It's Grilling Time! The Official Stangnet Grill/Smoke Thread

[7991LXnSHO]

We stopped by a small town locker yesterday. (That sounds better than we picked up meat from the side of the highway, which is also accurate.)
IDK if prices were cheaper than the stores as much as prices have gone up, but the big packers do not need more of our business. And if it’s good, we can get a half of a half cut lean as I need it. (A half of a half is a quarter with the full mix of cuts. It used to make a difference when Grandpa picked a lot finished animal for us. Maybe not anymore.)



A lot of stores are already putting these labels on cuts from steers named Angus Beef.
And this is why you never name 4-H animals that might go to market.

 

[7991LXnSHO]

The meat we picked up from the side of the road is good. No pictures, but each steak were big enough for two to eat too much.

https://m.facebook.com/#!/BusyBones79/

 

[Jinx]

So I found myself this July 4th without a meat smoker, and now I've started the research on a new one. I already have a Weber charcoal kettle grill and a Blackstone flat-top. Neither seem appropriate for smoking brisket and 16lb turkeys.

So far my studies have lead me to two brands, Pit Boss and Oklahoma Joe. They are pellet style smoker/grills. I chose the pellet route due to convenience and skill set. Any of you posting up in here have any suggestions on type or brand of pellet smokers? I'd like to find one with a reverse flow, but most are not, so it's not a deal breaker.

 

[bird_dog0347]

Last Sunday night up at the lake we did a Beef tenderloin, cowboy caviar, Ceasar salad, and roasted potatoes.

 

[Noobz347]

So I found myself this July 4th without a meat smoker, and now I've started the research on a new one.

You don't have to look far anymore

 

[Jinx]

Grills ship in big boxes.
I can get a lot of cats in a box that big


Happy Eid-al-Adha day!

 

[IIGood]

Having some great weather here in MD for mid-August. The high has only been 80 today and the humidity is quite low. Normally we're sweltering this time of the month, heat index would normally be hitting upper-90s or higher.

All that to say tonight is a great night for the grill! I'll be charring up some burgers and brats a little later for dinner. Looking forward to enjoying a pleasant evening doing so, then chowing down on some good food. Supposed to be a pretty nice weekend too.

 

[7991LXnSHO]

Something to go on the burgers.

 

[limp]

You don't have to look far anymore

PUHLEEZE, eye bleach warning before posting this .......

 

[limp]

Something to go on the burgers.

As my daddy always told me, the right tool for the job.......

 

[Olivethefet]

No pictures but we have been making some really good burgers here lately. I caramelize some onion in olive oil. Cut them up fairly small. I do the same with baby portabella mushrooms. Mix the veggies into 80/20 hamburger meat. Add salt pepper, garlic powder to taste. Finally I grate in a healthy amount of gouda cheese. Cook them at 350 on the pellet smoker and done! Taste fantastic. Next time I make them I'm going finish them in a skillet or something. A little char I think would make them better. All ingredients are to taste/liking. Use different cheese/cheeses. Whatever, they are good.

 

[Jinx]

Any good sales on pellet smoker/grills this weekend?

 

[limp]

Last Sunday night up at the lake we did a Beef tenderloin, cowboy caviar, Ceasar salad, and roasted potatoes.

the bowl with all the goodies in it ( I see corn) is a Cowboy Caviar?? That looks pretty tasty.... Can I find a recipe on line for that??

 

[bird_dog0347]

the bowl with all the goodies in it ( I see corn) is a Cowboy Caviar?? That looks pretty tasty.... Can I find a recipe on line for that??

Yes, that's the Cowboy Caviar, it's got two kinds of beans (pinto and black), grilled corn, red bell pepper, jalapeno, avocado, red onion, lime juice, and cilantro... You could do more or less, replace things you don't like with things you do like, and just eat it as a dip.

 

[limp]

Yes, that's the Cowboy Caviar, it's got two kinds of beans (pinto and black), grilled corn, red bell pepper, jalapeno, avocado, red onion, lime juice, and cilantro... You could do more or less, replace things you don't like with things you do like, and just eat it as a dip.

Thanks... Looks like some flavor...

 

[Rdub6]

Any good sales on pellet smoker/grills this weekend?

Not sure if there are any Ace Hardware by you, but I got this email the other day.

 

[Olivethefet]

I know Traeger is the household name for pellet grills, but anyone considering one should check out RecTeq. Thats what I have and I stumbled into it for a song. I've looked at the Traegers and compared them. The RecTeq is built like a tank in comparison. They cost a lot more retail, but you get what you pay for in my opinion. I only gave $200 for mine, so keep that in mind. Never thought I needed a pellet grill and now I dont know how I lived without one!

 

[bird_dog0347]

I'll state up front that I've never used a pellet grill and don't ever intend to... That said, I have a Big Green Egg and chose that over the pellet for a few reasons, and I also have an offset smoker.

First off is the fuel, at the time I was shopping IDGAF what they said about how the pellets are made, I simply did not trust that there isn't a chemical binder in them (maybe some brands are truthful?) and I didn't want to light that on fire and smoke it into my food, and I know exactly what I'm looking at and dealing with when using natural hardwood lump charcoal. At the time I chose the BGE pellet grills were fairly new and you could find Charcoal anywhere, but pellets weren't as widely available.

Second reason is power, I've never once had a cook interrupted on my BGE due to a loss of power but I know a few people personally who had that problem with a Pellet Grill.

As for ease of use I'd call it a tie. I fill up the charcoal with however much I think I'll need for whatever type of cook I'm going to do, get it to the desired temp and make sure the vents are set so it stays there. I've been able to hold a constant 215-225 for over 16 hours without touching a thing or messing with it. There's also very little metal in/on it so very few things that can rust out.

All that said, I know people have made good food on them, it's just not for me.

 

[Noobz347]

My favorite is hardwood charcoal. I don't have either of those high-dollar, fine products. I have a Weber for grilling and a Weber for smoking.

If I were to spend high for a grill, it would likely be something along the lines of the Big Green Egg only because that's the kind of cooking I prefer to do.

Stay tuned to this station tho... I'm going to try my hand at making my own hardwood charcoal soon. Shortly after that, I'll be looking to have my "Field Grill" made.

 

[Olivethefet]

The last grill that I went out and bought was a Char Griller like the ones they sell at Lowes or Walmart almost 20 years ago. My dad gave me a Primo XL ceramic grill. My father-in-law gave us a Holland grill. We recently bought a 36" Blackstone at an estate sale because it was $37 and in good shape. The pellet grill was a deal through our neighbor. It's an $800 grill that I gave $200 for. They all have there strong points and weaknesses. As for chemicals in the pellets. That's the least of my worries at this point. Get what works for you or do like me and start a grill zoo.