Aldi 3 Burner Gas Barbecue

davo2001

Anyone care to comment on this BBQ? €110 doesn't seem to be a bad price.....?

https://www.aldi.ie/en/specialbuys/thur-9-apr/products-detail-page/ps/p/3-burner-gas-barbecue/

witnessmenow

davo2001 wrote: »

Anyone care to comment on this BBQ? €110 doesn't seem to be a bad price.....?

https://www.aldi.ie/en/specialbuys/thur-9-apr/products-detail-page/ps/p/3-burner-gas-barbecue/

To be honest while probably not being the best BBQ in the world, you could probably do worse.

Its pretty cheap, it looks fairly big and it has a 3 warranty.

Personally I would prefer charcoal, but they have their cons, for example I could cook a few burgers after work this evening on a gas grill, while it would not be worth my while lighting the charcoal one up.

davo2001

witnessmenow wrote: »

To be honest while probably not being the best BBQ in the world, you could probably do worse.

Its pretty cheap, it looks fairly big and it has a 3 warranty.

Personally I would prefer charcoal, but they have their cons, for example I could cook a few burgers after work this evening on a gas grill, while it would not be worth my while lighting the charcoal one up.

Thanks for the reply, my thoughts exactly, I have had a small charcoal one that I bought for €20 5 years ago and it has done well but reached the end of its life.

Just looking for something to last a couple of summers until we buy our own house, then planning to build my own :-P

For €100 I think it should be OK.

stimpson

Charcoal > Gas

Am I Evil?

stimpson wrote: »

Charcoal > Gas

Not relevant in the slightest, everyone has their own preference. I never get the reason for people to even make comments like that.

Anyways, good spot op. Recently moved up the country and looking to get us a cheap gas barbecue as a replacement for the one I left behind . Must take a look tomorrow.

irishlady29

Does anyone know what type of gas it takes?

vicwatson

It would be butane.

I think a very good deal for the price and with a 3 year warranty. Cant go wrong.

stimpson

Am I Evil? wrote: »

Not relevant in the slightest, everyone has their own preference. I never get the reason for people to even make comments like that.

Anyways, good spot op. Recently moved up the country and looking to get us a cheap gas barbecue as a replacement for the one I left behind . Must take a look tomorrow.

Of course it's relevant. I'm discussing the bargain.

I had a gas one before and I sold it and bought a Weber. There is no barbecue taste from gas - you may as well cook inside on the grill. With charcoal, the juices drip on to the coal and add aroma and flavour. There are other techniques you can do on a charcoal that you just can't replicate on gas. I'd take a cheap Tesco €20 BBQ over any gas one.

Kalyke

stimpson wrote: »

Of course it's relevant. I'm discussing the bargain.

I had a gas one before and I sold it and bought a Weber. There is no barbecue taste from gas - you may as well cook inside on the grill. With charcoal, the juices drip on to the coal and add aroma and flavour. There are other techniques you can do on a charcoal that you just can't replicate on gas. I'd take a cheap Tesco €20 BBQ over any gas one.

Incorrect....And you do not need lava coals either. The flare ups from a cooking steak, etc will give you all the barbecue flavour you need!

Staplor

I bought a gas BBQ at the weekend, then I saw this in the papers. I was a little peeved. For what I can see that looks to be a bargain.

I cooked on gas tonight for the first time, I really liked it, had charcoal before there was too much messing around, and with a small kid intent on knocking things over, and destroying all in sight, charcoal was not practical as it stays hot for ages, gas was the way to go for me anyway. Plus with Irish weather, gas means you could be done and dusted with a few bits in 30 minutes.

Wouldn't go back to charcoal now (and I was one of the charcoal fanboys up til last year I couldn't get the BBQ out of the shed with a toddler).

firestarter51

I got a gas one two years ago, I have more bbqs now as it's quicker and cheaper, jar of gas lasts ages
For €100 go for it
First jar of gas will be pricey as they make you rent the bottle (I think)

Lenny

Bought a gas bbq last year myayself, I've had loads of bbqs this year in all weather, I just spark it up in the shed and away ya go,
quick rub down when done and its finished

unklerosco

Buy a gas one and a charcoal one... The way I do it is gas for family, charcoal for me! I tend to do the staples on the gas and good stuff on charcoal.

loyatemu

the question with cheap gas BBQs is what exactly is the flame heating - I've used some terrible gas grills on holidays where the flame is heating a thin piece of metal and you get constant flare ups and it's impossible to clean. The one I have at home uses lava rocks which are fine once you get used to controlling the heat. Ceramic briquettes are supposed to be good as well and the high end grills I've seen seem to use metal bars. Its hard to tell from the picture how the Aldi BBQ works.

L1011

I've a decade old Aldi equivalent going strong despite living outside - painted with Rustin's high heat paint every few years. The burners heat large steel baffles in it

This one actually looks sturdier - and mines survived heavy use and Irish rain

groom

There's a charcoal BBQ on at Aldi as well for €60

It's a daft irrelevant argument comparing charcoal and gas BBQs. They are heterogeneous products

ford2600

groom wrote: »

There's a charcoal BBQ on at Aldi as well for €60

It's a daft irrelevant argument comparing charcoal and gas BBQs. They are heterogeneous products

If you want to use charcoal a charcoal chimney cuts out the time a lot, coals red in five mins, really easy to use. They cost €10-15 from memory. A gift of a device

http://www.firepit-and-grilling-guru.com/charcoal-chimney.html

whowantstwoknow

Where would you pickup a suitable cover for this to keep the weather off it?

Thanks
W.

Toast

The problem with Gas v Charcoal is the Gas doesn't get as hot as Charcoal. This is a problem if you want a nicely seared steak with a pink interior because if it's not hot enough you'll end up cooking the steak through before you get it a deep brown on the outside. There are methods to counter this (freeze the steak being the obvious one or use much thicker cuts (expensive)).

The other problem with all cheap BBQs has been mentioned... the grills are thin pieces of metal that don't hold heat well. This makes the lower heat of Gas a bigger problem as you can't heat something up over time to act as a heat sink. Pay for proper thick cast iron grills if you care about doing it properly.

In my experience when it comes to BBQs most people don't care about doing it properly (or eating properly cooked food). The approach is incinerate it and make up for the dried up husk of food with lashings of potato salad and think that the burnt taste is the "taste of the BBQ". I'll admit if I'm entertaining a crowd I'm less likely to bother juggling timers and temperature probes and go for the better safe than sorry approach and stick with this approach too. This BBQ will be fine if this describes your approach but it isn't for gourmet grilling or whatever you want to call it.

my3cents

whowantstwoknow wrote: »

Where would you pickup a suitable cover for this to keep the weather off it?

Thanks
W.

Just wait Aldi and/or Lidl will have them sometime this year.

ddubs

Anyone picked one up? First impressions? Did they have a lot in stock? Hoping to grab one this evening all going well.

the goon

I bought a gas/lava rock bbq in Lidl a few years ago, where you heated the lava rocks by way of the gas. I found it really great and best of both worlds, but it's knackered now. I wonder if there is anything like that around?

murphyebass

If going with a gas bbq get one with cast iron grills.

Steel grills are terrible in comparison.

As for the gas v charcoal debate I think most of us would go charcoal but the time and effort involved is just something most of us don't have.

Gas bbq for my very limited time makes perfect sense. Start up grill, cook, cool down, cover done!

My grill has plates that fat drops on that creates smoke. Yes it's not as good as charcoal but it's pretty damn good considering all the other pros

davo2001

ddubs wrote: »

Anyone picked one up? First impressions? Did they have a lot in stock? Hoping to grab one this evening all going well.

I got one this morning in Limerick, quality looks good, there was a queue of people before it opened. All the gas BBQs were gone in 2 minutes, I'd say you would be lucky if they were still in stock later.

Harika

Horkans.ie sells Weber BBQs off: http://www.horkans.ie/search/weber/page_2 still more expensive than the Aldi one, but Weber has a great reputation for making BBQs.

davo2001

Harika wrote: »

Horkans.ie sells Weber BBQs off: http://www.horkans.ie/search/weber/page_2 still more expensive than the Aldi one, but Weber has a great reputation for making BBQs.

Yeah but the cheapest gas one is €549! 5 times the price!

FrasierCrane

whowantstwoknow wrote: »

Where would you pickup a suitable cover for this to keep the weather off it?

Thanks
W.

Aldi are selling covers as well today. Presume it fits the BBQ's they are selling.

https://www.aldi.ie/en/specialbuys/thur-9-apr/products-detail-page/ps/p/garden-furniturebarbecue-cover-1/

Harika

davo2001 wrote: »

Yeah but the cheapest gas one is €549! 5 times the price!

Sorry was more looking at the small Coal ones: http://www.horkans.ie/p/weber-one-touch-original-47cm-black-charcoal-barbeque/187034761

randombar

Shame you can't get something that does both, now that would be ideal!

Skud

MrRight1 wrote: »

Aldi are selling covers as well today. Presume it fits the BBQ's they are selling.

https://www.aldi.ie/en/specialbuys/thur-9-apr/products-detail-page/ps/p/garden-furniturebarbecue-cover-1/

The dimensions seem to fit the gas BBQ (bigger of the two). I bought a cover with the Charcoal so will report on it later when I set it up (after work). All the gas ones were gone at lunchtime btw in the store I was in.

stimpson

Toast wrote: »

The problem with Gas v Charcoal is the Gas doesn't get as hot as Charcoal. This is a problem if you want a nicely seared steak with a pink interior because if it's not hot enough you'll end up cooking the steak through before you get it a deep brown on the outside. There are methods to counter this (freeze the steak being the obvious one or use much thicker cuts (expensive)).

The other problem with all cheap BBQs has been mentioned... the grills are thin pieces of metal that don't hold heat well. This makes the lower heat of Gas a bigger problem as you can't heat something up over time to act as a heat sink. Pay for proper thick cast iron grills if you care about doing it properly.

In my experience when it comes to BBQs most people don't care about doing it properly (or eating properly cooked food). The approach is incinerate it and make up for the dried up husk of food with lashings of potato salad and think that the burnt taste is the "taste of the BBQ". I'll admit if I'm entertaining a crowd I'm less likely to bother juggling timers and temperature probes and go for the better safe than sorry approach and stick with this approach too. This BBQ will be fine if this describes your approach but it isn't for gourmet grilling or whatever you want to call it.

The best steak I've ever eaten was cooked on a BBQ starter (the afterburner method). The top of the chimney gets to 500deg Celsius - the same temp as a Salamander grill used by high end restaurants. Pop a grill on the top and 2 mins each side = perfect medium rare steak.

npflynn

A little off topic but does anyone know where to get a charcoal chimney?

vicwatson

npflynn wrote: »

A little off topic but does anyone know where to get a charcoal chimney?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00FDQ0T5C/ref=pd_luc_rh_sbs_02_04_t_img_lh?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Stg 9.98, free delivery over Stg 25.00

deadl0ck

Was considering buying a gas BBQ so quite interested in this.
I did a bit of google-ing and came across this : http://shop.calorgas.ie/outback-excel-300-gas-bbq-with-free-cover.html
70 quid more but it's got pretty good reviews form what I can see...
What to buy.....hmmmm........

L1011

deadl0ck wrote: »

Was considering buying a gas BBQ so quite interested in this.
I did a bit of google-ing and came across this : http://shop.calorgas.ie/outback-excel-300-gas-bbq-with-free-cover.html
70 quid more but it's got pretty good reviews form what I can see...
What to buy.....hmmmm........

Its a lot smaller than the Aldi one so a direct price comparison isn't valid either.

deadl0ck

L1011 wrote: »

Its a lot smaller than the Aldi one so a direct price comparison isn't valid either.

Not that much smaller
Aldi : "Cooking area 60 x 42cm"
Outback : "49.5 x 35cm Enameled Cooking Grill"

So 10cm less width and 7cm less depth - it does look a lot smaller though

I suppose you'd fit an extra row of burgers in that 10cm strip....

witnessmenow

deadl0ck wrote: »

Not that much smaller
Aldi : "Cooking area 60 x 42cm"
Outback : "49.5 x 35cm Enameled Cooking Grill"

So 10cm less width and 7cm less depth - it does look a lot smaller though

I suppose you'd fit an extra row of burgers in that 10cm strip....

If you are going that size I would suggest going for the Weber Q100 (I think thats what it is called)

Its a tabletop one, my dad had one for close to 10 years and he wouldn't have taken particularity good care of it and the only thing he needed to replace is the hose to the gas canister (which btw was a small one so it made the thing really portable)

You wouldn't be cooking any full size chickens in it, but it was great for burgers and chicken strips etc

cellboy

thanks BA!!

loyatemu

deadl0ck wrote: »

Not that much smaller
Aldi : "Cooking area 60 x 42cm"
Outback : "49.5 x 35cm Enameled Cooking Grill"

So 10cm less width and 7cm less depth - it does look a lot smaller though

I suppose you'd fit an extra row of burgers in that 10cm strip....

it's 32% less area - that's quite a bit.

deadl0ck

loyatemu wrote: »

it's 32% less area - that's quite a bit.

Is it when you say it like that !

Zenith74

I'm actually just finished building one of those Calor ones a couple of hours ago!

I had a few of the cheaper (~€100) Woodies Omaha gas BBQs (with lava rock) over the last 5-6 years. I love the fact that with the gas you can BBQ nearly every night without spending hours messing with coal, I'm well and truly converted to gas (but you need lava rock imho). The Woodies ones were grand and similar build quality to the Aldi one I'd guess, light enough steal and a tendency to rust quite badly. In the end my last Woodies one (2 years old) actually had the burner rust through. It's kept outside but under a bit of cover, so just a case of getting what you pay for I think.

This Calor Outback is a very different level of quality though imo. Much sturdier in general, the grill is enamel coated, lava rock included, legs are aluminium, shelves are decent plastic etc. so there should be a lot less rusting. Well worth the extra few quid I think. My one complaint is there wasn't nearly enough lava rock supplied, so get a bag extra when purchasing. You also get a €20 gas voucher with it...

Yamanoto

Zenith74 wrote: »

I love the fact that with the gas you can BBQ nearly every night without spending hours messing with coal, I'm well and truly converted to gas (but you need lava rock imho)

If the weather's good, I'll BBQ over coals on maybe 3/4 nights per week. As someone mentioned above, using a charcoal chimney to light up means there's really no need to be messing about with coals for hours - 20 mins and you're ready to cook. During that wait time I'll prep some veg, throw a salad together & maybe wander down the garden like the lord of the manor. Then straight on with some Chicken, Steaks or Fish (Sea Bass is frickin' amazing cooked over coals). I do get the attraction of gas, but I think the flavours produced by a charcoal cook really do make up for any added inconvenience.

hdowney

Want to chime in here rather than a new thread. I am looking to get a small barbeque (in that I'll be cooking for 2-3ppl max so doesn't need to be huge) and wondering what to go for. I don't want cremated burgers and sausages type thing. I want to cook as much and varied and tasty dishes as possible when the weather is good *crosses fingers*. Bbq kings advice?

glineli

Managed to pick one up in Oranmore today, all gone there in 5 minutes.

Anyone managed to put it together?

Staplor

hdowney wrote: »

Want to chime in here rather than a new thread. I am looking to get a small barbeque (in that I'll be cooking for 2-3ppl max so doesn't need to be huge) and wondering what to go for. I don't want cremated burgers and sausages type thing. I want to cook as much and varied and tasty dishes as possible when the weather is good *crosses fingers*. Bbq kings advice?

I got a Weber Spirit Classic e210, cooked for myself and the wife on Wednesday, first time using it. Cooked for 20 on it tonight, all happy. Never had another gas jobby but it is freaking awesome.

L1011

deadl0ck wrote: »

Not that much smaller
Aldi : "Cooking area 60 x 42cm"
Outback : "49.5 x 35cm Enameled Cooking Grill"

So 10cm less width and 7cm less depth - it does look a lot smaller though

I suppose you'd fit an extra row of burgers in that 10cm strip....

What looks like not a lot more in single directions is rather a lot in total surface. The fact its 2 burner shows that it is a lot smaller.

Zenith74

hdowney - worth reading here for people's thoughts on gas vs. coal as it is a contentious topic. I think if you're not used to BBQing gas is just so so simple, it will get you into it and if you want to venture into coal someday you can. If you're looking at the lower end of the range I'd try to get one with lava rock (and get an extra bag so you can pack the tray properly!) as this will get a good smoke and flavouring going on. The more expensive gas BBQs have all sorts of fancy flavourisers so you don't need to use lava rock, but you tend to be looking at >€500 for these.

As I said above I've had a few (4-5) of the cheaper Woodies style sub €100 gas BBQs and to be honest they did the job perfectly, I cooked 2-3 times a week most of the way through the year on the last one. But you do get what you pay for and quite quickly these BBQs start to rust and corrode, so they still function but look dreadful, until they need to be binned. Yes you could double the life by putting it in the garage each time, but I think the beauty of gas is you can be on the couch one minute, the next you can be out yielding your tongues over scorching flames!

So if you can stretch to €179 I really cannot recommend this one more - http://shop.calorgas.ie/outback-excel-300-gas-bbq-with-free-cover.html. Very sturdy, lots of alu/plastic that looks good and won't rust. The only downside is they give you a pathetic quantity of lave rock, so you'll need to get a bag...

Berberis

I'm a bit confused here. The Aldi burner is a gas one, but does it/can it use the lava rock or is it just a flame under a grill plate

Zenith74

Berberis wrote: »

I'm a bit confused here. The Aldi burner is a gas one, but does it/can it use the lava rock or is it just a flame under a grill plate

Looks from the photo like it is not lava rock, instead there are plates over the burners that fat drips onto and evaporate/burns creating the smoke and flavour. Never used one of these but read good things...

Keith C

Staplor wrote: »

I got a Weber Spirit Classic e210, cooked for myself and the wife on Wednesday, first time using it. Cooked for 20 on it tonight, all happy. Never had another gas jobby but it is freaking awesome.

How much did that set you back?

Murilloinf

glineli wrote: »

Managed to pick one up in Oranmore today, all gone there in 5 minutes.

Anyone managed to put it together?

I managed to put the charcoal one ..