Consolidating grills


 
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Paul Shin

New member
I just moved to a new place and it doesn’t have as much space in the backyard.
My current set up is a Weber Performer and a 36” flat top grill. This combo has been awesome. The performer is my grill, smoker (slow n sear), and pizza oven (Kettle Pizza).
Flat top is awesome for quesadillas, fried rice, big breakfast, etc.

But I need to go down to one grill. I was intrigued by the Weber Genesis gas grill with the flat top insert. In theory, this would take care of everything. Albeit I can’t cook with charcoal any more. And although it has a smoke option, I’m not sure how well that would work.

I do have a Go Anywhere grill that I could use if I really wanted to cook with charcoal.

Anyone make this transition? Or have another suggestion? I’d ideally like a BBQ grill, flat top grill, and smoker in one.
A side benefit for the Genesis is the side burner. This gives me the option to deep fry.
 
Hi Paul,

Welcome. Sounds like a dilemma. I can't speak with hands-on for any of the current vintage Genesis grills, however I am a huge fan of the sear burner on front control Genesis grills, to the point I would not own one without. I have a 2016 E330 and it's a big difference than cooking on an otherwise identical E310, but without the sear burner.

I suggest taking a look at the 4 burner plus sear Genesis E435. for hot direct cooking the side with the sear burner will get super hot and it has a lot of space since you are only going to have one grill.


As far as griddles to put on top, there has been some threads discussing it, but I haven't followed them for a while. I use a small lodge CI grill and it suits my needs, but it is not even close to a flat top.

my only other suggestion is snarky, and that's to make more space in the backyard :D
 
The greater square footage of grill space, the less there is to mow!
I can’t help you Paul, I’ve got four kettles and a Genny sitting in the back yard right now and another five in the garage plus the WSM. I’m not clear on what consolidation means, apparently the opposite of accumulatio!🤣
 
IMHO the closest thing to a one grill does all would have to be charcoal or pellet as you really can't do a long smoke on a gas grill. Maybe with a smoke daddy? You could go for a Masterbuilt Gravity 800 that comes with a griddle. I have used it that way and it does work great but I use mine mostly as a smoker. Could you have a small WSM 14 in addition to your gasser with griddle plate? You could also go for the griddle plate for your performer. Just spit balling some ideas.
 
I'd be extremely hard-pressed to give up a Performer to go to a Genesis. The Genesis would be a reasonable addition to your current stable, but that won't work considering you need to consolidate for space.

Maybe try this in your Performer to use as a flat top? https://www.hunsakersmokers.com/collections/griddles/products/griddle-plate-for-22-kettle-grill

A lot less expensive than getting a Genesis, and you'd be able to keep your kettle pizza.

We have one of the current Genesis models (3-burner with side burner), and while I have pretty much no complaints about it (not getting into the construction quality of it versus older models), I don't think I'd even bother trying to smoke on it... I just don't see it how'd it measure up to other available options. I feel like the results would probably super disappointing compared to what you're used to off of the Performer.

I've also never been impressed with any of the pizza solutions for a Genesis (current model or otherwise).
 
The best I can come up with is getting a griddle insert for the kettle. Something like an Arteflame insert. If that’s not enough griddle space, maybe ditch both, pick up a 26” kettle and use the Arteflame insert for more real estate.

I’ve not used any inserts on a gasser, but I know the same ones also fit the Smokefire, so that’s the other option I can see as viable. If you like low and slow cooks, and enjoy the flavor of wood/charcoal, a pellet is the best you’re going to get, while still having the ease of operation that a gasser brings to the table. Smokefire is the best of both worlds, no it’s not exactly the same taste as charcoal but it’s dang good, DANG good!

Smokefire may be the best option.
 
The performer stays, hands down. Not much versatility with the griddle, so it gets the heave ho! There are lots of gridles available that will work just fine on a kettle, but a griddle is a griddle is a griddle. As for replacing both with a gasser -------------------no thanks! Gassers do have their place but mine mostly collects dust. I just keep it for the side burner and the huge rotisserie that will hold 2 16 lb. turkeys. Since we got an instant pot, the side burner hasn't been used.
 
Yeah, my gasser is more a “holding oven” for big feasts around here. Serious cooks, I am more fluent in kettle. Will have a big feed coming up next Tuesday, so, the spinner will be working on the Peruvian chicken, and the 22” the fennel gratin and baby potatoes. Oh, heck! I forgot to get little purple guys for that!! I’ve got a little time.
 
Personally, I would have bought a bigger home, Lol! I purchased my home ahead of time knowing that I would need a large outdoor entertainment area coupled with enough space inside to support my lifestyle, habits, & hobbies! Go big & stay home!
 
I knew you meat heads would come through.
Ok, I’m selling the flat top and keeping the Performer. I’d like to have a 26”, but I just use that table so much on the Performer.

Thanks for the Hunsaker suggestion. I found this video. Interesting he uses the igniter as heat source to cook on the Hunsaker. I’m sure it’ll be very uneven heat, but it’s actually a good idea. I may have to try that!

 
DanHoo said:
Hi Paul,

Welcome. Sounds like a dilemma. I can't speak with hands-on for any of the current vintage Genesis grills, however I am a huge fan of the sear burner on front control Genesis grills, to the point I would not own one without. I have a 2016 E330 and it's a big difference than cooking on an otherwise identical E310, but without the sear burner.

I suggest taking a look at the 4 burner plus sear Genesis E435. for hot direct cooking the side with the sear burner will get super hot and it has a lot of space since you are only going to have one grill.


As far as griddles to put on top, there has been some threads discussing it, but I haven't followed them for a while. I use a small lodge CI grill and it suits my needs, but it is not even close to a flat top.

my only other suggestion is snarky, and that's to make more space in the backyard :D
Click to expand...
Here's the full insert on the 435
 

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I have a similar situation.
Not much space on my deck, a performer, a 36” Blackstone griddle and we keep a vertical smoker in our shop to take out when we need to use it.
I also have a Hunsaker plate and to be honest it may sound good but it sucks compared to my Blackstone.
It is not only small but there really isn’t any colder side for any kind of temp control.
I’ve had it several years, did a few cooks on it and will probably never use it again.

I keep the performer out all winter through rain and snow in the PNW and winter the Blackstone in the shop so I can cook on it out of the rain.
It cooks just fine in our shop but I don’t get to see our view or chat with as many people.
I’m fine with using my performer in the rain but my griddle not so much.

I’d say keep both if possible because after using a 36” flattop that Hunsaker chinga won’t come close to cutting it for you.
YMMV though.
 
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I'd rather cook with charcoal. If a flat top is important I think having to cook breakfast
on a kettle would become tiresome.
 
I have a similar setup as op,
Weber Performer
Weber Q 2200
Blackstone 28
Happy Cooker kettle
Smokey Joe mini wsm.

If I could only keep 1, I would keep 3.
I would sell the Blackstone, give the mini wsm to someone in my family and keep the Performer & Happy Cooker (handed down from my father) & the Weber Q (its perfect for taking to the lake or camping.)

My wife gets to keep all of the kids old clothes and books, and her shoes, I get to keep all my grilling toys.

Now we also have 4 kids. I may consider letting one of the teenagers go to free up space ;)
 
I have a Performer, but I find myself mostly using my Genesis Silver.
I have a 2 and 5 year old, usually don't have time for a full charcoal ceremony, so it's a gas life for me.

When I completely rebuilt the Genesis Silver, I replaced the old Weber grates with GrillGrates, and then also got the GrillGrate Griddle x 2 (as you see in the pic, they interlock).
If you've never heard of GrillGrates, they are aluminum, so they transfer heat very efficiently, which means my Griddle gets pretty hot (and maintenance free)!
Even the base GrillGrates are reversible with a flat side, but they have holes, so not a true griddle...so I opted for the Griddle plates.
I could put them directly over the flame, but prefer the buffer of them sitting over the basic inserts to even out hot spots.

I love my Griddle topper so much it pretty much never leaves (as I love to sear onions and make smash burgers)...but I love that I can just break it down in 2 seconds and store the Griddle plates to the side.

If I ever want to add some smoke, I just throw some pellets in the mix. LOL

So that's my modular cook system on gas and my choice for this phase in my life would be a gas grill (with GrillGrate Griddles just due to the easy changeout) and an electric standup smoker.

But I rarely cook for more than 6-8 and super smoked food rarely gets eaten as left overs around my house, so I love my current system.
 

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At one point, I had a performer, 14.5 & 22 WSM, Char Griller Outlaw with SFB in the back yard.
1696346545623.jpeg
After a bunch of spare the air days (53 in a row), my wife got me a Genesis SE-335.

Fast forward to now, I sold both WSMs, gave the performer to my daughter, and the Outlaw was gifted to a friend. I have a E6 for grilling and LAS and the Genesis with the full size griddle insert.
1696346222232.jpeg
I really like the insert. Use it a lot. Have a nice storage bag for it. The size in nice, I can do fajitas fast as I can cook the meat, peppers/onions, and heat the tortillas at the same time. Great for smash burgers as well. We do use the gasser quite often as the wife likes grilled but not always smokey food.

2 grills that meet all my needs. Got a lot more room in my small yard.
 
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Even though our patio home has a small back yard it's big enough to support what I have now. I did downsize a couple of years ago. Used to have ten grills.

E320 NG sidewinder
1989 genesis 2000
Camp Chef pellet grill (replaced my 18.5 WSM)
Performer (also use with the kettle pizza)
Jumbo Joe on its own cart.

I use them all except for the gen 2000 that's my Wifes.
 
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If you really want to cook with charcoal, then keep the Performer. Great charcoal grill, meh smoker with the SNS, and you can find flat top options. Or get an E6 kamado.

If you want convenience, ditch the performer. Do you really want to do the charcoal ritual just to cook dinner on Tuesday night?

If so, keep the Blackstone in the interim. If that doesn't work for you as your one unit, I'd get a front control Genesis 300 with the extra sear burner. My personal choice would be a used one from the mid 2010s. The larger cook top is quite nice.

Then add a griddle -- full insert, half insert or GrillGrates. Personally, I have a full set of regular GGs and usually have half flipped over to the flat side. Awesome searing when using the flat side over the extra sear burner.

Good grill, good griddle, convenient for frequent use as your one/only cooker. I do not bother with smoking on the Genesis. Although some do that via smoker tubes and other gerry rigs.
 
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