****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
This is our 2nd Big Easy SRG that we have bought.I purchased the 1st thirteen, maybe fourteen years ago, and it is still going strong. It did start getting rusty over the years, but It does remain outdoors and uncovered all year. This was a very easy fix as it is a very well built cooker. I simply took a wire wheel attached to a drill to the rusty areas and than painted with a high temp paint. After a few years now, it is still going strong. Early on I did keep it covered when not being used, but laziness and weather have done their part to keep me from that. However, I expect this unit to last a lifetime.Take your time on assembly, and follow the directions carefully, and do not forget to hook up the ignitor wire. I would also recommend doing this by hand and keep power tools away so you do not strip out any screws. One of two flaws with the unit itself is #1 with the drip tray. It doesn't fit as well as it should, but does get the job done. Seems as though it was built by another manufacturer than that of the main unit.#2 is with the smoker box. It doesn't function/operate as smoothly as it should, but if you are careful with it and take your time to understand how it is secured on the unit, you can use it. I do wish it was a little larger, but have gotten use to this and accept it for what it is, and it works well. I have used mine on and off since the original purchase, and it does function well as a smoker if you let it and work with it. Temperature wise it doesn't want to go low enough for that of a true smoker. To get it at the lower temps you just need to practice and adjust your temperature setting by rotating your temp. control knob past the high setting as if to shut it off. Between the highest setting and the off position, you are able to get a low flame that will give you those lower temperatures. It produces some of the best smoked meats if you let it!!I have used the SRG for everything, and if you watch a video or two of the unit on YouTube from HSN you will get a good overview of the cooker. It does everything amazing, grilling, smoking, roasting, and yes even baking.What I really like to use this for is as a substitute for the oven. It takes all the heat outdoors.I think this does everything extremely well, particularly with the roasting. The amount of food this unit holds is far more than we have ever needed. I do wish at times that the grilling surface was larger, but have learned to work with this. I think the size is perfect for two if you are grilling the whole meal and can be used comfortably for up to four people easily if just doing a single item.On windy days I like to wrap the bottom of the unit from the ground to the top of the legs to keep the wind from blowing out the flame. If I am smoking something I always do this as the flame is so low and if windy the wind will extinguish the flame.As I said this is our second one. We recently purchased a small vacation property and will have one there as well as our home.
