A Nice Heavy Duty Camp "GRILL" Not a stove!! :)

[Tucson T4R]

Did you order the tri-pod stand too? You will really like your Solaire!

Tip: Fire it up and leave it on Low or Medium-Low until the c burner is glowing (this is the procedure if the wind is howling)...then dial it up as needed. If you try to light it on High it doesn't work as well when it's windy.

Thanks for the tip. :ylsmoke:

I didn't order the tripod because I have large SS shelf on the King Kamper Trailer's kitchen that will be a perfect place to sit the grill. Right here where the cutting board is sitting in this photo:

I did order the propane tank adaptor hose though. I have an extra 5lb tank I plan to run the grill off of.

 

[Tucson T4R]

This might fit inside to reduce the heat, but still not seal off the burners.

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=216846-451-4984110&lpage=none

Thanks Brian. I'll wait until I get the grill and take some measurements. Something like that would probably work great if it's the right size. :luxhello:

 

[benedmonson]

I just read on the www.bbqgalore.com site that this grill is made of the 304 stainless that is the best quality for grills, not sure of where it is made? I'm most likely ordering this one tomorrow based on the reviews. It seems that the regulator problem was fixed a few years ago with a recall. I think this would work for on the trail and at home for my wife and I. I love a rare seared steak!!!

Got the Turbo Sport in today from www.bbqgalore.com and must say it is built to the hilt! I've got 2 beautiful steaks to test on it this evening. I will make some shots and do a small review on it this week after some serious "Test Grilling!" On a side note I spoke to the people at Bar-B-Que Galore and they said that this infrared grill can be used with a different regulator that they sale to work with a regular tank, not just the small coleman type.

 

[Tucson T4R]

Time for a cook off

Got the Turbo Sport in today from www.bbqgalore.com and must say it is built to the hilt! I've got 2 beautiful steaks to test on it this evening. I will make some shots and do a small review on it this week after some serious "Test Grilling!" On a side note I spoke to the people at Bar-B-Que Galore and they said that this infrared grill can be used with a different regulator that they sale to work with a regular tank, not just the small coleman type.

Santa (in Brown) delivered my Solaire today too. It goes under the tree until Xmas though so I don't get to try it out till after Christmas. I'll repost how it works after I play with it.

 

[Green Ganesha]

You guys lucked out with the nice Santas. I got stuck with evil Santa. He gave me appendicitis so I'd be in the hospital when my Solaire arrived this week, depriving me the opportunity to spirit it back to the garage or into the trailer. This means my fiancee has had a few days to examine the boxes and whatever labels may be on them, maybe even do some stealthy Googling, and concluded that either:

1. I've bought this expensive and very cool grill as a Christmas present for her.
2. I've been my typical buy-stuff-for-me self, but ... this really is a spiffy backyard grill. Obviously too expensive and too nice to permit me to bang up on camping trips.
3. I've gone and done it again, selfishly squandering good money on overkill expedition cooking appliance #16 (which she doesn't realize she's under-inventoried).

I'm hoping it's #3....

 

[Tucson T4R]

You guys lucked out with the nice Santas. I got stuck with evil Santa. He gave me appendicitis so I'd be in the hospital when my Solaire arrived this week, depriving me the opportunity to spirit it back to the garage or into the trailer. This means my fiancee has had a few days to examine the boxes and whatever labels may be on them, maybe even do some stealthy Googling, and concluded that either:

1. I've bought this expensive and very cool grill as a Christmas present for her.
2. I've been my typical buy-stuff-for-me self, but ... this really is a spiffy backyard grill. Obviously too expensive and too nice to permit me to bang up on camping trips.
3. I've gone and done it again, selfishly squandering good money on overkill expedition cooking appliance #16 (which she doesn't realize she's under-inventoried).

I'm hoping it's #3....

I vote for #3 :sombrero:

Sorry to hear about your appendicitis. Best wishes on a quick recovery.

 

[hoser]

There was a Solaire grill in the 316SS (Marine grade) on eBay with the tripod and bulk propane adapter. No bids. Could probably convince to relist and/or lower the price.

"Marine-Grade Stainless Steel Solaire Anywhere Portable Infrared Gas Grill and Accessories. A great introduction to the searing heat of Solaire Infrared in a convenient, under 20 lb. portable. This Solaire Anywhere is quality constructed of type-316 Marine-grade stainless steel . Type-316 is very resistant to the corrosive effects of salt water. Accessories include: - Tripod stand. - adjustable feet/mounting system, SS V-Shape Grilling grids, valve/regulator and carrying bag - adaptor hose for use with 20 lb. tanks. This package new cost 525.00 you can get for less it works great and the best part it's portable . You can take it to beach the park or even tailgate parties . You get everything the grill, tripod, carring bag, adapter hose for 20lb propane tank( propane tank not included), adjusting feet and instructions.If you have any question please email me or call thanks & good luck. Richie 760-272-7414."

 

[Tucson T4R]

Santa caved in. :wings: Tonight I got to try out my new Solaire grill. I first cooked Tony DeSanto's stuffed jalapenos (rattlesnake eggs)

http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8577&page=23

on medium heat then seared a nice marinated sirloin on high for few minutes and finished it off on medium. Both the stuffed peppers and the steak came out perfectly. :cow:

I really like this grill. I have read that some didn’t think it had enough heat control, but for me it works great and has all the heat control I need.

Looking forward to many great camp dinners in the years to come wih this BBQ.:chowtime:

 

[zimm]

check yacht supply places. they will probably have a large selection of SS mounting hardware for grills such as that, if youre looking for neat instead of cheap.

keep in mind, 90% of the overland equipment was thought of years ago by sailors. (good sources for poly rope by the foot, etc)

 

[jeeperaz]

The Weber Q has a huge following with the RV crowd. Overwhelming positive reviews on Amazon.

I bought one for camping after doing a ton of research and I am totally impressed with it.

The Weber Baby Q 100 is just as small as most of the units previously posted here.

 

[762X39]

Portable Grill

I purchased a Weber Q200 last april and have been using it since. I even grilled patties for 40 guests one afternoon in July. The secret is high quality construction, enough heat to do the job and the size of a cheap chinese tabletop propane grill.
It fits on my tailgate and is as hot as a full size backyard grill. I can't say enough good things about it!

 

[AndrewP]

My Solaire is on the way! It's a Christmas present to myself. Looking forward to trying a bunch of different meats before I go to Death Valley in March. If it grills as hot as everyone says, I'll need some practice.

I also need some hints on the "spressopizza"

Good and helpful thread.

:campfire:

 

[spressomon]

My Solaire is on the way! It's a Christmas present to myself. Looking forward to trying a bunch of different meats before I go to Death Valley in March. If it grills as hot as everyone says, I'll need some practice.

I also need some hints on the "spressopizza"

Good and helpful thread.

:campfire:

Great...you will really like it Andy! You just need to use it to figure the temp thing out...pretty much like anything . It's not an issue but for thick (1"+) cuts of meat. For thicker cuts just sear and then turn down to low and/or leave the lid open/ajar. I grilled my homemade Italian sausages...had to leave it on low with the lid fully open and constantly turn the sausages to get them cooked the way I like (that's pretty much the same way I cook them on the home BBQ).

One trick previously mentioned: Light the grill on the low to low-medium setting. Before turning up the heat let the ceramic burner get to glowing red...then adjust as necessary. It seems like, in windy conditions, it will go out more easily when you're trying to get it going on medium-high or high. After the burner is glowing it is impervious to wind.

Pizza: I use an 8" round pizza screen and about 6 layers of HD foil over the grilling surface to disperse the heat better. One of these days I'm going to cut a piece of aluminum to match the grill surface to use (not to cook directly on the aluminum but to use as a heat diffuser for pizza, etc.)...but the foil trick works well for now. I like TJ's dough...99 cents and enough to make 2-medium thick 8" pizza crusts or 3-thin. I used to make my own but TJ's is: Easier, quicker, just as tasty and relatively cheap.

Will be spinning pizza's in DV in about a week...come on down!

 

[AndrewP]

Will be spinning pizza's in DV in about a week...come on down!

I'd love to come for some za, but there are two problems...1) I broke my ankle, and 2) I'm supposed to work. Thanks for the invite.

 

[AndrewP]

Back to the top with a review of my new Solaire.

I got home from Hawaii and the Solaire was waiting for me. It is the best packed item I have ever purchased. Super heavy cardboard box, immobilized inside with all of the insides tied down to prevent damage or loss. I mention this only because it was so impressive. It survived UPS shipping without even a gouge or dent in the box.

Assembly. It didn't really need any, but it is clever the way the burner fits to the bottom of the unit. It's very solidly connected, but still easy to pull out for cleaning. The lighter is especially high quality. It has real ignition with a continuous spark, instead of one spark like you get with a typical push button. The entire unit is bolted together with real captured nuts and stainless hardware. It's nicely done, yet all of the pieces could be replaced easily if needed.

The burner at first looks odd. It's a flat ceramic surface with 100s of holes for gas. It's covered with a coarse mesh of stainless steel to protect it. The overall size is not as big as I expected and in a way, it's more solid and compact than the Weber portable I've used for years.

Cooking-Damn this thing gets extremely hot, and fast too. I went from ignition to cooking in about 4 minutes. It is super hot, with very even distribution of the heat. Just like they say, it cooks with intense heat. We made skirt steaks in roughly 5 minutes start to finish. I am an instant believer in the radiant heat hype. Because it cooks so fast and wastes little heat, it's very efficient with the gas. Even with the 5 minutes on high post cooking flame off (recommended by Solaire) the gas was only on 15 minutes. You cook with the unit open (also recommended by Solaire) and it's easily twice as fast as the closed Weber I have used for years, and that I used closed, to speed the cooking process.

The steaks were perfect-cooked with a bit of brown on the outside, tender moist and still very pink on the inside. Perfect even for a first effort. Delicious.

Two things I did not like. 1)The grease can and does collect inside the unit. The stuff that falls on the burner burns off, but most of the drippings run to the side, drip down and collect in the bottom. Fortunately, the burner lifts out to facilitate wiping this up. 2)The second issue is minor, but you have to take the regulator off after use to store it in the carry bag. That's an opportunity to loose the regulator if you are not careful. I'm going to call Solaire and get an extra to bring along.

Overall-This thing rocks. It's the best grill I've ever cooked on. It's a bit pricey, but given the cooking speed, the overall lack of drama, and the propane sparing speed, I'm sold. Going to try some chicken or lamb tomorrow night. If things go as I expect, I'm going to have to give serious consideration to a full size Solaire for the back yard.