Grill of Doom

[tugrik]

Well, it was, until I fixed it today. More like 'gave it a check-up', really.

A little over 4 years ago I bought a Turbo 5-burner grill on a wood cart. I took real good care of it at first: cleaned it well, covered it when I wasn't using it, all that. Over time that slacked off, and over the last year I've lost the cover and just let it sit out. Still, I at least cleaned it when I used it and it always did a good job with the food. Last fall the igniter broke and I started lighting it with those long-stick matches instead. I wanted to make my 'lean onion-burger' standard dinner for the roomies today, and it occurred to me just how knappy the grill was starting to look.

$40 at BBQs-Galore got me two packs of new ceramic briquettes, a replacement igniter unit, a big bag of 'fat soak' rocks and a new brass-bristle brush. The grill itself is amazingly modular, disassembling with no tools (to a point). It's one of the better designed 'prosumer' types and can be transferred between various types of carts or permanent installations. It took about 45 minutes to lift out all the various parts and fiddlybits, throw away the old soak-rocks and ceramics, and scrape everything down with the last of the old brass-brush. After unearthing the worst parts, it seems it's lasted the prior four years quite well. It was a rather messy job all told, though. Bleah.

While someday I'd love to get one of those 'patio bar' setups (ka-ching!) it's on a cheap jarra-wood cart for now. That cart has suffered in a year of rain and sun without the cover, but it's still holding together -- just faded and ugly. Next summer when grilling season is in full swing I'll probably put out the money for a new cart/stand for it, and get a new cover to go with whatever stand I buy. I need to start grilling veggies again, as that's my favorite way to have 'em. Roast corn on the cob... mmmm.

The burgers went over well, and I think the roomies liked 'em. reality_fox thinks I should use a less-lean beef (I use 4%). I'll give that a try next time. I used to grill quite fancy things, and narile gave me a few BBQ tools for the holiday I want to try out. Summer grilling season should be fun.

Comments

[smackjackal.livejournal.com]

Try using a 10 or 15% beef for burgers. I usually for about 10% myself.

[points.livejournal.com]

Heh.. he'd probably hate mine, then. I tend to go with 98% when I can get it, and add just a touch of crustless milk-soaked bread to give it that 'fatty' feel without the added fat.

[octantis.livejournal.com]

It was good. :9

[revar.livejournal.com]

I really liked my burger. The garlic tabasco sauce worked really well with the onion. My only regret was being a bit too shy with using the sauce. Next time I'll use more. Yum.

[turbinerocks.livejournal.com]

Turbine swoons at thought of onion burgers. :D