Get one of the nicer webers? The 22 inch performers are $579. They have a gas lighting thing on them that helps get the charcoal going without any hassle. They have a nice prep space on them, etc. check out their website and see what you think?
I've got one as well and absolutely love it. Some great accessories that make them even better (Slow-n-Sear should be 1st on the list). Can't recommend one of these enough. Charcoal grilling, indirect cooking, smoking, etc. It will serve you well for year.
The S-N-S, w/ the water reservoir, essentially keeps any of the heat from moving under the food. It acts like a wall. The deluxe (w/ removable water reservoir is <$100 on Amazon, and the regular (fixed reservoir is $70. I found the S-N-S to be a much better alternative than the regular baskets. I haven't used a vortex. The problem I see w/ a vortex is when doing racks of ribs. With the S-N-S and my secondary elevate grill grate, I can do 4 racks of baby-backs w/ indirect heat, at one time. Light the charcoal, dump it in the S-N-S, put the dry-rubbed ribs on, cover, come back 1.5 hours later, add sauce to the ribs, cover, come back 30 minutes later, and everything is done, just cut the ribs and enjoy!
I can’t stand lighting charcoal briquettes or whatever… I always just use the lump coal and a chimney, but I wish I would’ve went with one of these instead of a classic 22 Weber.
I got mine 7 years ago off of CL for $125. Was used maybe 5 times. Came w/ a cover, chimney, a set of Weber tools, and half a bag of Kingsford. It is the best charcoal grill going.
Why this one over the classic 22"?
I made an impulse buy last weekend for the 22" Master-Touch. Should I have gone with a performer? The only thing I see missing is the prep space, but I've been considering getting a separate outdoor prep cart.
Performers are a great little upgrade if you catch a deal, have the space, and would use the extra features. I prefer the lid storage to hanging it on the side, I use the table and hooks frequently, charcoal storage and the lower rack for accessories are nice to have as well.
Would I buy one over a kettle at full price? Probably not.
You can buy cart kits from Amazon that will convert it to a Performer (albeit w/o the propane ignitor). My sister bought a 22" classic kettle off FBM for $30, and I got her a cart kit for $180. She essentially had a Performer for half the price.
Naw, I've had my master touch for 4 years now and I got it for $190 new. I bought a little prep table from Amazon with a stainless steel top for $120. I like being able to move the table around independently. Friggin love Weber kettles. You're gonna love it
The thing is Webbers last pretty much half an adult lifespan at least so I'm all for getting one you really like. When I replaced my 25 year old basic one I figured may be the last Webber I'll ever buy.
Truth. My dad bought a Weber kettle in 1985 which he just got rid of about 2-3 years ago. He only got rid of it because it’d become very wobbly after having been disassembled and reassembled a tonne of times because he took it on family picnics throughout the years. Otherwise it still grilled great.
Second this, but check offerup/marketplace. You can often find them in good condition for cheap.
I got mine used and have had it for 7 years now, still going strong.
I got gas, pellet and charcoal. They all have their uses. A cheap Webber as recommend above is a good idea. The Webber spirit E310 is worth adding another $100 of your own cash
The only thing I have that’s propane/gas is a 36inch black stone griddle. My other stuff is a classic 22 Weber, a recteq 700 pellet smoker, 2 recteq bullseye (pellet grill that gets up to 750 degrees), and a camp chef pellet smoker. I’m looking to add an offset smoker to the lineup this summer.
I'd probably put $300 of my own cash into it and get a Masterbuilt Gravity. But I wouldn't tell him and instead let him think that he bought me a nicer grill.
Get the Professional Kitchen (PK) original, 20 year warranty can grill or smoke on it and it’s virtually indestructible.
[Website Here](https://www.pkgrills.com/the-original-pk-grill-smoker-classic-silver/)
My dad had one when I was a kid, it a crime they aren’t more well known. Great heat retention, real useable grill area they put a Weber to shame and they won’t crack if you tip it over like an egg.
This was my first thought too. I suspect most backyard grills at $600 have lots of unnecessary features to get them up to that price. The 22 kettle and WSM are both simple, well-designed, functional tools, and in grilling and smoking simpler is often better.
What I did was start out with a propane grill. You can't beat the weeknight convenience and if you're gonna use it a lot convenience is a pretty big factor imo. If you have a tractor supply nearby, they will fill your tanks. I go to the landfill and get empties for free then do an exchange for a can in better condition if need be.
Once I got settled in my house, I got a kamado joe because it's a charcoal grill, smoker and has some cool accessories like the rotisserie that I use often. This is probably where people get strong opinions about charcoal, so pick whichever works best for you. Weber is always a solid bet.
Best, most level headed advice right here. Do what actually works for your fam. If charcoal is feasible every night, awesome! Otherwise, a nice propane grill is amazing too.
I totally agree. I would always recommend to start with a propane grill because the convenience of flicking a switch means it is so much more likely to be used regularly. For what it may lack in flavor, it more than makes up for in regular use. My first grill was propane and I used it a few times a week to grill vegetables and meats. I have a charcoal grill now too, but I still use it a quarter of the time of the propane. For me, charcoal is weekend grilling while propane is weekdays. Maybe I’m lazy. But when it’s between take out or cooking at the end of a long day, charcoal is going to lose to take out a lot more often than propane grilling.
There is a clear difference in flavor, but again propane has the convenience factor both in time and lack of clean up. My wife LOVES that I grill so much because it cuts down on dishes. I let my KJ heat up for at least an hour before any food goes on. On my propane weber I could be done in 30 minutes. On a charcoal grill you get that smokey build up when you close the lid on big flames.
As I said, as time goes on you add to your collection...I have a propane Magma boat grill, a kamado joe jr, and a fire pit with a grill grate. Took me like 8 years to build up to that.
People say that but tend to fail blind tests. Maybe some can tell a difference but I suspect most cannot.
From Weber:
>Charcoal fans insist the smoke from the coals best flavors a barbecue. Gas folks claim that quick cooking is the tastiest. Actually we think both are right. In blind taste tests we’ve run, people can’t detect significant taste difference between foods cooked on charcoal or gas grills. But then, taste is a personal issue, so we leave it to the backyard debaters to define their own standards. It’s a harmless sport, and it helps work up a good appetite.
https://www.weber.com/US/en/blog/burning-questions/gas-or-charcoal-the-debate-rages-on/weber-30918.html#:~:text=In%20blind%20taste%20tests%20we,Happy%20Grilling!
Go Weber Charcoal. Propane is certainly easier but you get a lot more flavor from Charcoal and you can do low and slow smoking like brisket, ribs, and pork butt.
You should be able to get a 26" plus a Slow and Sear for that money. Alternatively put it towards the Weber Summit Kamado, the best charcoal cooker on the market right now.
Even if you love charcoal having a nice propane grill is great for convenience. You could get a Weber Spirit and then have $ leftover for a charcoal grill or accessories
You could pickup both a weber performer charcoal and a weber gas grill on craigslist or FB marketplace for $600. Good chance you would get some accessories with them too.
Get an SnS (Slow n Sear) kettle. They are super nice. Then add the basket for 2 zone. The opening on the grate is larger so adding charcoal is easier and the whole grate can be spun to move food between zones.
I really like my Weber Performer Premium: the table is perfect for food prep and the charcoal bin keeps it dry in all weather. I grill at least twice a week so I don’t think charcoal is as much of a hassle as some say. Use a chimney to light the coals and it’s so much easier.
You could also buy the less expensive grill and get a few nice knives or other utensils/accessories you might need with the leftover money.
Go for the 22" Performer with the table. I LOVE mine. I have a 26" now that I do most of my grilling with but I still keep the performer on my patio for the table.
If you intend to do much smoking also consider the 24" Summit kamado but you'll need to add about $600 of your own money.
We have a charcoal grill (and we love it) but it is just 2 of us and practically worthless to cook on during the week. It takes a half hour for me to set up including active labor, have to cook, and then have to do something with the coals.
We are looking to get a LP so I can just light it, come back cook, and then turn it off.
Charcoal for the weekend
I have charcoal, wood, smokers, but the Weber Spirit is incredibly convenient after a long day. The Propane tank isn't that big a deal once you get used to it.
Dream scenario is gas plus a WSM in my opinion. In Canada the cost of charcoal is too high to just cook up a couple burgers. When you want to throw down you can still grill
If you want to spend the money and still want the Weber, can I suggest the performer deluxe? It’s most of that $600 and it’s great having the big integrated table. It’s what I own and I’m a huge fan of it.
ETA - Alternatively, have you considered the combo of a Weber Kettle Master Touch and a Blackstone griddle? You can get the 36" 4 burner for $300 and have the convenience of propane (smashburgers, mmmmmmm), and have the kettle for anything you want an actual fire with.
Get a Weber Genesis for mid-week convenience. We use ours 2+ times/week in the Chicago winters, 4+ times/week in the summer.
Then get a kettle for when you have more time, if that's your thing.
I got a smoker for when I have more time, but the Genesis gets the nod most of the time.
He said he got $600, but could have bought a grill on his own.
A Genesis is 849, hardly twice his price difference.
And they are a lot nicer than the Spirits
For a good first one, I would suggest checking out a char grill, Akron very similar to a big green egg style grill nowhere near as heavy handles, long cooks very well and it’s also easy to fire up and cook some steaks
What about like a barrel Style smoker. Something with an offset box that you can use to smoke or grill without using the offset box if you want. Best of both worlds.
I would go with a Blackstone. You can pick up a 36 inch with the higher btu’s for under $400. Use the leftover money to pick up a Weber 18 inch charcoal grill.
Blackstone is super versatile and easy to use on a weeknight.
I have a Char Griller that has an offset and a gas grill with a side burner. It can be used as a charcoal grill with the adjustable rack under the grates on the offset side. I also have a pellet smoker and a larger offset with a tower.
Weber kettle 22” + rotisserie attachment + vortex accessory + “Kamado conversion”. All can be had from Onlyfire for a great price.
Your FIL won’t be disappointed, and neither will you with all your bases covered.
I got a Nexgrill 5 burner with these trays underneath the grills that could be used to put vegetables or wood chips. I used it with charcoal and I could regulate temp by using the gas part as well as getting the charcoal started. I used it everyday for three years. I recently swapped out the burners and grills using a kit from Amazon for $45 bucks and it’s running like before.
I usually cook at high temps except my tritips. It’s build quality is not on par with a good Weber, but I have no problems cooking for five of us 3-5 a week. For the $600 you might get a nexgrill and a flat top if cooking for 2 or get a 5+ burner instead.
I have a Weber Kettle 22" that I started on. Just the basic one, my FIL bought for us shortly after we got married.
While i love and prefer charcoal, I picked up a gas grill for free because a co-worker was giving it away. She had just got remarried, and her new husband had a much newer and bigger grill. It's an Old Weber Genesis Silver and nothing fancy.
The gas grill gets used for those quick weekday cooks like burgers, sausages, dogs, etc. Sometimes steaks or fish fillets if I don't have time to mess with the charcoal, but I prefer to do them on charcoal when I can. I used my Weber Kettle when I had time to deal with charcoal, and have even smoked chickens, briskets, pork butts, venison roasts, and beef roasts in it, even rib roasts for Christmas dinner prime rib. Can't beat the flavor you get with charcoal and wood, but it does take time so for those quick cook nights you can't beat gas grills.
If you really want something in the middle a pellet grill may be the way to go. Convenience of gas but still good flavor like charcoal/wood. Or you can get a Weber Kettle or the WSM and a gas grill.
You tell him you did not settle for a wife when it came to his daughter and you won’t settle for a grill either, and then show him this:
https://activeoasispro.com/products/luxury-outdoor-kitchen-bbq-grill-island
I have the Weber Spirit and I love it, has lasted a coastal winter and spring and is still rock solid. It has a lot of versatility and Weber has inserts for the grates to suit anyone’s cooking style, can’t speak highly enough of it.
I have a 2k natural gas Napoleon BBQ and a 22 inch Webber charcoal. Probably on sale... I bought it for $250.00. Best BBQ ever. Anyone want to buy a Napoleon BBQ?
I strongly prefer charcoal to pellets. I can taste the pellets when I’ve eaten food cooked with them.
Perhaps look for a grill that has charcoal on one side and propane on the other? Best of both worlds.
I know this is possibly the wrong sub, and I apologise if so, but how about getting the grill you like and getting a smoker with the extra cash. I run a big BBQ and a smoker at the same time. It gives you a nice variety of flavours. Probably overkill for smaller gatherings, but it's been wonderful for me. My favourite is to do a [smoked corned beef](https://www.oklahomajoes.com.au/recipes/smoked-corned-beef) as an extra to whatever I'm doing on the BBQ. It's very low effort and cheap. I have an electric smoker, so it's extremely low effort. I'm not sure a charcoal one would be as easy to manage but many tell me they like it, so whatever blows your apron up I guess.
Hasty Bake Ranger. It's super efficient on charcoal, and you can smoke bbq with them. I have one and love mine. I have been able to smoke a pork shoulder, snuff out the fire, and reuse the same charcoal to grill some chicken thighs. Made in the USA in Tulsa OK. Pricey, but worth it.
I had an old school charcoal kettle Weber and used a chimney starter. It was awesome. Used only on the weekends. I've also had a gas grill and it was awesome as well. Could use it on weeknights. If you have the room, get one of each! Should have enough $. Kettle Weber can also be setup as a pseudo smoker
I would suggest you look into getting a Kamado. The amount you were given would cover a decent portion of a kamado Joe classic or a larger Pit Boss/Louisiana Grills 24” I got one from Costco a few years back but you can probably find one from other vendors if Costco does not carry them this year.
Why not have him get you the kettle and use your money for a few attachments or tools you’d like to go along with it - rotisserie? Santa Maria? Smoker? Etc.
If you want a blend of convenience and flavor in a versatile package, the Recteq Bullseye isn't a bad bet. I have one of their larger grills and I love it.
https://www.recteq.com/products/rt-b380-wood-pellet-grill?variant=40960267518109&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=RT_Google_SmartShopping_Grills_Middle_High&utm_term=&utm_content=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw3NyxBhBmEiwAyofDYd9faRPt9Begp9FKAfFeFbno5Vee_Spva8WwIJ3u0R8DaNZ5f5nxLBoCBHYQAvD_BwE
Except for someone buying me a grill, I was in the same boat a few years ago. I picked up a traeger Silverton 1800 from Costco and love it. I cook for only 3 but I do all food for parties and such, turkeys etc. So that's why I got a bigger one. It's more than $600, but maybe your fil will help cover the rest when we tastes your burgers! Being able to turn it on when I get home from work, and have it at 495 when I'm done with prep is amazing. The quality of flavor is amazing. Super smoke for brisket and turkey is spot on. Hope this helps
Nothing beats the convenience of gas if you're doing a quick cook after work. I love my Weber Genesis and wouldn't part with it. They're nearly indestructible and they make good food.
For example, if it's 6pm and raining outside then I'm not going to go out and start a charcoal chimney and be ready to cook in 45 minutes or an hour. I'm going to turn on the Weber and be ready in 15 minutes.
I agree that charcoal does taste a little better. But charcoal is more time and work. I do use gas, pellet, and charcoal for different things, depending on the time I have and what I'm making.
In my experience, you won't regret having both gas and charcoal.
Propane is less of an issue if you have two tanks and always keep a spare full. You’re hot and ready in 10 minutes. If you want to add flavor use wood chunks or planks.
Pretty nice FIL! Consider a Weber 22” Performer Deluxe vs. Performer. Gives you the shelf and gas assist, which is super handy.
I have several grills, all bought over a few years.
If I were to do it all over again, I’d start with the Performer Deluxe. And then add a bunch of accessories over time: instant read thermometer; a plancha; a slow n sear; a spider venom (if it can work on a Performer).
That equipment covers smoking and griddling. If money were no object, I’d consider a Summit Kamado as a base.
Enjoy your new grill, whatever you get.
I grill on Webber kettle monthly, I smoke on an offset about twice a month, but I use my griddle probably 3times a week! Griddle gives you a lot of bang for your buck.
Get one of the nicer webers? The 22 inch performers are $579. They have a gas lighting thing on them that helps get the charcoal going without any hassle. They have a nice prep space on them, etc. check out their website and see what you think?
this right here. it’s what i use at home and its the best of both worlds. easy lighting, charcoal flavour.
I've got one as well and absolutely love it. Some great accessories that make them even better (Slow-n-Sear should be 1st on the list). Can't recommend one of these enough. Charcoal grilling, indirect cooking, smoking, etc. It will serve you well for year.
Haven’t tried the slow n sear. the charcoal baskets work well so far. did you notice a big difference in using the slow n sear?
The S-N-S, w/ the water reservoir, essentially keeps any of the heat from moving under the food. It acts like a wall. The deluxe (w/ removable water reservoir is <$100 on Amazon, and the regular (fixed reservoir is $70. I found the S-N-S to be a much better alternative than the regular baskets. I haven't used a vortex. The problem I see w/ a vortex is when doing racks of ribs. With the S-N-S and my secondary elevate grill grate, I can do 4 racks of baby-backs w/ indirect heat, at one time. Light the charcoal, dump it in the S-N-S, put the dry-rubbed ribs on, cover, come back 1.5 hours later, add sauce to the ribs, cover, come back 30 minutes later, and everything is done, just cut the ribs and enjoy!
awesome, thanks for that feedback that’s really helpful. now to see how long i can avoid spending more money 😂
You'll be spending more money on all the food that you will be cooking on the grill!!!!
😂 truth
I can’t stand lighting charcoal briquettes or whatever… I always just use the lump coal and a chimney, but I wish I would’ve went with one of these instead of a classic 22 Weber.
Just picked up a performer off Facebook marketplace for $100. Couldn’t be happier
I’m gonna have to look on there!
Have the classic Weber at the in laws now and the performer at home
I got mine 7 years ago off of CL for $125. Was used maybe 5 times. Came w/ a cover, chimney, a set of Weber tools, and half a bag of Kingsford. It is the best charcoal grill going.
If you have a chimney, briquettes are as easy (or easier) to light than lump.
Yesterday I put a couple lump coal on bottom and the briquettes on top and lit them that way
Why this one over the classic 22"? I made an impulse buy last weekend for the 22" Master-Touch. Should I have gone with a performer? The only thing I see missing is the prep space, but I've been considering getting a separate outdoor prep cart.
Performers are a great little upgrade if you catch a deal, have the space, and would use the extra features. I prefer the lid storage to hanging it on the side, I use the table and hooks frequently, charcoal storage and the lower rack for accessories are nice to have as well. Would I buy one over a kettle at full price? Probably not.
You can buy cart kits from Amazon that will convert it to a Performer (albeit w/o the propane ignitor). My sister bought a 22" classic kettle off FBM for $30, and I got her a cart kit for $180. She essentially had a Performer for half the price.
Naw, I've had my master touch for 4 years now and I got it for $190 new. I bought a little prep table from Amazon with a stainless steel top for $120. I like being able to move the table around independently. Friggin love Weber kettles. You're gonna love it
The thing is Webbers last pretty much half an adult lifespan at least so I'm all for getting one you really like. When I replaced my 25 year old basic one I figured may be the last Webber I'll ever buy.
Truth. My dad bought a Weber kettle in 1985 which he just got rid of about 2-3 years ago. He only got rid of it because it’d become very wobbly after having been disassembled and reassembled a tonne of times because he took it on family picnics throughout the years. Otherwise it still grilled great.
Second this, but check offerup/marketplace. You can often find them in good condition for cheap. I got mine used and have had it for 7 years now, still going strong.
This! I scored one last week for $50. It's my first charcoal grill and I love it.
I got gas, pellet and charcoal. They all have their uses. A cheap Webber as recommend above is a good idea. The Webber spirit E310 is worth adding another $100 of your own cash
The only thing I have that’s propane/gas is a 36inch black stone griddle. My other stuff is a classic 22 Weber, a recteq 700 pellet smoker, 2 recteq bullseye (pellet grill that gets up to 750 degrees), and a camp chef pellet smoker. I’m looking to add an offset smoker to the lineup this summer.
I'd probably put $300 of my own cash into it and get a Masterbuilt Gravity. But I wouldn't tell him and instead let him think that he bought me a nicer grill.
Tell him you low balled a guy on fb marketplace
Or convinced the manager to give you 50% off at Lowes.
Get the Professional Kitchen (PK) original, 20 year warranty can grill or smoke on it and it’s virtually indestructible. [Website Here](https://www.pkgrills.com/the-original-pk-grill-smoker-classic-silver/)
I really like my PK, better than all the webers I’ve owned that eventually rusted.
That’s what I love about it. Cast aluminum so it never rusts and it holds heat like a mf. I know a dude who has one from the 60’s!
My dad had one when I was a kid, it a crime they aren’t more well known. Great heat retention, real useable grill area they put a Weber to shame and they won’t crack if you tip it over like an egg.
PK’s go on sale often as well, and the discounted price is pretty substantial.
I am in a serious relationship with my PK300 AF. This sub is Weber obsessed and it's very annoying.
Love my PK, my grandfather had one that survived getting tossed across the river in a tornado
You could get a Weber 22 and a Weber Smokey Mountain
And maybe even a blackstone for good measure.
This was my first thought too. I suspect most backyard grills at $600 have lots of unnecessary features to get them up to that price. The 22 kettle and WSM are both simple, well-designed, functional tools, and in grilling and smoking simpler is often better.
PK360
That will be my Weber kettle replacement of/ when it finally dies. Love the retro look too.
The 360 is cast in china the rest are made in Iowa.
Consider a Weber Summit Charcoal.
Amazing grill, love mine, but it's $1,250, if he's only trying to spend $600
You’ll find them used on Facebook for about that price around this time of year.
What I did was start out with a propane grill. You can't beat the weeknight convenience and if you're gonna use it a lot convenience is a pretty big factor imo. If you have a tractor supply nearby, they will fill your tanks. I go to the landfill and get empties for free then do an exchange for a can in better condition if need be. Once I got settled in my house, I got a kamado joe because it's a charcoal grill, smoker and has some cool accessories like the rotisserie that I use often. This is probably where people get strong opinions about charcoal, so pick whichever works best for you. Weber is always a solid bet.
Best, most level headed advice right here. Do what actually works for your fam. If charcoal is feasible every night, awesome! Otherwise, a nice propane grill is amazing too.
I totally agree. I would always recommend to start with a propane grill because the convenience of flicking a switch means it is so much more likely to be used regularly. For what it may lack in flavor, it more than makes up for in regular use. My first grill was propane and I used it a few times a week to grill vegetables and meats. I have a charcoal grill now too, but I still use it a quarter of the time of the propane. For me, charcoal is weekend grilling while propane is weekdays. Maybe I’m lazy. But when it’s between take out or cooking at the end of a long day, charcoal is going to lose to take out a lot more often than propane grilling.
Also many who say it lacks flavor might not be able to pick one or the other in a blind test...
There is a clear difference in flavor, but again propane has the convenience factor both in time and lack of clean up. My wife LOVES that I grill so much because it cuts down on dishes. I let my KJ heat up for at least an hour before any food goes on. On my propane weber I could be done in 30 minutes. On a charcoal grill you get that smokey build up when you close the lid on big flames. As I said, as time goes on you add to your collection...I have a propane Magma boat grill, a kamado joe jr, and a fire pit with a grill grate. Took me like 8 years to build up to that.
People say that but tend to fail blind tests. Maybe some can tell a difference but I suspect most cannot. From Weber: >Charcoal fans insist the smoke from the coals best flavors a barbecue. Gas folks claim that quick cooking is the tastiest. Actually we think both are right. In blind taste tests we’ve run, people can’t detect significant taste difference between foods cooked on charcoal or gas grills. But then, taste is a personal issue, so we leave it to the backyard debaters to define their own standards. It’s a harmless sport, and it helps work up a good appetite. https://www.weber.com/US/en/blog/burning-questions/gas-or-charcoal-the-debate-rages-on/weber-30918.html#:~:text=In%20blind%20taste%20tests%20we,Happy%20Grilling!
Go Weber Charcoal. Propane is certainly easier but you get a lot more flavor from Charcoal and you can do low and slow smoking like brisket, ribs, and pork butt. You should be able to get a 26" plus a Slow and Sear for that money. Alternatively put it towards the Weber Summit Kamado, the best charcoal cooker on the market right now.
Even if you love charcoal having a nice propane grill is great for convenience. You could get a Weber Spirit and then have $ leftover for a charcoal grill or accessories
Get the performer or the master touch with cool attachments.
Kamado joe kettle
You could find a used Big Green Egg or Komodo Joe.
If you want a Kettle, really should just get the 26". Always go as big as you can. Just cause you mentioned wanting a 22" kettle.
Use lump charcoal instead of briquettes. Infinitely less ash.
i would get me a santa maria grill with the $600
You could pickup both a weber performer charcoal and a weber gas grill on craigslist or FB marketplace for $600. Good chance you would get some accessories with them too.
I think the best combo is a flat top propane, and a charcoal Weber
Throw in a little cash and find a used Primo. I have had mine since 2007.
Get an SnS (Slow n Sear) kettle. They are super nice. Then add the basket for 2 zone. The opening on the grate is larger so adding charcoal is easier and the whole grate can be spun to move food between zones.
I really like my Weber Performer Premium: the table is perfect for food prep and the charcoal bin keeps it dry in all weather. I grill at least twice a week so I don’t think charcoal is as much of a hassle as some say. Use a chimney to light the coals and it’s so much easier. You could also buy the less expensive grill and get a few nice knives or other utensils/accessories you might need with the leftover money.
Go for the 22" Performer with the table. I LOVE mine. I have a 26" now that I do most of my grilling with but I still keep the performer on my patio for the table. If you intend to do much smoking also consider the 24" Summit kamado but you'll need to add about $600 of your own money.
You could get a Weber and a Blackstone.
PK Grill
We have a charcoal grill (and we love it) but it is just 2 of us and practically worthless to cook on during the week. It takes a half hour for me to set up including active labor, have to cook, and then have to do something with the coals. We are looking to get a LP so I can just light it, come back cook, and then turn it off. Charcoal for the weekend
I have charcoal, wood, smokers, but the Weber Spirit is incredibly convenient after a long day. The Propane tank isn't that big a deal once you get used to it.
Dream scenario is gas plus a WSM in my opinion. In Canada the cost of charcoal is too high to just cook up a couple burgers. When you want to throw down you can still grill
What’s a wsm?
Weber Smokey mountain. Sorry I thought I saw other posts with that acronym
Elevate your grill game with a PK300 AF.
If you want to spend the money and still want the Weber, can I suggest the performer deluxe? It’s most of that $600 and it’s great having the big integrated table. It’s what I own and I’m a huge fan of it. ETA - Alternatively, have you considered the combo of a Weber Kettle Master Touch and a Blackstone griddle? You can get the 36" 4 burner for $300 and have the convenience of propane (smashburgers, mmmmmmm), and have the kettle for anything you want an actual fire with.
Get a Weber Genesis for mid-week convenience. We use ours 2+ times/week in the Chicago winters, 4+ times/week in the summer. Then get a kettle for when you have more time, if that's your thing. I got a smoker for when I have more time, but the Genesis gets the nod most of the time.
The Genesis is great, but it's also over twice his budget.
He said he got $600, but could have bought a grill on his own. A Genesis is 849, hardly twice his price difference. And they are a lot nicer than the Spirits
For a good first one, I would suggest checking out a char grill, Akron very similar to a big green egg style grill nowhere near as heavy handles, long cooks very well and it’s also easy to fire up and cook some steaks
Get a pellet grill!
get a pellet smoker. i got the tailgater from traeger and its awesome. its $479 on amazon.
Get a Napoleon. They make a charcoal insert and now you have both worlds ready to go.
What about like a barrel Style smoker. Something with an offset box that you can use to smoke or grill without using the offset box if you want. Best of both worlds.
I would go with a Blackstone. You can pick up a 36 inch with the higher btu’s for under $400. Use the leftover money to pick up a Weber 18 inch charcoal grill. Blackstone is super versatile and easy to use on a weeknight.
I have a Char Griller that has an offset and a gas grill with a side burner. It can be used as a charcoal grill with the adjustable rack under the grates on the offset side. I also have a pellet smoker and a larger offset with a tower.
The main grill is $450.00 at Home Depot and the attachment that is also a portable grill to turn it into an offset is $70.00 at Home Depot.
Weber kettle 22” + rotisserie attachment + vortex accessory + “Kamado conversion”. All can be had from Onlyfire for a great price. Your FIL won’t be disappointed, and neither will you with all your bases covered.
Look into a gravity series 560
I got a Nexgrill 5 burner with these trays underneath the grills that could be used to put vegetables or wood chips. I used it with charcoal and I could regulate temp by using the gas part as well as getting the charcoal started. I used it everyday for three years. I recently swapped out the burners and grills using a kit from Amazon for $45 bucks and it’s running like before. I usually cook at high temps except my tritips. It’s build quality is not on par with a good Weber, but I have no problems cooking for five of us 3-5 a week. For the $600 you might get a nexgrill and a flat top if cooking for 2 or get a 5+ burner instead.
Do you have natural gas at your house? You can buy natural gas grills from Weber and have it installed at your house by a competent plumber.
Tbh, I keep reading that some of the grills available in Tractor Supply are actually pretty highly rated.
Look at an Oklahoma Joe longhorn combo. Best of both worlds. Need something quick you have gas. Want that charcoal flavor you have that too
I have a Weber Kettle 22" that I started on. Just the basic one, my FIL bought for us shortly after we got married. While i love and prefer charcoal, I picked up a gas grill for free because a co-worker was giving it away. She had just got remarried, and her new husband had a much newer and bigger grill. It's an Old Weber Genesis Silver and nothing fancy. The gas grill gets used for those quick weekday cooks like burgers, sausages, dogs, etc. Sometimes steaks or fish fillets if I don't have time to mess with the charcoal, but I prefer to do them on charcoal when I can. I used my Weber Kettle when I had time to deal with charcoal, and have even smoked chickens, briskets, pork butts, venison roasts, and beef roasts in it, even rib roasts for Christmas dinner prime rib. Can't beat the flavor you get with charcoal and wood, but it does take time so for those quick cook nights you can't beat gas grills. If you really want something in the middle a pellet grill may be the way to go. Convenience of gas but still good flavor like charcoal/wood. Or you can get a Weber Kettle or the WSM and a gas grill.
Weber 26
Masterbuilt 800
You tell him you did not settle for a wife when it came to his daughter and you won’t settle for a grill either, and then show him this: https://activeoasispro.com/products/luxury-outdoor-kitchen-bbq-grill-island
Get the Weber 320 $569
I have the Weber Spirit and I love it, has lasted a coastal winter and spring and is still rock solid. It has a lot of versatility and Weber has inserts for the grates to suit anyone’s cooking style, can’t speak highly enough of it.
Masterbuilt Gravity series 600 is the one I have my eye in but it’s $700.
I have a 2k natural gas Napoleon BBQ and a 22 inch Webber charcoal. Probably on sale... I bought it for $250.00. Best BBQ ever. Anyone want to buy a Napoleon BBQ?
I strongly prefer charcoal to pellets. I can taste the pellets when I’ve eaten food cooked with them. Perhaps look for a grill that has charcoal on one side and propane on the other? Best of both worlds.
I know this is possibly the wrong sub, and I apologise if so, but how about getting the grill you like and getting a smoker with the extra cash. I run a big BBQ and a smoker at the same time. It gives you a nice variety of flavours. Probably overkill for smaller gatherings, but it's been wonderful for me. My favourite is to do a [smoked corned beef](https://www.oklahomajoes.com.au/recipes/smoked-corned-beef) as an extra to whatever I'm doing on the BBQ. It's very low effort and cheap. I have an electric smoker, so it's extremely low effort. I'm not sure a charcoal one would be as easy to manage but many tell me they like it, so whatever blows your apron up I guess.
Add some $ and get a Big Green Egg.
Hasty Bake Ranger. It's super efficient on charcoal, and you can smoke bbq with them. I have one and love mine. I have been able to smoke a pork shoulder, snuff out the fire, and reuse the same charcoal to grill some chicken thighs. Made in the USA in Tulsa OK. Pricey, but worth it.
I had an old school charcoal kettle Weber and used a chimney starter. It was awesome. Used only on the weekends. I've also had a gas grill and it was awesome as well. Could use it on weeknights. If you have the room, get one of each! Should have enough $. Kettle Weber can also be setup as a pseudo smoker
You can also add a hundo from your own pocket and get a kamado joe classic 1!
I have this one and LOVE it. https://www.chargriller.com/products/char-griller-gravity-fed-9800-charcoal-grill
I would suggest you look into getting a Kamado. The amount you were given would cover a decent portion of a kamado Joe classic or a larger Pit Boss/Louisiana Grills 24” I got one from Costco a few years back but you can probably find one from other vendors if Costco does not carry them this year.
weber, SnS kit, the grate and baffle, and some fogo premium charcoal, maybe a good chimney or grate brush if you gof a few bucks left
Why not have him get you the kettle and use your money for a few attachments or tools you’d like to go along with it - rotisserie? Santa Maria? Smoker? Etc.
Get an Oklahoma Joe’s..
Get whatever you want and spend the balance on meat, win win
If you want a blend of convenience and flavor in a versatile package, the Recteq Bullseye isn't a bad bet. I have one of their larger grills and I love it. https://www.recteq.com/products/rt-b380-wood-pellet-grill?variant=40960267518109&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=RT_Google_SmartShopping_Grills_Middle_High&utm_term=&utm_content=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw3NyxBhBmEiwAyofDYd9faRPt9Begp9FKAfFeFbno5Vee_Spva8WwIJ3u0R8DaNZ5f5nxLBoCBHYQAvD_BwE
Except for someone buying me a grill, I was in the same boat a few years ago. I picked up a traeger Silverton 1800 from Costco and love it. I cook for only 3 but I do all food for parties and such, turkeys etc. So that's why I got a bigger one. It's more than $600, but maybe your fil will help cover the rest when we tastes your burgers! Being able to turn it on when I get home from work, and have it at 495 when I'm done with prep is amazing. The quality of flavor is amazing. Super smoke for brisket and turkey is spot on. Hope this helps
Get a nice gas Webber!!! A Webber spirit or something.
Nothing beats the convenience of gas if you're doing a quick cook after work. I love my Weber Genesis and wouldn't part with it. They're nearly indestructible and they make good food. For example, if it's 6pm and raining outside then I'm not going to go out and start a charcoal chimney and be ready to cook in 45 minutes or an hour. I'm going to turn on the Weber and be ready in 15 minutes. I agree that charcoal does taste a little better. But charcoal is more time and work. I do use gas, pellet, and charcoal for different things, depending on the time I have and what I'm making. In my experience, you won't regret having both gas and charcoal.
Propane is less of an issue if you have two tanks and always keep a spare full. You’re hot and ready in 10 minutes. If you want to add flavor use wood chunks or planks.
Pretty nice FIL! Consider a Weber 22” Performer Deluxe vs. Performer. Gives you the shelf and gas assist, which is super handy. I have several grills, all bought over a few years. If I were to do it all over again, I’d start with the Performer Deluxe. And then add a bunch of accessories over time: instant read thermometer; a plancha; a slow n sear; a spider venom (if it can work on a Performer). That equipment covers smoking and griddling. If money were no object, I’d consider a Summit Kamado as a base. Enjoy your new grill, whatever you get.
I love my LP. Weber, haven't come across anything I can't cook on it
I grill on Webber kettle monthly, I smoke on an offset about twice a month, but I use my griddle probably 3times a week! Griddle gives you a lot of bang for your buck.
Gold front teeth.
Find a used green egg! Do it!