[Lowe's] Heat-Air BBQ EP3620 - $79.99 (YMMV)
I bought a Cook-Air portable wood bbq for 79.00 yesterday at Lowes Belleville. It looks like a final clearance item in the local store. One left. Your store may vary.
Lowe's
Heat-Air BBQ EP3620 - $79.99 (YMMV)
- SCORE+4
- randall123 [OP]
- Newbie
- Dec 6, 2011
- 10 posts
- 13 upvotes
- BELLEVILLE
25 replies
- venice_it
- Deal Addict
- Jan 11, 2007
- 1268 posts
- 214 upvotes
- Brampton
Imo, these grills are about the best and most convenient ways to do steaks. They reach 1100 degrees in a few minutes and are very portable and give the meat great flavour. The downside is they seem to work best on high temperatures as lower temperatures result in poor wood combustion and make the food sooty tasting. This makes it tough to do other foods that require lower temperatures to cook foods all the way through.
I also think it is difficult for people to understand what this grill is about without seeing it in action. This makes it difficult to market and sell in stores and why they end up on clearance. I would not be surprised to see further reductions in price. Even though the price is fair, it is still high enough to prevent people from trying something they don't really know about and limited versatility (despite manufacturer claims to the contrary).
I would also question durability as I have gone through several stainless grills based on the same principle called the "woodflame" grill. The high temperatures probably combined with acidic meat fats cause the grills to destroy themselves, often in little more than a year.
I also think it is difficult for people to understand what this grill is about without seeing it in action. This makes it difficult to market and sell in stores and why they end up on clearance. I would not be surprised to see further reductions in price. Even though the price is fair, it is still high enough to prevent people from trying something they don't really know about and limited versatility (despite manufacturer claims to the contrary).
I would also question durability as I have gone through several stainless grills based on the same principle called the "woodflame" grill. The high temperatures probably combined with acidic meat fats cause the grills to destroy themselves, often in little more than a year.
- invinci
- Deal Addict
- Jan 18, 2012
- 1021 posts
- 328 upvotes
- Toronto
Would like you try this out but I see:
Price$173.33 (Price Includes Shipping)
Price$173.33 (Price Includes Shipping)
- daviiiiiid
- Deal Addict
- Aug 7, 2008
- 3249 posts
- 2257 upvotes
- Montreal
- Sash[DSL]
- Deal Addict
-
- Dec 16, 2003
- 4067 posts
- 124 upvotes
- Toronto
What kind of wood does it use? Do you need to buy any special wood/chunks/pucks, or would any dry wood chips small enough to fit in the chamber work?
- randall123 [OP]
- Newbie
- Dec 6, 2011
- 10 posts
- 13 upvotes
- BELLEVILLE
I will use scrap hardwood from my workshop, mostly ash and maple. The BBQ is louder than I expected with the fan running. The bbq should be fun for tailgate picnics, and I may actually use it as a forge for some toolmaking projects.
- deals4ian
- Newbie
- Oct 13, 2012
- 79 posts
- 26 upvotes
- Toronto
Just came from lowes warden & Eglington (18:00) and for those interested they had 2 left at 79.99 and one on display.
The unit isn't very big, especially the place where the wood goes. I think because the forge like function it produces extreme heat (fan has 5 settings) with very little amount of fuel/wood.
The unit isn't very big, especially the place where the wood goes. I think because the forge like function it produces extreme heat (fan has 5 settings) with very little amount of fuel/wood.
- randall123 [OP]
- Newbie
- Dec 6, 2011
- 10 posts
- 13 upvotes
- BELLEVILLE
I fired mine up for a test burn, and it definitely is a fun little toy. Now to try cooking something on it, maybe drumsticks or thighs. I am hoping to replace my slow and messy hibachi with this unit.
- flyer12
- Deal Addict
- May 30, 2011
- 3271 posts
- 1901 upvotes
It is VERY difficult to cook poultry on these grills. As stated earlier - they work best on HIGH heat (700 - 1000 degrees) and that doesn't do very well on chicken (burnt outside and still raw inside). Great for veggies and steaks that like short cooking times at high heat. I guess you could boil the poultry beforehand but that kindof defeats the purpose. Cooking at lower temps on these grills isn't ideal as the lower combustion seems to result in lots of soot and negatively affects the flavour of the foods.randall123 wrote: ↑I fired mine up for a test burn, and it definitely is a fun little toy. Now to try cooking something on it, maybe drumsticks or thighs. I am hoping to replace my slow and messy hibachi with this unit.
- grego9198
- Deal Addict
-
- Dec 7, 2003
- 2052 posts
- 493 upvotes
- Toronto
Sounds like this is a good item to finish off items after sous viding them.
- randall123 [OP]
- Newbie
- Dec 6, 2011
- 10 posts
- 13 upvotes
- BELLEVILLE
I found varying the amount of wood in the unit affects surface temps as much as the fan speed. Also, the edges of the grill are a fair bit cooler. The ash hardwood burned almost smokeless. With the clever use of some tinfoil to both mimic indirect grilling and to minimize soot from drippings, I think chicken might not need a precook or sous-vide.
- sidshock
- Deal Addict
-
- Mar 23, 2003
- 4556 posts
- 1196 upvotes
- Hamilton
O good. I have all this PT wood I need to get rid of.
- omegadivide
- Sr. Member
- Jan 26, 2014
- 890 posts
- 536 upvotes
- Toronto, ON
- sidshock
- Deal Addict
-
- Mar 23, 2003
- 4556 posts
- 1196 upvotes
- Hamilton
Ya all PT would. I was just making a not so tasteful joke.omegadivide wrote: ↑some pt wood have chemicals in them ?
- Neo_ZX
- Sr. Member
- Nov 8, 2007
- 638 posts
- 360 upvotes
- kalachakraa
- Newbie
- Jan 23, 2009
- 10 posts
- toronto
Your not-so-tasteful-joke could lead to someone getting poisoned. You are an idiot.
- kalachakraa
- Newbie
- Jan 23, 2009
- 10 posts
- toronto
All Lowes stores seem to have these at $79.99. Their web site says they are online only, so when you call the Indoor Seasonal department the staff don't seem to be able to find them, price them, or even know they are in stock without the "Item Number": 612441. After you tell them the item number it's easy.
- NeilMcduck
- Sr. Member
-
- May 23, 2004
- 700 posts
- 43 upvotes
No, an idiot is someone who actually cooks food over PT lumber after reading one comment on the internet. While it wasn't very funny, OP was clearly joking. Nobody with half a brain would take what he said seriously.kalachakraa wrote: ↑Your not-so-tasteful-joke could lead to someone getting poisoned. You are an idiot.
- Azreal911
- Jr. Member
- Nov 25, 2004
- 190 posts
- 90 upvotes
- Toronto, ON
looking at the pictures, it looks like to properly control the cooking temperature you have to raise the grill BY HAND. it's not a very useful grill for things requiring a controlled and lower temp. But for searing stuff it should be great. Looks like only good for lamb and beef. poultry and pork you'll end up burning the meat or it's raw on the inside still. The grill would work for slower cooking if they actually came with a special rack that can let you raise the grill higher. $80 is not really a impulse buy for someone to test out or play with.
- andjules
- Sr. Member
- Jun 17, 2003
- 734 posts
- 450 upvotes
- Toronto
It's got a handle that slots into the diffuser. Easy and safe.
It's been stated elsewhere that it's not great for smoking or low temps - things tend to get sooty. However, high heat is great for veggies and fish, not just lamb & beef.
It's not meant to outperform a full size charcoal weber. But you'd be hard-pressed to do better for $80 if you're looking for a fast-to-heat-up, super-hot, non-gas, portable option.
Definitely a niche product.
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