Buying a GRILL

[nickCR]

Hi Guys/Gals,

I'm buying a grill for my backyard. I have narrowed it down to 4 CharBroil models available locally here in Costa Rica.

Infrared
463271310
463270911

Flame
463265109
463230511

Not sure which to get. I like the idea of Infrared.

I will mainly be using it to cook meat, hot dogs, burgers, ribs, beef and from time to time maybe a few veggies.

I understand that veggies don't really do well on the infrared, however there are some suggestions that using a cast iron skillet on top of the grates to cook them there.

I am leaning more towards the Infrared but a lot of people say that food doesn't have the 'BBQ' taste so that has me a little concerned.

Any advice is greatly appreciate, thank you in advance.

Nick

[Rocklobster]

I have read that, athough they cook well, infrared bbq's take a long time to heat up, and the plates weaken and corrode pre-maturely....

[nickCR]

I don't really mind the wait for pre-heat (10 min is what they guys claim on the char broil forum). It takes at least 20 min for charcol to get to the point that they are ready to cock with so i'm ahead of where I am now.

I did hear about the corroding. They are suggesting to season the grates and something else with high temp oil such as canola oil. This is supposed to really help the life span of the grill.

Everyone I know has a problem with the rust though as it's so humid here so I guess cleaning and maintaining the grill will be required no matter what.

[RPCookin]

Originally Posted by nickCR

Everyone I know has a problem with the rust though as it's so humid here so I guess cleaning and maintaining the grill will be required no matter what.

My wife and I are just about to move to our beach house in the Bahamas, and I have the same concerns, so I went all the way and bought the stainless steel Napoleon Prestige. It's a pretty basic gas grill, pricey, but with SS and aluminum and brass, it should last better than anything else in the salt air. I'm not getting the small propane bottles for it though - I'm going to have it piped to my LP tank for the house. That takes care of the bottles rusting, which they do rather quickly here. My neighbor has already had to replace one in just 2½ years.

[Caslon]

Sounds prestigious, show us a pic !

[RPCookin]

Right now it's still in a box in the garage... probably be 2 months before it's set up and ready to grill. And that's the easy one. We also bought a new LED HD 3D TV with surround and won't get it out of the box until it's down on the island either.

[TATTRAT]

Originally Posted by Rocklobster

I have read that, athough they cook well, infrared bbq's take a long time to heat up, and the plates weaken and corrode pre-maturely....

I agree.

While nice to have, and certainly pretty, man has come a pretty long way with even the most primitive of grills.

Being in CR, I would say something gas, H burner, with lava rocks, heats fast, nice even temps, easily controllable, save some cash, and parts are so easy to come by.

Also, the locals make some REALLY nice/impressive grills, both gas, and charcoal/wood fired. . .ranging in size from dinner for 2, to 200.

my favorite grilling done on Playa Hermosa was on a lil Webber. . .used every night and never had a bad meal, lol. The setting helped.