Top products from r/charcoal

Char Griller makes what you have with an offset box as well and also fits pretty much all other critetia. With some mods, it's an amazing smoker and usually pretty cheap to get. https://www.amazon.com/Char-Griller-1224-Smokin-Square-Charcoal/dp/B0009NU5YY

I'm very much enjoying mine and besides repainting the firebox so far maintenance had been minimal. The Charcoal tray serves as a great diffuser for heat. Rotisserie can be popped in too.

Good choice. I have the same. Here are some bullet points:

• I have a job box that I set it on top of to cook, and store it inside the job box when not in use.
  
• I keep the grate indoors and clean it after every use. A simple course steel pad will work just fine. It and some Dawn dish soap.
  
• I clean out the ash after every use. (I store it in a knee high metal trash can)
  
• I use a chimney stack to start standard charcoal briquettes You only need to fill it 3/4 of the way full.
  
• You can easily close the vents and cap off to kill the briquettes and use them on the next grilling.
  
• I clean grill itself twice a year. Once in the fall before the winter season. And then again late spring/early summer. Once again, some Dawn and the above steel scouring pad works fine.
  
  I cook all the time for my lady and myself. 4 burgers. 8 wings. A full slap of spare ribs (cut in haft), 2 T-bone steaks, Shish-kabobs . So this grill is perfect for your application. Granted, don't plan on cooking a side with most meals, as the meat takes up a good amount of room.
  
  
• Yes you can do Hot and Cold sides. Just put your charcoal to one side. Granted this does limit your cooking space. So you may have to do something like burgers in batches.
  
  Oil is not needed. Thou I tend to Pam not stick spray the griddle right before I put the meat on. It works fine. A little elbow grease when you clean it may be needed, but it is fairly easy.
  
  Some Proof of what I have done with mine:
  
  
• https://twitter.com/eqrunner/status/512344565479911424
  
• https://twitter.com/eqrunner/status/493891657683574784
  
• https://twitter.com/eqrunner/status/466727864847441920
  
• https://twitter.com/eqrunner/status/451459503956176898
  
• https://twitter.com/eqrunner/status/451443387242389504
  

• Welding gloves. They are the best/most affordable BBQ gloves you can get.
  
• Thermometer. Preferably one with two probes, one for the meat, another one you clip on the grill grate. Maverick and Thermoworks Smoke are popular options. You can get far with a couple of $7 IKEA FANTAST though.
  
• 12" kitchen tongs for handling food like these. Don't bother with super fancy BBQ utensils. A Kitchen spatula will work as well.
  
• Cheap BBQ tongs. Just for handling lumps of coal
  
• Quality BBQ brush. Some people suggest using your grill with aluminium foil or onions or whatever. They don't seem to work as well. Invest in something a bit more expensive. The cheap ones tend to lose metal brush hairs from time to time which might stick to food and get swallowed.
  
• Silicone food brush to put on oils and sauces on hot meat at the end of your cooks
  
• Spray bottle. With longer cooks (6+ hours) these become pretty important
  
• Good quality aluminium foil. The thick kind. You use that constantly
  
• aluminium trays to use as a water pan during long cooks.
  
  That's pretty much it. Also, IKEA VARIERA Pot lid holder makes the best rib rack out there at the fraction of the cost. Not necessary but worth the mention.

I had the same problem THIS TYPE OF CHEAP GRILL. I fell for charcoal when my folks got A WEBER PERFORMER PLATINUM, which I was able to operate with ease.
I decided to get one for myself, so naturally I picked up the cheapest thing at Walmart. My problem all came down to airflow. The cheapo Walmart grill didn't even come with a bottom wire rack, so the coals sat right on the bottom of the pan, and there were some weenie vents in the front of the grill. I had a chimney to get the coals going, but once I dumped them, they were in the process of going out.
I bought a bottom rack, and it got passable. Once I looked at the Weber design and understood how the air works, it made it clear why I was having issues, and why everyone loves Weber.
What I've found is that with charcoal, air = heat.

Get a good chimney, as this will help you get the coals started fast. I am drooling over THIS PROPANE STARTER CHIMNEY, as it means you don't have to use lighter fluid (purists say it affects taste) or paper (ashes get EVERYWHERE), and make sure your fire has enough air.

For an apartment use I would consider a cheap camping propane grill. This would be perfect for hots dogs burger and more. Plus it would start quicker and cool down quicker then charcoal. If you need to stop quickly for whatever reason you can just turn of the gas, charcoal can take an hour + to cool down.

Compact Propane Grills

I am personally considering this option as I can add a cast iron griddle and have a propane grill + black stone griddle grill in one

If you are on a budget consider buy used, there are some deals out there often.

I really like these. Thicker, don’t rip like cheaper ones.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002XXO60M?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_title

I love this book [Weber's way to grill] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0376020598/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=56001599729&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=753396277644651227&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_6qoi7y1woo_b)

This is the table I ordered according to my Amazon history. Like I said tho, the one i got was a scratch and dent return so i got a huge discount. Any stainless food prep table would work.

BK Resources VTT-4830 18 Gauge Stainless Steel Flat Top Table with Galvanized Undershelf and Legs, 48" x 30", 34.75" Height, 30" Width, 48" Length https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0040YZI3Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_2-QgDb3VW0K2W

This thing is supposed to be amazing for cleaning the grill grates. I haven't tried it myself because my current grill is cast iron grates.

GrillFloss - Ultimate BBQ Grill Cleaning Tool https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000PAV28E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_KzW8Ab6K6W10E

I have an el cheap $80 Weber Kettle that has sat outside uncovered (through Michigan winters, no less) since I bought it nine years ago and I cook on it 4-5 times a week for nine months of the year. I replaced the charcoal grate, clean-out arms, ash catcher, and both handles this summer and it looks (and works) like new. A little TLC goes a long way!

http://imgur.com/a/opTbQ

You can replace the cleaning doodleys (the "One Touch Cleaning System") for $15: https://www.amazon.com/Weber-7444-2-Inch-One-Touch-Cleaning/dp/B005LVAZ3A/

The charcoal grate is probably fine, but you can replace that too for $11 if you want to get fancy: https://www.amazon.com/Weber-7441-Replacement-Charcoal-Grates/dp/B000WEKNMY

If the cooking grate is in poor shape, you can replace it for $20 with a hinged grate that allows you to add charcoal or wood chunks without pulling off the grate and any food you may have in it: https://www.amazon.com/Weber-7436-Replacement-Hinged-Cooking/dp/B000WEPHKW

Or, if you want to get a bit fancier, here is a sturdier version that has a removable center ring for $35. You can pop out the center of the grate and pop in a "Gourmet BBQ System" work, pizza stone, griddle, searing grate, or other nifty stuff. https://www.amazon.com/Weber-8835-Gourmet-System-Cooking/dp/B0044EQM9Q/

If your handles are shot, you can buy a new front handle with tool hooks for $8: https://www.amazon.com/Weber-7478-Charcoal-Grill-Handle/dp/B00FDOOQD0

...and a lid handle for $10 (though it appears to be out of stock at the moment): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WEOOWO

Finally, a replacement ash catcher runs $13: https://www.amazon.com/Weber-7407-22-5-Inch-Replacement-Catcher/dp/B000WEOQ1I

No, those are not grill thermometers at all. Those are surface thermometers. You'll know absolutely nothing about the internal temperature of either the grill air or the meat with those.

You want something like this https://www.amazon.com/Maverick-Range-Wireless-Smoker-Thermometer/dp/B00FOCR4UI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1473386073&sr=8-2&keywords=maverick+thermometer That's basically the standard for dual grill thermometers, but there are cheaper ones similar to it. One sits just above the grates (some people use a potato or onion to elevate it) and one gets probed right into the center of the meat.

https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-2000020279-Compact-Folding-Table/dp/B005G0XFEM?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_3

Without a lid, you have three options:

1. let them burn out.
   
2. douse with something (like water)
   
3. move the coals to an air tight container.
   
   
   I wouldn’t put baking soda, powder, or sand anywhere near the grill. Just a mess for cleaning up later. If you’re not willing to let it burn out, I’d buy a small metal trash can with a lid and move the coals into that then put the lid on.
   
   Something like this:
   
   Behrens 6 Gallon Rust-Proof Steel Locking Lid Trash Can(6 gal) Made in USA https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0758G5HVF/