OT: Any recommendations for a solid gas grill with smoker capabilities?
- Thread starter cockn'fyr
- Start date
I bought an Oklahoma Joe Longhorn 3-1 combo last summer. I’ve loved it. You could charcoal grill, but I mainly use it to smoke or gas grill. Produces a ton of smoke, uses very little charcoal to smoke, also has side burner I use to start the charcoal chimney. It’s nice to have the gas component for quick grills or to sear or broil something after smoking.
www.oklahomajoes.com
Gas and Charcoal Grill Combo with Smoker | Longhorn
Smoke or grill how you like with the Oklahoma Joe's® Longhorn Combo Charcoal/Gas Smoker & Grill.
www.oklahomajoes.com
Forget gas, go with a pellet grill. Get the flavor of smoke and the ease of a gas grill.
This is good advice. Z grills are OK. The one that is built like a tank, has the best warranty and will last forever is Rec-Tec pellet grills. Expensive but the mack daddy of pellet grills.
As much as it pains me to say it, this right here. It pains me because I am a egghead and pellet grills are little girls easy bake ovens. Lol
I have a Weber grill and Big Green Egg. I use the Egg about 80% and the gas grill about 20%. I like the Egg, but pellet ease of use is attractive. I also like how easy it is to mix wood flavored pellets. A pellett grill sounds like a great recommendation.
I've got an egg and a Blue Ember gas grill. The gas grill had been sitting for a couple of years, and I took a slow weekend in early lockdown 2020 to really clean it (stainless polish and elbow grease) and ordered new burner tents and cast iron grates. It cooks about as good as new. I probably use the egg more but I really like having the gas grill as well. I think it's better for wings, mild fish, peppers and onions for salsa verde and for when I need a lot of surface area. Blue Ember is/was a Home Depot brand I think - I'd say look for a stainless chassis and cast iron grates. An iron box for wood chips adds smoke, but for real smoking I either use the egg or my dedicated smoker.
I have a gas grill and a pellet grill and never use the gas grill. Pellet grill has better flavor and is stupid easy. Mine is a rec teq by the way.
I have a pit boss Austin XL. It’s a pellet grill, smoker, etc. the only issue I’ve had is user error/laziness. that thing puts the flavor into some smoked meats! I use it as a grill and a smoker and it does great for both
My only gripe with a pellet is I want some stuff to be cooked on open flame like a hamburger. To me a pellet just can’t cook a burger like my egg can.
Although I will add some companies are catching on to this fact because I think some of them you can cook on open direct heat. By moving some grates or something.
Although I will add some companies are catching on to this fact because I think some of them you can cook on open direct heat. By moving some grates or something.
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Mine has a sliding deflector plate, that allows me to cook over open flame. Very easy, very convenient
I have a Kamado Joe, a Gass grill and a Z grill pellet grill. I use the Z grill 90 percent of the time. The Joe is great on very long cooks but for versatility and ease of operation pluse Bluetooth phone capability, the pellet grill is hands free easy and cooks just as well as the $1000.00 Kamado Joe Big Joe, at half the price.
I have had the Oklahoma Joe 3-1 for about 5 years, wife bought it for me for Christmas. I use it 3-5 times a week. I have only used the gas side twice in 5 years, and that was in the first month I had it. First time I've ever had a gas grill. I'm just not a gas guy, I prefer charcoal, it's what I've always known. I'll probably go back with Oklahoma Joe when that one's done, but it will be a charcoal only.
I also bought a cheap (Trail Embers) pellet on closeout ($240) from Tractor Supply about 3 years ago. I wanted to start with something cheap, and if I liked it I'd upgrade. I've never upgraded, it's simple and works every time I fire it up, never had one issue with it. When it gives out, I'll upgrade to a Rec-Tec (my dad has one), but I'm gonna keep riding it until the bitter end.
If I'm grilling steaks, burgers, pork chops, chicken, I use the charcoal. You just can't beat the taste IMO. When I put a butt, roast, brisket, etc. on (smoking), I use the pellet (along with a Wi-Fi digital temp probe). The pellet is just like an oven with smoke, it's insanely easy. My wife even uses it from time to time. She doesn't touch the charcoal grill.
I also bought a cheap (Trail Embers) pellet on closeout ($240) from Tractor Supply about 3 years ago. I wanted to start with something cheap, and if I liked it I'd upgrade. I've never upgraded, it's simple and works every time I fire it up, never had one issue with it. When it gives out, I'll upgrade to a Rec-Tec (my dad has one), but I'm gonna keep riding it until the bitter end.
If I'm grilling steaks, burgers, pork chops, chicken, I use the charcoal. You just can't beat the taste IMO. When I put a butt, roast, brisket, etc. on (smoking), I use the pellet (along with a Wi-Fi digital temp probe). The pellet is just like an oven with smoke, it's insanely easy. My wife even uses it from time to time. She doesn't touch the charcoal grill.
I bought the Green Egg 2 years ago and will never go back. I use that 90% of the time VS my Weber.
JMO but the only pellets I have not liked were Traeger. As far as flavor I am also not a fan of straight Hickory. To me it ends up making everything taste the same. I have used BBQr's Delight when I buy stuff from Big Poppa Smokers (Best source for MAC smokers and a huge variety of rubs and sauces), rumor is Acadamy's pellets are made by the same folks. I like them. I am in Aiken so I can run over to Recteq in Augusta and get their Ultimate Blend. They are a good general fuel. I really like straight Mesquite pellets but they have a lot of sand in them and I have had the starter rod get covered with sand/glass and not work. Good luck with the journey.
I also have a Pitt Boss and I always use Pitt Boss pellets. I have been told (not sure how reliable) that other pellets could jam up the feeder, so I don't take a chance.
I have the Austin XL Pitt boss. Love it. Don’t use Pitt boss pellets. I love bear mountain bbq pellets.
Pellet grills require power. Half the reason to having a grill is for it to be available if there's any power outages. You live through a hurricane and go a few weeks without power and you'll see why having a grill requiring power isn't so great. Sounds like most of y'all have both, which is cool.
