Time to replace charcoal grill and opinions wanted.


 
David

David

TVWBB Pro
After over 20+ years, it is time to throw out my Char Broil for something new, it's death is near, despite my best efforts to keep it functioning like new. http://tvwbb.com/showthread.php?35059-Not-a-Webber-grill-but-I-did-use-a-Webber-chimmey

So, I'm leaning toward the 22 Performer/platinum with touch and go. I like the idea of easy starting fire, but have heard drawbacks to how it is done and the gas tank not lasting long. I could always do it the chimney way, as I've always done, but anything that makes it easier is good. I like the performer for side table, lid hanger, one touch cleaner, wheels, and small storage area underneath. I will use it primarily for steaks, burger, small smoking cooks (chicken breasts) etc. My concerns with this and other weber grills is the inability to place the fire closer to the cooking grate since the grate does not move up and down like my old charbroil.

The alternatives of course are other weber grills but since money is not really an issue, what's a hundred bucks spread over 5 to 10 years anyway, so I'm inclined to go with best, easiest etc. As far as I know, I can smoke, grill and even put a spit on it with various other upgrades.

Currently I have a weber Gen., a 22 WSM, and a Q, as well as the soon to be thrown away charbroil. So, throw out the opinions, even offering another brand if worthy of purchase, but I would prefer to keep it under $500, quality is of concern. I've seen several models at the big box that I like under the price of the performer, but they seem cheaply made. Ok, throw out the pro's and con's.....................d
 
David I grill a lot and I can tell you the small propane tanks last a very long time. I would not let that be a concern. You mentioned the obvious advantages to the Performer but let me add a couple more. The height is higher than the standard 22” OTG or OTS. It's more comfortable to use. The top vent has an insulating tab. This doesn’t sound like a big deal until you burn your fingers. Also the thermometer in the lid.

Regarding your concerns about the ability to raise or lower the grill, if it’s for a temperature consideration, you have the lower and upper vents for that. If it’s for a searing concern, I have the cast iron center with the gourmet grill option and it does a very good job of searing. Another option is to stack your coals on an angle going from low to high. We often do this when we cook “indirect”.

If I sound like a fan of the Performer, yes I am. Go take a look at all the models and I think you’ll agree. Good luck and let us know how you make out.
 
I love my Performer, sure the small propane tanks dont last that long I can get a 4 pack for about 10 bucks, live the weatherproof charcoal holder too, touch and go ignition cant be beat, and I put my chimney over it when Im using my 26.75 too.
 
The propane only needs to be on for 3-5 minutes when you use a chimney, I grill a lot and only use 2-3 of the small tanks a year. I use the charcoal baskets to get the coals closer to the grate.
 
I will join the chorus of folks here and echo that the Touch N Go Performer is the way to go. For years I did not have a Performer and we very happy with my various regular kettles. But after finally taking the leap and purchasing the Performer, I would not be without it, especially the Touch N Go igniter. My only beef with the kettles, Performer included, is that I wish I could get higher searing heat out of them. Even with lump, none of the kettles will put out as high of searing heat my Summit does. For that reason I keep checking CL for the right kamado to come alone.
 
For conventional steel charcoal grills, the Touch-N-Go Performer is the gold standard. Period.

With your budget being up to $500 I ask that you entertain the Chargriller Akorn kamado - people who own it really love it (check the reviews). With the upper grill it has about the same capacity as the Performer; as a kamado, with a bit of sealing of the bottom vent I've read that it performs about as good as the ceramics. It's also about $300, a bit less than the new Perfomer, and a LOT less than the ceramics.

I happen to have the Performer, a Bubba Keg (same basic design as the Chargriller Akorn), and a large Green Egg. Even after getting the Egg this summer, the Performer still has it's place in my grilling arsenal, and probably always will.
 
One concern you raised is getting the charcoal closer to the grate. My solution for that comes from the wsm. I made a small round charcoal basket that I put on the charcoal grate. Fill it up to any level and there you go. What I did this for was to get a good sear on my steaks. Basically, it creates a little chimney in the middle of the cooker. I sear the steak and then move it over to the side to finish. Another method would be to bank some charcoal up the side of the cooker. So while it's not as straight forward as adjusting the grate up or down, it can be done.
 
Thanks guys. I have never used a sear grate, so that is obviously weber's answer for that issue. I looked at the Kamado and that does look like a nice grill, thinking that one of those might replace my wsm for small smoking jobs as well as grilling, but alas, not going to can the wsm. One overall grill for everything would be great. I read a comment somewhere on these pages, that one member stated that if he could only have one grill it would be the performer, yet another said a BHE. Appears that the tank size on the starter is not a big issue..........thanks, any more , keep them coming.........................d

PS. Is it possible to hook up a large propane tank to the starter instead of using the small bottle?
 
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I bought a 22 1/2" OTG last year. It works great, but with some things, size matters. I am considering buying a 26 3/4" OTG this year.

Get a 26 3/4" OTG, use a propane torch to light the charcoal, you are good to go.

Good luck.

Bob
 
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I have to say the performer is a great grill, and you can find them on CL all the time for a real good price,I did, I have only had mine for about a year and still learning alot about cooking with coal, but I must say the small tank is no problem used two since I have gotten mine and they are cheap to buy and easy to store.
With or with out the gas assit the performer is hard to beat as a all around good grill, for grilling,smoking, and some good slow cooks.

Seems you have a WSM already a performer would right up your alley, and I beleive you would be very pleased with one.

Kevin
 
Dave there is a hose adapter you can buy to use a larger tank if you wish. I don't think there is a product out there that has more ways to adapt for various cooking methods than the 22.5 kettle. There are a host of accessories available from grill grates to the Smokenator, rotisserie, Cajun Stacker or Smoke EZ. The Performer is the best dressed kettle of the 22.5 series. You will not regret owning a Weber kettle whatever model you choose.
 
Another option for searing is to buy one of the Claycort CI grates. They are spendy though. Cost about as much as a brand new 22.5 OTS. As others have mentioned there are multiple accessories available for kettles.
 
I'll chime in with another vote for Performer.
The gas assist is awesome and I only went through 2 small cans last summer/fall.
Just put the chimney over the flame and leave it lit for about 3 minutes and you're good to go.

Controlling temps are a breeze and the work table and charcoal bin are great throw in's.

And since your budget is $500 - you can order a set of the Craycort CI Grates with the leftover cash (mine are coming in a week).
 
Another vote here for a Performer. I'm quite the noob myself not having my Performer for even a year yet.

What I like most is the big side table and the gas assist. Just put the chimney over that for a few minutes and the chimney is rolling and you can shut your gas off. I tried the hose adapter and ran it to a larger cylinder but ended up returning it as I found my grill cover would not fit well with the hose running out the side to a cylinder but that's just me. As others have said, those disposable bottles are cheap and if it's just to start the chimney I doubt you'll go through much.

What's impressed me most about the Performer is the versatility of this unit. I can sear, grill, cook low and slow, smoke for hours and hours without topping up the coals, do pizzas, deserts, you name it.

To be honest when I bought this I really had my eye on a BGE but the funds were not there at the time. So I said to myself one day. The more and more I use the Performer the less and less I think about shelling out 1400 clams for a BGE. I just can't imagine it does anything 4 times better to justify 4 times the price.

I'm hoping to start my first kick at bacon this weekend so if all goes well, next weekend I'll be cold smoking my first batch on my Performer.

Good luck.
 
I looked at one again over the weekend and what really bugs me about the performer is the lid holder. It seems that it still leaves the grill partly covered which would make it a tad more difficult to use the left side of the grill. Is this a problem that others find a fault?

I also looked at a Kamado while at the big box, and I would say it offers strong competition for a performer, but then the price is close to it also.
 
G Savrnoch said:
Another vote here for a Performer. I'm quite the noob myself not having my Performer for even a year yet.

To be honest when I bought this I really had my eye on a BGE but the funds were not there at the time. So I said to myself one day. The more and more I use the Performer the less and less I think about shelling out 1400 clams for a BGE. I just can't imagine it does anything 4 times better to justify 4 times the price.

Good luck.
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I've had my large BGE for about half a year or so - and to be honest, it does absolutely NOTHING 4 times better. In fact I'll go so far to say that, from a cost-value perspective, ceramic kamados are quite overrated. What ceramic kamados do well is burn charcoal efficiently and convection cook/bake. Where they really do shine is in low n slow smoking, where I can go upwards of 24 hrs easily with no more than 10-15 degrees fluctuation on a single load of lump charcoal. But unless you have the Primo XL, XL BGE or Big Joe - each of which is well over $1k - the trade off in low n slow stability comes at the expense of capacity.

I realize that value is in the eye of the owner (beholder), but had I not gotten my Egg for 400 bucks I wouldn't have it. And it's much more likely that I'll sell it before I sell my 2005 Performer.
 
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Danny B (Albany said:
I have to ask: why not buy a new Charbroil? I've become a Weber guy myself but 22 years means you had a very good grill there.
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Good question, I've thought about it.....must be ordered and shipped, which comes to over 500, and I wanted something different to tell the truth. The charbroils in the store are not of the same quality, but then, I won't rule out ordering one either. The weber has several functions that I like such as the starter and easier to clean.
 
David said:
I looked at one again over the weekend and what really bugs me about the performer is the lid holder. It seems that it still leaves the grill partly covered which would make it a tad more difficult to use the left side of the grill. Is this a problem that others find a fault?

I also looked at a Kamado while at the big box, and I would say it offers strong competition for a performer, but then the price is close to it also.
Click to expand...

As stated by others here for a lot of cooks I bank the coals to that side of the grill so the lid holder is not a issue for me,even when banking coal at left & right sides of the grill like for a Turkey. I have never really had a problem while cooking with the lid either never really thought about it I guess I was to busy thinking about what I was cooking because I was hungery to let the lid bother me.
 
David,

Going to agree with most here and highly recommend the Performer. I have the Performer with the ignition. I like others put the chimney on top of the lighter and burn it for 3-5 minutes then cut if off. Just as easy as a normal chimney start but no paper to deal with. This way you can also easily place the coals where you want them on the grill. I remember testing lighting with the ignition on for the whole time and for only 5 minutes and then end result was nearly identical. So the bottles will last you longer than you think. I cook on the grill 4-5 times a week and the last while. Just buy the 4 packs. Not sure really how long each one lasts since I also use the bottles for my weed burner to get my offset going.

As for placing the coals closer, just pile them higher with a 2 zone fire and you can sear, move direct at lower height and also indirect. The table is wonderful to have. Even when I am using my 26" for the added capacity and not the performer I roll the performer next to the 26", start the chimney and use the table.

As mentioned the added height is a bonus. I use the Performer for small smokes such as pork loin, meatloaf, or just 1 chicken. Just build the coals on 1 side and go direct. The ash bucket is also nice so you can get a few cooks before having to empty it. I use the charcoal bucket to store/keep dry my welding gloves, chimney, and ash scoop. I store my charcoal in one of those waterproof kingsford bins. I also attached one of the 4 hook weber tool hangers to the lid bale to hang my charcoal tongs and grill brush and use the 3 hangers on the Performer for food tools.

Both Weber & Charbroil have hoses that can connect to the Performer's small bottle connection and then to a 20# tank.

As for the lid holder, it does not lift the lid 100% and is slightly annoying at first. However I got used to it quick. Very rarely do I have to use a hand to pull it completely off while moving something around.

If I could only have one thing to cook on, it would be a Performer. No I couldn't cook 8 pork butts on it (that's why I have a WSM), but I have cooked a butt, 4 racks of ribs (rib rack), 2 chickens, 2 meatloafs, 2 pork loins and countless steaks, burgers, and chicken pieces.
 
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