<p>Since CC is my source for all information.
We have a 11 yr old weber gas grill. The grill is in pretty good shape but I noticed that the grates are getting holes. I figure they need replacing. From my search on Weber I think I have two choices. Porcelain enameled cast iron or stainless steel. I don’t know what I have now. I am assuming the porcelain enameled cast iron since they are black. But don’t remember what they looked like when the bbq was new.
The stainless are more expensive. What do I need? I am not a bbq fanatic. We do use the grill year round and the majority of the time we are grilling boneless chicken breasts. Is there any reason to replace the flavorizer bars?
Thanks</p>
<p>Ditch the gas grill and go get yourself a good old fashion Webber charcoal grill. The whole grill will probably cost less that you’ll get scammed out of for these replacement parts. Apart from a few extra minutes of warm-up (during which you can prepare the stuff to put on the grill) they’re dead easy to use and, despite the reputation, not messy or a pain to deal with. </p>
<p>Cooking outside with gas is really no different than cooking inside with gas… for real flavor you’ve got to use the real thing 
</p>
<p>Anyway, just my two cents.</p>
<p>Try this - </p>
<p>[Which</a> Grate material if best? Cast Iron, Stainless Steel, Porcelain, or steel?](<a href=“http://bbq.about.com/od/grills/f/f060704a.htm]Which”>How to Choose the Right Grate for Your Grill)</p>
<p>I am with rocket…we bought a very expensive grill and when the grates went, by the time we bought the replacement parts, it was @150… we decided to buy another grill, this time not the top of the line, but the low end…we’re now at the point that we see grills as disposable</p>
<p>^I agree with rocketman08 – go with a charcoal grill. The BEST reason to opt for charcoal over gas is not the lower cost, but the TASTE of the food – it’s soooooooooooooo much better. “Flavorizer” bars don’t even come close.</p>
<p>The grates are only 38 dollars or 50 something for the stainless. I don’t want to deal with charcoal. My husband and kids prefer really thin chicken breasts that cook in minutes on the gas grill it would not be worth the time starting the charcoal. My gas grill is hooked up to the natural gas on the house and it is really simple. I am not that picky. I like the ease of going outside and pushing the instant light button. The grill was a gift from my inlaws when we built our house 11 yrs ago. Aside from the grates it still looks great. We are in Ca and it is on our veranda so is not exposed to much weather.
I do prefer tri tip on charcoal but there seem to be plenty of opportunities around town to get that so I don’t need it at home.</p>
<p>I’m with you, mom60. Grilling was a real chore for me until I switched to gas. I liked the taste of charcoal too, but it was way too much work and mess and a logistical nightmare.</p>
<p>We’re in love with our Weber hybrid - gas starter for charcoal cooking. That faster start makes everything much easier. (Great gas mileage, too.)</p>
<p>We have a Weber, and my husband swears by the cast iron grills. They last forever. My dad was a charcoal guy forever; dh is a gas guy–but uses smoke chips and other things to enhance flavor.</p>
<p>I also have an 11 yo Weber gas grill - haven’t changed the grates yet though. It looks like Amazon has some good prices on these. You can scroll down on the link for some comments on the stainless steel - for someone like yourself who is really just interested in keeping it simple, it could be worth considering. People seem happy with them and find them easy to clean and take care of. </p>
<p>[Amazon.com:</a> Weber 9869 Stainless Steel Replacement Cooking Grates: Patio, Lawn & Garden](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Weber-9869-Stainless-Replacement-Cooking/dp/B00004RBEE]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Weber-9869-Stainless-Replacement-Cooking/dp/B00004RBEE)</p>
<p>Uhhh… Since we bought our gas grill, I’m in charge of all things grilled in the Bunsen family. DH did the charcoal thing, but then its bottom fell out (yeah, it was one of the cheapo $20 things). My Home Depot-brand grill has a thick steel grate, and I like it a lot - it is not sticky.</p>
<p>See [What</a> kind of Grill is right for me? Electric? Gas? Charcoal? Pellet?](<a href=“http://bbq.about.com/od/grills/f/f062804d.htm]What”>What Kind of Grill Is Right for You?)</p>
<p>We’ve had charcoal grills, an expensive stainless gas grill (Lynx), a Pro chef built in indoor grill, a moderately priced Weber gas grill, and a ceramic smoker.</p>
<p>For most people, a Weber gas grill is the most convenient and cost effective choice: instant on, easy to clean, performs as well as gas grills costing twice as much.</p>
<p>Our Kamado ceramic smoker was the best grill we ever had: super hot (or not, as you choose), efficient fuel use and out of this world flavor. </p>
<p>See [Kamado</a> gas, charcoal and electric barbecue](<a href=“http://www.kamado.com/]Kamado”>http://www.kamado.com/) or [Primo</a> Grills and Smokers ~ Official Web Information](<a href=“http://www.primogrill.com/]Primo”>http://www.primogrill.com/).</p>
<p>^^Those look good. Someone on CC bought the Green Egg - a kind of similar BBQ grill. A cheapo stainless steel gas grill can be significantly improved by adding a layer of special flat ceramic stones about 1.5-2 inches under the grates. The stones make the heat distribution much more even, and with the stones, I can even grill kabobs, which is not an easy task to perform on a gas grill.</p>
<p>The Big Green Egg is similar to the Kamado, but lighter weight and lighter duty. The Kamado is so well insulated you can smoke while it’s snowing on the unit.
See [The</a> Smoke Ring](<a href=“http://www.thesmokering.com/default.jsp]The”>http://www.thesmokering.com/default.jsp) for hardcore, bbq geek discussions.</p>
<p>Although I count myself as a happy former Kamado owner, it might be best to avoid the Kamado as there are many recent complaints about customer service. There is, in fact, a whole website devoted to Kamado complaints: [Kamado</a> Fraud](<a href=“http://www.kamadofraudforum.org/]Kamado”>http://www.kamadofraudforum.org/).</p>
<p>mom60 – we have a 15 year old Weber gas grill. Still works perfectly. Had to replace grate & flavorizer bars when it was 13 years old. I went with the stainless steel, based on some online research. </p>
<p>For us, charcoal just doesn’t make sense – trying to time when to start the fire so it’s ready for cooking with H’s arrival home from work was always a gamble.</p>
<p>The charcoal chimney-style starters are great. Two sheets of newspaper and 10 minutes is all that is needed. I grill year around and will never go back to a gas grill. I love my big Weber kettle. I also have the small table top model.</p>
<p>Love Weber gas grill - on our second, they don’t last when kept outside in NJ weather. Our second one is garaged in the winter now.</p>
<p>Replaced flavornizer bars which started to rust (crack,too) so they were replaced, and stainless steel grates.</p>
<p>Those replacement parts lasted two years, bought a new Weber two years ago. (Maybe time to replace grill ?)</p>
<p>mom60–we have the same grill (hooked up to gasline of house) & true, it’s super-easy. We got the replacement part & never needed another–think it’s about 13 years old…</p>
<p>I, too, am with rocketman. I thought we were the last family on earth not to have “gone gas”, until there was a similar thread on cc a while ago.</p>
<p>Back to basics, use a charcoal chimney, don’t need flavorizer bars. Way cheaper, too.</p>