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- Huge cooking surface
- Cast-iron body
- Can bake pizzas or smoke meat
- Temperature gauge
- Large size
According to reviews, the enormous Bar-B-Chef Charcoal Barbecue Built-In grill (also known as the Bar-B-Chef Texas Charcoal Barbecue) offers excellent cooking versatility. It also includes some convenient extras that are missing on the less costly Weber One-Touch Silver , such as a temperature gauge, charcoal dividers, utensil holders and a warming rack. This Bar-B-Chef grill has 770 square inches of cooking space, making it a good choice for entertaining. Reviewers say temperature control is a plus, with an adjustable charcoal tray and a front door for easy cleaning and loading. Its heavy-duty cast-iron exterior also means the Bar-B-Chef is extra durable. Bar-B-Chef offers a two-year warranty on the exterior and a one-year warranty on all other parts. On the downside, the Bar-B-Chef is expensive, and it might be overkill for smaller families.
We found the best reviews of the Bar-B-Chef Charcoal Barbecue Built-In at Cook's Illustrated, which tests six grills head-to-head. The experts at About.com and Food & Wine are also knowledgeable, relying on their experience rather than formal testing. There's also a long, detailed user review of the Bar-B-Chef on the Chowhound.com message boards.
Our Sources
1. Cook's Illustrated MagazineDetails/Subscribe
Cook's Illustrated rates six grills capable of handling a 12-pound turkey. The Bar-B-Chef Texas Charcoal Barbecue is the second -most expensive grill on test. The editors comment that it's more grill than some people need and also say "there's really nothing this behemoth can't do."
Review: Rating Charcoal Grills, Editors of Cook's Illustrated, June 2006
2. About.com
Derrick Riches doesn't review the Bar-B-Chef Charcoal Barbecue Built-In, but he does discuss a similar model, the Bar-B-Chef Charcoal Barbecue Smoker, which has almost the same grill surface, plus an attached smoker. It earns a high rating thanks to its size, construction quality and ventilation. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
Review: Bar-B-Chef Charcoal Smoker, Derrick Riches
3. Food & Wine MagazineDetails/Subscribe
Steven Raichlen, the author of "The Barbecue Bible" and host of PBS' "Barbecue University," ranks seven charcoal grills. The Bar-B-Chef Texas (Bar-B-Chef Charcoal Barbecue Built-In) gets first place; Raichlen likes the fact that it can also burn wood.
Review: Steve Raichlen's Favorite Grills, Steven Raichlen, May 2006
There are a variety of comments here about the Bar-B-Chef Texas Charcoal Grill, including some about its pizza-baking capabilities. There are also links to photos of food seductively roasting on the Bar-B-Chef's grill. Although not a formal review, the owner comments here are insightful.
Review: Boys and Their Toys: The Bar-B-Chef Texas Charcoal Grill, Contributors to Chowhound.com, Oct. 27, 2006
Charcoal Grills Runners Up:
2 picks by top review sites.
Weber 751001 22.5-Inch One-Touch Gold Charcoal Grill, Black
 from Amazon.com New: $159.70 $134.90 In Stock.
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