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About model numbers
Manufacturers often make slight variations to their basic model exclusively for certain merchants. For example, a grill manufacturer might make their Firebrand Grill Model ABC123 with cast iron grates available only on Amazon. Meanwhile, the ABC125 is identical except it has stainless steel grates, and it is sold only at ACE Hardware. Of course the prices can differ.
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Seasoning and calibrating your grill or smoker with dry runs
The first thing to do after you assemble your new grill or smoker is to season it and calibrate it by doing a few dry runs without food. This will burn off any manufacturer's grease, and give you a sense for how to set it up to hit the two important target temps that almost all my recipes use: 225°F and 325°F.
Of course, in order to do this, you absolutely positively must have a good digital oven thermometer. I don't care how much you spent on your grill, the bi-metal dial thermometer that came with it is probably cheap and unreliable and likely to be off by as much as 50°F. Worse still, it is in the dome, and the temp down on the grate where the meat sits is much different. Like a musician, you must master your instrument to make great food.
Tailgating and game checklist
Here's my checklist for a football tailgater. Feel free to copy and paste it and print it.
Start planning early. Check the rules on the place you plan to park. Some lots do not permit tailgating, some do not allow charcoal grills, some do not allow adult beverages, some do not allow glass bottles, and some do not allow trailers.
Do as much prep in advance as possible. For example, if you plan to make omelets for breakfast, break and mix the eggs, add the herbs and whatever else was going in, pour them in a jar, and then all you need to do is pour them into the hot pan with butter.
Save and clean empty milk jugs, and freeze water in them. The frozen bottles can keep food cold, and can be used for drinking.
It is especially important that you pay close attention to food safety when you are away from refrigeration and running hot water. Read my page about food safety. Remember to keep food below 40°F or above 150°F.
Buy an empty spray bottle at the drug store and fill it with a dilute solution of household bleach. USDA recommends a solution of one tablespoon of 5% unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water. Bleach is a powerful sanitizer. That's why they put it in swimming pools. After washing cutting boards, knives, meat grinders, counters, etc., it's a good idea to sanitize with bleach. Flood surfaces with the bleach solution and allow it to stand for several minutes. Rinse with clear water and air or pat dry with clean paper towels.
Arrive early so there is no rush, and stay after. Let the crowds fight their way out. Relax. Have some snacks and a beverage.
Grills (one or both):
- Charcoal grill, charcoal, chimney, lighter
- Gas grill, propane, lighter
Heavy duty aluminum foil
Fire extinguisher
Footballs, frisbees, bean bag toss
Oven gloves
Ice
Meat: Pulled pork, ribs, hotdogs, brats, Italian sausage, burgers
Pans and pots
Paper cups and plates
Paper towels
Phone
Rain gear: Ponchos, umbrellas, caps
Salt, pepper, other herbs & spices
Side dishes: Potato salad, slaw
Snacks: Chips, Chex Mix, Cheetos, peanuts
Stadium seats
Sunblock
Sunglasses
Tables and tablecloths
Team rosters
Easy-Up canopy or tent or tarp
Trash bags
Utensils: Knives, spatula, serving spoons, tongs
Water for cleanup
Wet towelettes
And don't forget the tickets!
Tell me below what is missing.
The football-ribs relationship
Why is barbecue so popular at football tailgate parties?
As any fan will tell you the greensward the game is played on, marked with parallel white stripes, is called a gridiron. What she may not know is that a gridiron is an early name for the iron grate with parallel bars upon which meat is cooked over coals.
And what is the central object of the game of football? A pigskin, of course, even though it hasn't been made of pigskin for decades.
Tailgate Grills, Camping Grills, And Portable Grills Of All Sizes
For the tailgate party, balcony, beach, back country hike, cattle drive, Winnebago trip, or on your yacht, you need a portable grill.
Many of the small units don't have lids. Try to get one with a cover for the best temperature control and to prevent burning thicker meats. Try to get enough surface area so you can push the coals to one side for indirect cooking and to prevent burning.
When out and about, I usually look for convenience, and because a small bottle of propane will last a long time and it's a heckuva lot lighter than charcoal, my favorite small portable is a lightweight Weber 1520 Gas Go-Anywhere Gas Grill.
There are many options, from throwaways, to tried and true Hibachis, to some pretty snazzy rigs. I have not had a chance to work with many of these, so I list them alphabetically with no comment at this time. The listings are down the page a bit since I have devoted so much space to the GoGalley.
Click here to see many the portable grills on Amazon.com all at once.
I'm a big football fan, an undersized high school linebacker who even did spring training with the University of Florida Gators as Paper Gator when I was sports editor of the campus paper (click the link to read about my dubious record at the Swamp). I'm the guy who knows enough about the game to scream at the coaches from deep in the end zone bleachers as if they'll hear and heed me.
My playing career is loooong behind me so now I have gotten serious about tailgating. I love nothing more than going to Bears games in the snow and getting there early enough to cook a hearty meal and down a few adult beverages.
Tailgating is such a ritual that I even have a checklist of what to take. I usually bring a small portable gas grill or charcoal grill, but in the fall of 2011, thanks to the manufacturer, I had the opportunity to amp up my game with a new product, the GoGalley.
Packed with innovation, this is the best rig I've ever seen for tailgating or camping. But GoGalley is not just for football games. Heck it is even a fine backyard setup. It is not cheap at about $2,000, but it is a bargain for what it has under the hood and what it does.
The GoGalley is a single unit that contains a grill, a smoker/oven, a side burner, large work surfaces, storage, and a trailer hitch. But that is like saying an F-22 is a jet with some weapons. This baby has everything except the kitchen sink.
Mobility
Let's start with the most clever innovation on this rig: The trailer hitch and the way the designers have made the GoGalley portable.
The whole shebang folds up into a box that is 32.5" wide, 49" tall, and 41" deep plus 10" for the trailer hitch. It fits nicely on the skid on which it is shipped.
It weighs about 350 pounds. When it is folded up, you roll it back to the trailer hitch on your car or truck, remove a large T shaped heavy duty handscrew that holds the trailer hitch securely to the body, and move the hitch on the grill in position to mate with the vehicle. Slide the two together, lock them, toggle a switch on the grill's side, and a battery powered motor and cable winches the unit up off the ground and snug against the vehicle's hitch. Put the T screw back in place, lock it to the hitch, slide the casters off, and there's enough clearance to motor down the road at highway speeds. Exact clearance height will depend on your vehicle. The hitch connection fits a DOT approved 2" square receiver hitch with a minimum of class III rating which means it can handle up to 500 pounds. If your hitch is smaller, there are adapters available.
This design is especially cool because some universities, like Notre Dame, prohibit trailers in their tailgating lots. When you get to the stadium or campground, lower it with the winch, unlock it, unfold it so the sideburner is on one side and the smoker is on the other side, lift the work tables, and you have everything but the kitchen sink. Setting up takes about 3 minutes if you stop to drink a beer.
You can fold it up and lock it back on the trailer hitch while you're at the game and never have to worry about someone stealing it. After the game you can be back up and running in minutes.
Versatility
GoGalley is designed for portability, but there is no reason it can't be used in your back yard. It can be opened up into a straight line as in the photo above, or in a V shape, or even a U shape making for a very compact and efficient kitchen. The wheels on the side cabinets lock tight when you decide on your configuration.
Gas grill. The center section is a 4-burner gas grill with 540 square inches of primary cooking surface and a 150 square inch removable warming rack above. The main grates are cast iron and are held in tight by three screws so they won't bounce out in transit. The burners line up side to side so you can cook indirect or have a hot zone on one side and a warm zone on the other. There are porcelain coated heat diffuser plates above the stainless steel burners and a tray under the grill is angled to catch and drain grease to a small pan in the cabinet that is easy to remove. The burners light with a push-button piezo switch, and the designers have put in two of them in case one fails, which it shouldn't. The propane tank straps into the storage cabinet below the grill, but you should remove it when driving. The hood is double layered on the top to help retain heat. I had not trouble getting it over 600°F on a 70°F day as measured by my lab grade thermocouples.
Smoker/oven. When GoGalley is unfurled, there is a nifty gas smoker and oven on the right that, if it was a standalone it might be the best gas smoker on the market. Unlike all the others, this one is not flimsy. It has a solid steel frame, double walls, two exhaust vents, a stainless steel burner, and silicone door gaskets. It has a cast iron box for smoke chips and a water pan right above it for humidity. There are four 12" wide by 14" long removable shelves that can hold 8 short racks of baby backs, 4 whole chickens, 4 pork butts, etc. Skip the wood chips and you have an oven that can be used as a warming oven or for baking cookies, rolls, or beans. When pegged on low with the water pan in place it can smoke at an ideal 225°F easily (most cabinet gassers cannot go this low). The top of the smoker gets hot so it can be used to keep a serving platter warm, but it can also burn you if you're not careful, and you don't want to absently mindedly put an unopened beer on it.
Burner/boiler/fryer. The left side has a big cast iron burner that puts out 25,000 BTU. There are three levels on which it can be set. Raise it up to use a large skillet, wok, or griddle, drop it down low to insert the capacious six gallon aluminum cauldron that comes with the system. The pot has a perforated insert. You can fry a pretty good size turkey in that baby or boil a mess of lobsters. If you are foolish enough to overfill the turkey fryer or put a frozen bird into the oil and it overflows and catches on fire, there is an emergency fuel turn-off under the grill that goes from open to closed with a quarter turn.
Work tables. Then raise up the two 29" long stainless steel work tables, one on each side, and there enough room for prep and serving. They are sturdy enough to hold whatever you need, but I wouldn't sit on them. The wing on the left has a hole for a standard 13 gallon garbage bag and a ring that holds it in place. There are even tool hooks on the tables. Nice details.
Construction
There is a one year guarantee on parts and workmanship. How well will it take a beating riding on the back of an SUV to the games and being rolled around parking lots? The body is framed with square tubular heavy duty 11 gage steel and parts appear to be welded properly. The moving parts use long heavy piano hinges. Latches appear to be well made and mounted.
Many parts are stainless and the rest is powder coated, a nice sturdy finish, but black is the only color available at the moment. I am told an all stainless option is in the works.
It comes with a heavy duty vinyl coated water proof cover made from the trap material used for hauling steel on flat bed trucks. I'm not all that confident in the Velcro straps that hold the cover down when on the highway, but so far they have done the job.
It comes with two bimetal dial thermometers that work pretty well when I compared them to my lab grade thermocouples, but, as always, you should use digital thermometers to be sure.
Cooking with the GoGalley
The manufacturer sent me one of the first units off the assembly line and I took it to a 2:30 p.m. college football game at Soldier Field in Chicago. We got there at about 9 a.m., claimed a great parking space, and put my Last Meal Ribs in the smoker. I had put Meathead's Memphis Dust on them the night and cut them in half so there was plenty of room around them in the smoker.
Then I made omelets for breakfast. I had broken the eggs before we left home, chopped some fresh herbs into the mix, and poured it into a plastic bottle. When I got there all I had to do was drop some butter into the hot non-stick pan on the side burner, shake the bottle, and pour in the eggs.
The ribs were ready by noon. I pulled them out of the smoker, tossed them on the hot grill, painted on the sauce, and sizzled them for about three minutes per side so the sugars would caramelize. Needless to say, our campsite was popular with passersby. Meanwhile I was putting the finishing touches on Italian sassiges on the grill (there's plenty of room for them and the ribs) while my wife was frying some onions and peppers in olive oil on the side burner. When the ribs came off I toasted the inside of the buns for the sausages on the grill, nestled the sausages in, and topped them with the fried onions and peppers. Condiments were laid out on the side tables, and the platter of ribs was placed on top of the smoker to stay warm.
The other night I made smoked burgers, so easy with this unit. I popped a couple of 6 ounce ground chuck patties in the smoker at about 225°F, tossed in a handful of pellets, and 10 minutes later took them out and put the on the preheated grill to build the crust. Now there's a sure-fire hit for your next tailgater.
Bugs
There are a few minor bugs to be ironed out with future designs (this is, after all version, 1.0), but absolutely nothing serious enough that would make me postpone a purchase.
The big wheels make rolling it around easy, but they must be removed when GoGalley is attached to your vehicle and you are motoring down the highway or they will scrape bottom. They are very easy to put in place and locking them is done by tightening a large T-shaped thumbscrew. But if you don't get that screw down tight, the wheels can pop off if you hit a big crack in the ground. Just make sure you tighten them well, perhaps with a pair of pliers. Even with the wheels removed, the unit can come close to scraping bottom on some smaller SUVs with a low mounted hitch. Also, the unit must be on level surface when you detach it from the hitch or it will be difficult to extract the tongue from the hitch.
The front wheels have an easy to use locking mechanism to prevent GoGalley from rolling when it is in use. Alas, the locks can't be accessed when the unit is folded. The wheels are so good that it just might roll away without locking them down, so I recommend putting the front wheels on the back and visa versa so you can lock the rear wheels when it is still folded.
For some reason, there is no igniter for the side burner and it must be lit with a match or a lighter and the markings on the knob for the side burner as well as the knob for the smoker don't line up properly on mine. Federal safety laws require lots of vents on gas grills to allow air in and combustion gases out. when hauling GoGalley I am concerned that some water and mud may get into the cabinet under the grill through vents in the bottom, but I haven't tested this yet.
The side burner has a small round metal disk that keeps rain out of the side burner. I would prefer a square lid that will cover the whole left side cabinet and a door to keep out rain and snow when I am cooking (hey, I'm no fair weather fan!). Also, when I am done cooking I leave the unit uncovered to cool before I put the vinyl cover on and, well, sometimes adult beverages are served and I forget, and that left side is unprotected.
Alas, the only major shortcoming of the GoGalley is that it lacks a sink. And it can't guarantee a victory for the home team. Click here for current pricing on Amazon.com for the GoGalley- Meathead
1) If you are looking for info, please use the table of contents or the search box, at the top of every page before you ask for help.
2) Please don't ask any questions that involve temperature unless you tell us that you are using a digital thermometer! Dial thermometers are often off by as much as 50°F! If you are not using a good digital you have no idea what the temp really is so I can't help you. If you are still using a dial thermometer, please read this article about thermometers, then buy a good digital, and then, if the problem persists (chances are it won't), hit us with your questions. Please tell us everything we need to know to answer your question like the type of cooker you are using.
3) Please don't ask "What grill (or smoker) should I buy?" Read our Buyer's Guides and the buying checklists and follow the links. We've shared just about everything we know. Pay attention to the awards I have given my faves. We cannot pick the right cooker for your needs any more than we could pick the right car or spouse for you.
Important Info About This Website
AmazingRibs.com is all about the science and zen of barbecue, grilling, and outdoor cooking, with great BBQ recipes and techniques: Baby back ribs, spareribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, steak, burgers, chicken, smoked turkey, lamb, barbecue sauces, burgers, steaks, rubs, and side dishes, with the world's best buying guide to barbecue smokers, grills, and accessories. It is edited by Meathead.
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About Product Reviews and Best Value Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals. These are highly recommended products based on features, quality, and especially value. Rest assured that when we recommend a product, it is really because we like it, not because someone has paid us to say so because we do not accept advertising from products we review. We purchase many products we review although occasionally suppliers send us samples. We have always been transparent about when we are reviewing a product sample, even before the Federal Trade Commission Required it in 2009. Click here to read more about our medals.
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Look At These AmazingRibs.com Best Value Gold Medal Winners
The prize for Best BBQ Tool at the 2012 The National Barbecue Association conference went to a simple inexpensive fridge magnet by Meathead. It includes the latest USDA recommendations as well as chef recommendations (and they often differ) as well as color photos of the different stages of doneness for red meats. The temperatures are the same for both indoor and outdoor cooks. Click here for more info and how to order it.
GrillGrates Take You To The Infrared Zone
GrillGrates are the best new product I have tested in years and the best thing to happen to beef since salt and pepper. The base superheats, eliminates hot spots, and blocks flareups. This is the concept behind the expensive new infrared grills. A must for gas grills. Click here for more about GrillGrates.
The Smokenator: A Necessity For All Weber Kettles
If you have a Weber Kettle, you need the amazing Smokenator and Hovergrill. The Smokenator turns your grill into a first class smoker, and the Hovergrill can add capacity or be used to create steakhouse steaks. Click here to read more.
ThermoWorks Pocket Thermometer - No More Guessing
A good thermometer is why I never serve overcooked or undercooked food. This one has a very thin tip with a tiny thermocouple so it gives an accurate reading in just six seconds. I cannot recommend it more highly. It will improve your cooking overnight and pay for itself in a hurry. And it is inexpensive. Click here for more about thermometers.
Steakhouse Knives
These are the same knives used at the best steakhouses (Peter Luger, Smith & Wollensky, Morton's and others). Machine washable, temper-ground, serrated, high-carbon stainless-steel, full-tang blades with excellent cutting edge retention, beefy hardwood handle, rust and stain resistant, and they stay shiny without polishing. And now they have the AmazingRibs.com imprimatur. Click here for more info on these wonderful knives.
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With a $30 donation you'll get a 100% cotton brushed twill adjustable low profile cap with the AmazingRibs patch sewn on. I'll even toss in a small bag of BBQ'rs Delight wood smoke pellets. Click here for more info.
.
For the tailgate party, balcony, beach, back country hike, cattle drive, Winnebago trip, or on your yacht, you need a portable grill.
.
Let's start with the most clever innovation on this rig: The trailer hitch and the way the designers have made the GoGalley portable.
AmazingRibs.com is all about the science and zen of barbecue, grilling, and outdoor cooking, with great BBQ recipes and techniques: Baby back ribs, spareribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, steak, burgers, chicken, smoked turkey, lamb, barbecue sauces, burgers, steaks, rubs, and side dishes, with the world's best buying guide to barbecue smokers, grills, and accessories. It is edited by 
About Product Reviews and Best Value Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals. These are highly recommended products based on features, quality, and especially value. Rest assured that when we recommend a product, it is really because we like it, not because someone has paid us to say so because we do not accept advertising from products we review. We purchase many products we review although occasionally suppliers send us samples. We have always been transparent about when we are reviewing a product sample, even before 
The prize for Best BBQ Tool at the 2012 The National Barbecue Association conference went to a simple inexpensive fridge magnet by Meathead. It includes the latest USDA recommendations as well as chef recommendations (and they often differ) as well as color photos of the different stages of doneness for red meats. The temperatures are the same for both indoor and outdoor cooks. 
With a $30 donation you'll get a 100% cotton brushed twill adjustable low profile cap with the AmazingRibs patch sewn on. I'll even toss in a small bag of BBQ'rs Delight wood smoke pellets. Click here for 
