Grill Snobs - Have a question / looking for advice...

[leeland]

getting a patio with an outdoor kitchen installed in a couple of weeks...

Concerning the outdoor kitchen portion of the job, we have the option of getting a package deal where they have:

The grill packaged into the install which is from a vendor (some high end brand which results in a very small cooking surface for the base model).

OR

I can get my own and the guy will custom build it...

The cheapest I can find for a decent grill from a good company is a Weber S-460 which goes about 2 grand (FOR A G.D. Grill)...

Anyways I have conceded to the price because they are ALL that expensive and I wanted to get one that if I ever had issues with I knew I could get parts easy...SO...

The last question I have is...for those of you that have a fixed grilling station of any kind...and had an option of running a natural gas line...

DID YOU DO IT?

vs having the LP tank under the counter?


Thanks,

Lee

 

[dabuddha]

ewww gas grill!

 

[Nintendesert]

I've heard good things from people that have run a line. However, damn, 2 grand? I don't think I'd grill enough to justify that cost over a cheap one at Costco or Sam's Club. Hell, you could just build it out of brick and use charcoal.

 

[leeland]

I've heard good things from people that have run a line. However, damn, 2 grand? I don't think I'd grill enough to justify that cost over a cheap one at Costco or Sam's Club. Hell, you could just build it out of brick and use charcoal.

OMG tell me about it...I am not thrilled about the cost...

I had thought about getting an inexpensive one from a big box store and calling it a day but then I thought 5-10 years down the road and something goes out on it...or even after 1 year...

Since the opening for it will most likely be non-standard and if I ever had to replace the grill I would be worried about finding a replacement that would fit appropriately.

Also, the convince factor along with the wife factor came into play.

The wife wants to be able to walk out, start the grill and cook...

Not, get the charcoal out, light it...wait...etc...

 

[corwin]

Go for the gas line...nothing sucks more ass than getting into the middle of cooking something and running out of gas, then finding you forgot to refill your spare too...since it's all about convenience that is the final straw, no more refilling tanks just walk out and cook whenever

 

[SillyOReilly]

Go for the gas line...nothing sucks more ass than getting into the middle of cooking something and running out of gas, then finding you forgot to refill your spare too...since it's all about convenience that is the final straw, no more refilling tanks just walk out and cook whenever

You have to be an absolute moron to run out of gas with a spare.

 

[Dirigible]

If I were getting a fixed installation/outdoor kitchen thingy with a gas grill, I sure as heck would run a gas line.

 

[corwin]

You have to be an absolute moron to run out of gas with a spare.

Depends on how much you use it and if you procrastinate at the wrong time I've come close before...right now my spare is sitting empty in my garage, been there for two weeks since my wife won't mess with it when she goes shopping and I haven't had the time to get it filled...

In any case if you're shelling out the bucks to have a fixed grill throw in the gas line if it's an option...my current home has no gas service so it's just not an option

 

[Genx87]

You have to be an absolute moron to run out of gas with a spare.

I am on the OCD side of things. Always have a full spare. Even debated getting a 3rd lol

 

[nickbits]

LP has more BTUs than NG

+1 LP

 

[vi edit]

LP has more BTUs than NG

+1 LP

Whoopee. My NG Weber can hit 500 degrees in under 5 minutes, and over 650 in about 10. If you need more heat than that then you have other issues that LP isn't going to fix.

NG grills use about 2x the amount of gas of LP, but it's about 1/6 cheaper by volume.

I ran an NG line to my grill and never looked back. I'll never own another propane grill in my life if I can avoid it.

As for the built in vs custom job...my biggest issue with going any of those routes would be long term replacement parts costs/availablity. Weber is pretty damn good about providing parts 10 years down the road for their stuff. If you can get a Sumit drop in that's probably worth it's weight over a different vendor that who knows will buy out the brand in 5 years and offer replacement parts if you need them.

 

[grohl]

Don't even think about it. Gas line.

Gas is cheap, enough burners and enough gas pressure and heat will not be a problem.

I moved into a house with a built in, I think it was 1500-2000 when I looked it up. Large cooking surface - cannot go wrong with that.

 

[waggy]

Gas line. IF i had to have gas that is. It would be nice hooked up to the 500 gallon tank we have.

 

[leeland]

Whoopee. My NG Weber can hit 500 degrees in under 5 minutes, and over 650 in about 10. If you need more heat than that then you have other issues that LP isn't going to fix.

NG grills use about 2x the amount of gas of LP, but it's about 1/6 cheaper by volume.

I ran an NG line to my grill and never looked back. I'll never own another propane grill in my life if I can avoid it.

As for the built in vs custom job...my biggest issue with going any of those routes would be long term replacement parts costs/availablity. Weber is pretty damn good about providing parts 10 years down the road for their stuff. If you can get a Sumit drop in that's probably worth it's weight over a different vendor that who knows will buy out the brand in 5 years and offer replacement parts if you need them.

That was my mindset as well...sure the upfront cost is a killer but I guess not having to worry so much if I can get parts down the road if needed is a relief.

Also, I called and it is about 250 dollars to get the line installed outside...which is acceptable to me.

 

[Nintendesert]

That was my mindset as well...sure the upfront cost is a killer but I guess not having to worry so much if I can get parts down the road if needed is a relief.

Also, I called and it is about 250 dollars to get the line installed outside...which is acceptable to me.

Yeah that's really not that bad. I'd go with the gas line for sure if you're going this route.

Lighting charcoal isn't too bad though, just teach her how to use a charcoal chimney, 5-10 minutes and the coals are ready to cook without lighter fluid. Granted even that is probably too long for her if she wants to just flip the switch and be ready to go..

 

[vi edit]

Also, I called and it is about 250 dollars to get the line installed outside...which is acceptable to me.

Yep, two new, prefilled propane tanks will run you $90 themselves. Plus refills are upwards of $17 a pop now. You'll pay for that in about 3 summers depending on grilling amount.

 

[leeland]

Yep, two new, prefilled propane tanks will run you $90 themselves. Plus refills are upwards of $17 a pop now. You'll pay for that in about 3 summers depending on grilling amount.

yep that is what I thought...and we are grilling more and more...

I am on my second tank already this summer with about 4 weeks of use...always hate having the tank run dry in the middle so that will be nice to avoid

 

[OutHouse]

i would love to have my grill hooked into my NG line. no more trips to the KOA for propane. and no more running out of gas then find out he wife already put the spare in the grill.... grrrrrrr

 

[NetWareHead]

Lighting charcoal isn't too bad though, just teach her how to use a charcoal chimney, 5-10 minutes and the coals are ready to cook without lighter fluid. Granted even that is probably too long for her if she wants to just flip the switch and be ready to go..

This, this, this x 1000. I tried charcoal for the first time last year after cooking on gas grills all my life. I was lighting the charcoal the conventional way of making a pile, using lighter fluid and then waiting 15-30 minutes for it to heat up. It wasn't convenient or pretty but it worked and I love the flavor charcoal gives to food so I overlooked that inconvenience.

I learned how to use a charcoal chimney and the coals only take 5 minutes to light and come to temperature, without using lighter fluid. Then you dump the coals in the grill, stir them and begin cooking. The 5 minutes it takes you to wait for the coals, you would wait anyway for a gas grill to preheat. Its even less of an inconvenience with a chimney. Anybody who grills with charcoal should be using a chimney and forgo the lighter fluid entirely.

 

[Fritzo]

As long as she's under a size 8 and doesn't have pointy elbo..... oh wait, you said GRILL snobs.

Sorry.

 

[waggy]

This, this, this x 1000. I tried charcoal for the first time last year after cooking on gas grills all my life. I was lighting the charcoal the conventional way of making a pile, using lighter fluid and then waiting 15-30 minutes for it to heat up. It wasn't convenient or pretty but it worked and I love the flavor charcoal gives to food so I overlooked that inconvenience.

I learned how to use a charcoal chimney and the coals only take 5 minutes to light and come to temperature, without using lighter fluid. Then you dump the coals in the grill, stir them and begin cooking. The 5 minutes it takes you to wait for the coals, you would wait anyway for a gas grill to preheat. Its even less of an inconvenience with a chimney. Anybody who grills with charcoal should be using a chimney and forgo the lighter fluid entirely.

I use charcoal all the time. i wouldn't do it again without the chimney. just put in and put paper under it. IF out of paper a little fluid on them works wonders too

 

[N4n45h1]

I think going with the Summit line is a good bet. From personal experience they have great service, and if yours comes with the ceramic plate searing option, you can expect to hit really high temps relatively quickly (nothing like a charcoal grill with a good chimney starter though )

 

[twinrider1]

I'm not a grill snob, but my friends that are absolutely swear by the Big Green Egg.

 

[Spydermag68]

I'm not a grill snob, but my friends that are absolutely swear by the Big Green Egg.

I love my BGE. I have owned it for about 2 1/2 years now. I only wish I opted for the XL over the Large Egg. I can still get 30Lbs. of pork shoulder on it and cook low and slow for over 15 hours and still have coal to burn.

The only thing that the BGE cannot do is rotisserie cooking.

 

[GasX]

Definitely gas line...

http://www.bbqguys.com/category_name__path_7119-7521.html?&ff5=326&fe24=36672&ff4=36

The key things to look for in a built in grill:

Warranty
Grade of Stainless Steel
BTU