In late Summer 2017, I saw Nathan’s Jumbo Foot Long Beef Franks at a local supermarket and wanted to try them. Problem was there was only one package left, it was past its expiration date, and the store didn’t sell buns long enough for these hot dogs, anyway.
Fast forward to June 6, 2019. I’m shopping at Safeway and see these hot dogs again. Nearby, there’s a display of matching Nathan’s Extra Long Hot Dog Buns. Bingo! I’m taking these suckers home! Continue reading Nathan’s Jumbo Foot Long Beef Franks→
I picked up a couple of high quality Creekstone Farms ribeye steaks at Lakewood Meats in Lodi, CA while in town judging a barbecue contest.
These steaks were about 1″ thick. I wish they’d been 1-1/2″ thick, which would have been a better thickness for the reverse sear cooking method used here.
I sprinkled the steaks with kosher salt on both sides and refrigerated them on a cooling rack over a rimmed baking sheet pan for 2 hours. Right before grilling, I applied freshly ground black pepper to both sides and pressed it on with my hands.
I setup the Summit 450 gas grill for indirect cooking, with two burners OFF on the left side and two burners on HIGH on the right side. I placed a 12″ cast iron skillet on the hot side of the grill to pre-heat.
In the June/July issue of Cook’s Country magazine, the editors announced the results of testing eight popular grill brushes ranging in price from $5 to $35 in a variety of styles and construction.
It’s common to hear someone say that their old Weber gas grill is still going strong, but it doesn’t light properly. They have to light it with a match through the manual lighting hole in the front of the grill.
Sadly, it’s also common for some grill owners to think it’s time to toss and replace an old grill when it won’t light.
Difficulty in lighting is a common problem as a gas grill gets older. The solution is to install a new igniter kit. Doing so is cheap and easy on older Weber grills and just slightly more expensive and difficult on more recent Weber grills. Either way, it’s cheaper than buying a new grill and it’s a job that I’m confident you can do…so read on!
Buying The Correct Igniter Kit Is Key
Electronic igniter kit (left) vs. mechanical igniter kit (right)
Weber has used a variety of igniter kits over the years for different grills. Some kits are mechanical, some are electronic. Some include multiple igniters, some include just one. The wires may be longer in some kits and shorter in others. It’s important to get the right kit for your grill because even kits that look alike may not work properly in your specific grill.
Weber does not list the replacement igniter kit part number in your grill’s owners manual because these part numbers may change over time. The best way to make sure you get the right kit is to call Weber Customer Support at 800-446-0171. Give them your grill’s model name and serial number and they’ll tell you which part number you need. Alternatively, if you’re buying at a home center or online, read the box label or product description carefully to make sure the kit covers your specific grill model and year.
Types of Ignition Systems
Prior to the mid-2000s, Weber used a mechanical piezo ignition system in gas grills. When you depress the ignition button, a spring-loaded hammer hits a crystal, generating a high voltage discharge that travels through wires to a ceramic igniter in the firebox, creating a spark next to the burner tube and lighting the gas. These older systems make a loud metallic “bang” noise when you depress the rectangular ignition button. Each time you depress the button, a spark is generated. Continue reading Replacing Weber Gas Grill Igniters→
In their June/July 2019 issue, Cook’s Country magazine named Heinz Organic Tomato Ketchup as their favorite ketchup among eight varieties in a recent taste test.
The panel tasted each ketchup by itself and on French fries. They described the taste of Heinz Organic Tomato Ketchup as “lively”, “familiar”, and “perfectly balanced”. They said the ketchup looked “thick”, “smooth”, and “glossy”.
I’ve mentioned loco moco previously here on The Virtual Weber Gas Grill, so I will let you read that article to learn the basics about this popular Hawaiian meal.
For this loco moco, instead of using a ground pork patty, I grilled-up some high quality Creekstone Farms Black Angus ground chuck burgers.
I picked up this piece of meat at Lakewood Meats in Lodi, CA after a barbecue contest. Nice folks, good quality meats. The butcher cut a pocket in one side of the lion and stuffed it with their in-house garlic sausage, then wrapped it in bacon and tied it up tight.
I grilled this guy for 90 minutes over indirect heat with burners 1 & 4 on LOW and burners 2 & 3 on OFF. To prevent sticking, I sprayed the bottom surface of the roast with non-stick cooking spray. Continue reading Bacon Wrapped Garlic Sausage Stuffed Pork Loin→
The following products have been discontinued by Weber for the 2019 season. If you’re interested in any of these and see them at retailers or online stores, you’d better move quickly to grab one!
Sometimes I like to use a cast iron griddle or skillet in my Weber gas grill. I use a griddle to make smashed burgers or to do a reverse sear on a steak. I’ve used a CI skillet on the grill to fry extra-thick bacon and pork belly to avoid setting off the smoke detector in the house! Both are great tools that you should try sometime on your gas grill.
Weber is raising prices on most of its products effective January 1, 2019. Rumor has it that the rising cost of steel is the driving force behind these increases.
Prices will be going up on Weber Summit ($100-$200), Genesis II ($50), and Q gas grills ($10-$20). However, there will be a $50 price drop on Spirit II gas grills, so if you’re in the market for a Spirit, waiting to buy until after the New Year will save you a few bucks.
