OT: Inexpensive Grill

[Cooterpoot]

My 100 yr old Hasty Bake (best damn grill ever) got taken out by a tree in a storm recently. Need a cheaper grill until I can save up for a good one (could be awhile with two kids in college). Any recommendations on affordable grills? Not a fan of the Egg or wood pellet really.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

Never heard of a Hasty Bake. They aren't cheap! If you are looking for "cheap" but still decent, Weber has always been solid for me.

 

[ronpolk]

Hard to beat the Weber kettle.

 

[patdog]

Was just going to post that. There might be a better grill out there, but there's definitely not one better per dollar paid.

 

[CochiseCowbell]

del

 

[Chris Mannix]

I know it was mentioned that you do not like pellet grills and I do not know where 500 bucks ranks on being cheap or not. That being said, this smaller Traeger is only 500 bucks and is one of the best grills I ever owned. Honestly I got more use out of it that my Yoder, BGE, and my backwoods smoker combined. Easy to use and easy to clean up.

https://www.traeger.com/pellet-grills/other/junior-elite-20

 

[notoriousD_O_G]

Was just going to post that. There might be a better grill out there, but there's definitely not one better per dollar paid.

If you keep them clean and dry they last forever too. If you ever do upgrade to something nicer a Weber is great to have as a backup or supplement. They can cook just about anything. I have cooked steaks all kinds of different ways but nothing does as well as my Weber Kettle.

 

[thatsbaseball]

Get a Weber until you can get something "better". If you take any care of it at all you can give it to one of the kids when they get out of college.

 

[RivaDawg]

Had never heard of a Hasty Bake grill. Googled and YouTube video; looks pretty cool, but as you said, kind of pricey. Does it work well as a smoker?

 

[Shmuley]

^^^ This. My weber is approaching 15 years old. I replace the grates (bottom and top) about once every three years. Otherwise, the MFer sits outside in all weather and conditions without significant negative impact. There will never be a Merle Haggard song written about a Weber not lasting ... like it should.

 

[aTotal360]

Get a cheap 2 burner gas grill from Lowes of HD. Many of them are about to go on sale because grilling season is "almost over". Buy a cover as well. It will prolong the lifespan. That's what I use coupled with a set of Grill Grates. Perfect for a quick burger, steak or sausage.

 

[The Peeper]

Cowboy Kent Rollins uses them whenever he's cooking on a grill instead of cast iron or "Bertha" in his YouTube videos.

 

[Trojanbulldog19]

Can't go wrong with the Weber 22 in.

If you prefer some a little more rectangular love dynoglow that allows you lower or raise your coals and open from below to add more

 

[dawgman42]

^^This. I buy a new one for like $50-$60 bucks every three years or so about this time of year (or just after Labor Day) on clearance.

 

[Smoked Toag]

Get a cheap 2 burner gas grill from Lowes of HD. Many of them are about to go on sale because grilling season is "almost over". Buy a cover as well. It will prolong the lifespan. That's what I use coupled with a set of Grill Grates. Perfect for a quick burger, steak or sausage.

If it's just something to 'get you through', then yes, it's an option. But those Lowe's/HD grills are crap, and will only last 2-3 year max, and they rust out quickly so you can't replace much on them. I've done that twice in a row and about to splurge for a Weber, where you can actually replace parts and such.

ETA: I'm talking gas here. If you're doing charcoal, concur with others on the Weber kettle. Can't be beat. I have to cook a lot of things fast and we use it during the week so need something the wife can use as well. So I have to go with gas, much to my chagrin.

 

[dorndawg]

Sounds like the Weber 22 is the move for you. Really, the next best option is a cheapie on-sale gas grill. Don't get suckered into one of the cheapie read and black grills in front of Walmart - doing anything on those sucks.

Slight thread hijack but I recently got a Smoke N Sear for my Weber, my favorite thing I've bought in a while. Helped me make a pretty solid brisket a couple weeks ago, hoping to do a pork butt soon. https://smile.amazon.com/Adrenaline...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

 

[DawgInThe256]

Another data point for future consideration: After cooking steak sous vide and then searing it in a cast iron skillet, I won't ever cook another one on my BGE.

You'll still want a good charcoal grill for burgers, etc. and I trust the other recommendations in the thread.

 

[aTotal360]

Parts are easy to get. I got a weber 2 burner for $199 at Lowes. It's lasted me 6 years so far. I do keep a cover on it. I've replaced the burners once to the tune of $30. It is about to rust itself out of commission. I've gotten my money's worth.

I'm simply not fooling with charcoal if all I need to do is grill a pack of Conecuh or 4-6 burger patties. With a gas grill, I can be eating my burgers by the time the coals get right on a kettle grill. Not to mention I don't have to 17 around with charcoal and ash.

I'll never use a kettle again. Don't get me wrong, I like the taste of charcoal, but I don't like it enough.

 

[Bulldog Bruce]

Interesting that with all the grill and grilling posts that have been on SPS, this is the first time Hasty Bake has ever been mentioned. I never heard of it as others on this post have also stated. Guess Cooter wanted to keep it a secret as obviously Hasty Bake does.

 

[Rebeldude]

Another vote for the Weber Kettle. Get it, a cover, Slow n Sear, charcoal chimney, and a vortex. You can cook just about anything on the Weber Kettle with those options. Not a bunch at one time, but anything any other grill/smoker can.
Plenty of youtube videos on setup and cooking methods for it as well. Check out Chuds BBQ. He has been doing a whole series about weber kettle on his YouTube channel.

 

[MSUDAWGFAN]

Get a Wolf. Best decision I ever made.

 

[Trojanbulldog19]

Hank hill approves this post.

Me however dislikes grilling on propane and propane accessories

 

[ronpolk]

Another vote for the Weber Kettle. Get it, a cover, Slow n Sear, charcoal chimney, and a vortex. You can cook just about anything on the Weber Kettle with those options. Not a bunch at one time, but anything any other grill/smoker can.
Plenty of youtube videos on setup and cooking methods for it as well. Check out Chuds BBQ. He has been doing a whole series about weber kettle on his YouTube channel.

I have a slow n sear and vortex. Love them both but especially love the vortex. Best way to cook chicken in my opinion, especially skin on chicken.

 

[thatsbaseball]

Lots of fairly high quality accessories available for a Weber

 

[The Peeper]

I have to respectfully disagree. I cook in cast iron about 6x a week in dutch ovens, bean pots, skillets, cornbread pans, griddle, etc but steak is not anything I ever put in cast iron. I've seared, reverse seared, started them w/ sous vide then grilled, etc, etc. Meat in a plastic bag simmered in water then scorched in a skillet to give it some smoke flavor and crust just can't replace the flavor of wood generated smoke from the fat drippings of the meat

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[dorndawg]

I have a slow n sear and vortex. Love them both but especially love the vortex. Best way to cook chicken in my opinion, especially skin on chicken.

How do you cook with the vortex? I've heard of them but not sure what all they do.

 

[aTotal360]

 

[msubrave]

I prefer the weber 18 inch. Less coals and more even heat. Plenty of room for my family of 4.

 

[PooPopsBaldHead]

.. Check out Chuds BBQ. He has been doing a whole series about weber kettle on his YouTube channel.

I have a buddy coming up this weekend that just got back from Chud's BBQ school in Austin. He learned how to make sausage there and is bringing some up to my place Saturday. He just sent me some pics of the sausage and the Chud-Box he's building in the garage right now. We are going to build us a couple of Chud Tables in the not distant future as well.

If you watch Chud, you will appreciate our sausage text exchange.

View attachment 24977

View attachment 24978

 

[Cooterpoot]

Interesting that with all the grill and grilling posts that have been on SPS, this is the first time Hasty Bake has ever been mentioned. I never heard of it as others on this post have also stated. Guess Cooter wanted to keep it a secret as obviously Hasty Bake does.

LOL, I used to do steak competitions and it's the gold standard IMO. I'm not going to lie, I cried a little when it got crushed.

 

[onewoof]

Weber stainless steel - look for used online if you don't buy a new one. I think they come with 10 year warrantees

 

[HD6]

Best way to cook chicken.

 

[PooPopsBaldHead]

LOL, I used to do steak competitions and it's the gold standard IMO. I'm not going to lie, I cried a little when it got crushed.

I thought 2 guys were going to come to blows arguing about the HB and an M1 a few years ago when I went to an SCA event. I really was into steak cooking and thought about trying to get competitive, but the judging standards and rules just seemed punitive. I wanted to do steakhouse quality steaks. Cooking a choice steak to medium with exotic rubs and perfect 90 degree grill marks didn't get me excited. But, I have to admit, if you can cook in those suckers, I bet you are tits with a bottle of salt and a nice prime ribeye at mid rare.

 

[Rebeldude]

Nobody likes a dirty ween! Dude cracks me up.
Those sausages look pretty darn good.

 

[archdog]

Weber Kettle Grill. depending on how you protect it, it could last 4 years in direct rain or 15 years until it burns out. Easy to control temp, and cooks pretty evenly.

 

[tired]

I’ve got 2 Weber kettles, 2 different sizes. Love them, as I prefer charcoal grilling, & as others have said for the money, the best. I also have a Weber gold series that need the burners replaced.

 

[Cooterpoot]

I thought 2 guys were going to come to blows arguing about the HB and an M1 a few years ago when I went to an SCA event. I really was into steak cooking and thought about trying to get competitive, but the judging standards and rules just seemed punitive. I wanted to do steakhouse quality steaks. Cooking a choice steak to medium with exotic rubs and perfect 90 degree grill marks didn't get me excited. But, I have to admit, if you can cook in those suckers, I bet you are tits with a bottle of salt and a nice prime ribeye at mid rare.

I try not to brag on my meat.

 

[Cooterpoot]

Looks like it's going to be a Weber grill this fall.

 

[ronpolk]

How do you cook with the vortex? I've heard of them but not sure what all they do.

Check out that video posted below. I watched it and that covers it. I generally only use it for chicken. I have the slow n sear that I will use for searing off a steak or pork chop. The main benefit to me is it does a very good job of getting crispy skin, especially if you dry brine your chicken for a bit before using the vortex.

I have used it once for searing like the guy did in that video, by turning the vortex upside down, and it worked fine.

 

[ronpolk]

Looks like it's going to be a Weber grill this fall.

I think you will enjoy it. I’ve had mine for 10 years. Tried to replace it a couple years ago with a pellet grill because I wanted a more set it and forget it smoker. I have since sold the pellet grill and back to cooking in the kettle. Not knocking a pellet grill at all, but it’s impossible to replicate the flavor you get from cooking on charcoal and wood chunks.