Thanks Noah! You'll enjoy the head to head video that's next up on the channel where we put the Masterbuilt 800 up against the Char-Griller 980, so stay tuned
*Love it!! I used to use a propane grill and after using my Weber, the food just tastes so much better and the temp **MyBest.Kitchen** control is so easy! Will never use a propane grill again!*
I have a friend from Detroit that was gifted one of these grills. I’ve never run one before but I started doing the research and found your channel. I sent him the video. What a great review of this grill makes me want one now.!!!
What an absolutely incredible review. Tremendous work. Thank you for taking the time to review this Cooker. Appreciate this as I’m in the market for a new pit and this sure ticks a lot of boxes for me. 👊🏻
We really enjoy using this cooker. There's something about the flavor and heat of charcoal and the ease of a pellet grill that's super attractive for us, especially on weeknights. All the best Mike!
I have a GS 800 and I love it! I'd watched a bunch of reviews prior to buying mine (this one included), The one thing I did do, while assembling it, was to make sure there was ZERO strain/pull, on the power cord. I put a big enough 'droop' so rain would drip off before it even got close to the controller, then wrapped the cord around the bracket on the back of the shelf, then tightly zip tied the cord into place, so it won't move at all. The remainder of the cord is free to go where ever I put it. I use a 25' 12 gauge, all weather extension cord to power it. The other thing I DO NOT DO, is, use the 'app'. Technology is awesome........IF it works properly. MB seems to be lacking in that department. The ONLY issues I've ever had, were 'operator error'.....in other words, MY FAULT. This thing is a beast! I love it! Oh, thank you, for the review! It was the main reason, I bought mine.
Hi Dave, i see your GS800 must be 1yr old now. Is it still in good condition? I've read material is not that durable? Planning to buy 1. Its on sale at costco.
It looks really smart and is so adaptable for all the outdoor home cook needs. I love the fact that you can get a griddle attachment for it too so you do not have to have have another item on your patio. 10/10 again BBQ Lab
Not just that you can get one, it's included with the 800. These things may not have the beefiest or best build quality but it's still good and with some light mods can make these things a beast. I've wanting one ever since they announced them. I love smoking and grilling and do so multiple times a week on a weber kettle but I'm at the point where I don't want to manage the heat and fuel so much and want to gain back some time. These do that.
I concur with others who praised this review. I came across this review earlier this week and it absolutely helped make the decision on purchasing this grill. I just finished assembling mine about an hour ago and having two people to assemble makes sense, but it can be done with one person. Absolutely use the packaging as a mat, since the grill will be upside down for most of the assembly. I used moving blankets, just because they were softer. Once the workday is done, I'll start the seasoning process and get acclimated to the app. Thanks to the Barbeque Lab for the thorough review.
Congratulations on your new grill Timothy! Enjoy learning all of the things you can do with it. My wife has asked for grilled crab legs on the 800 series for her birthday coming up. So much fun things it can do. All the best!
@@TheBarbecueLab One thing I learned that I found interesting is that they make a rotisserie attachment for the 800 series. Really excited to explore its versatility.
This is my first charcoal grill after a lifetime of gas. th-cam.com/users/postUgkxBPjh-m7-eaAjTEt8BOZRSRRxXqxiI90W The food in it turns out great. Also, the ash remover makes it easy to clean.The base is sturdy and it has ample space inside.I use a chimney to get it started, and it seems pretty efficient. One chimney is enough to cook a whole lot of meat and still keeps burning. If you close the vents it cools down well making it so the coals remaining are still usable as supporting cast members (you still need fresh coals to get them going.I was going to get something bigger, but realized with coal, bigger is just more wasteful and harder to cook with.
Simple fix for the wire issue, pick up cord anchors from your favorite hardware or online retailer and screw the wire down to something solid as it exists the controller. (Hint hint masterbuilt)
Even simpler fix, masterbuilt could do a revision to make the mechanism inherently more robust, so people aren't having to jerry rig and potentially getting it wrong and having a broken grill.
@@networkn even better fix. Don’t buy a masterbuilt. I have a 560 and it’s complete junk. Complete utter 100% junk. Garbage. It’s too bad. Because the concept is awesome. The quality is crap tho.
I learned the hard way (fabbed my own 1/4” vertical smoker) that metal thickness has zero to do with heat retention. Metal doesn’t insulate - it just gets hot and radiates heat out. You need insulation via thin walls with an insulation layer in between (like a fridge or oven) or really thick insulating material a la Big Green Egg style.
David, best online review I have EVER seen, no matter the product, most people ramble on about things, you were straight to the point and very thorough. I like how you mentioned possible improvements as well. I was hoping that you would mention wheels. My biggest problem with any grill or smoker is the chintzy wheels. I store my equipment away from the cooking area, it's no fun dragging these things across a bumpy yard with tiny 2 inch casters.. Thank you for a wonderful review.. Mike
totally agree with your point of making it more durable. Im gonna move into a house with the space for a medium size bbq smoker and the master built is on my list but i hear from most that it not gonna last. i wouldnt mind spending 1k-1.5k if it was a better quality build
I have been debating buying one of these now that my pit boss died. I think your review pushed me to purchase. I have also seen some Mods they make for this. You should consider looking at or doing a review of the mods they make so people like me know if it’s worth it to purchase them. Thanks!
You should join a MB Gravity forum also, there's a lot of information that you need if you're going to have one of these. I'm in the same boat basically. I was looking at the other two models but once I found out that the 800 is the only one with the griddle, I now only want this one. But at least I'll be going into clear-eyed and aware that there are some quality control issues with them, and it's gonna break. I would rather pay more money also to get a better machine, but this is our only choice at present if you want a charcoal gravity smoker.
I build pits, great review on this grill. The grills I build are custom built but last for ever. My first gravity grill was built 10 years ago and still preforms like day one.
If you don't already own a Blackstone griddle this Masterbuilt 800 can give you that experience without spending money for a Blackstone. The con on this grill is fuel management. If you're doing cooks longer than 8 hours then fill the hopper all the way up. Otherwise use only what you need for the cook. The next thing is if I want 225F on the center rack I have to run it at 255. You will learn your grill. This pit can maintain 165F to smoke your salts, cheese, fish on the upper warmer racks. Then dial it up to 225F to smoke and go to 700F for reverse sears and hand tossed pizza.
I have always been a fan of the Traeger pellet grill. I’ve used it for several years and it’s time to replace it. Just like the master built 800 the internal heating shield is made of such thin metal or stamped steel. After a few seasons it will actually hard rust and start to disintegrate almost as bad as cast-iron. I realize that stainless steel is much more expensive however in this day of metal composition and synthetic creation, they should make a mixture of different metals to slow down or prevent rusting of these thin steel parts. Still up in the air with this grill. I still not sure I would invest in this grill since it looks like it would go through an entire bag of charcoal in one cook. I can put up to 9 pounds of pellets in a Treager grill hopper and after eight hours of smoking and cooking I still have half of a hopper left. .
I'm on the fence between this and a pellet smoker which are so easy to use put pellets in and set and forget. There something about the smell of Charcoal grill going most use gas like myself one guy he uses a weber charcoal grill we can smell it my wife say always like the smell of Charcoal. I have resisted getting even a weber having to deal with controlling the heat on a weber. This Masterbuilt I would not have to play with the air flow manually.
This is a pretty damn thorough review im a pessimist so I really paid attention to the improvements. It seems they have a pretty great concept but the power issue is really a concern for me. Having a "dead grill" seems extreme for an investment of that nature and risking the customer service issue. Also escaping smoke can be an issue. I do like the concept though
I own the 560. I already own a Blackstone but if you don't, the 800 is awesome because you get the Blackstone experience. If you don't need a griddle, then the 560 or larger 1050 are options. I bought an additional two racks for my 560. The 560 is good enough for my needs as I upgraded from a 22 1/2" Weber Kettle. I think someone tripped over his cord. I always disconnect my chord from the controller plug after each cook and put the chord in a ziplock bag under the grill. You can double up a foil square to act as a gasket to stop top hopper smoke leakage. The con on this pit is on it's own it wastes fuel. The work around is treat it like a Weber Kettle. Only use the fuel you would use on your Weber. For example steaks 15 briquettes, a brisket the whole hopper. I would also drop $50 and get the cover. It's heavy duty and protects the grill. Okay the good part. NOTHING beats this pit on versatility! You can use charcoal or wood chunks. You can maintain 160F and use the upper racks to cold smoke salts, cheeses, fish, jerky. I can dial up 225F and smoke brisket etc or a ribeye until it reaches 105F then pull the steak off dial up pit to 700F and ten minutes later your ready to reverse sear that steak and toss on a hand tossed pizza for a wood smoked pizza. Find a grill that can go from 160-700F that burns chunk wood or charcoal? Pellets reach 450 and never develop the smoke ring this pit does. I cooked on a Weber Kettle for 39 years. I used to have a offset smoker, too much work. I never thought I would walk away from my Weber then this came around. My advice is buy the model that fits your need. You're going to love it.
@@docohm50 Thanks for the honest review (one year later, lol) Question for you: does the MB produce bad smoke after it’s been cooking for a while? It seems the fan may turn on and blow on charcoal that hasn’t ashed over fully in the middle of a cook.
My wife just got this for me for fathers day through Costco and payed 50$ to have them assemble and after seeing the set up on this video and looking at the instructions I really appreciate she did lol
@@JewelShain stopped working after about 7 months.. I did use it a lot and liked it better then a Traeger flavors wise and the setup, but every traeger we’ve gotten still works.. if this one was more durable I would prefer it though, only reason I haven’t replaced it yet is because I wanted to wait a couple years to see if they improve the durability or if a rival company comes up with same concept.. but charcoal is way better then pellets so I hope they improve, I’ve seen other reviews of them not lasting long for others also.. till then just sticking with my Weber for charcoal and Traeger for longer cooks that I can’t monitor
@@JewelShain yeah I think you could just replace the fan or the computer part, I just never looked.. we have had to do that with Traeger also or replace the auger but it lasts longer.. I was just surprised how fast this grill stopped working.. I’m sure it’s an easy piece replacement
I had a 1050 and returned it after right under 3 months of ownership. I'm just wishing that they come out with a "pro" model with better build quality. I kept mine under a covered patio without the masterbuilt cover and discovered that it was still developing rust spots
@@MelloHubb okay you sold it. You didn’t say if the rust was on the inside or the outside. If on the outside then it needed better weather protection which you said you didn’t give it sans cover but if it was rusting on the inside maybe the 1050 was too large and what you had on the grill wasn’t enough to splatter everywhere it rusted. In that case you could have sprayed oil on the spots that weren’t protected. I’m using the Masterbuilt 560 Gravity, and have owned/used since it’s inception. I keep mine inside an attached garage in north central Fla. No rust spots externally and no internal rusting either, but then we use our Masterbuilt gravity560 typically 3X’s a week. Oil and grease from animal fat splatters all over on the inside & why (IMO) it hasn’t rusted. I also keep a Rec Tec 560 wood pellet grill next to it in the same attached garage. It doesn’t get the use the gravity fed charcoal grill does as I prefer the way charcoal cooks our food. The Rec Tec doesn’t rust either, but then it’s metal bits are all stainless steel. That said, stainless does not mean stain not. Stainless steel grills can still rust and rot, just not as fast. Keeping inside a garage helps get the rust away But overall, and this is strictly my opinion, the smaller the interior space the grill has, the less chance of rusting on the interior. More metal means more places for rust to appear, more area to protect, more area that needs animal fat to splatter on to keep from rusting. I’m only grilling for myself & wifey year round. In the winter months her Aunt snow birds it with us so I’m grilling for 3 five months of the year. I feel the Masterbuilt 560 is the perfect size for our needs yet I like the extra goodies that the 1050 offers, like the front shelf, etc. I’m curious to see what others experience will be with the flat top griddle the 800 series has, if there will be rusting issues. Of course that will depend on the level of care and use the flat top gets. I think and this is just a guess, the 800 griddle top will fare better than those that have BlackstoneGriddle griddle since the Masterbuilt 800 griddle has a closable lid to keep the weather off the griddle. That won’t matter if the griddle is left to hang outside in the elements. Others may have better and different ideas
@@TheBarbecueLab The 800 was back ordered so I ended up starting with the 560 (I got it for $300 and got to take it home same day). Grilling now and have to say I love it!
Wish you would have at least contacted them even if you decided not to take any action so you could let us know about there customer service. Thanks for the review well done
Order this grill after watching this video and I tell anyone they need to say away from this!! Any company that would have put what they did in a box and ship it with stripped threads is not a company I would buy anything from again!! What was really nice I was about 2 hours into putting it together when I got to the part where you install the shoot with the blower on it and 3 out of 6 of the holes were stripped from the factory not to mention I found a part that was bent badly on the inside. Now I have to take a day off work to wait on a shipping company to come get!!
I pick up the 560 last month on clearance at Walmart I love it mine does leak from the top of the hopper lid as well. I do like this Masterbuilt a lot but like every product has its problems but like you said the pros outweigh the cons on it
Wonderful review!!! Thanks for your great and informative review David. I actually have a new in the box 800 series I still need to assemble along with all the LSS Bbq mods. I'm looking forward to trying this out. 👍
@@paula.2422 I just bought one with LSS mods as well. All of these terrible QC reviews are making me regret my purchase. Have the mods helped it last longer?
I would love to have one of these in an outdoor kitchen... beside the downside that ere pointed out in the video, I wish it had a rotisserie... I still think it is a winner
Interested in this smoker. I've had a Pit Boss pellet for a year+ and really love the ease of use but it is a pretty mild smoke profile. Have always been a charcoal fan. The main take away I get from most reviews is Masterbuilt needs to seriously upgrade their quality of build . Don't think I want to shell out $700+ for a unit with the obvious issues MB has. The number of similar reports of shortcomings' are too numerous to ignore or chalk up to anything other than poor design /workmanship. While I would like a stronger smoke profile from my PB pellet unit it has never failed in any way in over a year of moderate use.
I’m really curious what kind of quality issues these have that pellet smokers wouldn’t. Every pellet smoker I’ve looked at seemed kinda flimsy and they definitely are compared to stick burners. What are the “obvious issues” this grill has that pellet burners don’t have?
Pretty nice review overall, but I feel like you're missing some really key info up front. How long does it take to get up to temp and how does overall ease-of-use compare to a pellet grill? How well does it hold the set temp, what kinds of charcoal can you use and and how fast does it burn through fuel?
You did a great video on this model with good and quality info on the 800. After listening to you on info on the thickness of the metal I really can't use that as a excuse any in choosing a grill, thanks for all you do it is really appreciated!!!
One thing a lot of do that own these grills is use a battery bank (like what you use to portably charge your phones, etc) to power these when not using a rotisserie. works great, don't use it plugged into a wall anymore (1050)
@@TheBarbecueLab It was pretty much plug and play just had to buy an adapter to make the connection to the controller and then plug that into the battery. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HQ91HHV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
That was a very comprehensive review my only critique would be it would have been nice if you shown how to start the grill you know showing what kind of issues you had what you found that work best that kind of stuff
I really wanted to get this smoker/grill, the concept seems great, but there are to many reviews stating failures. It seems there are quality issues, either corners were cut to maximize profits or their quality control is not good. Hopefully they get it together, but after a year it doesn’t seem likely. Maybe another company will improve on the concept, I rather pay more if it means a quality product.
I bought the Masterbuilt smoker and it was damaged at the factory and boxed that way at the factory. I took it back to Lowe’s and exchanged it for another unit and got it home and it was damaged at the factory obviously because the box was not damaged at all. Took the second damaged unit back to Lowe’s to exchange it and we unboxed it before I left the store with it and it was damaged. They took three more units off the shelf and one of them was damaged. I’m not sure what’s going on at the master built factory but it sure seems like they will stick anything in a box and send it out to the retail store
Masterbuilt has always built week mother boards and controllers. I had issues with my last one and they would not honor a replacement. Even though the unit was about two years old, it was a known issue with that model.
I got mine, but had my wife turn off grill to let cool. I had left to pick up more grill stuff. She turned it off, then closed the vents. Man. It stayed on, never cooled. It just kept going. I should have told her to unplug it
I love my 800, but my Komodo Vision Pro is better for steaks and pizza w/the pizza accessory. The 800 is amazing for smoking, long slow cooks, low temp cooking, and very quick start up/readiness.
Got one of these exact units on clearance at Walmart. It also came damaged despite there being zero issues with the box itself. In my case it's the bottom of the cook chamber where the first leg (based on the instructions) attaches. Seen other reviews with this exact damage. Unsure I can pack it back up or how I'd take it back. Damage couldn't be seen until everything was removed from the box. I get that they needed to hit a price point but this is the thinnest smoker I think I ever bought. And people give traeger shit for their thin metal...
When my 560 was delivered I met the delivery truck outside with my handcart. Driver looked at me, chuckled, and said you won't need that, pretty sure you won't accept delivery. It looked as if it had been hit with a high speed forklift blade. It had been knocked clear out of the box, stuffed back in and sent on it's merry way. Wasn't a single panel that was even recognizable. Got my refund then went to Academy and bought one off the floor ready to grill
I don’t what the difference is. But my 800 does have a lid switch, but when I open the lid it does NOT limit the fan or temperature. Only when I open the lower door or the hopper door
Interesting. I’ll have to see what that does on mine. I cooked on it tonight around 550f but didn’t pay attention to the lid switch. It just put a mean sear on some steak and chicken though.
Nice review. I'm looking for a smoker and came across this unit. Now I'm hoping to replace both my Blackstone griddle and my charcoal grill with this unit to have the functionality of all 3.
It seems like production is still being affected for many manufacturers due to the global shutdown and slowdown, so I hope you can find one soon. They’re so much fun to cook on!
problems on the 2nd use ?? read lots of reviews and i decided way to many problems for my taste ! liked the concept of charcoal but have read usage is pretty high no matter what you use ! and as for customer service, they need lots of help in that department ! i'll pass on this ! had my camp chef for over 4 yrs and only problem so far is i had to replace the hot rod once !! as for more smoke i use a smoke tube if i need it ...
How can Masterbuilt not pay attention to a Review like this...... Very impressive!!... But I have to admit the MasterBuilt electronic issues..which seem to be something they could rectify easily and quickly...are giving me serious 'pause' to purchase this...And how did that large dent make it past MasterBuilt quality control ?
You're welcome Cristian! You'll enjoy the head to head video that's coming to the channel in just a few days where we run the Masterbuilt and the Char-Griller head to head.
David, It has been 6 months since you received the grill. How do you like it now and any other problems with the grill since this review? How does this grill fit with all the other grills you have reviewed. I wanted to also say, excellent review of the pit and its capabilities. I have been looking for a good all around general use pit. I own a gas grill and a weber kettle. Both have their functions. I have tried some strange stuff like bake bread in my gas grill (did not come out well at all) I wanted to thank you for your effort on this video, its concise and straight to the point. I like that in a review. And thanks to Masterbuilt for providing you a unit to review and show us. I would like to know how you light the fire for this unit. I agree with you on the thickness of metal. If they had a 800 Pro for example, people would buy it just for the better build quality. Thank you very much for your hard work.
I haven't run into anything new with the grill that I didn't lay out in the video, and we've been using it a couple of times a month since the review. When it comes down to it, I really like the idea of a gravity charcoal grill. It functions so much like a pellet smoker when it comes to ease of use, but it's very multi-functional. If I was only going to have a single grill on my patio, it would be a gravity charcoal grill. It just does everything. When it comes to lighting the fire on this unit, it's the same as the way it's lit on the 560, and Adam who serves as the director of product development for Masterbuilt shows how to light one in my interview with him which you can find here. th-cam.com/video/IQNhq5DKdUU/w-d-xo.html - Lighting the unit starts at about 3:10 into the video.
Great review! I am trying to decide on this or a Traeger. Currently I have a basic charcoal grill with a side smoker and I enjoy the charcoal and wood smoke taste.
Thanks TJ, both the Traeger and the Masterbuilt are great units, but they're completely different flavor profiles. Depending on whether you prefer charcoal or wood as your flavor of choice, that should be the deciding factor in my mind.
@@thomasburnham5587 it comes down to what you like cooking with, right? If charcoal is calling your name, then the Masterbuilt is right up that alley. Pellets are great for those who prefer wood over charcoal, but sometimes you just want that charcoal heat. We have both, and we use them both for different types of cooks.
Man, i've been torn (space wise) about whether to get a pellet grill, charcoal kettle or solid gas bbq. This really seems like the best of all worlds. It seems frighteningly good, whats the catch!
After watching multiple video reviews, this was 100% the best one!
Thanks Noah! You'll enjoy the head to head video that's next up on the channel where we put the Masterbuilt 800 up against the Char-Griller 980, so stay tuned
I don't know how this was considered a great review he didn't go into any details on how it actually works
*Love it!! I used to use a propane grill and after using my Weber, the food just tastes so much better and the temp **MyBest.Kitchen** control is so easy! Will never use a propane grill again!*
This is the best and most thorough review of the Masterbuilt 800 I have come across.
Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Yes great review, thank you sir
Agreed
Absolute best. Bought it mostly because of this video 🔥 Expensive in Norway though... $1600 🇧🇻
@@allanwold996 Hey! How are you getting on with the Masterbuilt? Curious how it's holding up in the colder climate?
I have a friend from Detroit that was gifted one of these grills. I’ve never run one before but I started doing the research and found your channel. I sent him the video. What a great review of this grill makes me want one now.!!!
What an absolutely incredible review. Tremendous work. Thank you for taking the time to review this Cooker. Appreciate this as I’m in the market for a new pit and this sure ticks a lot of boxes for me. 👊🏻
We really enjoy using this cooker. There's something about the flavor and heat of charcoal and the ease of a pellet grill that's super attractive for us, especially on weeknights. All the best Mike!
I have a GS 800 and I love it! I'd watched a bunch of reviews prior to buying mine (this one included), The one thing I did do, while assembling it, was to make sure there was ZERO strain/pull, on the power cord. I put a big enough 'droop' so rain would drip off before it even got close to the controller, then wrapped the cord around the bracket on the back of the shelf, then tightly zip tied the cord into place, so it won't move at all. The remainder of the cord is free to go where ever I put it. I use a 25' 12 gauge, all weather extension cord to power it. The other thing I DO NOT DO, is, use the 'app'. Technology is awesome........IF it works properly. MB seems to be lacking in that department. The ONLY issues I've ever had, were 'operator error'.....in other words, MY FAULT. This thing is a beast! I love it! Oh, thank you, for the review! It was the main reason, I bought mine.
Hi Dave, i see your GS800 must be 1yr old now. Is it still in good condition? I've read material is not that durable? Planning to buy 1. Its on sale at costco.
@@ChiefComplaintXcommenting to see if he responds
@@ptypablo bought one already! Its crazy weather here in raincouver! I still use it. Its a work horse
@@davehein7466 how is it holding up?
One of the best reviews I’ve seen on here. Great job.
Thank you Tim. All the best in finding the best grill for you!
Great review, I watch these all even knowing I've been dying for one since they announced the gravity series. This 800 seems like the perfect package
Thanks! It’s hard to beat a cooker that can grill, smoke and griddle as well as this one does.
I LOVE THIS SMOKER/GRILL!!!!! If you are thinking of getting one, just do it.
It looks really smart and is so adaptable for all the outdoor home cook needs. I love the fact that you can get a griddle attachment for it too so you do not have to have have another item on your patio. 10/10 again BBQ Lab
Thanks Lucas. All the best!
Not just that you can get one, it's included with the 800. These things may not have the beefiest or best build quality but it's still good and with some light mods can make these things a beast.
I've wanting one ever since they announced them. I love smoking and grilling and do so multiple times a week on a weber kettle but I'm at the point where I don't want to manage the heat and fuel so much and want to gain back some time. These do that.
I concur with others who praised this review. I came across this review earlier this week and it absolutely helped make the decision on purchasing this grill. I just finished assembling mine about an hour ago and having two people to assemble makes sense, but it can be done with one person. Absolutely use the packaging as a mat, since the grill will be upside down for most of the assembly. I used moving blankets, just because they were softer. Once the workday is done, I'll start the seasoning process and get acclimated to the app. Thanks to the Barbeque Lab for the thorough review.
Congratulations on your new grill Timothy! Enjoy learning all of the things you can do with it. My wife has asked for grilled crab legs on the 800 series for her birthday coming up. So much fun things it can do. All the best!
@@TheBarbecueLab One thing I learned that I found interesting is that they make a rotisserie attachment for the 800 series. Really excited to explore its versatility.
I love honest reviews!! No BS. Just tell it like it is. Good and Bad. Thanks for helping me make up my mind about a purchase.
I've had mine for 4 months and love it one of the best grills I've had
The engineer for this unit needs a good raise. They hit all the points.
Just picked up my 800 series, cant wait to use it on Fathers Day!!! Thanks for giving such a in depth review of this grill
Chad, what Is your opinion after two years of use?
Exactly! Trying to get my wife to buy one for me for father's day/birthday. What's the verdict here?
This is my first charcoal grill after a lifetime of gas. th-cam.com/users/postUgkxBPjh-m7-eaAjTEt8BOZRSRRxXqxiI90W The food in it turns out great. Also, the ash remover makes it easy to clean.The base is sturdy and it has ample space inside.I use a chimney to get it started, and it seems pretty efficient. One chimney is enough to cook a whole lot of meat and still keeps burning. If you close the vents it cools down well making it so the coals remaining are still usable as supporting cast members (you still need fresh coals to get them going.I was going to get something bigger, but realized with coal, bigger is just more wasteful and harder to cook with.
@@fosterechalimbana2160 Is yours still working? Did you get the ash remover mod?
Simple fix for the wire issue, pick up cord anchors from your favorite hardware or online retailer and screw the wire down to something solid as it exists the controller. (Hint hint masterbuilt)
Even simpler fix, masterbuilt could do a revision to make the mechanism inherently more robust, so people aren't having to jerry rig and potentially getting it wrong and having a broken grill.
@@networkn even better fix. Don’t buy a masterbuilt. I have a 560 and it’s complete junk. Complete utter 100% junk. Garbage.
It’s too bad. Because the concept is awesome. The quality is crap tho.
I learned the hard way (fabbed my own 1/4” vertical smoker) that metal thickness has zero to do with heat retention. Metal doesn’t insulate - it just gets hot and radiates heat out. You need insulation via thin walls with an insulation layer in between (like a fridge or oven) or really thick insulating material a la Big Green Egg style.
David, best online review I have EVER seen, no matter the product, most people ramble on about things, you were straight to the point and very thorough. I like how you mentioned possible improvements as well. I was hoping that you would mention wheels. My biggest problem with any grill or smoker is the chintzy wheels. I store my equipment away from the cooking area, it's no fun dragging these things across a bumpy yard with tiny 2 inch casters.. Thank you for a wonderful review.. Mike
Thanks for the review I am looking to buy. I am a charcoal Man and just couldn't make myself go to pellets. I think this is best of both worlds.
totally agree with your point of making it more durable. Im gonna move into a house with the space for a medium size bbq smoker and the master built is on my list but i hear from most that it not gonna last. i wouldnt mind spending 1k-1.5k if it was a better quality build
Absolutely terrific, detailed review. Thanks so much for taking the time to put all this together.
Glad it was helpful Mark! All the best.
This was such a great review I had to subscribe. Just one of the best reviews I’ve seen in TH-cam PERIOD!
This brand was just introduced in Denmark, and your review provided all I was looking for and answered all my questions. Thank you very, very much!
Did you purchase? If so how do you like it?
I don’t really comment on videos but you did an awesome job. You are so natural and very informative. Great review.
Thank you for your support.
I have been debating buying one of these now that my pit boss died. I think your review pushed me to purchase. I have also seen some Mods they make for this. You should consider looking at or doing a review of the mods they make so people like me know if it’s worth it to purchase them. Thanks!
You should join a MB Gravity forum also, there's a lot of information that you need if you're going to have one of these. I'm in the same boat basically. I was looking at the other two models but once I found out that the 800 is the only one with the griddle, I now only want this one. But at least I'll be going into clear-eyed and aware that there are some quality control issues with them, and it's gonna break. I would rather pay more money also to get a better machine, but this is our only choice at present if you want a charcoal gravity smoker.
I build pits, great review on this grill. The grills I build are custom built but last for ever. My first gravity grill was built 10 years ago and still preforms like day one.
Right on
I agree with WhatYouMad. This is definitely the best & most concise review of the 800 on TH-cam IMO ;-)
Thanks for the kind words Tom. All the best!
Great review. I am thinkin about getting one of these to keep my Pellet grill & Kamado company. It looks like pretty nice rig.
If you don't already own a Blackstone griddle this Masterbuilt 800 can give you that experience without spending money for a Blackstone.
The con on this grill is fuel management. If you're doing cooks longer than 8 hours then fill the hopper all the way up. Otherwise use only what you need for the cook. The next thing is if I want 225F on the center rack I have to run it at 255. You will learn your grill.
This pit can maintain 165F to smoke your salts, cheese, fish on the upper warmer racks. Then dial it up to 225F to smoke and go to 700F for reverse sears and hand tossed pizza.
We did a waygu beef brisket on this smoker and it was outstanding! It held 225 degrees for the entire cook .
I have always been a fan of the Traeger pellet grill. I’ve used it for several years and it’s time to replace it. Just like the master built 800 the internal heating shield is made of such thin metal or stamped steel. After a few seasons it will actually hard rust and start to disintegrate almost as bad as cast-iron. I realize that stainless steel is much more expensive however in this day of metal composition and synthetic creation, they should make a mixture of different metals to slow down or prevent rusting of these thin steel parts. Still up in the air with this grill. I still not sure I would invest in this grill since it looks like it would go through an entire bag of charcoal in one cook. I can put up to 9 pounds of pellets in a Treager grill hopper and after eight hours of smoking and cooking I still have half of a hopper left. .
I'm on the fence between this and a pellet smoker which are so easy to use put pellets in and set and forget. There something about the smell of Charcoal grill going most use gas like myself one guy he uses a weber charcoal grill we can smell it my wife say always like the smell of Charcoal. I have resisted getting even a weber having to deal with controlling the heat on a weber. This Masterbuilt I would not have to play with the air flow manually.
This is a pretty damn thorough review im a pessimist so I really paid attention to the improvements. It seems they have a pretty great concept but the power issue is really a concern for me. Having a "dead grill" seems extreme for an investment of that nature and risking the customer service issue. Also escaping smoke can be an issue. I do like the concept though
I own the 560. I already own a Blackstone but if you don't, the 800 is awesome because you get the Blackstone experience. If you don't need a griddle, then the 560 or larger 1050 are options. I bought an additional two racks for my 560. The 560 is good enough for my needs as I upgraded from a 22 1/2" Weber Kettle.
I think someone tripped over his cord. I always disconnect my chord from the controller plug after each cook and put the chord in a ziplock bag under the grill. You can double up a foil square to act as a gasket to stop top hopper smoke leakage.
The con on this pit is on it's own it wastes fuel. The work around is treat it like a Weber Kettle. Only use the fuel you would use on your Weber. For example steaks 15 briquettes, a brisket the whole hopper. I would also drop $50 and get the cover. It's heavy duty and protects the grill.
Okay the good part.
NOTHING beats this pit on versatility! You can use charcoal or wood chunks. You can maintain 160F and use the upper racks to cold smoke salts, cheeses, fish, jerky.
I can dial up 225F and smoke brisket etc or a ribeye until it reaches 105F then pull the steak off dial up pit to 700F and ten minutes later your ready to reverse sear that steak and toss on a hand tossed pizza for a wood smoked pizza.
Find a grill that can go from 160-700F that burns chunk wood or charcoal? Pellets reach 450 and never develop the smoke ring this pit does.
I cooked on a Weber Kettle for 39 years. I used to have a offset smoker, too much work.
I never thought I would walk away from my Weber then this came around.
My advice is buy the model that fits your need. You're going to love it.
@@docohm50 Thanks for the honest review (one year later, lol) Question for you: does the MB produce bad smoke after it’s been cooking for a while? It seems the fan may turn on and blow on charcoal that hasn’t ashed over fully in the middle of a cook.
Great info thank you so much. I've never very seen this type of charcoal grill and now I'm obsessed about learning more!
The controller complaints and seeing how it's cheaply built is a deal braker for me. The video is great. Thank you!
I agree mate, looks so thin and cheap.... shame.
My wife just got this for me for fathers day through Costco and payed 50$ to have them assemble and after seeing the set up on this video and looking at the instructions I really appreciate she did lol
She's a keeper! Happy Father's Day
@@hrd43hrd How is it holding up?
@@JewelShain stopped working after about 7 months.. I did use it a lot and liked it better then a Traeger flavors wise and the setup, but every traeger we’ve gotten still works.. if this one was more durable I would prefer it though, only reason I haven’t replaced it yet is because I wanted to wait a couple years to see if they improve the durability or if a rival company comes up with same concept.. but charcoal is way better then pellets so I hope they improve, I’ve seen other reviews of them not lasting long for others also.. till then just sticking with my Weber for charcoal and Traeger for longer cooks that I can’t monitor
@@hrd43hrd when you say it stopped working, are there parts that you could replace to get it to work again?
@@JewelShain yeah I think you could just replace the fan or the computer part, I just never looked.. we have had to do that with Traeger also or replace the auger but it lasts longer.. I was just surprised how fast this grill stopped working.. I’m sure it’s an easy piece replacement
I own the 560 this is a great review. I love mine. My advice is only put enough fuel in your hopper for your cook.
I had a 1050 and returned it after right under 3 months of ownership. I'm just wishing that they come out with a "pro" model with better build quality. I kept mine under a covered patio without the masterbuilt cover and discovered that it was still developing rust spots
@@MelloHubb What are you going with next after your 1050?
@@MelloHubb okay you sold it. You didn’t say if the rust was on the inside or the outside. If on the outside then it needed better weather protection which you said you didn’t give it sans cover but if it was rusting on the inside maybe the 1050 was too large and what you had on the grill wasn’t enough to splatter everywhere it rusted. In that case you could have sprayed oil on the spots that weren’t protected. I’m using the Masterbuilt 560 Gravity, and have owned/used since it’s inception. I keep mine inside an attached garage in north central Fla. No rust spots externally and no internal rusting either, but then we use our Masterbuilt gravity560 typically 3X’s a week. Oil and grease from animal fat splatters all over on the inside & why (IMO) it hasn’t rusted. I also keep a Rec Tec 560 wood pellet grill next to it in the same attached garage. It doesn’t get the use the gravity fed charcoal grill does as I prefer the way charcoal cooks our food. The Rec Tec doesn’t rust either, but then it’s metal bits are all stainless steel. That said, stainless does not mean stain not. Stainless steel grills can still rust and rot, just not as fast. Keeping inside a garage helps get the rust away
But overall, and this is strictly my opinion, the smaller the interior space the grill has, the less chance of rusting on the interior. More metal means more places for rust to appear, more area to protect, more area that needs animal fat to splatter on to keep from rusting. I’m only grilling for myself & wifey year round. In the winter months her Aunt snow birds it with us so I’m grilling for 3 five months of the year. I feel the Masterbuilt 560 is the perfect size for our needs yet I like the extra goodies that the 1050 offers, like the front shelf, etc.
I’m curious to see what others experience will be with the flat top griddle the 800 series has, if there will be rusting issues. Of course that will depend on the level of care and use the flat top gets. I think and this is just a guess, the 800 griddle top will fare better than those that have BlackstoneGriddle griddle since the Masterbuilt 800 griddle has a closable lid to keep the weather off the griddle. That won’t matter if the griddle is left to hang outside in the elements. Others may have better and different ideas
@@shakin_jakewilson5247 Oh is that all?
You sold me. Pulling the trigger on the 800. Nothing like the taste of wood AND charcoal. Can’t wait!
We love ours, and I think you're going to feel the same Eric. Have fun with it!
@@TheBarbecueLab The 800 was back ordered so I ended up starting with the 560 (I got it for $300 and got to take it home same day). Grilling now and have to say I love it!
@@ericjohnson8433 , is it still going?
Wish you would have at least contacted them even if you decided not to take any action so you could let us know about there customer service. Thanks for the review well done
Order this grill after watching this video and I tell anyone they need to say away from this!! Any company that would have put what they did in a box and ship it with stripped threads is not a company I would buy anything from again!! What was really nice I was about 2 hours into putting it together when I got to the part where you install the shoot with the blower on it and 3 out of 6 of the holes were stripped from the factory not to mention I found a part that was bent badly on the inside. Now I have to take a day off work to wait on a shipping company to come get!!
I just received today this grill, it is amazing! Thanks to your reviews!
Congrats Cristian! Enjoy the new grill!
@@TheBarbecueLab Thank you!
Fantastic job on this review! Answered a lot of questions!
Thanks Mark! All the best.
I been wanting to get this grill I really apreciate your review very thorough thumbs up from me!
What a great video!! I am reviewing what to buy and this was brilliant in answering most of the questions I had, well done.
Glad the video was helpful Brian. Have a great day!
I pick up the 560 last month on clearance at Walmart I love it mine does leak from the top of the hopper lid as well. I do like this Masterbuilt a lot but like every product has its problems but like you said the pros outweigh the cons on it
A common mod is to put new gaskets on
@@miguelarrowsmith421 Is it still working?
Wonderful review!!! Thanks for your great and informative review David. I actually have a new in the box 800 series I still need to assemble along with all the LSS Bbq mods. I'm looking forward to trying this out. 👍
@@paula.2422 I just bought one with LSS mods as well. All of these terrible QC reviews are making me regret my purchase. Have the mods helped it last longer?
Amazing review. Thank you.just ordered one
We've been running the 800 here in our shop in the UK, great cooker!
@@prosmokebbq8530 Is it still working?
I would love to have one of these in an outdoor kitchen... beside the downside that ere pointed out in the video, I wish it had a rotisserie... I still think it is a winner
Just moved and need a new grill. I was on the fence about this one, but your video really helps.
Glad it was helpful! Best wishes on your next purchase.
Interested in this smoker. I've had a Pit Boss pellet for a year+ and really love the ease of use but it is a pretty mild smoke profile. Have always been a charcoal fan. The main take away I get from most reviews is Masterbuilt needs to seriously upgrade their quality of build . Don't think I want to shell out $700+ for a unit with the obvious issues MB has. The number of similar reports of shortcomings' are too numerous to ignore or chalk up to anything other than poor design /workmanship.
While I would like a stronger smoke profile from my PB pellet unit it has never failed in any way in over a year of moderate use.
I’m really curious what kind of quality issues these have that pellet smokers wouldn’t. Every pellet smoker I’ve looked at seemed kinda flimsy and they definitely are compared to stick burners.
What are the “obvious issues” this grill has that pellet burners don’t have?
Just picked up mine for 479 at Walmart
Pretty nice review overall, but I feel like you're missing some really key info up front. How long does it take to get up to temp and how does overall ease-of-use compare to a pellet grill? How well does it hold the set temp, what kinds of charcoal can you use and and how fast does it burn through fuel?
Man such a great review! Truth all the way around. I'm subscribing just because it was so good
Much appreciated!
I just purchased the 800 so plz give more reviews on it so I can better operate and take care of my investment. Thank you
Great review …very informative, just ordered my 800.
Congrats Shwetal! Happy grilling
You did a great video on this model with good and quality info on the 800. After listening to you on info on the thickness of the metal I really can't use that as a excuse any in choosing a grill, thanks for all you do it is really appreciated!!!
Thanks so much Jason. Really glad the review was helpful, and thanks for the encouraging words!
Impressive simple yet detailed review, thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Top notch review!
Best regards from Germany.
Saw your review and decided to pick one up today. Thanks.
The black goup from mine was due to an overflowing hot grease trap. Might start there. Doesn't have a large capacity imo
I just bought the 800 at Costco and it does not have the griddle option. I really want that option. Ill be calling them tomorrow.
One thing a lot of do that own these grills is use a battery bank (like what you use to portably charge your phones, etc) to power these when not using a rotisserie. works great, don't use it plugged into a wall anymore (1050)
I’ve heard of that, but I haven’t tried it yet. Did you have to do a custom rewire of the controller or is it plug and play?
@@TheBarbecueLab It was pretty much plug and play just had to buy an adapter to make the connection to the controller and then plug that into the battery.
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HQ91HHV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
That was a very comprehensive review my only critique would be it would have been nice if you shown how to start the grill you know showing what kind of issues you had what you found that work best that kind of stuff
I really wanted to get this smoker/grill, the concept seems great, but there are to many reviews stating failures. It seems there are quality issues, either corners were cut to maximize profits or their quality control is not good. Hopefully they get it together, but after a year it doesn’t seem likely. Maybe another company will improve on the concept, I rather pay more if it means a quality product.
If you don't have to be budget conscious Myron Mixon makes one
@@derrickjenkins4 Thank you for the heads up, I will check them out.
I bought the Masterbuilt smoker and it was damaged at the factory and boxed that way at the factory. I took it back to Lowe’s and exchanged it for another unit and got it home and it was damaged at the factory obviously because the box was not damaged at all. Took the second damaged unit back to Lowe’s to exchange it and we unboxed it before I left the store with it and it was damaged. They took three more units off the shelf and one of them was damaged. I’m not sure what’s going on at the master built factory but it sure seems like they will stick anything in a box and send it out to the retail store
Great and thorough details! Objective review.
for the smoke leak, I just use some aluminum foil with 2 layers and that takes care of it.
Masterbuilt has always built week mother boards and controllers. I had issues with my last one and they would not honor a replacement. Even though the unit was about two years old, it was a known issue with that model.
Thanks for the thorough and objective review.
I got mine, but had my wife turn off grill to let cool. I had left to pick up more grill stuff. She turned it off, then closed the vents. Man. It stayed on, never cooled. It just kept going. I should have told her to unplug it
Great review. Very informative!
Awesome review. I know what my next grill will be. Thanks
Thanks for watching Mike, and all the best!
A tip on using the app. Hit disconnect every time you finish or close your phone. It will stop shutting off.
That's a nice tip, I'll give it a try.
Great video, but no one seems to explain in their videos how you light the thing. That's what I'm trying to find out.
Thoroughly enjoyed this review
Thanks Mark. All the best!
I love my 800, but my Komodo Vision Pro is better for steaks and pizza w/the pizza accessory.
The 800 is amazing for smoking, long slow cooks, low temp cooking, and very quick start up/readiness.
On sale for $400 right now at Walmart… I might have to pick this up
Got one of these exact units on clearance at Walmart. It also came damaged despite there being zero issues with the box itself. In my case it's the bottom of the cook chamber where the first leg (based on the instructions) attaches. Seen other reviews with this exact damage.
Unsure I can pack it back up or how I'd take it back. Damage couldn't be seen until everything was removed from the box.
I get that they needed to hit a price point but this is the thinnest smoker I think I ever bought. And people give traeger shit for their thin metal...
Everything I buy from Masterbuilt comes dented. But I love their stuff.
When my 560 was delivered I met the delivery truck outside with my handcart. Driver looked at me, chuckled, and said you won't need that, pretty sure you won't accept delivery. It looked as if it had been hit with a high speed forklift blade. It had been knocked clear out of the box, stuffed back in and sent on it's merry way. Wasn't a single panel that was even recognizable. Got my refund then went to Academy and bought one off the floor ready to grill
I don’t what the difference is. But my 800 does have a lid switch, but when I open the lid it does NOT limit the fan or temperature. Only when I open the lower door or the hopper door
Interesting. I’ll have to see what that does on mine. I cooked on it tonight around 550f but didn’t pay attention to the lid switch. It just put a mean sear on some steak and chicken though.
Where's your guys griddle seasoning instructions I couldn't find it
Nice review. I'm looking for a smoker and came across this unit. Now I'm hoping to replace both my Blackstone griddle and my charcoal grill with this unit to have the functionality of all 3.
It’s very hard to beat the functionality of this unit with any other single cooker on the market, you’re right on Roy. All the best!
New subscriber here. Thank you for sharing the review.
Glad it was helpful Meat Shack! Thanks for subscribing
Now if I could only find one. Sold out everywhere
It seems like production is still being affected for many manufacturers due to the global shutdown and slowdown, so I hope you can find one soon. They’re so much fun to cook on!
problems on the 2nd use ?? read lots of reviews and i decided way to many problems for my taste ! liked the concept of charcoal but have read usage is pretty high no matter what you use ! and as for customer service, they need lots of help in that department ! i'll pass on this ! had my camp chef for over 4 yrs and only problem so far is i had to replace the hot rod once !! as for more smoke i use a smoke tube if i need it ...
Excellent review! thanks!!
How can Masterbuilt not pay attention to a Review like this...... Very impressive!!... But I have to admit the MasterBuilt electronic issues..which seem to be something they could rectify easily and quickly...are giving me serious 'pause' to purchase this...And how did that large dent make it past MasterBuilt quality control ?
Just wish i could find one!
Ikr, masterbuilt website says "only found at Walmart" and Walmart never has them
Just finished putting mine together. Where do you keep yours? Garage, patio, deck? Do you keep up covered?
Thank you for this review!
You're welcome Cristian! You'll enjoy the head to head video that's coming to the channel in just a few days where we run the Masterbuilt and the Char-Griller head to head.
David, It has been 6 months since you received the grill. How do you like it now and any other problems with the grill since this review? How does this grill fit with all the other grills you have reviewed.
I wanted to also say, excellent review of the pit and its capabilities. I have been looking for a good all around general use pit. I own a gas grill and a weber kettle. Both have their functions. I have tried some strange stuff like bake bread in my gas grill (did not come out well at all) I wanted to thank you for your effort on this video, its concise and straight to the point. I like that in a review. And thanks to Masterbuilt for providing you a unit to review and show us. I would like to know how you light the fire for this unit. I agree with you on the thickness of metal. If they had a 800 Pro for example, people would buy it just for the better build quality. Thank you very much for your hard work.
I haven't run into anything new with the grill that I didn't lay out in the video, and we've been using it a couple of times a month since the review. When it comes down to it, I really like the idea of a gravity charcoal grill. It functions so much like a pellet smoker when it comes to ease of use, but it's very multi-functional. If I was only going to have a single grill on my patio, it would be a gravity charcoal grill. It just does everything. When it comes to lighting the fire on this unit, it's the same as the way it's lit on the 560, and Adam who serves as the director of product development for Masterbuilt shows how to light one in my interview with him which you can find here. th-cam.com/video/IQNhq5DKdUU/w-d-xo.html - Lighting the unit starts at about 3:10 into the video.
thanks for the video. Did you buy it directly from Masterbuilt? Is there any advantage to buying it from Home Depot. Support, returning it etc.
This review is excellent! Thank you!!!
A Sanoma! Have a fantastic day!
Great review! I am trying to decide on this or a Traeger. Currently I have a basic charcoal grill with a side smoker and I enjoy the charcoal and wood smoke taste.
Thanks TJ, both the Traeger and the Masterbuilt are great units, but they're completely different flavor profiles. Depending on whether you prefer charcoal or wood as your flavor of choice, that should be the deciding factor in my mind.
@@TheBarbecueLab I have I traeger and I'm really thinking about getting this and selling traeger.
@@thomasburnham5587 it comes down to what you like cooking with, right? If charcoal is calling your name, then the Masterbuilt is right up that alley. Pellets are great for those who prefer wood over charcoal, but sometimes you just want that charcoal heat. We have both, and we use them both for different types of cooks.
Man, i've been torn (space wise) about whether to get a pellet grill, charcoal kettle or solid gas bbq. This really seems like the best of all worlds. It seems frighteningly good, whats the catch!
Is the heat fairly consistent across the surface or a hot spot in the middle.
How do you use the probes on the panel work?? Are they specific Masterbuilt ones??? Can you use wired probes???
This was a great review. Can you do a review on the Hasty Bake Legacy or Suburban and compare it to the Masterbuilt 800?
Really enjoyed your review. 1st video but won’t be my last.
Glad to have you around Joe! Thanks for watching
Very Nice review. Thanks
Thanks! Hope it was helpful.