Let's Talk BBQ
Outdoor Cooking Equipment => Charbroil Infrared & SRG style Cookers => Grills & Smokers => Big Easy (BEESR) and SRG Type cookers => Topic started by: TMB on June 20, 2012, 12:39:42 AM
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(http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt326/TMBs/12101550_The-Big-Easy-Smoker-Roaster--Grill_main.jpg)
The Smoker,Roaster& Grill (SRG) Is the big brother of TBE. This unit has a chamber diameter of 15 in's and will cook a 25lb turkey where TBE only would do a 16lb. Now there are two versions of this cooker the original SRG came with a flask for adding smoke to the meat where the new version has a smoker box built into the side of the unit which uses the flame of the burner to lite the chips/pellets for smoking and really does a better job than the first version.
The SRG comes with high and low settings with a little adjustment in the med section of the control. This unit puts out 18,000 BTU's on high and 9,000 BTU's on low. With the solid lid (unlike the mesh lid from TBE) you can turn the unit to low and get somewhat of a good pulled pork yet turn it to high and get a very good crispy turkey or chicken. Now unlike TBE the SRG comes with a grilling grate that uses the infrared to heat it up and capable of 600 + temps without to much trouble so grilling is easy and you can sear a steak just as good as a high dollar grill without spending a lot of money (199.00) is the going rate.
Now with a few mods you can actually drop the cooking temps down even further than that of the factory settings. IMHO TBE does a better job with crisping chicken than the SRG does but don't get me wrong the SRG makes VERY good chicken/turkeys. The SRG is one of the best all around roasters and grills on the market today. Heck I proved this last year by taking 3 of these units to a cooking competition and took 4th over all with a 2nd in chicken, 6th in ribs and 7th in pulled pork. I took on Big Green eggs and larg stick burners
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I love my SRG. The one complaint that I have is that I don't find that enough smoke gets into the SRG itself being that it sits between the outer wall and the chamber. The only way that I see the smoke being able to get in is thru some small holes that are at the top of the unit where the chamber drops in to the unit.
I haven't yet tried the Tommy ring but I do have a ring waiting to try out so I can load pellets around it at the bottom.
Btw, nice write up. :)
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another great write up. well, if you could have only one out of the 3. what would it be?
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The SRG is absolutely fabulous cooker..it grills too. Did mention it grills too. Mine gets up way over 600º...what a grill...it smokes too, I still use a Tommy ring in it and have even added the amaze-n-smoker to it. I have not played with the low on it yet. I'll get to it one of these days. Pammie .☆´¯`•.¸¸. ི♥ྀ
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another great write up. well, if you could have only one out of the 3. what would it be?
I use this cooker SRG a lot in the winter, mainly as a small quick grill that's easy to put a little smoke flavor into the food.
It's the best for poultry!
Don't use for smoker much because I prefer the results from my charcoal smokers.
If buying 1 this is one to get
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The smoke daddy is also an option to add plenty of smoke. Here is mine installed on mt TBE ;)
Smoke pipe comes into the chamber through the bottom at the drain hole. It has an umbrella cap to keep grease out and still allows grease to drain out into the tray...
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx169/muebe/IMAG1278.jpg)
Smoke daddy mounted on the inlet pipe...
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx169/muebe/IMAG1280.jpg)
Got smoke? :)
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx169/muebe/IMAG1286.jpg)
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what is the temp range for the srg?
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what is the temp range for the srg?
Well your not cooking with heat so temp range does not really matter. But I did take readings on mine and low runs somewhere around 230 and high top down 540+
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i cook butts at 225. 230 will work. so low setting is 230. thats pretty good. might have to start looking for one. i have seen smokin petes cook some great looking potatoes and corn in his srg. now, how im i going to sneak it in the backyard w/out the wife seeing another piece of bbq equipment in the back yard. already got 5 grills / smokers out there and she thinks thats to much. :P
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i cook butts at 225. 230 will work. so low setting is 230. thats pretty good. might have to start looking for one. i have seen smokin petes cook some great looking potatoes and corn in his srg. now, how im i going to sneak it in the backyard w/out the wife seeing another piece of bbq equipment in the back yard. already got 5 grills / smokers out there and she thinks thats to much. :P
5 grills, heck I'm up to 14 now and looking to add more!! Kimmie is going to kill me at some point ;)
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Just do what I do Sparky....just toss it on the patio and then butter her up.....
(http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc469/s1cott11/002-8.jpg)
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I will be posting my mods for the SRG soon, just got to find pictures! ;)
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i cook butts at 225. 230 will work. so low setting is 230. thats pretty good. might have to start looking for one. i have seen smokin petes cook some great looking potatoes and corn in his srg. now, how im i going to sneak it in the backyard w/out the wife seeing another piece of bbq equipment in the back yard. already got 5 grills / smokers out there and she thinks thats to much. :P
From factory low setting about 350F , high about 500F ( great for smoke roasting poultry with a crisp skin)
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Mods for the SRG..........
OK, I have described the SRG as it comes from the factory, but now I want to give you the mods that will make it even better. When got the first SRG (pre-production model) I was ask to cook with it to see how I liked it and compare it to TBE. Well I did many cooks but found it lacked a few things and I couldn't smoke/cook pulled pork like I wanted to. So I went to thinking on “How to make it better” and these mods are what I came up with.
The mods I have made can be done be anyone and they are cheap to do. You just need a few tools, a little common sense and no fear when it come to cutting up a $200.00 cooker.
So here they are mods to help make your SRG a better cooker.........
Mod # 1 .. Tommy Ring. Anybody with TBE will tell you a Tommy Ring is a must if you want to add smoke or if your having problems with the lower part of the meat your cooking not getting done on time. A Tommy Ring is an 11 or 10 in cake ring with the bottom cut out or a cheese cake (spring form) ring will work just fine. They can be found almost anywhere and are less then $10 (a great mod)IMHO
The newer SRG has a smoker box and 1 or 2 in's added to the legs of the basket (to get it out of the dead zone which they say does not exist)
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Mod # 2... Breather hole on the lid. I cut a 4in hole in my lid to help remove hot air from the chamber
so to lower the temps and allow better air flow
(http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt326/TMBs/vent1.jpg)
(http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt326/TMBs/vent2.jpg)
(http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt326/TMBs/vent5.jpg)
(http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt326/TMBs/RibsinSRG033.jpg)
After I cut the breather hole i found it necessary to block the side vent to help with air flow
(http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt326/TMBs/NextMod009.jpg)
(http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt326/TMBs/NextMod001.jpg)
(http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt326/TMBs/NextMod008.jpg)
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Mod # 3 Air Jets
I installed 4 air jets installed in the bottom of the chamber helps with keeping the pellets or chips going during long cooks
(http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt326/TMBs/RibsinSRG.jpg)
(http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt326/TMBs/RibsinSRG031.jpg)
Look close and you can see how the air flowed over the Bradley pucks (testing when I took this)
(http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt326/TMBs/practice008.jpg)
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Mod #4 (Tommy Skirt) ??? Gasp they named this one after me as well!
Idea was to help keep the flames going under heavy winds. Can't tell you how many times the flame went out on me during windy days!
(http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt326/TMBs/skirt6.jpg)
Easy to make and cheap!
(http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt326/TMBs/skirt4.jpg)
(http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt326/TMBs/skirt3.jpg)
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Basket ideas! If you do a lot of cooking in TBE, SRG's or BEESR these mods may help you out.
I couldn't get chicken peices out without tearing the skin til I came up with this mod.
(http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt326/TMBs/mod_2.jpg)
You cut out a ring here and there and get a rack from here http://www.kitchencollection.com/Temp_Products.cfm?sku=00218687&RankThis=Y&catname=Bakeware&CatType=N&SCatType=Y&SCategory=Racks&
It works perfect!
(http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt326/TMBs/mod_3.jpg)
(http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt326/TMBs/mod_4.jpg)
With this mod you can get to wings or whatever you have on the lower racks!
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Question on the air jets. Is there any air hoses hooked up to the jets with an air pump. Fish tank pump? Sorry for the
Retard question. Just woke up and
Saw your write up ;D
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Mike you would not need any pump. The heat rising inside chamber will naturally draw air through the air nozzles.
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Mike you would not need any pump. The heat rising inside chamber will naturally draw air through the air nozzles.
Got it.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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i like the idea of lowering the temp but how do you bring yourself to cut a hole in your brand new srg? :'( someone said you can do pulled pork in a srg? how is your temp is above 300°? i love briskets and butts. never cook them above 250 at the most.
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My last couple of butts and briskie cooks have been cooked around 300 degrees with a little extra time in foil.
Same great results in half the time.....just sayin................... :)
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i'm am torn between the beesr and the srg. i like the ease of the beesr and the low temp it can get. and at 525 you can definitely do chicken at that temp w/ it. ;)
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From everything I used to see and hear about on the sizzle forum the SRG seems to be the most versatile!! Nice to have a quick easy grill to fire up after a long day at work.........just my 2 cents :)
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Hey Sparky, the SRG makes killer pulled pork and if you mod it out it does even better. TEE will tell you about SRG pulled pork he tried some I made last year in the CharBroil cookout. The BEESR is a killer cooker as well you can't go wrong either way
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A very good mod if you cook lots of big meat like butts.
Here is a good mod for helping remove butts from the basket. You need to remove the sides from two sides.
(http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt326/TMBs/TommyBasket004.jpg)
Using the racks from the other mods will allow you to cook two butts at once
(http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt326/TMBs/TommyBasket007.jpg)
Sure makes is easy to remove large chunks of meat. Sure helps getting my big hands in there to remove butts!
(http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt326/TMBs/Smoking005.jpg)
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Tommy I want to do the air jet mod.....Do I need to seal the side vents and cut a vent in the top for the air vent mod to work ? I just can't seem to get the pellets to burn good in the bottom. They burn pretty good in the side pellet holder....just don't seem to burn very long.
I have cut my basket and got the racks ....man that sure makes it to load and unload the basket.
This fall when the wind picks back up I am planning a "Tommy skirt" mod.
I have a cast iron griddle that works great.
I have the Walmart paper towel rack for standing whole chickens and turkeys....works great.
The stainless steel Tommy ring works great.
This is a great cooker for hot sticky summer weather in the south.
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Tommy I want to do the air jet mod.....Do I need to seal the side vents and cut a vent in the top for the air vent mod to work ? I just can't seem to get the pellets to burn good in the bottom. They burn pretty good in the side pellet holder....just don't seem to burn very long.
I have cut my basket and got the racks ....man that sure makes it to load and unload the basket.
This fall when the wind picks back up I am planning a "Tommy skirt" mod.
I have a cast iron griddle that works great.
I have the Walmart paper towel rack for standing whole chickens and turkeys....works great.
The stainless steel Tommy ring works great.
This is a great cooker for hot sticky summer weather in the south.
Yes the 4 in hole in the lid really helps draw out air. Hot Air goes up not sideways so why they put the vents on the side I will never know. So get some sheet metal block off the side vents cut a 4 in hole on the lid and then add the jet kit you should notice more hot air moving out.
NOW one thing I have learned over the past years is not all pellets or would chips are the same. Some pellets burn good without to much trouble and some are a pain in the (lets say rear end) to lite and keep lit so you will need to play with different typs to get it down.
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A very good mod if you cook lots of big meat like butts.
Here is a good mod for helping remove butts from the basket. You need to remove the sides from two sides.
(http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt326/TMBs/TommyBasket004.jpg)
Using the racks from the other mods will allow you to cook two butts at once
(http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt326/TMBs/TommyBasket007.jpg)
Sure makes is easy to remove large chunks of meat. Sure helps getting my big hands in there to remove butts!
(http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt326/TMBs/Smoking005.jpg)
Wow Tommy we looked a lot thinner & younger 2 years ago ::)
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I have gained 40+ pounds since I started using my TBE's and SRG's >:( ;) ;) ;)
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The SRG looks like it has been discontinued :-[
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Say what????????????????? Got a link????????????
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Discontinued???? wahhhhhhhhhhhh..I'm keeping my TBE, SRG and BEESR..I love them. Pam .☆´¯`•.¸¸. ི♥ྀ.
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The Big Easy too? Or just the SRG?
Maybe it is going to have a design change again?
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I have gained 40+ pounds since I started using my TBE's and SRG's >:( ;) ;) ;)
yea, but one of your pulled pork sandwiches is worth driving 6 hours for...
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Say what????????????????? Got a link????????????
http://www.charbroil.com/smokers-fryers/the-big-easy-smoker-roaster-and-grill-14101550.html
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I have gained 40+ pounds since I started using my TBE's and SRG's >:( ;) ;) ;)
yea, but one of your pulled pork sandwiches is worth driving 6 hours for...
Thank you Terry. Love cooking with an SRG and will be disappointed if they stop making it.
I'll stock up on spare parts
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They said that it is not available at this time. They might be doing a re-design. Maybe using some of Tommy's mods ;)
At least the Big Easy is still available...
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Those are some strong words you are saying there... Let's hope you are wrong!
But just in case, it is available on Amazon here:
Char-Broil Big Easy TRU Infrared Smoker, Roaster, and Grill https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00365FIAS/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_hkd2tb13W63VB451
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I've got mine coming, I heard they had stopped selling it and got one coming from HSN, then they put it back up on the Char Broil site. Got a great deal on it though, $139 plus shipping. Can't wait to get it, I have a couple of Yard birds ready to go in...
Chris
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I've got mine coming, I heard they had stopped selling it and got one coming from HSN, then they put it back up on the Char Broil site. Got a great deal on it though, $139 plus shipping. Can't wait to get it, I have a couple of Yard birds ready to go in...
Chris
WOW great price! Just ask if you need help
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I've got mine coming, I heard they had stopped selling it and got one coming from HSN, then they put it back up on the Char Broil site. Got a great deal on it though, $139 plus shipping. Can't wait to get it, I have a couple of Yard birds ready to go in...
Chris
WOW great price! Just ask if you need help
I appreciate it Tommy, I'll use my ring from the TBE and I'll try it a few times before I start on the Mods... I'm pretty sure I will do the smoke box for sure and the air vents for sure. I just wanted to be SURE I got one if they were discontinuing them. It's supposed to be delivered on Thursday so I'll try it out after I get it well seasoned.
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As much as I like my SRG, the only thing that I do not like is the build quality. I also have a 3 burner RED from Charbroil, that pretty much rusted away in less than 2 years. Now my SRG is rusting. Both of my grills were always cleaned after I used them and always covered. Now I am looking into purchasing a new grill. Soon, I will be looking to find something to replace the SRG, do not know if I will get another one. Has anyone else had problems with rust? My 3 burner RED is so bad, getting replacement parts is out of the question.
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jmy, I've had my SRG for about 5 or 6 years and there' some rust on the outside but nothing to worry about. I keep my covered. I think so much of the SRG if something went out on it I'd buy another one.
I never had the RED but I've the Quantum for 4 or 5 years and just now changing out the grates and grills. The lasted real good up until the last year or so. If this one ever goes out I'd get another one because I like the IR cooking. One thing I do on the Quantum is line the bottom and sides inside with double layer of heavy duty foil and have never had any problems. Shoot, I've never even looked under the foil in all these years. Never had any accumulation of drippings because of the heat put out by the IR.
There maybe some better grills out there than the Char-Broil IR grills but I don't know what they are with the price point.
If I were restricted to one outdoor cooker it would be the SRG and never plan to be without one.
If you want a new grill the RECTEC would be hard to beat if you want to get away from the IR.
Dee
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As much as I like my SRG, the only thing that I do not like is the build quality. I also have a 3 burner RED from Charbroil, that pretty much rusted away in less than 2 years. Now my SRG is rusting. Both of my grills were always cleaned after I used them and always covered. Now I am looking into purchasing a new grill. Soon, I will be looking to find something to replace the SRG, do not know if I will get another one. Has anyone else had problems with rust? My 3 burner RED is so bad, getting replacement parts is out of the question.
Because of the design the SRG is pretty burnout resistant in spite of the materials used.
As kinda a recent hobby I've started rebuilding old gas grills & I've learned a lot.
If I was buying a new gas grill & could afford it I'd either buy a weber or a broil mate
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I've used my SRG almost daily for a couple of years now and other than a little heat rust on the outside it's still rock solid. I have used it so much that I have burned out a couple of Tommy Rings and need a new one as I type. I love mine so much that I actually have 2 that I use and an extra new one in a box (price on craigslist was to good to pass up) and I just got rid of my only other gasser.
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I just got a SRG. Is there a thermometer that can be left inside the SRG while cooking without being destroyed? I should add, a reasonably priced thermometer, a starter version if you will.
Mike
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As much as I like my SRG, the only thing that I do not like is the build quality. I also have a 3 burner RED from Charbroil, that pretty much rusted away in less than 2 years. Now my SRG is rusting. Both of my grills were always cleaned after I used them and always covered. Now I am looking into purchasing a new grill. Soon, I will be looking to find something to replace the SRG, do not know if I will get another one. Has anyone else had problems with rust? My 3 burner RED is so bad, getting replacement parts is out of the question.
Because of the design the SRG is pretty burnout resistant in spite of the materials used.
As kinda a recent hobby I've started rebuilding old gas grills & I've learned a lot.
If I was buying a new gas grill & could afford it I'd either buy a weber or a broil mate
Just got my SRG last week hopefully I won't have the same issues, I did purchase the cover for SRG hopefully that helps. I did notice while assembling that most of the screws already had some rust on them coming out of the blister pack. Other than that it is a very unique device. :)
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Just got my BESRG , and can't wait to modified it. Nice tips !! i have the amazing smoke tube, going to mess around with it today to see how that works with the BESRG.
nice mods ,
Chris
My A Mazin Smoke tube work awesome, just lit it and got it started chugging smoke, and lay it on the bottom , with basket over it and it smoked for hours
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New member here. Figured this was the best place to post pics of mods. Enjoy!
(http://i65.tinypic.com/2s6pzma.jpg)
(http://i68.tinypic.com/bjhiu0.jpg)
(http://i65.tinypic.com/2zri693.jpg)
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Char-Weber! :D :D :D :D Love it
Now, keep an eye on venting to make sure you have enough. I feel if you go for blocking the side vents you will need a larger vent on top
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Charber Mod™.
Yeah, so far it seems to have pulled the overall heat down about 10-15% my guess. I cooked some wings last night that usually take me about 45 minutes and this time they took an hour. I don't think I'm going to block the side as I'm working to get the over all heat profile lower. The smoker jets worked and so did the box mod. I put 4 chunks of oak in the bottom and one in the smoker box and turned it on high. It was blowing smoke in 20 minutes!
(http://i66.tinypic.com/5o8u9w.jpg)