Has the Searwood replaced your gas or charcoal grill?

[NJKris]

I still like the speed of heating and best searing ability of my Genesis. I lay an old cast iron grill grate on top of the SS grates to let it get good and hot for the perfect sear. I tried to do a reverse sear on the Searwood last evening, it just takes too damn long for the smoker to get up to searing temp after removing the steaks following 50 min on Smokeboost.

Even after Weber replaced the auger and motor (my original was part of a bad batch of motors that NEVER got smoker hot), it takes 25 seconds for every 5° temp bump. So to go from 180° Smokeboost to at LEAST 500°, it takes about 25 minutes. That SUCKS and is not practical. My previous Smokefire which was a fail heated faster, but had so many other issues I try not to think about it because it's like bees in my head.

For now on after I put steaks on Searwood to get a good smokey flavor, I'm going to heat up gas grill for the sear part, tired of hearing wife holler out to me that the vegetables are done and getting soft while I'm out there waiting for pellet grill to get hot enough to sear.

 

[Bardfourlife]

Hell no. I did get rid of my gold series to buy my searwood 600. Gave it to a friend who is using it almost everyday. I had that for 22 years or better. I still have my kettle and my little Weber gas for camping. I've had my kettle too for 50 years. I live my searwood .I've had it for 2 years and had nothing go wrong with it. Oh one thing I burned out the igniter. Which Weber replaced for free .
I use it everyday, except for when I feel like burning some wood coals . Gas when I'm camping that's the titanium Weber. Just screw in a bottle and cooking away. Great for camping where no fires are allowed.

 

[rfellows]

I have my SmokeFire and Genesis standing side by side on my deck. Both have temperature probes which I use constantly. SmokeFire is the best spatchcocked whole chicken and turkey. Also excellent for roasts and tri tip. Remember it is basically a wood fired outdoor oven. Everything else I do on the Genesis. Steaks, chops, burgers, dogs, corn on the cob, grilled veggies, etc. Can’t beat the ease of use, searing, well defined grill marks. If I’m missing the taste of charcoal I break out my Smokey Joe.

 

[BobInNH]

In general, no, it takes too long to prep and startup. I leave it covered and have to uncover it, move it, plug it in, fill with pellets, and start up; roughly 15-minutes. My gas grill stays uncovered and can get to 500 deg in 5-6 minutes.

But have I started using the Searwood for things I would have cooked on the gas grill? Yes, absolutely. My planked salmon takes about an hour on it, season with SPG, cook to 125, drizzle honey on it, leave for another 10-minutes and it is waaaay better than cooking it on the gas grill. Rotisserie chicken is waaay better on the Searwood.

Bottom line, has it replaced? No. But is my gas grill being used less? Yes.