trader_4 writes:
On Wednesday, June 17, 2015 at 10:58:19 AM UTC-4, bob haller wrote:
Lava rocks have fallen out of favor because they did just what they
were advertised to do - smoke your food by heating fat droppings to a
very high temperature which then smoked. That helped flavor the food,
but some believe heating meat fat until it smokes creates cancer
causing molecules that end up in you. I don't know how much of a
problem that really is, but it is why you don't see many lava rocks in
grills these days.

no different than smoke from those bars.


I guess the theory is that withh rocks there is more area for the
fat to hit compared to the flames spreader bars. But how much
difference that really makes, who knows. Plus I thought the big
issue with the possible carcinogens was from actually charring the
meat, I don't recall hearing that the smoke was the main culprit.



I have my moms old gas grill with lava rocks, i have taken it apart and put many of the parts in my self cleaning oven on a short cleaning cycle, even the lava rocks.

my old gas grill bought early 80s works far better than new ones sold today. i am thinking of getting a old friend with a machineshop to make me a forever burner for it.


I had a weber, bought long time ago. It lasted
a long time, 10+ years When it finally went, I decided to try replacing
it with one that cost less than half what a Weber would have
cost. It's a Charmglow or Charmbroil, can't remember which. The
theory was that if it lasts even half as long, then maybe it's
a better value, you get a new grill sooner, etc. Well, it only
lasted about 3 years before the burners and bars were shot. Even
worse, and what I wasn't expecting, the heat distribution was very
uneven. Weber was very uniform. So, bottom line is I think Weber
is worth the higher price. But then I haven't bought one recently,
so IDK if the Weber today is the same quality as ones from the past.
Anyone have recent experience?


I've never regretted purchasing a Weber Genesis Silver in 1994, when
my charbroil rusted to pieces.

I've replaced the burners once, the flavoriser bars once, and the
igniter once. And I still use it almost every day; I suspect it
to last another 25 years. Noticed one at the curb the other day
and snagged the rotisserie attachment for it.