Weber Gas BBQ - Worth it
Discussion
I currently have a Weber Mastertouch Charcoal BBQ. Love it, real quality item, and enjoy cooking on it.
Went to a friends for an outdoor two family meeting thing, and they had a bobby basic 3 burner gas job. Loved how quick it was. They said they cook all sorts on it. Just the simplicity of firing it up and instant heat, unlike the Charcoal weber. Because we work all week, when we want a BBQ it has to be late on, or weekends, just due to prepping the charcoal one, and getting it up to temp, and young children lack patience when they want to eat!!
I am interested in getting a gas to compliment my charcoal, however, the price of the Weber's!!!!! I am looking at the Genesis range, specifically the 310 model, and there isn't much change from a grand. Whereas, other makes are available for half the cost, or less.
So are Weber's worth it in the gas range, they certainly are in the charcoal range. But a grand...... ouch!
Went to a friends for an outdoor two family meeting thing, and they had a bobby basic 3 burner gas job. Loved how quick it was. They said they cook all sorts on it. Just the simplicity of firing it up and instant heat, unlike the Charcoal weber. Because we work all week, when we want a BBQ it has to be late on, or weekends, just due to prepping the charcoal one, and getting it up to temp, and young children lack patience when they want to eat!!
I am interested in getting a gas to compliment my charcoal, however, the price of the Weber's!!!!! I am looking at the Genesis range, specifically the 310 model, and there isn't much change from a grand. Whereas, other makes are available for half the cost, or less.
So are Weber's worth it in the gas range, they certainly are in the charcoal range. But a grand...... ouch!
I bought one of these which is less than half of that and it is excellent. I have previously owned cheaper gas bbqs that are probably just as good when they are new, but they rust quicker (grills and burners) and spares are hard to find so they don't have long lives.
Gas all the way. Charcoal is nicer but being able to cook 5 minutes after you spark it up is the winner.
Gas all the way. Charcoal is nicer but being able to cook 5 minutes after you spark it up is the winner.
https://www.bbqworld.co.uk/browse/gas-bbq.asp?page...
Napoleon, Outback, Char-Broil, BroilKing all have offerings in your price range.
If you just want something for convenience, I have a Char-Broil X200 Grill2Go. Runs on Patio Gas or portable canisters, so can be used for picnics etc.
https://www.bbqworld.co.uk/char-broil/char-broil-x...
Napoleon, Outback, Char-Broil, BroilKing all have offerings in your price range.
If you just want something for convenience, I have a Char-Broil X200 Grill2Go. Runs on Patio Gas or portable canisters, so can be used for picnics etc.
https://www.bbqworld.co.uk/char-broil/char-broil-x...
I bought this to complement my big green eggs:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B076WT4TZT/ref...
It's great for doing side dishes on, burgers, a stir fry, flat bread, even breakfast.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B076WT4TZT/ref...
It's great for doing side dishes on, burgers, a stir fry, flat bread, even breakfast.
I have a 2007 Weber Spirit 310.
I keep it under a cover all year round (cheap Amazon BBQ cover) and externally it looks perfect.
Internally, I changed the grates and flavouriser bars in 2018 but they do need changing again. Cost is c.£145 each time
Can't get anything close to the quality for that price now...
I keep it under a cover all year round (cheap Amazon BBQ cover) and externally it looks perfect.
Internally, I changed the grates and flavouriser bars in 2018 but they do need changing again. Cost is c.£145 each time
Can't get anything close to the quality for that price now...
Taita said:
Does gas bbq effectively just end up being a pan outside through? eg grilling just in the sun 
?
I've got a gas BBQ but not used it for a while as it was basically a frying pan outside?
Maybe I was using it wrong!
I have Weber charcoal and a ceramic BBQ which whilst being excellent one of the best evenings I had was drinking in the sun with friends and being able to just grab a piece of steak/thigh/sausage/burger and just throw it on when you felt peckish. The fact you didn't have to cook everything at once and face a huge meal made the evening much more fun.?I've got a gas BBQ but not used it for a while as it was basically a frying pan outside?
Maybe I was using it wrong!
Think I need to buy a gas BBQ now (you can't have too many living alone can you?)
Taita said:
Does gas bbq effectively just end up being a pan outside through? eg grilling just in the sun ?
I've got a gas BBQ but not used it for a while as it was basically a frying pan outside?
Maybe I was using it wrong!
I switched from charcoal to gas a couple of years ago now (mainly as son getting home from school with friends in summer and taking 30 to 40 mins to heat up charcoal).?I've got a gas BBQ but not used it for a while as it was basically a frying pan outside?
Maybe I was using it wrong!
Other than not being able to put potatoes in foil on the coals it's gas all the way. I use the BBQ all through out the year and tastes great. I also like being able to adjust temps too on the BBQ.
Some gratuitous BBQ shots.
Taita said:
Does gas bbq effectively just end up being a pan outside through? eg grilling just in the sun ?
I've got a gas BBQ but not used it for a while as it was basically a frying pan outside?
Maybe I was using it wrong!
I'd suggest you may have been doing something wrong if your food tasted like it had been shallow fried!?I've got a gas BBQ but not used it for a while as it was basically a frying pan outside?
Maybe I was using it wrong!
Contrary to what what most charcoal bbq'ers would have you think, I've seen a few studies that show people struggle to tell the difference between gas and traditional BBQs. From what I remember the flavour come from the higher temperatures, and the fat dripping and igniting/smoking on the heat source, which happens on both types of BBQ.
Certainly I moved from charcoal to a large 5 burner Broil King. Would never go back. With a young family I can think 'bbq would be nice' and be sitting down to eat in 20 minutes. Quite often have 3 or 4 a week in summer. Got side burner and rotisserie, so actually more convenient than cooking in kitchen at times.
triggerhappy21 said:
Contrary to what what most charcoal bbq'ers would have you think, I've seen a few studies that show people struggle to tell the difference between gas and traditional BBQs
100% true. I used to work for a company that manufactured BBQs and they did a few blind tastings. Almost nobody could tell the difference. I've had my Weber Genesis since 2005.
It lives outside with a cover on.
As mine is an older model, replacement parts have been a bit tricky to find in the last couple of years.
I've replaced all but the burners under the lid, so "flavorizing" bars, warming rack, and cooking grills.
I like the convenience of it being ready to use in 5-10 minutes.
It lives outside with a cover on.
As mine is an older model, replacement parts have been a bit tricky to find in the last couple of years.
I've replaced all but the burners under the lid, so "flavorizing" bars, warming rack, and cooking grills.
I like the convenience of it being ready to use in 5-10 minutes.
I've got a small Weber kettle barbie and also a gas Landmann for quick meals. Landmann's blurb say they started out importing Webers into Germany and reckoned they could do similar themselves. The Landmann is certainly a solid bit of kit and doesn't seem to mind being out in all weathers (under its cover).
I've had my Weber Genesis Platinum for about 15 years. It's got a stainless steel lid and lives outside all year round without any kind of cover at all for maximum convenience. I've replaced the flavouriser bars once and the regulator (part of the gas bottle really) twice. The spark ignitor has packed up, but I just use a £1 lighter.
It gets used all year round and pretty much anything that would be grilled or pan fried is cooked on the BBQ. The only problem is when it's really cold outside the gas hasn't got sufficient pressure.
Taking a cover off and then putting it back on again every time you use it would be really tedious - given that you really need to wait for it to cool down, so you have to remember to put the cover back on after you've eaten. I think it's worth paying more for a model that's completely weatherproof.
I also have a Weber Kettle - one of the ones with a small gas cannister which you use to get the charcoal started. It's pretty convenient, and can be up to cooking temp in about 20 minutes. Even so the gas grill still gets used much more often.
It gets used all year round and pretty much anything that would be grilled or pan fried is cooked on the BBQ. The only problem is when it's really cold outside the gas hasn't got sufficient pressure.
Taking a cover off and then putting it back on again every time you use it would be really tedious - given that you really need to wait for it to cool down, so you have to remember to put the cover back on after you've eaten. I think it's worth paying more for a model that's completely weatherproof.
I also have a Weber Kettle - one of the ones with a small gas cannister which you use to get the charcoal started. It's pretty convenient, and can be up to cooking temp in about 20 minutes. Even so the gas grill still gets used much more often.
Cheers for all the advice so far. I am definitely sold on gas to compliment the charcoal for "proper BBQing".
Like a few posters above, having young children, and requiring an instant BBQ is what I am looking for. I have a chimney starter for the charcoal, but it still takes a good 30 minutes to get going properly, I also feel bad for the neighbours when I fire it up, does kick some smoke for a few minutes.
Gas would be good for cooking steak, and other food items that ruin the inside of a house once cooked.
I will have another look at the options, but Weber do keep coming out on top. The Genesis is just a lot of money, maybe I should look at the Spirit models, they are a couple of hundred less?
Like a few posters above, having young children, and requiring an instant BBQ is what I am looking for. I have a chimney starter for the charcoal, but it still takes a good 30 minutes to get going properly, I also feel bad for the neighbours when I fire it up, does kick some smoke for a few minutes.
Gas would be good for cooking steak, and other food items that ruin the inside of a house once cooked.
I will have another look at the options, but Weber do keep coming out on top. The Genesis is just a lot of money, maybe I should look at the Spirit models, they are a couple of hundred less?
Taita said:
How frequently do you clean down your gas bbq cooking surfaces / grate type thing? Does it need doing after each cook? Missus keeps moaning its a load of admin to clear up etc.....
I'm not so sure it needs all that effort each time. Quick wipe when warm, lid down. Done.
Turn BBQI'm not so sure it needs all that effort each time. Quick wipe when warm, lid down. Done.
Put lid down
Wait for it to heat up
Go over grill bars a few times with the wire brush that was specifically purchased for that purpose and lives right beside the BBQ
That's it. Depending on what you last cooked, it might take 10 seconds or it might take 90 seconds. For anything stubborn, just close the lid and come back in a couple of minutes.
Taita said:
How frequently do you clean down your gas bbq cooking surfaces / grate type thing? Does it need doing after each cook? Missus keeps moaning its a load of admin to clear up etc.....
I'm not so sure it needs all that effort each time. Quick wipe when warm, lid down. Done.
Opened mine up recently after about 6 months of not being used. It was pretty horrendous. About 30 mins at 400°C and a quick wire brush seems to do the job. I tend to season the grates 2 or 3 times a year. A bit of stainless cleaner keeps the outside shiny.I'm not so sure it needs all that effort each time. Quick wipe when warm, lid down. Done.
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