CrayCort or Gourmet Sear Grate ?


 
S

ShaneRobinson

New member
I am looking to upgrade my Weber Performer with a cast iron cooking grate but I can't decide on Weber Gourmet system or the CrayCort modular grate, does anyone have any advice on this ?
 
I am surprised that no one has answered this yet. I don't have either one, but I have cooked on Craycorts before and am very familiar with the new Weber Gourmet grate. I do have a CI grate made by Charbroil that I use on my Performer as well as a grilling grate made by Lodge that I have also used on my kettles. Here are my thoughts FWIW. First, the answer to your question really depends on how you use your Performer. If you like setting up a searing station in the middle of your grill using your charcoal baskets, the Gourmet grate would be perfect. However if you do lots of things where you spread your coals across the entire charcoal grate and cook things at medium high and above heat, then the Craycorts might serve you better. Second, if you do a lot of things in which you use your grill for lots of indirect cooking applications or use it for low and slow using either charcoal baskets or fire bricks, either the standard hinged grate or the Gourmet grate would be what you need. Although you can do it with the Craycorts, moving the sections around is more of task than just flipping up the hinged portion of the Weber grate. Plus I see little benefit to CI if you are doing low and slow.

For me personally, I find that I do not make much use of my CI grate and end up setting it aside and using the regular Weber hinged grate more often because of what I normally cook on my kettles. It is just a lot more practical for me.
 
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If money is no object - Craycort. Lower budget? The Weber Gourmet system. With the Craycort system you have more CI surface (obviously) and more insert options. With the Gourmet system you have a large wok and larger pizza stone option than the Craycort, but the plated steel grate will probably not last as long as the Craycort all CI.
 
Even tho my craycort is a pain to take off and on every time i light a chimney on my performer's gas assist, I'm glad I got them.
They make your excellent charcoal grill even nicer:
 
Just take a look at GrillGrates, I use them with great results on my 90's Performer as well as my Q 300's. They are aluminum and light.
Amazing Ribs/Meathead had a review on them recently!!!
 
+1 with W Tyler. His explanation is spot on. I have Craycort and use it infrequently, and its on a 'dedicated' kettle (my One touch Platinum) - kind of a pain with its weight with moving to get the charcoal started and all but.... I am happy that I have it for the searmark results it provides. I find myself using the regular Weber hinged grates regularly for indirect cooking (which I mostly do anyway), and easy removal and replacement. My suggestion? Save your money, and stay with regular weber hinged grates. I am not sure if the cost justifies the little marginal added value long term.
 
I have both. My Weber System sits unused, my Craycorts are on all the time. I bought the Weber system when Craycort went AWOL for a bit. The Weber system is fine, but I prefer the Craycorts.

Laura
 
if i need some stripes i just throw on a cast iron grate from my lodge hibachi or one from my chargriller. if you have a que you can use that grate.
to me its just not worth it for just some stripes.
 
TOM BAUER said:
Just take a look at GrillGrates, I use them with great results on my 90's Performer as well as my Q 300's. They are aluminum and light.
Amazing Ribs/Meathead had a review on them recently!!!
Click to expand...

I use grill grates all the time w/ my weber kettle. their great.
 
I'm with Don F on his assessment. I had a 22" CI grate with removable centre ring, not sure who made it, bought it used, but I prefer the Weber grate system so much so I kept it when I sold my 22. You can get nice grill marks with it and you have the lift in lift out convenience as well as being able to add coals or wood from either side. I wish they made it for the 26. I love to use a 12 fry pan in the centre for veggies like mushrooms and onions.
 
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