Smoke Signals from AmazingRibs.com ~  April 8, 2015

 
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Best Value Grills & Smokers

 

It's time to replace that rusty old grill and smoker. To make your purchase less daunting, we've selected the Best Value Grills & Smokers of 2015 from our searchable database of ratings and reviews of more than 500 options. And as you know, we don't sell any grills or other products so these are truly unbiased reviews.  

 

Included in the list:

* Top 10 Best Value Charcoal Grills

* Top 10 Best Value Gas Grills

* Top 10 Best Value Backyard Smokers

* Top 10 Best Value Tailgate and Portable Grills

* Top 10 Luxury Grills & Smokers

 

Here's a link to all of them

 

This annual ranking is curated by Max Good, our Director of Equipment Reviews and Keeper of the Flame. He explains, "We rate and review as objectively as possible, measuring temperatures, slamming lids, turning dials, studying warranties and kicking casters. Inevitably, intangibles such as look and feel have to be considered as well."

 

This year's winners are equipped with more features than ever before. Many more gas grills now have special high heat sear burners for crispier steaks, while charcoal grills are designed for easier ash removal. More manufacturers are integrating digital technology and some even feature remote systems that monitor and even control cooking from a smart phone or tablet.

 

Some categories, like kamados and pellet smokers, are growing rapidly. Kamados are usually egg shaped and well insulated, with many made from ceramics. Pellet smokers burn wood pellets made from compressed hardwood sawdust from saw mills and most have thermostat controls, just like your kitchen oven.

 

Weber dominated the list with eight of the 50 selections because their machines are so well engineered, built to last, and carry reliable warranties. Among the best bargains are the Pit Barrel Cooker. The US made barrel shaped smoker is only $299, shipping included. Another is the PK Grill, a 1952 clamshell design. It has become our favorite inexpensive charcoal grill at about $369, shipping included. 

 

Several newcomers have cracked the lineup, among them the new high-tech Saber Edge Grill, an infrared gas grill that communicates in real time with your smartphone, and the Karubecue C-60 Pit (right), a one of a kind wood fired smoker that turns the greenest backyard novice into a wizened Texas Pit Boss.

 

Of the 50 selections, prices range from $30 to $50,000, with 23 choices under $500. 27 were made primarily in the US, 11 from China, nine from Canada, one from Denmark, one from Germany and one from Indonesia.

 

Good is the only person in the world whose full time job is testing, researching, rating and reviewing grills and smokers. He laments that most manufacturers continue to include cheap bimetal dial thermometers mounted in the top of the lid. They are frequently off by more than 50�F! He thinks it is time for them to start installing digital thermometers on the cooking surface and indeed a few manufacturers are leading the way. And while they're at it, he'd love to see gas grills add a feature that every indoor gas oven has: A thermostat. "We shudder to think how much food is ruined because backyard cooks can't control the temp of their cooker." He recommends that you budget for a good digital oven thermometer and a separate digital food thermometer. We also have a database of reviews or more than 100 of them.

 

For steaks and burgers, you need hot and fast, whereas ribs and brisket smoke low and slow. Our Top 10 Lists help you find the right tools to achieve your goal of backyard domination. Let the Grilling Season begin!

 

Click here to see our Top 10 Lists for 2015

New website design is MUCH better on mobile devices

Last week we released a new design for the site. Although there are a lot of minor changes (larger type among them), the most important improvement is that we are now mobile friendly. The site looks a lot better on tablets, and it completely reformats itself for smartphones. This means that you can take it with you when you go grill and smoker shopping and read Max's reviews in the store and compare prices. You can also take it with you into your back yard while you are cooking.
 
We're still uncovering and stamping out some minor bugs, so if you find one, please let us know here.

Pit Barrel Cooker

Now in its second year on our list, we're running out of good things to say about this simple, affordable smoker. There's nothing else like the Pit Barrel Cooker. $299 delivered to your door. No assembly, no baby sitting and great results every time. Really. Owners are a cult of rabid devotees.

Although it comes with a cooking grate, for most recipes you hang the meat vertically from hooks - even turkeys! Your jaw will hit the deck as you pull one round of deliciously smoked meats after another from this magic drum with little more effort than trimming and seasoning. Furthermore the meat hanging method provides beaucoup capacity. PBC easily accommodates eight full slabs of ribs. Whether you're a novice or an award winning competitor (and competition teams now use them), Pit Barrel is a welcome addition to any backyard. Made in the USA. Click here to read our complete review of the Pit Barrel Cooker and comments from owners.
PK Grill Promotion

One of our Top 10 Best Value Charcoal Grills is the PK Grill. This is the third year in a row they have made our list and we wanted to highlight them for you, especially since they have made a special offer to our readers.

Introduced in 1952, the same year as the Weber Kettle, the design and construction are pretty much the same. They still have the original, thick cast aluminum body which retains and radiates heat efficiently. PKs never rust and older models often show up at garage sales or get passed along from one generation to the next. The flat bottom, rectangular shape, and unique damper placement of two on the lid and two in corresponding locations under the charcoal make PK particularly well suited for 2-zone cooking or even 3-zone cooking as well as smoking.

They can be lifted out of the cart for cleaning, camping, or tailgating. PKs continue to win over fans who love the durability, versatility and shiny retro-cool appearance. Made in the USA.

They have made a special bundle that includes shipping, a cover, and an elevated grate that adds capacity to the grill for only $399. Click here to read our complete review of the PK Grill and see their offer.
BBQ Guru promotion

If you aren't yet familiar with them, let me introduce you to the BBQ Guru line of products. They are like thermostats for your charcoal  smoker and they make a wide range of products, even some that you can control with your smartphone via wifi. Truly set-it-forget-it.
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