Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
![]() |
|
Cooking Equipment (rec.food.equipment) Discussion of food-related equipment. Includes items used in food preparation and storage, including major and minor appliances, gadgets and utensils, infrastructure, and food- and recipe-related software. |
Reply |
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
Posted to alt.food.barbecue,rec.food.equipment
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
Was looking at grills in Lowes today and trying to figure out which model is
better: The PerfectFlame split hood, or the Charbroil TEC. Both appear to be of similar construction and probably both come from China. The TEC model is several hundred dollars more than the PerfectFlame. TEC has the reputation and until a few years ago, the patent, which probably accounts for some of the price difference. The PerfectFlame has a split cabinet, which makes isolating the hot IR burner from the other burners much easier and also allows the IR burner to come up to operating temp much faster. OTOH, the TEC has the burner right up under the grate, protected by a glass plate. This also has the advantage of allow marinades to sizzle on the plate under the meat. From what I've read, an unprotected IR burner will quickly clog up from drippings, so points to the TEC. OTOH, the design of the PerfectFlame unit is such that you could set a tempered glass plate between the burner and the grate will a couple of inches of space above and below. Thoughts, comments, personal experiences would be much appreciated. -- "Tell me what I should do, Annie." "Stay. Here. Forever." - Life On Mars |
Posted to alt.food.barbecue,rec.food.equipment
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
"Rick Blaine" wrote:
> Was looking at grills in Lowes today and trying to figure out which model > is > better: The PerfectFlame split hood, or the Charbroil TEC. > > Both appear to be of similar construction I looked at both and don't recall the two being similar in construction. IIRC, the PF model's SS was mostly cosmetic and in the front. > > TEC has the reputation and until a few years ago, the patent, which > probably > accounts for some of the price difference. The patent that expired was for the ceramic design. They have since gone to a SS burner design with the glass plate. That design is still patent-protected. > > OTOH, the TEC has the burner right up under the grate, protected by a > glass > plate. This also has the advantage of allow marinades to sizzle on the > plate > under the meat. The TEC burner also heats the entire area uniformly. > > Thoughts, comments, personal experiences would be much appreciated. I bought the TEC series and have been happy with it. One thing that irks me is the rotisserie design, but that's about it. Plenty of discussion about the model he "http://www.bbqsource-forums.com/invboard/index.php?showtopic=1250&st=165" -- Mike |
Posted to alt.food.barbecue,rec.food.equipment
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
"Tinman" > wrote:
Thanks for the comments! > >I looked at both and don't recall the two being similar in construction. >IIRC, the PF model's SS was mostly cosmetic and in the front. > > I'll go back and look again, but the booklet I have from Lowes and my memory was that they were both 100% SS. >The patent that expired was for the ceramic design. They have since gone to >a SS burner design with the glass plate. That design is still >patent-protected. > > The TEC grill I looked at had a ceramic plate with the glass cover. Keep in mind that both grills are less than $1000, so they won't be the latest technology. > >The TEC burner also heats the entire area uniformly. I didn't see any significant difference in the PF. It uses a flat ceramic burner similar to the TEC model, but mounted about 6" below the grate and no glass. -- "Tell me what I should do, Annie." "Stay. Here. Forever." - Life On Mars |
Posted to alt.food.barbecue,rec.food.equipment
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
"Rick Blaine" wrote:
> "Tinman" > wrote: >> >>I looked at both and don't recall the two being similar in construction. >>IIRC, the PF model's SS was mostly cosmetic and in the front. >> > > I'll go back and look again, but the booklet I have from Lowes and my > memory was > that they were both 100% SS. > I remember the SS on the hood and some frontal areas being different than the rest (plus the back is mostly black). I liked the two-hood design, but the construction did not seem all that great (it flexed heavily when moved or twisted). Go ahead and test the whole thing with a magnet. > >>The patent that expired was for the ceramic design. They have since gone >>to >>a SS burner design with the glass plate. That design is still >>patent-protected. >> >> > > The TEC grill I looked at had a ceramic plate with the glass cover. Nope. It had a SS TEC burner with the TEC glass plate over it. All the CB TEC models at Lowe's use the exact same TEC burner design. If you saw ceramic it wasn't a CB TEC grill (not even the rotisserie burner is ceramic on the TEC series). > Keep in mind > that both grills are less than $1000, so they won't be the latest > technology. > The CB TEC series actually does use the latest patented burner design from TEC. It's not built with the same quality of course, nor is it built by TEC, but it's one of the most inexpensive ways to get that type of burner without paying $3,000+ (Solaire portable duly noted). It is the ceramic infrared burner design, used on most all other IR burners that is based on the older (patent expired) TEC design. >> >>The TEC burner also heats the entire area uniformly. > > I didn't see any significant difference in the PF. It uses a flat ceramic > burner > similar to the TEC model, but mounted about 6" below the grate and no > glass. I don't understand how you couldn't notice it. The ceramic burner on the PF model doesn't cover anywhere near the entire grate area (less than 50%). The TEC burner has a much larger flame area, and it heats the entire glass plate uniformly. Even the single TEC burner model has a good 50% more high-heat grilling area. And if that ain't enough the 4 burner model has even more TEC grilling area. I bought the grill for the TEC burner, plain and simple. If this was not available, or performed badly, I would most likely have gone with one of the Jenn-Air models, or a Weber. But for me it has performed well. I can sear steaks like a restaurant (a nice char on the outside and if desired rare on the inside--and still juicy). In the end you need to decide if the searing feature is worth it or not (without it you can get a more inexpensive model). For me I figured I'd use it more if it had the TEC design. That means I don't only sear steaks and whatnot. It works great for drizzling marinades right over food. Instantly vaporizes, and no flare-ups. Cleans easy too--like a self-cleaning over. -- Mike |
Posted to alt.food.barbecue,rec.food.equipment
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
"Tinman" > wrote:
> >I looked at both and don't recall the two being similar in construction. >IIRC, the PF model's SS was mostly cosmetic and in the front. > > OK, I stopped by again this evening. The non-IR PFs are as you described with a SS cover trimed in black metal. The IR models are all 304 SS. > >The patent that expired was for the ceramic design. They have since gone to >a SS burner design with the glass plate. That design is still >patent-protected. > Yep. The TECs are using a metal IR burner as you mentioned. I was wrong to say both were using a ceramic burner. The burner covers about 90% of the grate as you mentioned. Interestingly enough, the PF IR burner was rated at 18K BTU, but covers about 50% of the grate area. The TEC did not list a separate IR burner rating, but based on the total burner rating, looked to be considerably less - around 12K. They may get an equal temp at the food by putting the IR burner right under the grate with only the glass plate in between. > >The TEC burner also heats the entire area uniformly. > Hard to say how the PF would compare, other than the burner chamber is funnel shaped and has a larger burner. The greater distance may even things out a bit. The design of the metal around the burner would make it very easy to lay a sheet of IR glass. This would protect the burner and possibly even things out were that necessary. > Plenty of discussion about the model he >"http://www.bbqsource-forums.com/invboard/index.php?showtopic=1250&st=165" Good link - thanks. -- "Tell me what I should do, Annie." "Stay. Here. Forever." - Life On Mars |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
![]() |
||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Grills with IR Burners | Barbecue | |||
stainless steel burners vs cast iron burners | General Cooking | |||
After Burners | General Cooking | |||
Infrared BBQ Grills vs traditional grills | Cooking Equipment | |||
Infrared BBQ Grills vs traditional grills | Barbecue |