Barbecue Grill

Our old charcoal barbecue grill is on it’s last legs, so I’ve been looking to replace it. I’ve decided to go back to propane because I would like to be able to cook-out all year round. Trying to get charcoal lit in January is near impossible. I didn’t want to spend more than $200 with tank, but I also want one with a large cooking surface. Forget it. I’m amazed at what barbecuing has become. You can’t get a larger grill without getting a million bells and whistles – 4 burners, a side stove, cabinets underneath – one even had a fake stone front to it! The real kicker is, they also seem more flimsy nowadays, even the brand names. I don’t see many cast-iron grills. Most seem to be thin sheet metal, the more expensive ones thicker steel and/or stainless steel. Stainless steel? I don’t need an outdoor kitchen, I just want a grill! Two burners is all I need. I do like the idea of the little stove burner on the side though. On the other hand, the kitchen is just on the other side of the door and I can’t think of anything other than corn-on-the-cob that we’d use the burner for. I notice that the barbecue grill replacement parts section in most stores has become rather large. I’m not surprised, considering how flimsy looking the grills have become. I remember that on my last propane grill I eventually replaced just about everything but the legs and the body. Of course the body was cast iron, so they’ve remedied that. I wonder how much money these companies make on replacement parts. Maybe it’s like ink jet cartridges. I had read once that Hewlitt Packard’s biggest profit maker wasn’t servers, computers, or even the printers themselves, but those little ink jet cartridges that you pay anywhere from $20 to $50for. The difference is, you can get a really high quality printer from HP at a really reasonable price. Do I want to pay $400 for a grill and then pay for parts every year? No. Maybe I should take another look at the old charcoal grill, maybe I can get one more season out of it, lets see….



Eh, yeah it’s doubtful. I was always meaning to buy a cover for it, never got around to it. It does have kind of a seasoned look to it though….
Marty