o3jeff

$5 is cheap, the garage down the street got me for $15 to fill a tank.

GreenMonster

I pay about $12 (sometimes I have a coupon)...

I keep a spare tank on hand too, so I'd never run out...

fdl

If you are cooking alot, the advantages of a natural gas grill will be bigger. If you cook once in a while, I suppose its not as big of a benefit.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Well, went to HD and Lowe's this weekend... no closeouts (all sold out). But I did look at the new Vermont Castings. Man, I can't believe they cheaped out and went to the porcelain grates as well. Very surprising that they're all doing that. Glad I got my grille last year and everything is stainless....

dom

Parents have a 25ft hose. The BBQ usual stays in one place but it can be moved if needed.

fdl

DOesnt Porcelain have some advantages over stainless? I remember reading that somewhere.

doopstr

I was just going to post this. I read porcelain gives a more even heat distribution.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

I don't know. Everything I've read always stated to go with Stainless over porcelain. That's not to say that porcelain doesn't do some things better, but in general, the recommendation from magazines, shops, BBQ gurus, and so on, has always been to get stainless....

fdl

Well what I read was that the porcelain covered cast iron grates will get hotter and hold their heat better. The downside is maintenance and rusting which can be a problem over time (the porcelain can chip off and rusting can occur). Stainless steel is great for maintenance.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

yeah, I heard about the chipping as well. Nothing like having some hamburgers with porcelain chips in them. Yummy

Personally I prefer the stainless. Rather not deal with rusting and chipping for a slight heat benefit...

GreenMonster

It's not the porcelain, it's the cast iron that holds heat better... Just like the cast iron pans grandma used to use (and if you're wise, you'll use for cooking certian things).

Cast iron (like cast iron pans) have to be seasoned, and if they rust, have to be cleaned and re-seasoned...

The porcelain is to reduce the chance of rust... that's it. Porcelain doesn't help in reataining heat...

I had the cast iron vs. stainless debate going on when I was looking to buy a grille. I ended up with the SS... Probably comes down to personal choice...

fdl

Yup, i realize that. When we speak of Porcelain I assume its pocelain coated Cast Iron. But yes we should make that clear.

Well, i dont think we can really make any general conclusions. If you have a nice thick SS grill, and your unit is good enough to get really hot then you are golden. But if you have some cheap thin SS grill and your unit cant get really hot, thats not good. Similarly, if you get a cheap cast iron and the porcelain starts chipping, thats a problem.

In the end, I think a quality unit is a quality unit.

GreenMonster

Yep, and the VC grilles are high quality...

I wouldn't let the lack of a SS grilling surface stop me from buying one... The only reason I didn't get a VC was that I don't like the look of a SS cabinet, and have always wanted a weber...

o3jeff

Anyone have any recomendations on cleaning the porcelain grates?

doopstr

Add me to the list of Vermont Castings owners.

I ended up with a VM400XBP (liquid propane) from Home Depot.

I tried to buy a grill from a local dealer but failed. They only had one model of Vermont Castings and wanted over $1000 for it. I also tried to buy a VCS3006 from an online retailer. They missed the promised ship date so I canceled that.

So I went to HD and bought the above mentioned grill. It has everything I need in a grill. I assembled it in about an hour and cooked up a couple of filet mignons, burgers and bratwursts.

This can fall under the "How has AZ changed your life?" thread. I would have probably ended up with a Weber because of not knowing who VC was. Not saying Weber is bad.

soopa

o3jeff

Thats the same one I got about 2 months ago and love it.

zeroday

i bought a no name piece of shit grille that is rusting away in my back yard. seems prudent to spent a little extra up front to get a proven brand.

Scrib

Nice move doop. I can't find one damn thing wrong with my VC.

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

it's not a Weber.

soopa

thank god.

Acuraluvr

iTrader: (2)

2 summers ago - vermont casting in home depot.... hmm looks like an audi??

bought for $998, lasted 2 summers, didnt clean grease pan, caught on fire, used hose by pool

but was one of the best we ever owned

JWhite1301

[QUOTE=doopstr]Add me to the list of Vermont Castings owners.

I ended up with a VM400XBP (liquid propane) from Home Depot.

I tried to buy a grill from a local dealer but failed. They only had one model of Vermont Castings and wanted over $1000 for it. I also tried to buy a VCS3006 from an online retailer. They missed the promised ship date so I canceled that.

So I went to HD and bought the above mentioned grill. It has everything I need in a grill. I assembled it in about an hour and cooked up a couple of filet mignons, burgers and bratwursts.

This can fall under the "How has AZ changed your life?" thread. I would have probably ended up with a Weber because of not knowing who VC was. Not saying Weber is bad.[QUOTE=doopstr]


How much was it?

o3jeff

VM400XBP is $398

doopstr

they have a deal going that if you buy stuff by 5/31 you get a gift card. So find something else in Home and Garden worth $2 and you get a $50 card. Otherwise its only $25.
They owe me $75 in cards this month Not a bad deal considering the season is just getting underway.

I just checked, my $2 plan may not be valid.

soopa

while were back on the subject...

i never ended up buying the grill. instead i got an indoor gas grill built into my cooktop. i no longer have a need for an outdoor gas grill (i dont do a large amount of outdoor entertaining anyway)... but I'd like to get a charcoal grill...

recommendations?

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

Charcoal? I know you're gonna hate to hear this, but Weber makes the best damn charcoal grills around.

soopa

why? whats best about them?

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

Because people say so

Excellent cooking abilities
Easy ash removal and cleaning
Vesatile grilling

The Weber Kettle grill is one of the most versatile pieces of outdoor cooking equipment ever invented. This 22 1/2 inch diameter charcoal grill gives you plenty of space to indirectly grill a turkey and even more space to sear steaks. But more, you can smoke on this grill because of the great vent design which gives you a level of heat control many gas grills don't have. Of course charcoal is more of an art than a science so this is the kind of grill that not only lets you experiment it literally forces you. I know people who have been experimenting with their Weber Kettle for decades. This grill will last that long if you take care of it.
The Weber Silver comes with a great ash catcher system that makes clean up easy. The second you take the last burger off this grill close down the vents and let the lack of oxygen kill the fire. This will stop the remaining coals from burning any further. Once the grill is cool give it a shake and pull off the ash catcher and you're ready to go again. The coals left behind can be relit for the next cookout.

Plain and simple, these grills last for decades, grill great and give you as much versatility as you'll ever need. There's even an optional rotisserie kit for this grill.

dom

I really have no idea if or why their the best (It was a gift) but I can tell you I have a far easier time cooking with my Weber than I do any gas grill. Temperature and flare ups are IMO far easier to control with the Charcoal and its very, very easy to clean. And so far, after 4 season's of use, its still in great shape.

doopstr

How long does it take to get a charcoal grill going from the time you light the match? I seem to remember that you need to wait for the coals to turn grey. How long does that take?

dom

Thats the only drawback and the reason I was seriously considering getting a gas grill this year. From match to ready it can take ~20-25 minutes depepnding on outside temp. I use a charcoal chiminey which speeds things up considerably.

The only time I'm really inconvienienced by this is week nights. Coming home hungry and having to wait for the charcoal can be in a PITA at times but its worth it.

soopa

maybe i'll just pull an Alton Brown and use a cardboard box...

dom

Or you can find yourself an old gas grill, rip out the burner and use that.

Although I wouldn't reccomend it since it would probly be difficult to control the flames.

soopa

I'll probably pick up that Weber. At least it's not all "plasticky" like their over-priced gas grills.

I dig the diamond plate, that's not custom is it?

GreenMonster

https://acurazine.com/forums/cooking-dining-47/pimped-my-bbq-334229/

soopa

awwww shit. Weber be damned... they are all plasticky!!!

nice mod dom

GreenMonster

Their cheap units are just the "mushroom" without the plastic side shelf... I'm sure someone must make a comparable unit w/o the plastic stuff, or you could just mod it like Dom

Soopa, do you really hate webers as much as you sound like you do ??

soopa

I just don't understand the concept of paying sooo much for a brand that cheaps out on soo many areas.

Their gas grills are really flimsy. Lots of plastic, lots of cheap details. Whereas someone like vermont castings uses heavy gauge stainless throughout.

With weber you are really and trully paying for undeserved brand recognition.

Again, I'm speaking about gas grilles.

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

Plastic? Where. Except for the side tables on my Weber, there is no plastic. Kinda makes sense

plastic + gas flame = melted grill

My Weber is rock solid. I do think they are expensive, but not any more than the VC grills I looked at.