by Mark Smiley
Barbecue season is upon us and this publication will be spending the latter part of spring and summer exploring different products to elevate your cooking experience at home. With warmer temps comes the return to grilling, one of America’s most beloved pastimes. Given all the options available today — from equipment, fuel, and methods to what you can grill (answer: pretty much everything) — your choices may seem overwhelming.
Whether you’re new to grilling or looking to upgrade this year, you’ll want to know about options that grillmasters use that make sense for a backyard experience. Pellet grills have the reputation of being easy to use, but some do not match up with real charcoal flavor, depth of smoke, or searing power of a charcoal grill. And with today’s technology, charcoal grilling is just as easy as working with pellets.
All of this may seem daunting to backyard enthusiasts or even seasoned chefs. “Most things seem complicated or intimidating until you try them,” said Rasheed Philips, Philips Barbeque Co. “It’s like riding a bike; once you do it you never forget it, and it’s never as scary after the first time.”
To help sort out these options, the two pellet grills that can go toe to toe with the charcoal experience come from Z Grills and Yoder Smokers. Stay tuned for an introduction and in-depth review of the Yoder 640s in June. This edition will cover the 700D4E WiFi Pellet Grill & Smoker from Z Grills. But first, we take on the Saffire Platinum Large Kamado Grill, which is a direct competitor with Big Green Egg.
Saffire Platinum Large Kamado Grill
Beautiful Design & Construction: The Saffire Platinum Large Kamado Grill is one of the best kamado grills on the market.
Saffire Grills are premium kamado-style ceramic grills known for their durability, innovative features, and exceptional cooking performance. Manufactured by the family-owned Saffire Grill Co. in Rockford, Illinois, which was started in 2008 by people with a combined 40 years of experience in the BBQ industry.
The claim to fame on this well built and manufactured grill is the crucible firebox, a patented, reinforced firebox designed to eliminate breakage common in traditional ceramic fireboxes. It is a significant upgrade for kamado grill enthusiasts, offering enhanced durability, heat resistance, and ease of maintenance.
This firebox is constructed with firebricks rated up to 2,700° F, 1,000° F higher than traditional ceramic fireboxes, which allows for superior heat retention and cooking performance. In our tests, the performance was outstanding and each cook came off the grill perfectly.
This grill also features a smokin’ chip feeder, a unique front-access port that allows users to add wood chips without opening th
Inside The Saffire Grill: The multi-level cooking system lets you cook in two temperature zones at once.
e lid, maintaining stable temperatures during smoking.
The Saffire Platinum Large Kamado Grill and all other grills manufactured by Saffire feature high-grade stainless-steel components, including vents, hinges, and cooking grates, ensuring resistance to rust and corrosion.
Another feature that BBQ enthusiasts will enjoy is the multi-level cooking system. This offers versatile cooking options with adjustable cooking surfaces. The multi-level cooking system lets you cook in two temperature zones at once. You can lower one side for a quick searing and keep the other side up for more thorough cooking. With the ceramic heat deflector added to the mix, you can transfer more heat to one side for an intense, radiant, searing heat, while letting the heat slowly work into the food on the other. This grill features a 19-inch cooking diameter with a total possible cooking area of 746 square inches, suitable for serving eight or more people.
In perusing reviews online, customers appreciate features like the wood chip feeder and the grill’s ability to maintain consistent temperatures for extended periods, making it ideal for smoking. Some users have noted that while the grills are generally more expensive, the quality justifies the price.
At the time of press, the Saffire Platinum Large Kamado Grill retails for $1,649. Visit www.saffiregrills.com to learn more or to purchase.
Z Grills
Pellet Smoker: The Z Grills 700D4E WiFi Pellet Grill & Smoker features 697 square inches of cooking space and a 28-pound pellet hopper.
The Kamado grills use charcoal as their fuel, while pellet grills, as mentioned earlier, are a bit easier to manage on cooks. Z Grills is a U.S.-based brand renowned for its high-quality wood pellet grills and smokers, offering a versatile 8-in-1 cooking experience that includes grilling, smoking, roasting, baking, searing, braising, barbecuing, and char-grilling. With over 30 years of manufacturing expertise, Z Grills combines durable construction with user-friendly features like PID temperature control and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Z Grills built pellet grills for other brands including Traeger, who they worked with for seven years. In 2016, they decided to develop their own brand and first brought Z Grills to the U.S. market via a crowdfunding campaign, so they knew there was demand and the launch was a huge success, causing quite a stir in the pellet grill market.
The 700D4E WiFi Pellet Grill & Smoker features WiFi connectivity, PID temperature control (for precise temperature management), and ample cooking space, making it ideal for both beginners and seasoned grillers. This grill has a total of 697 square inches of cooking space, divided between a 504 sq inch main rack and a 193 sq inch upper rack.
The pellet hopper is also unique as it is equipped with a 28-pound hopper, allowing for extended cooking sessions without frequent refills. This grill is built to last as well. It is constructed with stainless steel and rolled steel, coupled with double-wall insulation for improved heat retention.
The Z Grills 700D4E WiFi Pellet Grill & Smoker stands out as a feature-rich option for both novice and experienced grillers. Its combination of ample cooking space, precise temperature control, and modern conveniences like WiFi connectivity make it a compelling choice. While there are minor drawbacks, such as limited searing capabilities and occasional quality control issues, the overall value and performance it offers are noteworthy. The features this grill has are more expensive in competitor brands so the value is there if you are in the market for a pellet grill.
Z Grills currently has a Crowdfunding promotion going. The special offer is where you can purchase a grill for $777 and receive 10 free replacements over the next 50 years (shipping fees apply). For more, visit www.zgrills.com/pages/reward-crowdfunding.
Schmidt Bros
Zebra Wood BBQ 6 Piece Knife Set
Chef Knife Set: Schmidt Bros Zebra Wood BBQ 6 Piece Knife Set is perfect for grillmasters and chefs on the go with premium, German stainless-steel blades.
Now that you have decided on the grill you would like to purchase, there are a couple of items to consider having in your kitchen. Whether you’re a professional cook or an enthusiastic home chef, a good knife is a must. Luckily, there are thousands of options available from brands that we all know and love, like Shun, Wusthof, or Zwilling. The knife collection to consider adding to your outdoor kitchen comes from Schmidt Brothers.
The Zebra Wood BBQ 6 Piece Knife set is perfect for grillmasters and chefs on the go. Their premium, German stainless-steel blades are dual-sharpened to maintain their razor-sharp edge while the fully forged, full-tang, Zebra Wood handles will give you strength and flexibility as you slice through your juicy roast.
This set contains: 11” Brisket (Slicing) Knife, 10” Butcher Knife, 8” Chef’s BBQ Knife, 6” Boning Knife, 6” Carving Fork, and a Knife Carrying Roll. Each knife comes with a protective sheath.
“These knives are made of the finest steel and wood I have ever found in a set of knives,” said G. Braswell, a verified purchaser. “Absolutely beautiful and well balanced. My recommendation would be, if you cook inside or outside on a smoker or grill, you need these knives.”
Visit www.schmidtbrothers.com/products /zebra-wood-bbq-6-pc-set for more information or to purchase. At time of press, this set retailed for $149.99.
Asaya Chef/BBQ/Work Apron
Family Owned: The Asaya Chef/BBQ/Work Apron is a must have for any chef or BBQ enthusiast.
Last but certainly not least, every chef or BBQ enthusiast needs a good apron. The Asaya Chef/BBQ/Work Apron is one to consider as it is made with high quality materials and are battle tested in real world kitchens. They are hand crafted with 10 oz. cotton canvas, brass hardware, and leather.
“First and foremost, I’d like to say that I thoroughly enjoy these aprons and I use them every day for work at the most maximum potential that they offer (I’ve bought two so far), said a chef who purchased through Amazon. “Virtually everything that I need for a full functioning day of service I am able to store in my apron. The multiple pockets allow me to hold everything that I need.”
The company was founded by Chris Classic (raised in Silverthorne, Colorado) in 2017. It is a small, family company that strives to bring top quality products to your everyday home cook as well as professional and amateur chefs and culinary students across the globe.
The Asaya Chef/BBQ/Work Apron is a versatile and durable apron designed for cooking, grilling, and workshop tasks. The apron features a cross-back strap design to alleviate neck and shoulder strain during extended use. The apron includes three large front pockets, a cell phone pocket, a pen holder, a custom Asaya bottle opener, and a hand towel.
Available in various colors such as black, olive green, and purple, the apron is priced at $35.99 on the official Asaya store.
Visit www.asaya.store/products/chef-bbq- work-apron for more information or to purchase.
