Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => The Knowledge => OT Knowledge => Topic started by: chrisbainbridge on 22 September, 2021, 11:00:08 am

Title: combination barbecues
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 22 September, 2021, 11:00:08 am
My old barbecue needs new grills, etc but they are chronically out of stock and I suspect I bought a "special" which was not supported.

I am looking at replacing it and I have found more combination barbecues with both gas and charcoal.  Are they worth it?

Title: Re: combination barbecues
Post by: Duckfoot1606 on 22 September, 2021, 11:34:16 am
IMHO the only way to braai is over charcoal. Anything else is cheating

A
Title: Re: combination barbecues
Post by: hatler on 22 September, 2021, 01:11:48 pm
Gas barbeques are just outdoor cooking surely.
Title: Re: combination barbecues
Post by: T42 on 22 September, 2021, 01:16:11 pm
I'd've thought any barbecue was for out of doors.  We used to use a circular griddle suspended on a chain from a tripod over a log fire.  Could do a dozen or so steaks at once.
Title: Re: combination barbecues
Post by: FifeingEejit on 22 September, 2021, 04:39:09 pm
Gas barbeques are just outdoor cooking surely.

Is it really a BBQ if it's not a sliced in half oil drum and the charcoal ignition is assisted with petrol?
Title: Re: combination barbecues
Post by: Ham on 22 September, 2021, 06:29:36 pm
I have more BBQs than bikes at the moment, from one that will spit roast a 50kg pig down to a mini "briefcase" one, I do quite a lot of BBQing

The answer to your question is, it all depends. Mostly, on what space you have, and what your bbq tendencies are. If you have sufficient space, I would get one charcoal and one gas, for when you want instant outdoor cooking without fuss. I would expect that it will take up no more space and cost about the same. For a gas one, Cadac are my goto brand, the one* I have for our caravan (Cari Chef 2) is very hard to beat (£200-ish). Add to that a Weber (again my goto if I was to only have one, because of the heat control) and you're set. They will work better than the combo, no doubt, although what I've seen of one was actually quite good, with gas flame isolation.

If having instant heat is important, and you don't have the room or inclination to have two but still want the charcoal option, then the combos look appealing.

*(OK, one of the two Cadacs I have, the other has a cast iron plate and is no longer available)
Title: Re: combination barbecues
Post by: pcolbeck on 27 September, 2021, 05:36:24 pm
+1 for a Weber kettle BBQ. They just work and you can get spare parts for 40 year old ones. A whole ecosystem of upgrades as well. I bought cast iron griddle plates for mine this year which have been excellent.
Title: Re: combination barbecues
Post by: Ham on 27 September, 2021, 06:24:57 pm
just for the hell of it, I'll showcase my latest addition to the charcoal lineup, the Fornetto. Added as I secured it for a bargainalicious <30% with a local Homebase closing, it is an interesting combo. It has three sections, and an internal water bowl, can be used to cook a vast amount at once, smoking or indirect heat, or used as a direct heat bbq with some sections to raise the cooking level to a comfortable height, with the heat source  at the bottom avoiding flaming out. While I've been having fun with it, for a number of reasons I'd still choose the Weber as an "only" even though on paper this seems to do the same and more.

Here it is, just getting started for an 8-hour stretch for pulled pork.

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y3ZAvrIXV8s/YVH8YC3rWnI/AAAAAAADhdc/RvNtdYd8esEbr4O_jRipHXmrvJqQeR3EACPcBGAsYHg/s1024/PXL_20210828_080235316.jpg)
Title: Re: combination barbecues
Post by: Jaded on 27 September, 2021, 06:39:54 pm
A Grand Day Out!
Title: Re: combination barbecues
Post by: Mr Larrington on 27 September, 2021, 06:48:45 pm
Is there a Cheese/Petril switch round the back?
Title: Re: combination barbecues
Post by: Jaded on 27 September, 2021, 06:49:58 pm
 ;D
Title: Re: combination barbecues
Post by: Ham on 27 September, 2021, 06:51:43 pm
It's a crackling contraption!
Title: Re: combination barbecues
Post by: hatler on 28 September, 2021, 08:36:26 pm
We've got one very much like that. Great bit of kit. Load it up, wander off for four hours and come back to steam cooked stuff.