Anti Weber man converted

[Tiny]

Well Chaps,
Been on here for an while and have learned much and eaten more. I started life as violently opposed to Weber as monopolistic and grossly overpriced.....then at the end of a season someone posted a link to an 57cm kettle in ivory for £49 delivered.

I had taken ale in meaningful quantities and Mrs T had a snifter of wine so we pressed the buy button......it duly arrived and I built it and think I still hold the record for having a fully assembled bbq in the living room, 6 weeks before she insisted it needed to go in the garden.

Well 18 months on I am still delighted, I don't direct grill anymore as my blindness makes this very tricky, but my 13yo apprentice nailed an traditional burgers and snags affair on it Sunday, and I have done much lo and slo. Of course the lack of visual acuity means I think the ivory version looks as good as the day it arrived.....

But an end to the glowing Weber Eulagy, I am offering up the observation leading to question.....Weber stuff still seems bloody expensive, I have the chim-chimeney starter, and an pizza stone that someone bought me but is there any other weber kettle related accessories that folk would say "invaluable well worth the fiscal enumerate.....

I always think the grill itself a tad flimsy......

Suggestions welcomed
Tiny

[RobinC]

I've got quite a lot of Weber kit and have always liked their stuff but would certainly agree it is on the pricey side. Other than the chimney starter that you've already got I'm not sure I would class any of it as invaluable - everything is generally good quality but with a matching price tag. Their grill t brushes seem to last longer than the cheapo super market ones. And I do like the tongs they make. In terms of the grill itself the gourmet grill (one with the whole in the middle that you can swap other accessories into) is a sturdier design. Oh the rotisserie is good.

[gazz_46]

Hi Tiny

Have to say i agree with Robin, the gourmet grill and accessories are well worth a peruse saw them for the 1st time at Riverside and had to muster all my might not to dive in.............

[derekmiller]

Hi Tiny.
Agree in part with the others, the rotisserie gets used a lot.
I have got the gourmet system, in a mad moment, bought the whole system.
The wok gets used a lot, the griddle once or twice and the sear grate has never seen the light of day (that I can think of).
I do like the t-brush as well.
Derek.

[RobinC]

Hi Tiny.
Agree in part with the others, the rotisserie gets used a lot.
I have got the gourmet system, in a mad moment, bought the whole system.
The wok gets used a lot, the griddle once or twice and the sear grate has never seen the light of day (that I can think of).
I do like the t-brush as well.
Derek.

I've got the wok and think I've used that about twice, griddle I'm not sure I've used though it isn't in the packaging, sear grate has been used more often but I've got some craycourt grates and prefer those if I want sear marks though steaks tend to get cooked dirty these days. Rotisserie definitely gets a thumbs up. I also like the pizza oven but couldn't justify the price

EDIT: Just had a look in the garage at what I've actually got. All of it sees occasional usage but outside of the things I've already mentioned none of it stands out as a must buy. In terms of my must have things for BBQ they would be: chimney starter, t brush, thermapen, heat proof gloves, food handling gloves, catermax unit (bargain buy off ebay for a tenner), big plastic bowl for applying rubs to big cuts of meat, thick foil, those big catering sized rolls of kitchen paper and ample outside work table space.

[CHokKA]

Whilst I agree that Weber products are on the pricey side, the quality of their build is fantastic and after my recent experience with an issue with my newly purchased MasterTouch 57cm, the way Weber handled things was nothing short of fantastic. So yes, the price is higher but from my point of view their service is second to none and that in itself is worth the extra cash

As for the must-have accessories, I'd say anything you'd find useful is a must-have If you don't think you'll use it, or don't think it'll improve your experience whilst using your Weber then don't spend the cash. However, they have something for everything now and if it'll enhance your experience then it is definitely worth a purchase. I'll be getting the poultry roaster for my new MasterTouch 57cm as I think that'll definitely be useful even though I recently read that beer can chicken is just a gimmick and doesn't really bring much to the cooking of the chicken except for the fact that it cooks better when upright. But I like the idea of being able to put vegetables around the chicken whilst roasting it in the Weber

I've also been looking at the pizza stone and I'm definitely tempted by the griddle although I'll probably get that next year unless there's a really pressing need for it this summer

All-in-all I've been very impressed with the service I received from Weber and I am looking forward to making the most of my new MasterTouch

[Verminskti]

Chokka I'd be a bit careful about blocking airflow with a chook stand with the pan. Better off getting a wire frame one and sitting the veg in a pan under the grill I find.

Tiny. I too, like you was anti-weber then I had one of their chimney starters and it worked better than the cheaper ones (So I got another and a mini version to go with it) then my Ivory dream came into my life. When ever anyone asks about BBQs now I tell them they only need one. A 57" OT. Pro or original. If they want to make me jealous a 67" but make it a weber. I also have two T brushes and a pizza stone.

Now I too am in a predicament. I love weber now. The stuff works, it works well. However, in choosing a bullet smoker do I go for the thicker steeled, weber wonder from across the pond or go to Macs BBQ and get a British company's version which has so many inovative changes that weber could have added at any time. A discussion for another topic but wow am I torn. Innovation and nationalistic pride Vs the feeling that webers just don't go wrong.

[RobinC]

I'll be getting the poultry roaster for my new MasterTouch 57cm as I think that'll definitely be useful even though I recently read that beer can chicken is just a gimmick and doesn't really bring much to the cooking of the chicken except for the fact that it cooks better when upright. But I like the idea of being able to put vegetables around the chicken whilst roasting it in the Weber

The poultry roaster is ok. Certainly a good build quality. I've used mine to make chocolate brownies a couple of times (not at the same time as cooking a chicken though). Think chicken cooked on the rotisserie is better though

[derekmiller]

Agreed

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[beercan]

Have to say I've been using webers for way to long to remember and they do get some hammer.
The only gripe I do have is that I'm certain the build quality is not what it used to be certainly as far as the enamel goes.
The only reason I say that is I still have and use a one touch original which is now 14years old and has had some serious action and have to say the finish on it has stood up much better than my other two premiums which are only a few years old so something must have changed.

As for the price well you do get what you pay for regardless of the finish issues I can't see cheaper kettles taking the hammer and still producing results okay the newer ones won't look as good over time but I'm sure they will still work.

The one thing I love about them is that they can be very versatile okay there are better smokers etc for low and slow but with work the kettles still produce and half the fun is learning how to get the best out of them.