The Char- Broil Big Easy: A Big Waste of Money?

Now that we have been in our new home for a couple of weeks and it finally stopped raining, it was time to fire up the new grill. Hallelujah! After living in a third floor apartment for the past three years I realized how much I missed grilling out on a nice evening.

We got our "Big Easy" from Lowe's and found that it was simple to set up. Of course, we did nothing more than watch the delivery guy put the screws in place. However, it looked like a fairly quick and simple process. In a matter of 15 minutes we had our grill.

Shortly after the delivery guy left, I discovered two things that annoyed me. First of all, the grill did not come with a cover. Isn't this similar to a barbie coming without clothing? Surprising and a little annoying since I now had to go back to Lowe's and purchase a cover. The second thing that annoyed me was the empty propane tank. Why not take the time to fill it up for us? The only reason I could figure was that transporting a filled propane tank could be dangerous or difficult for Lowe's. Hmm. Regardless, I now had to make two extra trips to get the grill going.

Finally, we were ready to fire the "Big Easy" up and begin with our first grilled meal in three years. Except for one problem- the silly starter button would not work. Now I do not blame Char- Broil for this. I blame the grill industry (Industry? Is there such a thing?) since the button does not seem to work on any grill I have ever used. However, I would have liked for it to work the first time I went to grill.

After all that trouble, you must be wondering if I have anything good to say about the "Big Easy"? I do. I was able to stick the lighter on Viagra through the hole (This is getting to be too graphic for epinions.) and light the grill with ease. It heated up quickly and we were finally on our way.

The "Big Easy" does not require charcoal and this is something that I guess I will come to enjoy. However, it was a little odd at first. Right now, I kind of miss the sizzle, smell, and sounds that charcoal brings. At this point we placed a piece of tin foil (Usually easier to do before the grill has reached 2000 degrees.) over the grill plate and began to grill.

One thing that you have to remember with the new grills that do not require charcoal is that using tin foil is pretty much necessary unless you want a mess. The charcoal used to catch much of any seasonings and juices that would drip; now the grill catches the seasonings and juices. A mess that can be avoided with tin foil.

In a matter of 15 minutes our BBQ pork dinner was ready. The food tasted good and had the taste of a charcoal grill. I was quite surprised that this was the case, but Char- Broil claims that the FlavorMaster burner will provide a "true" grill experience and taste.

During the grilling process we found everything to be simple to use. The dual controls have three basic settings (High, medium, and low) and feel as if they are put together in a solid fashion. The "Big Easy" also has an upper deck for slow cooking or for maintaining heat. I find that I almost never use this, but it is nice to know that you have it available.

One thing that we were looking for with our new grill was a lack of bells and whistles. In my mind, the grill industry (Industry? There I go again.) has gone berzerk over the years. A decade ago we had grills that two knobs for gas and that was it. If you had the top of the line model you had the "upper deck". Now you can spend more than $500 on a grill by the time you get the dual stove options, a third deck, and any on numerous other features that you will find you almost never use. The "Big Easy" has few extras that will not be used. In fact, in place of the dual stove tops, there is room for placing plates or the like. There is no third deck. Nor are there multiple controls that take the art of grilling out of your hands. Thankfully. In addition, the "Big Easy" is not as large as a Yugo. It will fit on just about porch, deck, or patio.

Finally, a few safety reminders on grilling that are often overlooked. First of all, do not grill immediately beside your home. This is an obvious risk for fire. Secondly, do wait before trying light the grill if the first time does not work; propane can accumulate and explode without notice. Check all the valves frequently. Use a soap and water mixture around the valves to see if propane is leaking. If you see growing bubbles, then you have a problem and should turn the gas off and return the tank. If the new tank produces a similar problem then the hose is defective and you need to have it replaced. Happy grilling!