OK Grill, But Not Great
The airflow on this grill is just not sufficient. With vents all open, the charcoal just does not burn hot enough, especially if you use the included baskets (which restrict airflow to the charcoal even more). I have tried cooking without the ash catcher and it helps a little, but not enough. When I close the lid, the heat drops like a rock. It's difficult to maintain temps above 225 with the lid closed with all vents open. A stiff wind helps, but who wants to count on the weather?
The construction is solid and assembly isn't difficult. Just take your time. Took me about 1.5 hours by myself working at a leisurely pace. The grates are as good as or better than anything else in this price range and the cart is really nice with a lot of work area. The gas assist is handy if you use a chimney, other than that, it's kind of in an awkward spot if you use the baskets. The "ash sweep" is nothing more than a vent; it doesn't sweep ash at all.
Using this in the EXACT same way as my previous basic (Well Known Competitor) kettle grill doesn't give nearly the same performance. Comparing this to their product does this grill a disservice as it raises expectations and those expectations are not met.
It's an OK, grill, but it does have its shortcomings and there are better options, albeit at a higher price point.
reply from Member's Mark Supplier
Thank you for taking time to leave a review. We are sorry to hear that you have had some challenges with your Member’s Mark Charcoal Gas Assist Grill. We are here to help in anyway we can.Please Note: The Pro-Series Gas Assist Charcoal Grill comes equipped with three air intake controls. The Lid Vent, Firebowl Vent, and Ash Sweep/air intake control. During lighting and operation, all vents should be in the open position. More air increases the burning temperature of the coals.The lighting burner does not need to be turned off until the charcoal in the charcoal basket has ignited. This normally takes about 5 minutes, but if you're finding it difficult to get up to higher temperatures, you can turn off the lighting burner when the briquettes have a light coating of grey ash, then allow the charcoal to burn with the lid open, before closing the lid and opening the lid vent and other vents completely. Tip: Some customers have found that the charcoal type (briquette, verses lump) can make a difference in heating performance. Some grillers swear by the lump charcoal, and others prefer the briquettes. Should you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to us at the number on your manual, or by contacting Member's Mark Help Center a call toll-free at: (888) 301-0332 from 7 am - 11 pm CST Monday through Saturday and 10 am - 8 pm CST on Sundays. Please have the item number from your receipt, the serial number, the product UPC and/or the product description ready to provide to our Member Care Professional.Your feedback regarding the charcoal baskets and ease of use have been noted. Your feedback is important to us.
Customer reviews for Member's Mark Pro Series Charcoal Grill with Gas Assist for
