Food Smokers and Smoking Tips/Tricks/Techniques

If you need better pics of how to set up the second charcoal grate let me know. You're pretty sharp so am sure you can figure it out though

So I got tired of those nickle plated steel ones rusting out every year or 2. Depends on how much you use them and I use them a LOT. And winters and environment are harsh on metal here. Although not as bad as the salt air from the oceans that I spent 20 years next to, given your location you may be in that same situation.

Add up the cost of the Gourmet BBQ System grate, which is still nickle plated steel, and the cast iron sear insert and you're at $80. And I am not a fan of cast iron for searing. Whoa take that back you can have my cast iron skillets when you pry them from my cold dead hands LOL.

But for searing over charcoal I prefer thinner grates and let the flames do the maillard effect. And that insert is in the center of the grill, with the 2nd charcoal grate your coals are off to the side. If your after sear marks then the grillgrates are a better option than cast iron IMO. I normally use grillgrates for things that are flammable like sausage, chicken etc. instead of for searing.

I bought some of the last stainless steel grates Weber made, it was several years ago and they are no longer available. And cost me $75 back then plus shipping and tax. But were worth it to me. In the long run I feel they are cheaper than replacing the nickle plated ones they sell now every couple of years.

If it was me today...
Option #1 from the same company that makes the Slow N Sear,
https://abcbarbecue.com/product/22-cooking-grate/?afmc=bbqdryrubs



If you end up with a Slow N sear that design makes a lot of sense. Actually even if you don't it still makes a lot of sense.

Option #2 is Killa Grilla Stainless Steel grates. They are beasts and will last as long as your kettle. There are 3 options, solid, double lift, and single lift like above. https://squareup.com/store/killagrilla

You want the 21.5" diameter ones that is what size your kettle takes. The rods in the Killa Grilla are 1/4" in diameter, like I said it is a beast compared to the Weber grates. Plus it is stainless steel..

Today I got the 4 pack of them it was only $8.76

SKEMIX Universal Style BBQ Meat Thermometer Probe Clip for Ambient Temperature Readings for BBQ Smokers Grill Oven (Set of 4)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GYCS99X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Thanks! Gonna take a look through both those options you posted after grilling some cajun salmon up

As you can see, got the rails in. Don’t have the 2nd grate on since I don’t need to sear it

 

Them look good!

 

GMG owners, look here: A little info, a lot of idiot.

 

That’s because at any moment it could suddenly shake over from a quake and start a fire in the sand.

 

Sand Fires.

 

Scary stuff man.

 

Spread by the dreaded fire ants no doubt.

 

First quick sand, now this! What's next? Tremors?!?

 

If the sand catches fire does turn to glass?

 

As long as Reba’s in it again.

 

Not if you’re cooking low n slow.

 

Well if done correctly yes it does. Add cobalt to it and it even turns blue.

My grandfather helped design the reflector lens at Palomar, California. The first casting broke and Corning Glass brought him up from the plant in Wellsboro, Pa. to help prevent it cracking on the second casting.

When I was stationed in San Diego as soon as I got the chance I sent everyone back home pictures of the scope at Mt. Palomar, and my first mule deer that I saw was in Cleveland National Forrest near there. In the 70's well before the internet LOL. But after the Pony Express, but not much.

My grandfather trained me from a young age to follow in his footsteps. I was balancing chemical equations by 7th grade. He gave me his slide rule when I went to the college that Corning backed for Ceramic Engineering. When I dropped out to join the Navy Nuclear Power Program he asked for it back. Damn it was slicker than owl shit and it hurt me but had no choice, push come to shove I could still use the C1 and C3 scales on a slide rule. If I had at least a 3X magnify glass

 

5 hours, got too hungry and pulled it too early. Still delicious, but I know better for next time

 

Good Morning Smokers

 

Yo and hello, Maner!

 

I hate being up early...but it happens...we got some kind of demon bird always comes waking us up randomly tweeting by our window unit AC between 0430-0630!! WTH!! no melody just random squeaky noise! I scare it off and it comes back. Finally just gave up and got up and made coffee...