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Gas grill pros, got a question

Discussion in 'Off Topic [BG]' started by Tim Cole, Jul 2, 2003.

  1. Jul 2, 2003 #1
    Tim Cole

    Tim Cole

    Jun 12, 2002
    Findlay, Ohio
    I bought a new grill today, as the one I bought at a garage sale 3 years ago, for $5 is finally unsafe to operate.

    I went to Lowes, and just picked up the cheap $119 model, I don't need a side burner or anything, I usually have the woman in the house making the side dishes while I am grilling up the meat.

    Anyway, I got to looking, and this model doen't use any kind of coal, bricks, or anything.....just some "special" burner that does the trick. I'm worried, this wont taste like grilled food without it, and pondering taking it back for another. Am I crazy? It seems to me, it defeats the purpose of a grill?????????
     
  2. Jul 2, 2003 #2
    Bryan_G

    Bryan_G

    Apr 28, 2000
    Austin, Texas
    I am no expert, but I like grills.
    In my experience it does not detract from the grilling experience. Grilling and smoking are two very different animals. Smoking you usually take a bad piece of meat and smoke it over some kind of wood or something for a very long time. However grilling involves taking a prime cut of meat(heh, or the best you can get :) )and cooking at a very high temperature for a short period of time. I usually get the grill extremely hot to sere(?) the meat, and then cut it back down. For this method there is no other way than a gas grill. If you want flavor make a rub with some spices like salt and pepper, and put that on there before you cook it. The fire from the grill will give your food an entirely different flavor with or without and wood or charcole. Try putting other stuff on there like fruit and vegetables. Some stuff you would not imagine grilling tastes very good grilled, such as asparagus or peaches. Be creative.

    There are alot of high class steak places that don't use wood or charcole.



    [edit]AAAK! typos!
     
  3. Jul 2, 2003 #3
    Bryan_G

    Bryan_G

    Apr 28, 2000
    Austin, Texas
    I am just realizing what you are talking about. The flavor on gas grills doesn't come from the bricks. The bricks are there to help even out the heat. I am sure if the special burner is designed correctly it should do a fine job of distribution.
     
  4. Jul 2, 2003 #4
    Tim Cole

    Tim Cole

    Jun 12, 2002
    Findlay, Ohio
    Thanks! I have 20 some bucks worth of steak in the fridge, I was pondering on taking the grill back, but I guess I will try cooking them tomorrow.
     
  5. Jul 2, 2003 #5
    secretdonkey

    secretdonkey

    Oct 9, 2002
    Austin, TX
    You can buy bags of pumice grill bricks at Lowes/Home Depot type stores. Your owner's manual may tell you not to use them if it's designed to be used without them, though. Aside from distributing heat, the bricks catch and burn up fat and liquid that drips from the meat - something that does contribute to the taste. I also like to toss hickory or mesquite chips onto the hot bricks as I cook, and not being able to do that would cramp my grilling style.

    I've never used a "brickless" gas grill before, so I don't know how they compare, but I think I'd prefer the good old bricky kind.

    :)
     
  6. Jul 3, 2003 #6
    NJL

    NJL

    Apr 12, 2002
    San Antonio
    yes! that will add some groove.

    with gas grills, it's all in the way you prepare your meat.

    i don't like gas grills because they seem to dry out the meat a little more quickly, but that's is just me.