Grilling season is approaching, and I greatly anticipate it.
I'm thinking about getting a Weber Smokey Joe. My ex-gf had one that I learned to grill on some time ago. I was always wishing that it had more capacity though (for leftovers or company). It seemed like I could only get about 5 burger patties or 6 brats on it at a time, and once those were done the coals were about spent.
Does this sound about right, or was I doing it wrong? IIRC you can't just add more charcoal to the grill and then immediately start grilling- you have to wait for the new briquettes (or lumps) to burn down to coals.
I'd love a full-sized grill, but I'm guessing it would be inefficient for one person. Plus, I live in an apartment and can't just leave it in the yard. I don't know about the weight of a full-sized grill when empty, but I can easily carry a Smokey Joe up onto my balcony on the 2nd floor.
Or should I look for a grill that's about halfway between those two in size? I anticipate that sometimes I'll be grilling for myself, and other times I'll be inviting friends over. The latter case would mean about 4 adults and sometimes a dog.
phaeton <blahbleh...@hotmail.com> wrote in news:517dba94-a975-4076-beba- e535ae35b...@z11g2000yqz.googlegroups.com:
> Grilling season is approaching, and I greatly anticipate it.
(Snip)
> Or should I look for a grill that's about halfway between those two in > size? I anticipate that sometimes I'll be grilling for myself, and > other times I'll be inviting friends over. The latter case would mean > about 4 adults and sometimes a dog.
> Or should I look for a grill that's about halfway between those two in > size? I anticipate that sometimes I'll be grilling for myself, and > other times I'll be inviting friends over. The latter case would mean > about 4 adults and sometimes a dog.
I'd recommend the rectangular Weber. That's space-efficient and has the capacity you want, or nearly so. There are two models, one with gas. I suppose as an apartment dweller you should buy the gas one. I have considerable distance from my neighbors, so I use charcoal.
On Mar 21, 6:53 pm, Mark Thorson <nos...@sonic.net> wrote:
> phaeton wrote:
> > Or should I look for a grill that's about halfway between those two in > > size? I anticipate that sometimes I'll be grilling for myself, and > > other times I'll be inviting friends over. The latter case would mean > > about 4 adults and sometimes a dog.
I have the 18 inch Weber and had looked at the Smokey Joe. Even for one person I thought it was a bit small, maybe because I grill enough for 2 or 3 days worth of food to take to work. I wish now I had bought the 22 inch model. That being said, the 18 inch grill is not heavy at all. When I use it I must carry it down and back up about 8 or 9 steps with no problem.
<blahbleh...@hotmail.com> wrote: >Grilling season is approaching, and I greatly anticipate it.
>I'm thinking about getting a Weber Smokey Joe. My ex-gf had one that >I learned to grill on some time ago. I was always wishing that it had >more capacity though (for leftovers or company). It seemed like I >could only get about 5 burger patties or 6 brats on it at a time, and >once those were done the coals were about spent.
>Does this sound about right, or was I doing it wrong? IIRC you can't >just add more charcoal to the grill and then immediately start >grilling- you have to wait for the new briquettes (or lumps) to burn >down to coals.
>I'd love a full-sized grill, but I'm guessing it would be inefficient >for one person. Plus, I live in an apartment and can't just leave it >in the yard. I don't know about the weight of a full-sized grill when >empty, but I can easily carry a Smokey Joe up onto my balcony on the >2nd floor.
First check with management that they allow grilling on balconies, most fire codes don't permit it.
>Or should I look for a grill that's about halfway between those two in >size? I anticipate that sometimes I'll be grilling for myself, and >other times I'll be inviting friends over. The latter case would mean >about 4 adults and sometimes a dog.
> Grilling season is approaching, and I greatly anticipate it.
> I'm thinking about getting a Weber Smokey Joe. My ex-gf had one that > I learned to grill on some time ago. I was always wishing that it had > more capacity though (for leftovers or company). It seemed like I > could only get about 5 burger patties or 6 brats on it at a time, and > once those were done the coals were about spent.
> Does this sound about right, or was I doing it wrong? IIRC you can't > just add more charcoal to the grill and then immediately start > grilling- you have to wait for the new briquettes (or lumps) to burn > down to coals.
> I'd love a full-sized grill, but I'm guessing it would be inefficient > for one person. Plus, I live in an apartment and can't just leave it > in the yard. I don't know about the weight of a full-sized grill when > empty, but I can easily carry a Smokey Joe up onto my balcony on the > 2nd floor.
> Or should I look for a grill that's about halfway between those two in > size? I anticipate that sometimes I'll be grilling for myself, and > other times I'll be inviting friends over. The latter case would mean > about 4 adults and sometimes a dog.
> What say you?
> -J
The answers are yes, no, absolutely, maybe, and I don't know.
First, you better check with management. Some localities outlaw them on anything but the first floor.
Then you get into the argument of charcoal vs. gas. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.
I used to have a Little Smoky, and it was a good grill. I also had an Aussie gas grill, which is a medium sized grill, and it was good. I have a Weber small one, which does hot dogs okay, but not much else. It has terrible hot spots, and one must constantly be moving stuff around. It is okay for camping and tailgating, but not for cooking more than one bigger piece of meat.
If it was me, I would look at the Weber that has three long legs and wheels, about waist high, or the Aussie or comparable size. If you DO go with a charcoal grill, buy a charcoal chimney, and have some extra briquettes getting hot so you don't have to put cold ones on and wait so long. This is a common practice in Dutch oven cooking.
BUT, AND I REPEAT EMPHATICALLY B-U-T, check with management and see if you can have it above the ground floor at all.
brooklyn1 wrote: > On Sun, 21 Mar 2010 15:21:45 -0700 (PDT), phaeton > <blahbleh...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> Grilling season is approaching, and I greatly anticipate it.
>> I'm thinking about getting a Weber Smokey Joe. My ex-gf had one that >> I learned to grill on some time ago. I was always wishing that it had >> more capacity though (for leftovers or company). It seemed like I >> could only get about 5 burger patties or 6 brats on it at a time, and >> once those were done the coals were about spent.
>> Does this sound about right, or was I doing it wrong? IIRC you can't >> just add more charcoal to the grill and then immediately start >> grilling- you have to wait for the new briquettes (or lumps) to burn >> down to coals.
>> I'd love a full-sized grill, but I'm guessing it would be inefficient >> for one person. Plus, I live in an apartment and can't just leave it >> in the yard. I don't know about the weight of a full-sized grill when >> empty, but I can easily carry a Smokey Joe up onto my balcony on the >> 2nd floor.
> First check with management that they allow grilling on balconies, > most fire codes don't permit it.
For good reason! Our city has thousands of condos and apartments and every summer there are two or three major fires because of someone grilling on a balcony.
On Mar 21, 7:00 pm, itsjoannotjoann <itsjoannotjo...@webtv.net> wrote:
> On Mar 21, 6:53 pm, Mark Thorson <nos...@sonic.net> wrote:> phaeton wrote:
> > > Or should I look for a grill that's about halfway between those two in > > > size? I anticipate that sometimes I'll be grilling for myself, and > > > other times I'll be inviting friends over. The latter case would mean > > > about 4 adults and sometimes a dog.
> I have the 18 inch Weber and had looked at the Smokey Joe. Even for > one person I thought it was a bit small, maybe because I grill enough > for 2 or 3 days worth of food to take to work. I wish now I had > bought the 22 inch model. That being said, the 18 inch grill is not > heavy at all. When I use it I must carry it down and back up about 8 > or 9 steps with no problem.
I had a Smokey Joe back in the 90s when I was living in an apartment. It was okay, but I agree that the 18 inch Weber is a lot better. It's easier to do indirect cooking for more than one person because you have more space. On a Smokey Joe you really have to budget your space if you're cooking for more than one person.
> On Sun, 21 Mar 2010 15:21:45 -0700 (PDT), phaeton
> <blahbleh...@hotmail.com> wrote: > >Grilling season is approaching, and I greatly anticipate it.
> >I'm thinking about getting a Weber Smokey Joe. My ex-gf had one that > >I learned to grill on some time ago. I was always wishing that it had > >more capacity though (for leftovers or company). It seemed like I > >could only get about 5 burger patties or 6 brats on it at a time, and > >once those were done the coals were about spent.
> >Does this sound about right, or was I doing it wrong? IIRC you can't > >just add more charcoal to the grill and then immediately start > >grilling- you have to wait for the new briquettes (or lumps) to burn > >down to coals.
> >I'd love a full-sized grill, but I'm guessing it would be inefficient > >for one person. Plus, I live in an apartment and can't just leave it > >in the yard. I don't know about the weight of a full-sized grill when > >empty, but I can easily carry a Smokey Joe up onto my balcony on the > >2nd floor.
> First check with management that they allow grilling on balconies, > most fire codes don't permit it.
I cooked cheap bratwurst once on a Smokey Joe when I was living in an apartment. They smoked like a forest fire, with the smoke seemingly all wafting in a remarkably neat plume through the sliding screen door of the apartment catty corner from me. Coming home from work a couple days later, I had a rather terse note taped to my door. There was nothing about fire codes, but a lot of stuff about (in so many words) irritating crotchety old women in the complex with bratwurst smoke and why I needed to make sure I didn't ever do that again with that damned grill of mine. So even if it's legal, one should be careful about where the smoke is liable to be going.
>> I'm thinking about getting a Weber Smokey Joe. My ex-gf had one that >> I learned to grill on some time ago. I was always wishing that it had >> more capacity though (for leftovers or company). It seemed like I >> could only get about 5 burger patties or 6 brats on it at a time, and >> once those were done the coals were about spent.
>> Does this sound about right, or was I doing it wrong? IIRC you can't >> just add more charcoal to the grill and then immediately start >> grilling- you have to wait for the new briquettes (or lumps) to burn >> down to coals.
>> I'd love a full-sized grill, but I'm guessing it would be inefficient >> for one person. Plus, I live in an apartment and can't just leave it >> in the yard. I don't know about the weight of a full-sized grill when >> empty, but I can easily carry a Smokey Joe up onto my balcony on the >> 2nd floor.
>> Or should I look for a grill that's about halfway between those two in >> size? I anticipate that sometimes I'll be grilling for myself, and >> other times I'll be inviting friends over. The latter case would mean >> about 4 adults and sometimes a dog.
>> What say you?
>> -J
>The answers are yes, no, absolutely, maybe, and I don't know.
>First, you better check with management. Some localities outlaw them on >anything but the first floor.
>Then you get into the argument of charcoal vs. gas. Each has its advantages >and disadvantages.
>I used to have a Little Smoky, and it was a good grill. I also had an >Aussie gas grill, which is a medium sized grill, and it was good. I have a >Weber small one, which does hot dogs okay, but not much else. It has >terrible hot spots, and one must constantly be moving stuff around. It is >okay for camping and tailgating, but not for cooking more than one bigger >piece of meat.
>If it was me, I would look at the Weber that has three long legs and wheels, >about waist high, or the Aussie or comparable size. If you DO go with a >charcoal grill, buy a charcoal chimney, and have some extra briquettes >getting hot so you don't have to put cold ones on and wait so long. This is >a common practice in Dutch oven cooking.
>BUT, AND I REPEAT EMPHATICALLY B-U-T, check with management and see if you >can have it above the ground floor at all.
>Steve
Most apartment complexes do not permit outdoor grilling anywhere except at designated areas away from living units... besides fire codes there is the issue of smoke pollution.
My complex does not allow grilling on the balcony or within 15 feet of the building. So any grill I have will have to be moved out into the 'yard' for grilling, then once it gets emptied and cools will have to be brought up onto my 2nd floor balcony for storage*. They also prohibit the storage of gas grills on the balconies or in the building. I guess that's fine, because while I will fully acknowledge the convenience and utility of gas, I prefer the end result of charcoal.
But basically I will have to be constantly moving this grill every time I use it. I'm both aware of this and I'm alright with it, assuming it is of reasonable weight and dimension.
-J
* I may try to strike a deal with the kind and beautiful young lady who lives below me where I can stash my grill on her patio instead, in exchange for letting her use it whenever she wants. Also, she's young, kind and beautiful.
On Sun, 21 Mar 2010 15:21:45 -0700 (PDT), phaeton <blahbleh...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>Or should I look for a grill that's about halfway between those two in >size? I anticipate that sometimes I'll be grilling for myself, and >other times I'll be inviting friends over. The latter case would mean >about 4 adults and sometimes a dog.
You're gonna need a fairly large grill unless it's a very small dog.
> My complex does not allow grilling on the balcony or within 15 feet of > the building. So any grill I have will have to be moved out into the > 'yard' for grilling, then once it gets emptied and cools will have to > be brought up onto my 2nd floor balcony for storage*. They also > prohibit the storage of gas grills on the balconies or in the > building. I guess that's fine, because while I will fully acknowledge > the convenience and utility of gas, I prefer the end result of > charcoal.
> But basically I will have to be constantly moving this grill every > time I use it. I'm both aware of this and I'm alright with it, > assuming it is of reasonable weight and dimension.
> -J
> * I may try to strike a deal with the kind and beautiful young lady > who lives below me where I can stash my grill on her patio instead, in > exchange for letting her use it whenever she wants. Also, she's > young, kind and beautiful.
I thought it was clear from your original post that you were grilling in the yard and moving the grill to the balcony when done. We have put in an offer on a high rise condo. I was surprised that the balconies are piped with gas for grills. Bottled gas on a balcony is against code here, but piped in natural gas for grills is okay. I think it would be interesting to see how bad the smoke is from balcony to balcony. We have decided that we will not take our big grill, but replace it with a smaller one.
> Grilling season is approaching, and I greatly anticipate it.
> I'm thinking about getting a Weber Smokey Joe. My ex-gf had one that > I learned to grill on some time ago. I was always wishing that it had > more capacity though (for leftovers or company). It seemed like I > could only get about 5 burger patties or 6 brats on it at a time, and > once those were done the coals were about spent.
> Does this sound about right, or was I doing it wrong? IIRC you can't > just add more charcoal to the grill and then immediately start > grilling- you have to wait for the new briquettes (or lumps) to burn > down to coals.
> I'd love a full-sized grill, but I'm guessing it would be inefficient > for one person. Plus, I live in an apartment and can't just leave it > in the yard. I don't know about the weight of a full-sized grill when > empty, but I can easily carry a Smokey Joe up onto my balcony on the > 2nd floor.
> Or should I look for a grill that's about halfway between those two in > size? I anticipate that sometimes I'll be grilling for myself, and > other times I'll be inviting friends over. The latter case would mean > about 4 adults and sometimes a dog.
> What say you?
> -J
Just cooking for one, then a smokey joe is fine, u can do a whole cut up chicken, coals should last easily and more the entire time if cooking burgers or brats, i cook chicken 1-1/2 hour on a single load of briquettes.
> On Sun, 21 Mar 2010 15:21:45 -0700 (PDT), phaeton > <blahbleh...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>Grilling season is approaching, and I greatly anticipate it.
>>I'm thinking about getting a Weber Smokey Joe. My ex-gf had one that >>I learned to grill on some time ago. I was always wishing that it had >>more capacity though (for leftovers or company). It seemed like I >>could only get about 5 burger patties or 6 brats on it at a time, and >>once those were done the coals were about spent.
>>Does this sound about right, or was I doing it wrong? IIRC you can't >>just add more charcoal to the grill and then immediately start >>grilling- you have to wait for the new briquettes (or lumps) to burn >>down to coals.
>>I'd love a full-sized grill, but I'm guessing it would be inefficient >>for one person. Plus, I live in an apartment and can't just leave it >>in the yard. I don't know about the weight of a full-sized grill when >>empty, but I can easily carry a Smokey Joe up onto my balcony on the >>2nd floor.
> First check with management that they allow grilling on balconies, > most fire codes don't permit it.
Grilling on patios and apartment/condo balconies is most definitely fire code territory. I was fortunate to have a very large patio at my apartment in TN so there was no danger of setting the place on fire. I didn't have the grill anywhere near the fence or the apartment walls when I was using it. It was well within the firemarshyall codes.
I remember visiting a friend who rented an apartment and against all regulations the former occupants had a grill on the small balcony. The (plastic or whatever that stuff was) siding melted.
Then there was the guy who lived below me back in the 90's who had his teenage son start chicken on the grill for dinner. I was sitting on my wooden balcony up above their patio, reading. I saw flames shooting up below my feet. The boy had really loaded the grill with charcoal and drenched it in charcoal fluid (eeek!) and lit it. Then he went back inside and was listening to music wearing headphones. He was completely oblivious to the flames. That patio was waaay too small for even a small grill. And it was definitely against the fire codes. This kid could have set fire to the entire building; he was too young and wasn't paying attention.
>>>Grilling season is approaching, and I greatly anticipate it.
>>>I'm thinking about getting a Weber Smokey Joe. My ex-gf had one that >>>I learned to grill on some time ago. I was always wishing that it had >>>more capacity though (for leftovers or company). It seemed like I >>>could only get about 5 burger patties or 6 brats on it at a time, and >>>once those were done the coals were about spent.
>>>Does this sound about right, or was I doing it wrong? IIRC you can't >>>just add more charcoal to the grill and then immediately start >>>grilling- you have to wait for the new briquettes (or lumps) to burn >>>down to coals.
>>>I'd love a full-sized grill, but I'm guessing it would be inefficient >>>for one person. Plus, I live in an apartment and can't just leave it >>>in the yard. I don't know about the weight of a full-sized grill when >>>empty, but I can easily carry a Smokey Joe up onto my balcony on the >>>2nd floor.
>> First check with management that they allow grilling on balconies, >> most fire codes don't permit it.
> Grilling on patios and apartment/condo balconies is most definitely fire > code territory. I was fortunate to have a very large patio at my > apartment in TN so there was no danger of setting the place on fire. I > didn't have the grill anywhere near the fence or the apartment walls > when I was using it. It was well within the firemarshyall codes.
> I remember visiting a friend who rented an apartment and against all > regulations the former occupants had a grill on the small balcony. The > (plastic or whatever that stuff was) siding melted.
> Then there was the guy who lived below me back in the 90's who had his > teenage son start chicken on the grill for dinner. I was sitting on my > wooden balcony up above their patio, reading. I saw flames shooting up > below my feet. The boy had really loaded the grill with charcoal and > drenched it in charcoal fluid (eeek!) and lit it. Then he went back > inside and was listening to music wearing headphones. He was completely > oblivious to the flames. That patio was waaay too small for even a > small grill. And it was definitely against the fire codes. This kid > could have set fire to the entire building; he was too young and wasn't > paying attention.
> So yes, use care. And know the laws.
> Jill
The fifth floor apartment I once rented had fairly small balconies, but they were made of concrete and had metal railings. We were allowed to have charcoal burning hibachis. At least that was what the apartment management allowed. I have no idea what the codes were.
--
~~ If there's a nit to pick, some nitwit will pick it. ~~
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