British BBQ Society Forums

Hi,

I've been using a 57cm Weber kettle for a couple of years and it seems adequate for the occasional smoke but have decided to step up to a 47cm smokey mountain. I've always found the 57cm kettle too big for everyday bbqing, I've taken to raising the coal grill up on bricks to bring the coals closer to the food but it's not ideal. Is there a premium non-kettle bbq for grilling food that uses less coals or has less distance from coal to cooking grill? Quite liked the look of the landmann Taurus 440 but reviews suggest build quality issue. Anything made up to weber standards that fit the bill?

Thanks in advance.

Weber do a 47cm model.

It's not the size of the current weber that's the problem, more the lack of flexibility. Doing a small grilling is really hard to do without wasting a ton of coal but the size is good for a bigger party. I don't really want to have 3 bbqs in the garden.

Can the bottom of the WSM function as a portable/table top grill?

Morning chum,
First time I have ever heard dissatisfaction with an Weber but I guess I know what you mean WRT charcoal useage. You could of course go for the Baby weber the smokey Joe and the smaller weber chimney, or find one of the Hibachi style tabletop grills which are ideal for the just a couple of chops.
from a personal perspective this is why I bought a gas grill originally, the whole palava of lighting the charcoal coming up to temp for 10 mins cooking and then the clean up after meant it was gas for me.

Now I am a pellet grill convert so can fire up in 10 mins grill and clear down in half an hour end to end, for me this now means 3-5 BBQ per week and am lovin it.

But if you want the theatre of charcoal on a smaller scale I reckon the Smokey Joe or an hibachi would see you right,
Cheers
Tiny

I think the Weber is perfect for what it's designed for, I just realised my needs are different. I have contemplated the dark side of gas grills but it just feels wrong deep down

I didn't fancy a tabletop one though they seem like the best fit. I just hoped there was a standalone bbq with adjustable compartmentalised coal levels built to the same standards of Webers.

Can't you just grill on 1 side with a small pile of coals? Gets a bit of mesh wire and bend it round to make a coal 'table' to raise it if need be. Or buy a disposable and set it on the bottom grate and stack lit coals on top?

Some good suggestions thanks. I guess I could look at raising the coals somehow, I just wanted to exhaust other bbq ideas first.

I use a disposable one with just a few (about 8) coals on to do a steak. Because it isn't on long I cut a bit of the side fat off and drop it on the coals to get some beefy smoke and blow on the coals fairly frequently to get a ripping heat. Resulting in browned beefy yumminess that is juicy and soft inside. Mmmm.


Hmm. Well I thought I had attached a pic. It uploaded but I have no idea where to! Lol.

Decided to buy another coal grate for the Kettle and raise it using the rails on the existing grate. Going to couple it with the Craycote cast iron sear grate.