After grilling the old Weber grill for its last bite (a clever mix of grilled kielbasa, chicken, and burgers), I ventured to the local mega-store in hopes of finding a replacement. After comparing a few brands and some prices, the owner came up with a 22″ Uniflame charcoal square grill.
I felt good about the decision. After all, I secured a series of masterpieces using nothing more complicated than the venerable Weber disc and Uniflame looked as good as any Weber charcoal offering. Of course, I realized that about thirty bucks was also attractive.
My motivation faltered after a few hours when I flipped two steaks on a cheap grill over hot coals. I had clearly lost thirty dollars.
Before we begin to focus on the sizzle-grilling experience in detail, however, let’s review the construction of the Uniflame grill itself. The meeting was a proposal-is-me and only took a few minutes. All parts and hardware were clearly labeled and the instructions were easy to understand. He also supplied the necessary equipment.
The grill felt relatively hard. Obviously not up to par for a heavy duty model, but it seemed solid for the price. The hinged heating rack that attaches to the top and bottom of the main grill unit was a bit cheap and the odd leg assembly was a known durability issue, but overall I was still happy with the grill as I turned on the new bbq on the patio. .
I picked up the top grill and emptied some charcoal onto the grill. I immediately noticed a very small gap between the charcoal rack and the base of the grill. I wondered a bit about that, but assumed the artists knew what they were doing. My teepee of Kingsfords fired up quickly and never required another treatment of lighter fluid. Before it was too long, they were over gray and red. Time for fuel.
Scattering the plums, I put the grill back in place. This is when I noticed that the four small clips that hold the grill in place are a little flimsy and prone to accidently working whenever they are released. He also noticed that putting the grill in place was a challenge because of the structure of the aforementioned heating rack. At that point I was more concerned about the small space between the grill and the coals – a few inches. I thought I had to be careful not to burn my dinner. That fear was repulsive.
Although the performance was in place over the coals of ash for several minutes, there was no real sizzle when it hit the meat of the metal. At best, there was a slight whistle. The day was looking at a medium rare bay, slipping into the evening cooking using the likes of indirect heat and smoking techniques. The mourning of the two butchers groaned the grate, whose extreme edges always remained warm.
Since the first evening, I have placed the Uniflamma 22″ grill on five other occasions, each time trying to adapt my plan to the hope of mastering the grill. sestas velit feast My uniflame was worn out every time I tried.
After much testing and much thought, I have reached a few conclusions about this grid. Its first weakness is that it is not of light construction. Which is more pleasing than considering the price, if it works properly. It is also a pain. Contraption hates air and is built to conserve. The top of the vent is a traditional circular number that works well. No, it is not a vent. No one. There is a small grill on the front of the damper, but this does little to encourage flow under and around the coals, which are located near the bottom of the unit. Without air, there is no pain. Without pain, there is no heat.
Unless one chooses to rely on special effects and lighter fluids, you will never see a dancing flame emerge from this 22″ uniflame grill. You will never need that spray water bottle again to tame the uncontrollable fire, but you will never get a nice piece of meat or a piece. Don’t even think of preparing a full meal on the grill. .
When grilling, resist the urge to go cheap. If you’re trying to save a few dollars, avoid this particular model. You can sometimes produce half a hotdog in it, but you could do it with a small field and a stick.
