[Help] Has anyone tried an electric BBQ?

[The Oldman]

Loved cooking on a Weber big bbq with lid. Cannot beat the charcoal effect. However it is very anti social getting the charcoal going. Neighbours windows and doors being slammed as the charcoal got going. So we have invested in a Weber electric. You can add wood chips to add flavour so it’s ok but not like the real thing.

 

[Albion my Albion]

Has anyone tried an electric BBQ?​

Wasn't that a 70's song by Shannon?

 

[The Mole]

Charcoal, pah!

If you’re not cooking on wood then you might as well be cooking inside.

I wanted to learn to cook on wood a few years ago, asked my brother-in-law (a braaimaster) for advice - he said that if you don’t know the qua of the wood - stick to charcoal. But I do use restauran quality charcoal

 

[Bracknell_Gull]

I bought a Ninja wood fire grill last year as i have 2 young children and couldn’t be @rsed with firing up the charcoal when we just wanted something quick and easy.
With the smoker option and wood pellets it does give you a ‘BBQ taste’ and I found an independent outlet online that does ninja compatible wood pellets with a wide range of different flavours at a fraction of Ninja’s costs.
I’ve mostly done basic stuff. Burgers, hot dogs, kebabs and ribs. We’re very happy with the results. Using the app you can just fire it up and leave it to get on with other things and be more sociable. I’d recommend.

 

[GT49er]

If it’s not charcoal then it’s not a BBQ and you are just cooking outside.

Exactly. An electric BBQ? It's called a 'cooker'.

 

[BLOCK F]

I bought a Ninja wood fire grill last year as i have 2 young children and couldn’t be @rsed with firing up the charcoal when we just wanted something quick and easy.
With the smoker option and wood pellets it does give you a ‘BBQ taste’ and I found an independent outlet online that does ninja compatible wood pellets with a wide range of different flavours at a fraction of Ninja’s costs.
I’ve mostly done basic stuff. Burgers, hot dogs, kebabs and ribs. We’re very happy with the results. Using the app you can just fire it up and leave it to get on with other things and be more sociable. I’d recommend.

Recently got ours and have cooked a few easy bits and pieces. Have used the wood pellets, but I have to say that we haven’t tasted any smoky flavour at all. Have to keep persevering.

 

[Official Old Man]

Recently got ours and have cooked a few easy bits and pieces. Have used the wood pellets, but I have to say that we haven’t tasted any smoky flavour at all. Have to keep persevering.

Re Ninja Smoker, Grill, Air Fryer, Roast, etc. Purchased ours for £199 from Amazon last July. Special price.
Same here. Someone here did try and give me advice but I got nowhere. Lots of smoke but when you start cooking all the smoke has gone.
Anyway, I've already used it a lot during the warm spell recently and will use it again this weekend. Aldi/Tesco ribs (£4.50) on the air fry setting are wow. Burgers and sausages cook easy with timers. Don't treat it just as a BBQ but a complete kitchen for cooking. We do also have an 80cm fire pit style charcoal BBQ which we've used when entertaining many guests, but even then some items went in the Ninja. Ours is kept outside all summer and no problems, I purchased the genuine cover for it. I also had to put in an electric socket on the wall, but that was easy.
But would I spend over £400 on one - never.
EDIT And as I wrote this a 10% OFF email came through.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Just carry your cooker outdoors and plug it in.

What could possibly go wrong?

 

[BLOCK F]

Re Ninja Smoker, Grill, Air Fryer, Roast, etc. Purchased ours for £199 from Amazon last July. Special price.
Same here. Someone here did try and give me advice but I got nowhere. Lots of smoke but when you start cooking all the smoke has gone.
Anyway, I've already used it a lot during the warm spell recently and will use it again this weekend. Aldi/Tesco ribs (£4.50) on the air fry setting are wow. Burgers and sausages cook easy with timers. Don't treat it just as a BBQ but a complete kitchen for cooking. We do also have an 80cm fire pit style charcoal BBQ which we've used when entertaining many guests, but even then some items went in the Ninja. Ours is kept outside all summer and no problems, I purchased the genuine cover for it. I also had to put in an electric socket on the wall, but that was easy.
But would I spend over £400 on one - never.

Wow, that was a good price. I think we paid £299. Already have outside points, but bought the cover. Also have a Weber charcoal bbq, but the Ninja is really good if we CBA to light the Weber. Going to try slow cooked pork joint soon, but will have to get a digital meat thermometer first.

 

[Doc Lynam]

Sausages on the Ninja bbq

 

[lawros left foot]

My friend is looking to buy a new BBQ for the summer and would like some feedback from people who have one

(And no, he's never used a charcoal BBQ)

Cheers !

They’re shocking!,




(Well,someone had to say it)

 

[GrizzlingGammon]

My friend is looking to buy a new BBQ for the summer and would like some feedback from people who have one

(And no, he's never used a charcoal BBQ)

Cheers !

If you want to go electric or gas bbq, just use your normal hob instead. No difference.

 

[Superphil]

It might depend whether you are grilling or barbecuing.

In my experience, grilling over charcoal, gas or electric is much the same, I reckon I could cook you sausages, a burger, or chicken leg on either and you wouldn’t taste the difference, probably the same with a steak. The flavour is mainly created by the fat dripping down onto the heat source and then vapourising, you can add wood chips for a bit of a Smokey effect, ultimately it’s the Maillard Reaction that creates the taste, and that’s nothing to do with the type of heat source.

If you are barbecuing then it’s a little different, as you are cooking with the lid down, using lower temperatures, and letting the meat break down in it’s composition, thus allowing the flavours from marinades, rubs and smoke created by different wood types to infuse into the meat. Again, the heat source is not vitally important, the way you prep the meat, the length of time you cook for, and any smoke you create will add the flavour.

I use charcoal and electric for bbqing, mainly charcoal as I love my ceramic egg, and the more I use it the less I use the other bbqs in my collection. But the electric smoker has its place when I want to setup quickly and maybe cook overnight, I use a combination wood chips or pellets rather than single varieties.
For grilling, I use charcoal or gas, again, mainly charcoal as I use the ceramic egg for grilling too. The gas is great when you have a crowd round, mainly for the extra grill space you get.

If you are grilling then it’s worth giving the electric a go, not sure if it’ll serve you too well for bbq, especially with the cost of electricity these days.