Which bbq to get?

[cheapmeister]

I like this bbq, its made in Canada but it has no side burner. Its 50 bucks off this week at home depot:http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/s...ource=homepage

This bbq is made in China, its the same price and it has a side burner:http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/s...ampaign=972719


If I got the China model would replacement parts be easy to get when I need them in about 5 years? How useful is the side burner? Would I use it often? The canada brand with a side burner is just too expensive for me, but I like the Canada brand, it looks to be better quality.

[luvshopping]

I just bought a Weber Genesis from HD. It was definately pricey but it so worth it imo. The bbq cooks so even and cleans up like nothing I've ever had. So my vote is go big.

[cheapmeister]

Yea I want a bbq that cooks evenly. My 20 yr old bbq has the H design burner and its only hot in the middle, the corners are always cold.
I see the China brand has a linear burner, I dunno if its better than the broil mate H burner. The reviews on the homedepot website says that it is a good bbq though.
Do these now bbq's use those ceramic bricks or lava rocks in them?

[luvshopping]

My weber has a 10 year warranty on the burner. I also looked at mid range bbqs but the majority are made in china and seem very cheap. Good luck with your search.

[cheapmeister]

I like this bbq, its made in Canada but it has no side burner. Its 50 bucks off this week at home depot:http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/s...ource=homepage

This bbq is made in China, its the same price and it has a side burner:http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/s...ampaign=972719


If I got the China model would replacement parts be easy to get when I need them in about 5 years? How useful is the side burner? Would I use it often? The canada brand with a side burner is just too expensive for me, but I like the Canada brand, it looks to be better quality.

I bought the broil king grill in the above link. It seems to be worth it. Anyone else on here buy it?

[MacGyver]

I have a Broil King Monarch 20. All Broil Kings have the figure 8 "infinity" burner instead of the more common H burner, which really helps eliminate the cold spots, and if anything I've found that the sides are hotter than the middle. We've put ours through five years of abuse with no complaints. Definitely recommended if you don't want to shell out $600+ for a Weber.

[kool1]

Broil King rocks. You will never go wrong.

[Red_Army]

weber ftw

[mart242]

Napoleon FTW x 2!
(Take that Red_Army!)

[RenegadeX]

Broil King rocks. You will never go wrong.

O RLY?
Might want to check with Consumer Reports - they recently tested the Broil King Signet 90 [link] and found significant flare up on the BK's and a resulting SERIOUS safety issue -- the firebox MELTED RIGHT THROUGH. The manufacturer, Onward Manufacturing Canada(OMC), who produces the 'Broil King' brand and HomeDepot Canada's line of 'Broil Mate' bbqs, confirmed the problem.

A safety recall has been issued on a few specific BK models, see: http://www.broilkingbbq.com/notice_us.html
And that Signet 90 ain't a cheap BBQ.. sells for $650 I believe.

[venice_it]

It looks like OMC really dropped the ball with their Broil King bbq's and should have discovered these design flaws before the grills went to market. Given all the anti-China and "buy local" rhetoric when it comes to the bbq market, they have got to have taken a big hit and have got to be embarrassed by this.

That said, it seems they have handled the issue well. I would think they still are a good bbq (with the baffle retrofit installed). I like the idea of a heavy cast lid instead of flashy stainless. At the same time a good bbq might not have such sustained flare ups as in the CR video as top bbq's seem to have features to deal effectively with grease. The ability to handle grease without sustained flareups is what usually defines a well designed bbq.

Many less expensive made in China grills can take generic parts found in most bbq sections of major retailers. But most of these grills are considered disposable, since in a few years it is usually more desirable to replace the cheap, broken and dirty old grill with a shiny new cheap grill.

Better quality grills usually do have better temperature control and are usually better cared for and parts are replaced as needed. Because you pay 2-3 times for the grill you are not as inclined to throw it away when you can renew it with replacement parts.

Personally, I would not buy the Charmglow grills. Even with the CR report, I would still choose the Broil King over the Charmglow for the value they represent but would definitely make sure I had that baffle installed.

Too many people imo focus on where the grill is made (China or not) and imo, this is only relevant as far as local manufacturing jobs are concerned. It has no bearing on quality and performance, since quality products can and are produced by China and a bbq can be designed and tested anywhere in the world.

[AudiDude]

O RLY?
Might want to check with Consumer Reports - they recently tested the Broil King Signet 90 [link] and found significant flare up on the BK's and a resulting SERIOUS safety issue -- the firebox MELTED RIGHT THROUGH. The manufacturer, Onward Manufacturing Canada(OMC), who produces the 'Broil King' brand and HomeDepot Canada's line of 'Broil Mate' bbqs, confirmed the problem.

A safety recall has been issued on a few specific BK models, see: http://www.broilkingbbq.com/notice_us.html
And that Signet 90 ain't a cheap BBQ.. sells for $650 I believe.

There is no recall on the Broil Kings. There is a free modification to stop the possibility of anything melting. After watching what was done to destroy the grill in the first place, I'm not sure anybody woould ever do that. I have a Sovereign 90 XLS that reaches retardedly high temps in 10 minutes. Take a smaller BBQ than mine and put a real 50000 BTU and drop six fatty steaks on the grill and leave the gas on full even after you discover the flare ups? Nobody that drops $600 plus would do that. If the box was destroyed, Broil King would replace it under warranty. They developed a stainless baffle to prevent this, but the most impressive thing is that they did it so fast. No issues like this have been reported with any Broil King product from consumers.

[venice_it]

After watching what was done to destroy the grill in the first place, I'm not sure anybody woould ever do that. I have a Sovereign 90 XLS that reaches retardedly high temps in 10 minutes.

You need those "retardedly high" temps to properly do steaks and it isn't a stretch that someone would cook 6 thick steaks on a grill. The video on CR states this is a standard test they've done for 30 years and they never seen such a bad result. In addition, repeat tests gave the same result, so it was not some freak manufacturing defect. These grills were flawed by design.

You have to assume the possibility that a flare up could occur accidentally while the chef left the grill temporarily unattended and hope the firebox can contain the fire and not start dripping molten aluminum (onto a propane tank!). If a made in China grill did this, you know the "see I told you so"s that would result and the comments how Chinese made grills are a fire hazard.

I happen to think Broil King is a good company and would still consider buying one of their bbqs, but there is no justification for manufacturing such an unsafe and poorly tested product. And no matter how one tries to justify the grill, without the retrofit, it represents and unacceptable risk of fire or injury.

It is a shame, because the company's sloppy testing will likely result in some sales losses of Canadian-made bbqs.

[mlc2000]

The key , for me, is the ability to reach and maintain high temps.
My Vermont Castings does a great job of this, the lid has solid cast sides which help to hold the heat. I found Weber lids to be very thin. (my opinion).

However, something else thats nice, is the ability to maintain a low temp like 150degrees, to slow cook ribs. I can do that with teh lid closed. My neighboutr has a napolean and to slow cook ribs, he has to set the burners to low, and leave the lid open. Othewise the temp gets too hot.

I've never seen the need for a side burner but I know people who swear by them.

7 yrs in and my VC performs as it did on day one but I knew this would never be possible with a $250 bbq.

[Spor 13]

I bought that Broilmate BBQ w/ $50 off a couple weeks ago as well. Signed up for the HD credit card as well to get another 10% off and its no interest and no payments for 6 months.

I wasn't aware how high the temps would get with the burners left on high. I left it alone for 10 minutes with the burners on high to warm up, when I came back, the temperate gauge read 800 degrees Fahrenheit and climbing. Great to sear steaks with but without rolling back on the burners after, I don't think the steaks would be edible.