Brand New at Qing. Need tips, tricks, advice, anything!

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GrillingCyrus

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Alright so im brand new to the site and pretty muching to Qing. Just bought The Char-Griller Super Pro BBQ Grill for my parents and started it up a few days ago.

I read on a few sites about seasoning the grill so i threw the grates on the propane to remove the waxy crap and then hit the Char-Griller with my FIRST batch of charcoal.

I used some crappy match light stuff we bought since i didnt know the difference until reading a few sites. After around two hours i brought the grates over to the Char-Griller and started the Veg - oil bath. I did that for around an hour and had to head off for work.

Im currently looking for any tips, tricks, advice on anything i should do this point on. I dont have the sidebox for the grill yet but I have been thinking about purchasing it. I have never done any slow cooking or smoking so anything would really be helpful for a newbie like me!:bow:
 
Welcome to the forum Cyrus! It sounds like you are off to a good start. :thumb:
 
You will enjoy. There is a ton of information about anything you want to grill and smoke. Start with the google search at the bottom for a specific technique. If you don't find it ask away. Everyone here gives tips freely. Just way too much info to put into 1 reply.
 
sounds like you've done what you needed. you'll enjoy the CG super pro but i recommend getting the SFB and doing the modifications to the CG you'll find in this site. i have two CG and have had good luck with them. Welcome to the site and good luck.
 
And read, read, read, and then read some more. since joiniing in March i have been reading all i can on this site. there is loads of info and a great bunch of guys and gals willing to assist. Again, welcome from another newbie and enjoy your BBQ journey.
 
Pork shoulders are a great "starter" as they are pretty forgiving, but will definitely need low 'n' slow.

If you want something quicker and easier to start off, try your hand at chicken. Go and get a whole chicken, rub it up and cook away.


I could just go on and on and on with suggestions and use terminology that may not mean anything to you at this point. It's best to search, read and ask specifics. We're all more than willing to help out.


WELCOME!
 
Join the site and get privilege to view the recipe section. Start with chicken. it's cheap. Oh yeah, put your Chargriller on Craigslist and then buy a Weber kettle grill and a Weber Smokey Mountain. 22'' or 18 1/2" smoker:)
 
You already made a great leap forward by figuring out matchlight is a definite no-no :clap2:
 
My Char-Griller is over 10 years old now, it's been thru hell and high water. I've never modified it much, just learned to deal with its disadvantages (mostly that it leaks air bad).

I'd highly recommend dropping the extra 100 and getting the off-set firebox. The learning process of cooking on a Char-griller in the off-set mode will set you on the Slow and Low path of good Q.
 
Tip #1: Sweet Blue Smoke
Tip #2: 250 Deg F.
Tip #3: It's done when it's done.
 
QDoc said:
Join the site and get privilege to view the recipe section. Start with chicken. it's cheap. Oh yeah, put your Chargriller on Craigslist and then buy a Weber kettle grill and a Weber Smokey Mountain. 22'' or 18 1/2" smoker:)
Click to expand...

QDoc - touché, as you can see i use two CG's but i have to give you your prop's -- i got a good laugh reading your post. :laugh:
i'm actually thinking of adding a WSM to the mix as i've always been a big Weber fan having gotten started in the wonderful world of BBQ with a 22" weber kettle. the CG's worked for me from a budget perspective when i got started and i've had good luck with them.
 
Big_Alvin said:
And read, read, read, and then read some more. since joiniing in March i have been reading all i can on this site. there is loads of info and a great bunch of guys and gals willing to assist. Again, welcome from another newbie and enjoy your BBQ journey.
Click to expand...

+1 Couldn't agree more with this comment!

QDoc said:
Oh yeah, put your Chargriller on Craigslist and then buy a Weber kettle grill and a Weber Smokey Mountain. 22'' or 18 1/2" smoker:)
Click to expand...

And Cyrus, don't give this comment the gratitude of a second thought.

Nice equipment is nice to have, but technique is where it's at. Whether is a budget build cooker or a Klose, good Q is good Q, and technique is what will get you there.
 
frugalsob said:
+1 Couldn't agree more with this comment!



And Cyrus, don't give this comment the gratitude of a second thought.

Nice equipment is nice to have, but technique is where it's at. Whether is a budget build cooker or a Klose, good Q is good Q, and technique is what will get you there.
Click to expand...

Excuse me sob but Webers are not highend cookers. On the contrary they are very well made and with care should last a lifetime. They perform right out of the box without any additional modifications needed as do some of the less expensive cookers and of course the beloved UDS. I would wager if one factored in the time used to gather the supplies, assemble and paint, count your labor you would have invested much money in a home built cooker. But, my advise was not about money. It was about having fun and producing good bbq. I believe I wasted many hours first using a small offset and expended a lot of energy and quite frankly the product was not as consistant as I can can make on a more user friendly and fuel conserving cooker. I own an offset brinkman, several kettles, a couple of gassers, a Lang 84 and a FEC 100 and a UDS. But the ones I go to the most are the Webers. Also if you look around at contests you wont see too many small offsets. :wink:
 
I understand.

But as a new guy on the block, I was trying to offer him words of encouragment vs. telling him to get rid of is cooker.
 
I got my CG Outlaw for cheap, $60 brand new. For the money I figured it was a good place to start. Of course this morning I hop on CL and someone is selling a Weber Performer for $100. So now I kind of wish I had that money back, lol. But with the outlaw I have 1000 square inches of cooking area. I just need to add a few mods to improve it.

I'm still new to this and learning every day from this site.
 
Chargrillers are actually a pretty fair entry level smoker.You will definately learn the art of fire tending and temp adjustment. I would also suggest the side firebox,some people have had trouble knocking out the little football shaped thingy where it attatches but it will come out,push come to shove cut it with a dremmel before beating it to death.Be patient above everything thing else, I don't think there is any natural born pro's out there,we all had to learn.As it sits right now you can do some mighty fine grub cooking indirect with wood chips and chunks and a small amount of charcoal.I did sell my CG w/sfb to buy my WSM but I kept the other one I use as a grill. before you get carried away with modifying it try it as it sits with one exception.When you get the sfb make or buy a charcoal basket.Just have fun learning it and useing it and don't put to much trust in the OEM therm in the hood,they can be pretty bad.
 
Greatest advice in BBQ: learn to drink beer and relax.

Seriously, the majority of problems I see is when someone's tryin to cook for a deadline the meat isn't cooperating. If your doing a shoulder,give yourself a few hours leeway so your not rushed. Starting at low temps, then trying to run up the temp to speed up the cook will kill results. Foil can be used if you need it, but the best thing is to give your self ample time. especially with shoulder, it will actually help to let it sit in a cooler for a few hours to settle.
 
Cyrus we are in the same boat, Im new too.

The way I am trying to learn is by trying one or 2 dishes each weekend..and recording what I do and the results and ask questions here. I started with hotdogs, and believe it or not I actually ruined the first batch of hotdogs I tried.

Tried chicken but still need improvement on that. This weekend I'm gonna try burgers.

I have not even tried smoking yet (besides the whole chicken if that even counts as smoking)
 
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