm

I have a heavily battered Weber 22.5" kettle grill. I purchased the Smokenator to step up the smoking potential of this great grill. I live in an apartment so having a larger smoker is just not in the picture. The only hard part is keeping the smoke inside the grill - too many leaks from being dropped between tailgates and long nights in the apartment parking lot. Plus the grill is not even mine!!! I saved it from a friend throwing it away when he left town.

Permalink Reply by Michael Ross on June 9, 2009 at 12:12am

I have found that the side smoke box works well for cold smoke applications. I have the maverick thermometer with 2 probes, and i use one on the end closest to the fire box, & the other on the chimney side. I can smoke half of a salmon, or about 8 lbs of fish at a time, while keeping the temp under 220 f. I used soaked cedar planks too, but I have found this the easiest & most effective way to smoke fish, without steaming/ cooking it. As for bbq it is just a rotation method that needs to be implemented to attain the proper temp, to pressure, to smoke ratio. Unfortunately I've experienced that the lump charcoal is far more inconsistent in regulating temperature, than the briquettes. The uniform size, & the predictable burn time gives briquettes the distinct advantage. I still use the lump for flavor at the end of cooking. I use alderwood, & cedar planks for smoking fish (& a kick ass brine, of course).

Permalink Reply by Mike Stockman on July 14, 2009 at 9:06am

Cyndi Allison said:

I grew up with a Portable Kitchen (PK). It's at least 35 yrs old and still works great. Mom has that one. It was my Dad's, but he died in a traffic accident. I now have the new PK that I posted the photo of. It's just as great as the old one. Price is higher than most charcoal. But, it lasts forever. Holds the heat. You can use it as a grill or smoker.

I have 19 grills/smokers and got to test others this past winter. I enjoy almost all of them, but PK is extra special with it having been a family grill for so long.

Permalink Reply by Mike Stockman on July 14, 2009 at 9:07am

Nice paint job..I take it as silver !!!!

Mike Stockman said:

Cyndi Allison said:

I grew up with a Portable Kitchen (PK). It's at least 35 yrs old and still works great. Mom has that one. It was my Dad's, but he died in a traffic accident. I now have the new PK that I posted the photo of. It's just as great as the old one. Price is higher than most charcoal. But, it lasts forever. Holds the heat. You can use it as a grill or smoker.

I have 19 grills/smokers and got to test others this past winter. I enjoy almost all of them, but PK is extra special with it having been a family grill for so long.

Permalink Reply by K K on July 16, 2009 at 11:28am

I just bought my first Char Griller grill. The Duo it is both a gas and charcoal with a side burner....I LOVE it. The gas is great for certain things and for the quick weeknight meal and the charcoal for when I have more time to cook. There is still nothing better the charcoal!!! I just hope this grill holds up a little better to the Florida heat better then my last one. Only time will tell

Permalink Reply by Terry Wylie on July 18, 2009 at 7:43am

Why didn't your first one hold up? Rust? There's a trick with these bad boys - the first thing you have to do, and everybody knows this, is coat all the inside steel surfaces with vegetable oil and burn it in for 3 or 4 hours. Then, every 3rd or 4th time you use it, coat it again - all the steel surfaces develop a beautiful, even black coating that protects them,

But - what a lot of people don't do is coat the painted surfaces, too. Not only do they look great when you coat them, but the oil protects the paint and prevents outside rust. Give it a try.

K K said:

I just bought my first Char Griller grill. The Duo it is both a gas and charcoal with a side burner....I LOVE it. The gas is great for certain things and for the quick weeknight meal and the charcoal for when I have more time to cook. There is still nothing better the charcoal!!! I just hope this grill holds up a little better to the Florida heat better then my last one. Only time will tell

Permalink Reply by Anthony Kemp on February 24, 2010 at 6:20pm

I have had the small sidebox Chargriller smoker for about 4 years purchased it at Wal-mart it is hard to keep the heat regulated but I found an inexpensive wireless thermometer to use that helped a lot! but it does seem to need a lot of checking throuought the day. I have never had a problem with it otherwise. Good chioce for a beginner!!

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Permalink Reply by John E. Button on March 27, 2010 at 9:24am

They call me the Griddleman; I started a business to make griddles for camping. Well now we're getting all over the place. We're in Mom & Pop stores all over the country. We make a couple lines of griddles, all stainless steel with sidewalls to contain your food, a grease trough to eliminate flare ups, and cross bracing to ensure a lifetime of good cooking on our griddles. We make the Griddle-Q & Sizzle-Q griddles. They sit right on your BBQ grates. Allowing you to cook bacon & eggs, hash browns, Quesadillas, Grilled Cheese sandwiches, Peppers & onions, to go with anything else you might want to cook. You can cook like the chefs at Benny Hanna's Teppanyaki style restaurants. It's even an excuse to throw a party. It's fun to cook on and we make 5 different sizes to fit any grill. We even make a monster griddle for catering or big parties. You can Google us in the search bar. Griddle-Q - Sizzle-Q - Party-Q You have pots and pans for your stove...now there's Griddle-Q for the BarbeQue!

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Permalink Reply by Bruce Crosby on April 1, 2011 at 5:34pm

I use nothing but Weber. I have 2 Weber smokers they are great temp control is easy and i can fill it and get a good 20 hour burn on one load of coals. I also have a Weber silver series gas grill as well as 2 Weber charcoal kettles. I grill and smoke year round my Weber's have never let me down. Once a year i have a big BBQ for more then 100 people and i have everything going never a problem. they cost more but i think they are well worth it.