Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Food, Cooking, and Game Preparation ~ Advice please ~

My father-in-law is retiring @ end of the year. He has most definitely payed his dues and hope he enjoys a long, healthy retirement. I have been kicking around purchasing him a nice grill as a retirement gift. He's not the type to overspend on himself and has always been a fan of the Weber kettles and Kingsford charcoal. His favorite meal is a good pork steak. While I have become a huge fan of the Big Green Egg, I feel and know it's not his style. Otherwise, I would get him one. Anyway, I know him and the mother-in-law aren't fans of food with too much smoke. I have hardly no experience with pellet grills but am wondering if you all think it would be a good match for him? Like I said, he likes doing lots of pork steaks. Maybe an occasional beer can chicken or rack of ribs too. I think simplicity would be right down his alley and that's why I'm thinking a pellet cooker. I'm considering a Yoder or Traeger for him but am open to all suggestions. Also, open to other ideas besides pellet cookers.

What say you???

well if he isn't a fan of foods with too much smoke, then maybe a smoker is not for him?? sounds like he is more of a griller rather than a bbq'er. in that case a weber genesis perhaps. he could use a chip tray to get some smoke flavor if desired.

i personally like the WSM or the weber kettle with the Smokenator 1000 insert.

Yeah, I was also kinda kicking around one of those Weber Performer Platinum grills. It has the propane feature for lighting the charcoal and a nice big built-in prep table. Also, a charcoal storage area. I was just kinda thinking he might like the simplicity of the pellet cookers where you just plug them in and forget about them. He would probably never spend the money to try one for himself but at the same time I'd hate to buy the darn thing and him ending up not liking it. Oh well, kinda the chance you take when purchasing gifts for others.

After cooking with a Weber for years, then a propane BBQ for a bunch more years more years, I bought A Treager wood pellet grill.

It's simplicity too the max. Just plug it in, put pellets in the hopper and away you go!

I LOVE this BBQ, and everyone I know who has one feels the same way.
No more charcoal or propane for me!

Cooked some skirt steak for fijtas on it last night. Yum, Yum!

Virgil B.

Nothing is easier or more yummy than a propane smoker grill from Cabelas. They are easy to use and make all meat beyond yummy...

Virgil, can you do simple pork steaks without them getting too smokey? If you crank the temp up on those pellet smokers they don't put out as much smoke ... correct?

RB, you said that he and his wife aren't big fans of a lot of smoke so if you are kicking the tires on a pellet job keep in mind that the pellets they use dictate the flavor profile.

Trial and error on the pellets till ya find the ones that trip your trigger.

JMHO.

Just put the Treager on high and bring it up to temp. Then put on your pork steaks.

As stated, different pellets dictate the smoke and flavor.

I always run mine on the smoke setting for a while, as I like the smokey flavor.

Pork chops come out GREAT!

Virgil B.

I have the Performer and really like it, It will do anything your FIL will want it to do,,,

Ricky, you're quite the BBQ dude,but make sure you buy what suits the FIL, not what suits you....

My father would have no use for these fancy pellet smokers, but the performer would bring a smile... Just saying...

Is the Performer one of those giant Webers they use in their restaurants? If so, I would love to have one of those.







As much as I love ceramic cookers -- Weber's kick butt!

Great point Ken!

Picked up a Weber Performer Platinum today @ my local BGE dealer. Didn't even realize they sold these Weber grills but it speaks volumes to see them sitting right next to the BGE's or Black Olive grills on their showroom floor. Can't wait to get it to my FIL, I know he will really enjoy it! I think the propane lighting feature for the charcoal is cool as he11 and he'll like that. At least I hope.

My Dad has one and I love it. The after market pizza oven is a great addition. http://www.kettlepizza.com/

As committed to BGE as I am, I also have 1 & 2 of everything else. In fact, several Webers!! My little Smokey Joe's are having babies!!

dammmmmmm byc ...that's weber porn!!!

DadGone it! This kettlepizza, tell us about it, You like?

180 bucks?

You need grill condoms.