Ranch Kettle right for me?


 
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TonyD

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I'm possibly interested in a ranch kettle. It's just the wife and I, but we like to entertain often. My question is that when we are not entertaining a big crowd, can you easily build a smaller fire to cook a small amount of food for just two?
 
Wait a minute.. so i thought of this a bit. First, cooking on a ranch in small portions.. yes.. of course it can be done. i can hang a chicken leg over a burning stick and eventually it'l be cooked. but.. will cooking a couple hot dogs on a ranch be worth it? will you have the versatility and the efficiency etc. etc. of a regular kettle? no.

So if you feel that the ranch is worth the purchase and size for your guests, by all means! but if you buy a ranch, the dealer SHOULD throw in a 22.5 or a 26.75 kettle for free. they don't sell many of those. Maybe thrown in a chimney start or two as well.
 
The ranch looks cool, but there is something nice about having a pair of ordinary 22 inch kettles.

You can use one for small parties, and move up to two for larger. and you can have one hot and one cooler, for different purpses. you can have a chicken turning in one, and have the other for whatever.
 
I would get the Ranch for gatherings and get a cl kettle for those little cooks. I plan on making some charcoal baskets this year for my Ranch. I love all the room they have. I bought mine from a retired chef who used it for family gatherings. It's big, but not so big that it wouldn't be easy to just do a couple steaks, a rack of ribs or a chicken or two if the setup is right.
 
If the Ranch were my only grill, I would make some ring charcoal baskets out of expanded metal and use them for small cooks.

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I have been using them in my Drum Smokers for a few years with great results. Here is a pic of a charcoal basket that I can use for long cooks in my Mini 14" Drum and for short cooks in my Magnum 27" Drum.

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Here is a steel ring that I use in my Cajun Bandit/Performer/22" WSM that works just as well.

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No reason you could not do the same with a Ranch.
 
Thanks to all for the comments. I currently own a weber gasser, 22.5" WSM and a el cheapo Walmart kettle style grill (got it end of season for like $20). The Walmart grill has actually survived pretty well over a couple years, but it's time to upgrade to a real charcoal grill!

An average summer bash here is 10-12 people with one big party that pushes 100 people. I must admit that we want something impressive looking sitting on our patio, but I want it to be a legit grill too.

Brian - You should sell those rings! I would use them in my WSM and in the ranch kettle (potentially).

Next question is...where to buy? Amazon seems to have the best prices. Any other thoughts?
 
Try working a deal at your Ace Hardware type of store. I'm not sure if they do much of a markup though. what would shipping be? it's pretty massive the those spinnings are heavy.
 
I have a Ranch and use it at poolside. The Ranch is VERY impressive and you can use ever sq" of it for the entire meal. You can't go wrong, now pull the trigger.
 
Tony,if you use the link on this forum to go to Amazon,Chris A. will get a bit of money to help run this site.
 
Is there some reason you guys don't like the charcoal baskets (search Weber 7403 Char-Basket Charcoal Briquet Holders)? Seems perfect for something like this.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Mike Durso:
Try working a deal at your Ace Hardware type of store. I'm not sure if they do much of a markup though. what would shipping be? it's pretty massive the those spinnings are heavy. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

You'ld be surprised at the markup (worked there before) but talk directly with only the manager. I was the paint and grill guy while there but could only drop 10% on retail, the manager could go as low as 15% over cost, which was a substantial savings.
 
Well I know what weber charges, hehe... I just wouldnt know what the store is trying to make on it. If amazon works, it'd be great if it'll help Chris.
 
Tony to save money, check to see if you can rent a Ranch Kettle in your area and see if they are willing to sell you a used one.

The rental places usually update their inventory in the off season. For example, I recently picked up 2 used Ranch Kettles for $245 total.

One worked real nice for the Superbowl where we had room for direct and indirect many steaks, 3 ribs racks, pork cheeks, and chicken pieces.

John
 
If you have the cash I say go for it! Last time I read those ranchers were like a grand! You can get more versitle with a couple big kettles!
 
Tony i think the ranch is an impressive work of art. But for small cooks a ordinary kettle is what you wanna get.

But the ranch is a no brainer for those big partys. I would love one myself but i pulled the trigger on the primo. We cook 95% just for the family and if we get guessts i always have the kettle for extra room,with some added ribs from the wsm.

If i you get the ranch get if thru HEREso this comunity can get more then some awsome posts with the new toy!
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Justin W:
Is there some reason you guys don't like the charcoal baskets (search Weber 7403 Char-Basket Charcoal Briquet Holders)? Seems perfect for something like this. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>I think they are always to small and don't fit well. I plan on making my own for the Ranch and my Fleetwood this year. Maybe even some for the 22. It shouldn't be that hard.

What's your setup Jon? Any pictures?
 
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