The Bottom Line

Since 1953 the Old Smokey Charcoal grill has been one of the iconic grills of our time. Easy to use and highly durable, this 22 inch charcoal grill is perfect not only for your backyard barbecue, but can be taken most anywhere since it only weights 19 pounds. Made of aluminized steel, the Old Smokey #22 has no paint to peel or burn off and it taken care of can easily last for decades. This charcoal grill comes from a small company in Texas (where it is still made) that has been in the same location, making quality products since 1923.

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Pros

• Simple, easy to use design
• Lightweight grill
• Inexpensive
• Aluminized steel and no paint prevents rusting and chipping

Cons

• Standard configuration has a grate height of 14 inches above ground

Description

• 21 inch diameter cooking grate for 345 square inches of grilling area
• Aluminized steel construction
• Large bottom Rotary vent, two top vents
• Weighs 19 pounds
• 27-inch height
• Made in the USA by Old Smokey Products Company

Guide Review - Old Smokey #22 Charcoal Grill

The Old Smokey Charcoal Grill is one of those iconic grills that has been around for decades and has a hugely loyal following. The company has been in business, in the same location, since 1923 and has been making grills since 1953. The Old Smokey Grill you buy today is made with the same design and the same materials as the original grill nearly 70 years ago. These charcoal grills can last for decades as long as you clean out the ashes and avoid leaving them out in hurricanes.

The reason these grills last so long and have been largely unchanged in all this time is because of the simplicity of design. Let's be honest, there isn't a lot to a charcoal grill in the way of parts and complexity. The Old Smokey works well and lasts because it is so simple. Simple to use, and simple to take care of. The Old Smokey company got their start making large cans and buckets. Basically this charcoal grill is two metal buckets stack at the opening.

The Old Smokey #22 is 27 inches high and sits on the ground. There are optional leg extenders that will lift it to a full grill height if you wish. The grill is 22 inches in diameter at its widest part and has a 21 inch cooking grate. The bottom has a 16 inch damper and there are two vents on the top for temperature control. The whole unit fits together tightly and you have sufficient temperature control for low and slow smoking. Best part is that you can buy this on their website for $63.95 plus shipping and handling (about $21USD).

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The open flame is the oldest cooking method in the world. Every culture does it. The only real difference is in the ingredients and how the fire is used. In Mexico cooking fires are made with Mesquite wood ringed with stones. Before the Spanish brought iron, food was suspended on green sticks or placed on flat stone in or near the fire. After the Spanish, small cooking grates were used to place the food directly over the flame.

Like any culture the Mexicans cook what is easily available like fresh fish, lamb, bananas, tortillas, and lots of chilies. The first ingredient however is the wood. Mesquite is readily available throughout most of Mexico and is the wood of choice. Though most of us might not have Mesquite growing in the backyard, Mesquite charcoal is abundant all over th world these days. So if you plan on cooking some Mexican dishes on the grill, first go out and get some Mesquite charcoal for your charcoal grill or Mesquite wood chunks for the fire box of your gas grill (see Making Smoke).

The second basic ingredient in Mexican cooking is Salsa and Recado. Salsa means sauce and it is what you serve with the meal. It is meant to be added after cooking. Recado is a marinade used to season food before and during cooking. Recados are typically spicy pastes or dry rubs. They provide a deep rich flavor to food just the way traditional barbecue dry rubs are used on steaks or other meats.

The Key ingredient to almost any Mexican dish is the chilies. There are more than thirty different types of chilies used in Mexican cooking and the true expert looks for not only the type but the region it was grown in and how it was prepared. Chiles come dried, crushed, pulped or fresh. If your not sure of your chilies don't try an substitutions. There is a wide range of heat from differing chilies.

Other typical ingredients in Mexican cooking are: coconuts, bananas, cilantro, cumin, all kinds of tropical fruits, garlic, and banana and avocado leaves. Banana leaves are used as a cooking surface. The oils and anise flavor permeate foods while they cook give a wonderful flavor. If you want to try it, get a couple of banana leaves, wash them and place them directly on your cooking grate still wet. Put whatever you are cooking directly on the leaves immediately. Typically this is done with fish like my favorite, red snapper.

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A clean grill cooks better. That's a fact. You don't get as many flare-ups with a clean grill. A clean grill doesn't add bad flavors to foods. And a clean grill is just better to work with. Amazingly enough though I know people who haven't cleaned their grills in years. Some people scratch their heads and look in wonder when I ask then the last time they cleaned their grill. So anyway, I thought I would bite the bullet and ask this weeks questions:

POLL: Do You Clean Your Grill?
1) Every time I Cook
2) Frequently
3) Occasionally
4) Once in a While
5) Why Do I Need to Clean It?

Photo c 2011 Regarding BBQ Inc., licensed to About.com, Inc.

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Traditionally spring is lamb season. While you can get lamb any time of year these days I always get hungry for a nice leg of lamb or some seared lamb chops. I know that a lot of people think lamb is difficult to cook, or claim that they don't like the flavor, but if you haven't tried lamb in a while you are just punishing yourself. So whether you love lamb or not this week's question is:

POLL: What Cut of Lamb do you Prefer to Grill?
1) Rib Chops
2) Loin Chops
3) Leg of Lamb
4) Rack of Lamb
5) Loin Roast
6) Lamb Shoulder
7) I Don't Like Lamb
8) I Don't Know How to Cook Lamb
9) Something Else (please specify in the comments)

Photo c 2011 Regarding BBQ Inc., licensed to About.com, Inc.

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Getting good ribs with a genuine barbecue flavor from a gas grill is a challenge. Gas grills are great for hot and fast cooking but not so good when you need to turn a rack of ribs into tender, smoky barbecue. There are some tricks you can use however. To get the best possible ribs from your gas grill you need to use a three step process to get them perfect.

Photo c 2012 Regarding BBQ Inc., licensed to About.com, Inc.

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Thermoceramix is the next generation of heating element. In fact it isn't even an element. This spray on material creates heat under current making it possible to create heating surfaces of virtually any shape or size. Imagine, for instance, that instead of having a water heater, you have a length of pipe treated with Thermoceramix that heats water on demand anywhere you need it.

Thermoceramix was invented in 1997 but is only now becoming a viable product through demonstration of its abilities in several categories. The Downtown Grill is such a demonstration. This 32 pound portable electric grill can reach a cooking surface temperature of 700 degrees F. with the lid open. The heat is evenly distributed over the entire cooking surface making it the hottest and most even heating electric grill on the market. Of course this doesn't come cheap. Because of the newness of the technology and the limited production, this grill comes in around $2,000USD, making it the most expensive electric grill on the market.

Find out more at: Downtown Grill

Image: Thermoceramix

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Recently Napoleon added a charcoal grill to their product line, predominately made up of gas grills. This charcoal grill looked familiar. A 22 1/2-inch kettle style grill, the Napoleon unit was billed as an improved version of the iconic Weber Kettle. With an adjustable height cooking grate, pull out ash catcher, and unique air baffle to even the heat, this really is a good charcoal grill. Of course, at around $200USD typically, it was also much more expensive.

For 2012 Napoleon has taken this grill one step further by adding several attractive features and putting the grill in a cart configuration. Of course, this makes it much more like the Weber Performer that has been available for many, many years. But consider this. The Napoleon version has a 20-pound porcelain coated, hinged cooking grate that can be placed at three different heights. The cart has a fold down table reducing the footprint to little more than the 22 1/2-inch diameter of the grill itself. The lid on this version is hinged and angled so you can easily lift it out of the way without having the reach over the fire. The grill itself can be turned 360 degrees inside the cart so you can get to any part of the grill, again, without reaching over the fire.

The Napoleon Charcoal Kettle Grill on Cart is available now for a list price of $399USD.

Find out more at Napoleon Grills

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Time was you could get a grill in any color you wanted as long as it was black. Unless, of course, you wanted to spend thousands of dollars for a high end stainless steel gas grill. Now, several manufacturers are turning to colors. From baked enamel to simple painted finishes there are many grills out there available in colors. Most of these are pretty straightforward red or blue but if people turn from stainless steel and black to designer colors you could see a whole new direction in modern grill design. So as we start into the big grill sales season I thought I would ask:

POLL: What color would you want your grill to be?
1) Black
2) Silver (Stainless Steel)
3) Blue
4) Green
5) Red
6) Copper
7) Gray
6) Something Else (please specify in the comments)

Photo c 2008 Weber-Stephen Products Co.

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Many years ago I came across a great little grill that burned wood for a natural flavor and could reach extremely high temperatures. I was similarly disappointed but the lack of success of that grill. Now, there is a new product on the market that uses similar technology. The Cook-Air grill is everything you want in a portable. With a 14 inch diameter cooking grid, you have the space to cook plenty of food and the 17-pound weight makes it easy to transport. What makes this grill stand out is how it works. At the heart it is a wood burning grill that can be fueled with any wood chunks. A small fan inside the grill accelerates the combustion so that the cooking surface reaches more than 1,000 degrees F. That's right, over 1,000 degrees. This means that unlike most all portable grills, this unit can give you a restaurant quality steak with a light smoky flavor.

The Cook-Air grill can run on a standard plug, a 12-volt car adapter, or 8 D-batteries. Best of all, everything you need is included. Look for this unit around $200USD. The construction is high quality, the base has rubber feet so it won't slide around, the temperature is fully adjustable, and it comes with a lid so you can capture the smoke, or just keep food warm.

Read more at Cook-Air Grill

Image: Cook-Air Grill

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By Derrick Riches, About.com Guide

Barbecue & Grilling 2012 Readers' Choice Award - Pellet Grill

Suggested Reading

About.com's 2012 Readers' Choice Awards

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Their on the floors, in the catalogs and ready for you to pick one up. Yes, grill buying season has started. If it isn't out there now, it's probably too late. This year will see more gas grills sold than any year in history. It will also see more gadgets, gimmicks and gizmos than any year before. So we can start telling all those shoppers what to look for, lets see what features you find most useful on your grill. Do you actually use a side burner? Is that rotisserie the must have feature of the modern griller? Click on your choice below to cast your vote.

POLL: Which Gas Grill feature do you think is most useful?
1) Side Burner
2) Rotisserie
3) Grill lights
4) Workspace
5) Infrared Burner
6) Something Else (please specify in the comments)

Photo c 2007 Sears, Roebuck and Co.

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Are you a charcoal griller? Do you have a favorite charcoal grill? I've collected the nominations and now it is your time to vote for the best charcoal grill in the 2012 Barbecue & Grilling Readers' Choice Awards.

Vote

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You can spend days trying to find the perfect cooking grate for your flowerpot and end up placing a single burger patty on it, one at a time. Or you can choose the smart path and go with kebabs for your flowerpot cookout. A 10 inch flowerpot grill can hold three good sized kebabs and cook them in about 10 minutes. Since you have the pot handy your guests can take turns grilling up a wide range of foods (over the course of two hours) when the flowerpot grill remains hot.

I said that you needed two saucers for each pot but I haven't told you what to do with that second saucer yet. When you are done cooking on your flower pot grill, place the second saucer on top of the pot to extinguish the fire. Warning: Do not pour water into your flowerpot grill. The sudden shock of cold can break the pot, making a very big mess.

Most of all have a good time.

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For a single 10 inch flower pot grill you will need 12 to 14 standard charcoal briquettes. They must be already burning when they go into the pot. So you need something to light the charcoal in and also a way to move the hot coals into the pot.

What works best for this task is a charcoal chimney, since this is a quick and easy way to light charcoal. Light the briquettes and with a pair of tongs transfer the burning hot coals into the flowerpot on top of the sand. The coals do not have to be completely ready (white and ashy), but at least hot and burning.

Transportation Problem: Moving a hot flowerpot grill, heavy with sand and burning coals, can be difficult and dangerous. However, filling a flower pot with burning hot coals sitting on a table can also be dangerous. You can choose to do either. I tend to fill the pots on the table and try not to move them too much. I fill the pots with the tables clear and everyone at a safe distance. Use a pair of good tongs to pick up the coals one by one to place inside the pot.

You need a single layer of coals in your pot. Do not over fill them because the excess heat can cause your pot to crack or break.

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The Bottom Line

The Cobb grill has been repeatedly praised as one of the most unique and versatile portable grills on the market. This unit will run on eight charcoal briquettes for up to three hours, will never flare-up, and can cook a whole chicken as easily as burgers. Light weight, easy to light and operate, this grill is perfect for virtually every outing. It doesn't even get hot on the exterior so you can pick it up while cooking to move it. The only real draw back is the relative small size. The cooking area is a little under 12 inches and doesn't give you a lot of space. Other than that this is a great little grill.

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Pros

• Lightweight 8 1/2 pound grill
• Exterior stays cool to the touch
• Highly versatile cooking abilities
• Requires very little fuel (charcoal) to operate

Cons

• Very small cooking area
• Advertised versatility requires optional accessories

Description

• Runs for about three hours on 8 charcoal briquettes
• 8.5 pounds total weight
• High quality stainless steel construction
• Drippings are drained to a storage area away from the flame making flare-ups virtually impossible
• Optional roasting rack lets you cook whole chickens or roasts under the tall lid area
• Comes completely apart for easy cleaning
• Many available accessories, including pans and woks

Guide Review - The Cobb Premier Grill

The Cobb really is one of the most versatile portable charcoal grills on the market. This little unit can run for hours on a handful of charcoal briquettes and cook a wide range of foods from burgers to whole chickens to omelets (roasting rack and griddle not standard). Weighing in under 9 pounds this lightweight unit is perfect for a wide range of portable applications since it can be picked and moved hot (the exterior doesn't heat up).

While the size is very small (three to four burgers at a time) this unit is very easy to use and virtually fool proof. You really can put a chicken on to roast and come back in an hour to check on it. Because of the excellent grease management system that collects grease away from the flame, flare-ups are virtually impossible.

This is a great little unit for campers, boaters and tailgaters who don't need to prepare a lot of food, but want the versatility and near fool-proof cooking this unit has to offer.

While the additional accessories (woks, smoker box, skillets, griddles, etc.) add a lot of feature these will add a lot to the units overall price.

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Yes, I know, to cook, or more precisely to grill. However, you'd be surprised at what some people use their grills for and what others expect from them. Some people buy a grill because they are having a big party and think it would be a great idea to get one. Many of these people end up giving away (or throwing away) their grill after a use or two. Some people buy a grill to cook everything, everyday. They can get frustrated with their grill for not being versatile enough. Some people buy a grill because they expect it to be an easy and quick way to cook. These people may find grilling harder than they thought or might not keep a close enough eye on what they are doing to get properly prepared food off the grill. Anyway, do you want your grill for Saturday afternoon or Tuesday evening? Is your grill for a few meat items or for virtually everything you can imagine? Do you buy a grill because you are having a big party or family gathering? Either way you slice it, this weeks question is:

POLL: What do you want a grill for?
1) Occasional grilling of steaks, burgers, dogs and chops
2) Big weekend cookouts with lots of friends and family
3) Frequent cooking of whole meals
4) Low-fat and easy foods
5) Occasional grilling of all kinds of foods
6) The perfect steak
7) Grilling, Smoking, Searing, Rotisserie and more
8) Taste
9) Summer Fun
10) Other (please specify in the comments)

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Yes you can make bread with your grill. Flat breads are a breeze and even raised breads work great. All you need to bake bread is an enclosed space that is heated. For this a grill works perfect. One thing to remember though is that grills can get much hotter than your oven and temperature control is not as precise. Delicate breads that can be a challenge in the oven should be avoided on the grill until you really get the hang of it.

Temperatures: My experience suggests that breads cook faster (sometimes twice as fast) on the grill as they would in the oven. Like I said grills can produce a lot more heat than you traditionally use to bake breads so try to keep a relatively low temperature. Use an oven thermometer placed near the bread to monitor temperatures. Also, because of the natural air flow inside your grill (whether charcoal or gas) you get more convection than you do in your oven. This is why it is important to keep a close eye on breads when you are grilling.

Flat Breads: You can grill tortillas and pizza crusts quickly and easily by using frozen bread dough. Try using the roll dough because it's already divided into nice pieces. Roll out into thin circles and place on a preheated grill. Watch to make sure they don't burn and remove from the grill when they are a nice golden brown. For tortillas remove while they are still pliable. For pizzas let them get a little stiff, top with pizza sauce, cheese, etc. and put back on the grill until the cheese is melted. I recommend doing only a few at a time (maybe one until you get the hang of it) so you don't burn the bottoms.

A few extra tips:

• Pizza stones are great, but before you put any cookware on your grill make sure it is safe to use. Some things do not stand up well to the heat and flame of a grill.
• Although not necessary indirect grilling can help create a more even baking environment for breads. Direct heat can cause the bottom of breads to get burned quickly.
• Flat breads need to be able to hold together on your grill. You can place them right on the grate but if the grate doesn't provide enough support you have trouble. Make breads thicker if you have a wide slotted grate.
• A bakers peel can be very helpful getting bread on and off the grill. These are those wide board tools you see in bakeries. Super Peel is a great tool, well worth the money, that has a conveyor belt that really makes it easy to get bread onto the grill easily, especially pizzas.
• These days many grill makers are touting the versatility of their products. Check with your manufacturers website to see if they have specific accessories to help you bake on your grill.

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The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Uni-O Industries have announced a recall of 4,530 portable gas grills sold at various retail outlets between November 2008 and December 2010. The regulator on this grill can leak causing fires. There have been 10 fires reported by owners though there have been no injuries. If you own one of these grills, you are asked to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer at (888) 847-8968 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT for a free replacement grill. You can find out more information about the affected grills and contact information on their website

Read more at the Consumer Product Safety Commission

Image: Uni-O Industries Corporation

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The Bottom Line

This gas grill was designed to be an affordable (around $2,500USD) completely 304 stainless steel grill with all the features. It isn't fancy and it might seem like its that affordable, but this grill is what you get when no short cuts are taken. Designed and built by the same people who make Firemagic gas grills, this is a great grill for the person serious about cooking and who wants to have it all in a package that will last for many years.

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Pros

• Complete 304 Stainless Steel Construction
• Full Feature Grill with Rotisserie and Side Burner
• Firemagic Engineering
• Excellent Grease Management System

Cons

• Not really an inexpensive grill

Description

• Three 16,000 BTU stainless steel U-shape burners
• 648 square inches of primary grilling space for a total cooking area of 820 square inches
• 48,000 BTU maximum output from the main burners
• 12,000 BTU side burner under a flush mounted cover
• 10,000 BTU rear mounted infrared rotisserie burner with full rotisserie kit
• 304 stainless steel welded rod cooking grids
• Double layer hood with center mounted thermometer
• Electronic Ignition
• Funneled grease management with slide out drip tray
• Made in the United States by R.H. Peterson

Guide Review - American Outdoor Grill 36 inch

R.H. Peterson, makers of Firemagic gas grills, wanted to introduce a line of "affordable" stainless steel gas grills and came up with the American Outdoor Grill (frequently called AOG). This is the grill you get when the maker of one of the most expensive grills on the market, strips down the gas grill to the most basic design, but still provides you with a full feature, 304 stainless steel grill.

At the heart of this grill is a triple "U" shaped burner system that gives you an even heat because the flame is spread out evenly inside the firebox. The 48,000 BTU maximum output seems a little light for the 648 square inches of primary grilling space, but efficient design make up for underpowered output. You will get plenty of heat out of this grill and certainly be able to get a good sear on meats. The firebox is welded and sealed so you won't get grease running down the back or pooling in corners like you do on many grills. This reduces flare-ups and helps keep the grill clean.

This grill also features a standard rotisserie burner system with 1 10,000 BTU rear mounted infrared burner and full rotisserie kit with a 12 to 15 pound capacity motor.

The side burner on this unit is basic but functional. What you are really buying here is a durable stainless steel gas grill for less than $2,500. This might not seem like a lot in comparison to many mass market grills, but it stands head and shoulders above those lesser stainless steel units.

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This is a big, shiny, full feature gas grill with the KitchenAid name stamped right in the middle of the lid. You get a pair of halogen lights, a powerful infrared side, searing burner, a infrared rotisserie burner (though you have to pay extra for the rotisserie kit), and complete stainless steel construction. I mean everything on this grill is stainless steel, well except for the plastic knobs. This grill will get attention and certainly divert people from better quality, similar priced products, and that's a shame. First of all, KitchenAid has absolutely nothing to do with this grill and the stainless is low grade.

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