You know Chris, the first time I saw the SnS and he did the steak with the spin on the grate and the "cold" grate system and said it was the "best" way to make a steak I thought it was as you stated, "a gimmic". Because if it was true why weren't the best steakhouse houses in the country using it, like Peter Lugar's in New York? I mean if you're going to pay $100 dollars or more for a steak you want it cooked the best way possible. And they do there, but they don't spin it around on a grate. No offense to anybody and I'm not trying to make anybody mad here. But I'm not going to buy a piece of equipment that cost almost as much as the grill does if it doesn't make the steak taste any better. And thanks to people like you who have gone out of their way to do comparisons like these. You've proven to the people that you don't have to spend a ton of money to get the same results that the Slow and Sear does. People like you approval and you can spend less money on equipment in more money on Quality Meat and enjoying the results with your family and friends. So Thank you Chris for all the great videos that help show us how we can save money on equipment. I for one appreciate it.
Peter Luger's in New York also just got a 0 star review in the NYT... www.nytimes.com/2019/10/29/dining/peter-luger-review-pete-wells.html so there's that
Kevin Gentsch There is A Weber Restaurant that uses the 36inch kettle Ranch (I think THATS what it is called) and they make steak on the kettle with no SNS or goofy cold grate technique. Smokin Jazz BBQ Did a review of there restaurant. I think it’s in Nashville
I have the SNS kettle and have done the cold grate technique. First of all, no offense taken. ;) I had some extra b'day and Christmas money and had been using a gas grill / electric smoker for almost 18 years. So I just bought the deluxe kettle, which comes with a spin grate. Really, I'm all about doing whatever it takes to get the best possible results. And if you can get the same or better results for cheaper, that's great. The burgers I did with the cold grate technique were reverse seared and the results were outstanding. Some of the best burgers I've ever had. However, switching to charcoal alone may account for some of the quality improvement. I also did a ribeye last night (reverse sear / cold grate) and it was amazing. However, I'm not sure if it was noticeably better than just cooking it over a hot grate. Maybe I'll try it that way and see if there's much of a difference.
I know this was done 4 years ago. But it's great information, I've used my TTT for 3 years now, and I love it. I'm curious how the cook would turn out with B&B briquettes or B&B Char Logs?
Akorn user here, and I got to put a TTT to the test for an 8hr brisket cook over the weekend. I watched your video with a slew of others before making my purchase, and I have to say, my grill held temp like a pellet smoker pretty much the whole cook. I made 2 adjustments. One at the start when dialing it in, and once toward the end when I wanted to bring my temp up a bit. Other than that, it was rock solid at 270. TTT is hands down the best 30 some bucks you can spend for your grill. Good videos man, I know I use a kamado, but my dad has a Kettle and I like to learn what I can for these grills to make the best food possible. Thanks
I bought the SNS kettle grill a few months ago. Even though I purchased a temperature regulator about 5 years ago, I haven't used it on the SNS. I'll just dial it in, and if I missed the mark, make whatever adjustments are needed. For the most part, it holds very steady for hours without me having to do anything. I didn't even know the TTT existed until a couple of weeks ago. Very interesting and helpful product. Looks like a really good budget alternative that should give really comparable results. Thanks for the video!
That was a fabulous video. The Weber Kettle has been around for a while and people have cooked great Q on it, but now we need to make improvements. You are showing how those improvements don't have to be all that expensive.
Awesome comparison! The Tip Top Temp is under rated, I thinks it’s because people don’t understand how effective and efficient it is without plugging it in or without any computer program. Lol, chilly in Florida!
I have one I use on my UDS. I originally cut a 2” hole in the top, made a spring loaded cover that pivots out of the way. Now I just open the cover wide open and sit the TTT over the top. Works great.
MeatCranium BBQ AND REVIEW one thing that one needs to do once in awhile is soak it in some alcohol to remove the build up of smoke on the spring and rod.
I like your test. I purchased tip top from watching your videos. I had one distintive observation when using mine. I w used fire ring, naked basked from woodshed bbq,and aura outdoor kettle syatem. It is similar to kamato joe system 2 ceramic halves with grate system. I did minion method lighting coals in center of ring. Using tip top the coals burned from lit coals to tip top. It was just like you cut pizza in half. From center to tip top other half not touched. This was observation After about 4 hr cook. So my suggestion is to light coals farthest from tip top. Im still experimenting with and without tip too, I feel like kettle is fairly simple for heat control , it seems like the amount of coals you seed you coals with big help. You test are great. I am curios what is life of tip top If you take care of it Im suprised spring doesnt rust up.
help me brother got a grill stone like it noy using it to day trying to use tip top temp outside temp 70 humed as hel burning kingsford in 1 webber basket as full as i could get it started up fine took grill up 20 200 at cooking level put tip temp on at 4 setting closed bottom vents white i think i got it its commin up to 225slow ttp set at 5 lets see what happens fill you in later just incase some one has proplem like this your the best at passing on TRUE info thanks
@@meatcranium4280 ya i got thr weber with that p opening i opened it to just thr o part of went got temp up a that bitch held gtrat still gotta play with it some motr but like what im seeing oh ya i got the idea to open from one of YOUR videos thank you there was nothing in box cheep fucks could of put in that sheet on uot side temp to match up with dial you rule dude FUCKDAVE
Tks for making this one Meat. My Webber kettle is my latest BBQ got it for 30$ it's got a dent but the seal is good . I was wanting to figure out a set up for the long cooks and the ttt.With the stone is perfect . This vid was made for me man right on a perfect smoker grill for under 100$ total .your a Guru way to share your skills bro
Gordon Goodkey Man I’m just trying to make sense of things and the SNS At it’s price point and the things it eludes to do makes no sense. I can go even cheaper with paver bricks, and vegetable can with water in it. Lol. Thanks for the support and watching Brother
The basic premise of these tests always seem to be that if you can get the same results with less money that the expensive product is a rip off. The truth is that if you are a good enough operator of your grill and willing to manage it closely, you can achieve similar results with the bare bones kettle and no extra equipment at all. The gadgets buy you convenience, consistency, and peace of mind that you can walk away from the fire for extended periods of time and the controller will make the adjustments for you. How much those things are worth in dollars and cents is a choice for every individual. There was a time in my life where sitting next to a cheap offset stick burner and fiddling with the fire for a 17 hour brisket cook was great fun. Time and circumstances have changed my outlook these days and being able to start a cook, monitor it from anywhere and make almost no manual intervention is well worth a few hundred dollars.
Great comparison. Yep I think I am more of a shoe string budget guy. I mean for a quarter of the price you end up with basically the same results. Thanks for sharing this.
One of the things I really like about the slow n sear with the stainless drip pan is that the pan catches all the grease which keeps the grill mess to a minimum. Also, I noticed on Black Friday that SNS now has the original version of the slow n sear for $69 or so. So, that, along with a stainless drip pan is not that expensive. I find that I can keep my temps pretty stable without using a controller. I'm not sure I'd want to deal with the mess that a couple of shoulder roasts would make on the stone and the bowl of the grill. I've heard some say that the grease sizzling on the stone makes an unwanted flavor, but that could just be opinion. Would like to see your test also with the tiptoptemp and slow n sear used together. I may just order a TTT. Thanks for a fun and informative video!
glctrains7 You are like the 3rd person that wants to see a SNS/TTT pairing. I may make that happen. I use a cheap aluminum pan to catch drippings, or I use foil and form it into a pan. I just dropped a broke my grill stone and it was completely Black. I have had any odd or unsavory flavors come from it, no worse than Fat and drippings going inside my Drum cookers. If anything is makes it better IMHO. Thanks for the support and watching.
Nice to see that manual fire management kept right up and x4 cheaper. There's many times I almost bought a guru device but figured if I went that route then I might as well save up for a set it an forget it cooker and that's prob not going to happen. Awesome video and Thanks for sharing.
• Watching had to pause at 2:10 mark! Man that is great news to hear that the Real Joey B will start to create videos! Awesome news! Now back to the regularly scheduled program.
Big Lew BBQ I think he’s working on it, and he is a SNS fan, so it will be cool what he finds. I think he is going to do A cook with his. Thanks for the support and watching Brother
Thank you for this. I know it takes a lot of time to do these test, not counting your editing, plus you have wardrobe and maybe beard grooming to look your best.
So with the TTT, when you were fully rolling, you had the bottom vents completely closed? I have a grill stone and TTT. My big issues with the SnS (besides the price) is the fact that you lose half of your grate space with it, so you become limited with size. I need to get my stone and TTT set up.
Mark Halvorson once your grill comes to temp completely close the bottom. Now, if your are in a higher altitude you may need to crack the vents. I have shown where you can use 100% of the grill grate surface with the Grill Stone. The SNS is a room jogger. Thanks for the support and watching Brother
I like that tip top temp. the way i see it is the slow n sear is the ultimate charcoal basket its probably going to out last you it has integrated water catcher it can really be used on any grill/ smoker is it worth the price that's up to you to decide.
I prefer being able to use all the surface of my kettle, the SLOW N SEAR Takes up 40% of the space In the kettle, they are now made with a cheaper grade steal than the first ones, and most models have a screen at the bottom of the basket which gets clogged with ash. You are right though, I really like the tiptoptemp.
@@meatcranium4280 yep i agree with you money wise its not worth it. hell my first pit all i used was a small cast iron frying pan with charcoal elevated with a house brick
Visibly Charred I would get TTT For sure and use a snake method without the stone, that way you can maximize your space and concentrate the meat in the center. Thanks for the support and watching Brother
Visibly Charred I’m sorry. I just read your comment again. You mentioned the WSM. I thought you were referring to the kettle. The TTT works with the WSM Very well. I agree with the other commenter, Great Deal
Use the ambient probe to monitor the other grill. Both graph lines on one screen makes comparing easier and it also eliminates any discrepancies in the two apps readings. Just fyi. Great job though.
Jody Bishop I would say the opposite. I know for certain that the SNS isn’t needed and the grill stone is for thermal mass. A controller would keep it steady. Thanks for the comment.
@@meatcranium4280 You adjusted the TTT thourought the cook, right? So why do you even need that? You don't need a slow and sear, but it makes the minion method easier. The grill stone is legit, but you can add themal mass with bricks, right?
Jody Bishop Right that’s why you don’t necessarily need a Grill Stone. I found the snake method is much more reliable and I proved that the SNS isn’t as reliable as SNS GRILLS would want you to believe and I proved the water trough is a disgusting disease filled receptacle. The SNS is now made with cheaper construction and metal. The TTT I may adjust a few time throughout the cook, however it is generally as easy as a Sunday morning. If you really want to go inexpensive, line the sides with flat bricks and use the snake method with a TTT.
@@meatcranium4280 I've had no problems with the snake, the sns, the grill stone or even the baskets. I saw some early videos of yours about the sns that really didn't prove anything. Are there updated ones? I enjoy your videos, for sure, just a little confused I guess.
Jody Bishop I have spoken about the SNS in random videos since the series and did another comparison video. I have found the SNS To be bulky, inefficient (except the first generation), and quite frankly an overpriced charcoal basket.
I put my charcoal on one side of my PK 360 grill...put a weber cube on one end of the charcoal....3 minutes later lower the lid open the vent under charcoal 3/4 and the vent above the food 3/4 to full open.....temp settles in to 250 for 5 hours while my ribs smoke.....I feel really bad I don't have the need to $upport the bbq toy market.
I love reading about people techniques, it’s really cool. I don’t need the toys either however, being that I have a review channel I need to check them out. I have given away a lot of the BBQ toys to my sons. Thanks for the support and watching.
Grill Top Experience Yeah I had someone say to pair the SNS with the TTT. I was wanting to show that all this expensive stuff AINT needed, however if one wants to spend the money on it. God Bless Them. Thanks for the support and watching Brother.
Great comparison Chris. I have one huge criticism though. Did u use the words “ chilly “ and 63 degrees in reference to each other? If so - 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 come visit me in minny in January🥶
Greg Sitzer I don’t think so. It works on Kamado type grills and Kettles. The exhaust needs to be wide enough to fit it on top. Thanks for the support and watching Brother
Both ways seemed to get the job done for the most part. I'd go with the cheaper option given the results! I've seen you use that TipTopTemp before. It's simple, effective and comes at a good price. Sounds like a good combo to me!
Once again 👍🏻👍🏻 I love these kind of videos. Honest down to earth common sense test with none of the marketing self interest nonsense. Once again you have proven you don’t need to spend a ton of your hard earned cash to make great BBQ. Thanks Bro, have you ever thought about comparing the BBQ Dragon grill stone to the Aura Outdoor Products Kettle Zone Cooking System? Interested in your thoughts on the two.
Jack Rodosta I would need to get one. However, I think those look really intriguing and I would love to try it. Problem I’ve seen with the Aura is that it would be difficult to monitor temps on a test. Thanks for the support and watching
Even cheaper is a 20” pizza pan and some 3.5” by half inch bolts up through the charcoal grate along with the tip top temp. Your not gonna drop a lightweight aluminum pizza pan, and break it, if you wanted to pull it out to sear.
Only problem with An aluminum pan is the heat really doesn’t spread out evenly. With a Pizza Stone or Grill Stone it spreads a lot more evenly because its porous. However it is a nice alternative to block the heat coming up. Thanks for the support and watching Brother
I really wanted to get on of these ever since I seen you first try one some time back, I have the 26 inch Weber kettle. Will this fit on top, thanks for all your videos and time I really enjoy them.
Hey Meat! Appreciate all your work with this comparison. I guess both set ups will get the job done. It's up to the user. What I'de like to see is the Tip Top vs. a stoker using the grill stone and same amount of briquettes on both. Is it intake or exhaust.....that's the question? 👍
Heavy Metal Bar-B-Que HMMMM!! 🤔 it would have to be on 2 separate pits. I have 2 Stones, 1 for the Weber, 1 for the Expert grill. I don’t know if that would be to many variables though. Good idea, I may add that to my list. Thanks for the support and watching Brother
Love the video. Keep up the good work. One question. How do you like the ink bird and their app? Do you find the temperature readings accurate? I’m thinking of upgrading to one and I see you using it a lot. Would love to know what you think. Thank you.
goody869 I really like it. I just needed to update the Bluetooth part of the app, It was my error. The battery last an extremely long time and it is very accurate. The temps will chart for up to 4 hours, as long as you don’t close out. During this cook It was getting a little buggy and resetting the chart without me closing out of the app, it did irritate me a little. But yeah, good product. Thanks for the support and watching Brother.
Great videos, keep up the good work. Not gonna lie, I kind of want the SnS but can’t justify the price. I’d like to say this, you keep saying we can use a whole bag with the grill stone. I’d love to see you use a whole bag with the grill stone and cook some good food just for the hell of it!
Iyana Dull Ken At Heavy Metal BBQ did it a while back, he went 23 hrs before calling it Quits. I may do it too someday. Thanks for the support and watching
Jonathan Hicks I have asked them about that before and they said it would break easily or it would be very thick and heavy. Thanks for the support and watching Brother
Jason Toy yes. Blocking it directs the heat out of one location, without blocking it, it acts like a whirlwind inside, making it unreliable to monitor temps. If your not worried about monitoring temps then you good to go. Thanks for the support and watching Brother
Jason Toy Honestly you don’t need one unless you want the drippings. In that case, set a grate on top of a pan and set both on the grill grate, the dome lid will go over both. Thanks for the support and watching.
MeatCranium BBQ AND REVIEW Dude: did my first run yesterday. Stone with snake, i did use a smobot (I like a little tech) as my temp controller. SOLID 6 Hours with less than a full chimney and crazy even heating. Amazing! Glad I found your video.
Sorry to be so late on this comment/question... I wonder what the best way is to install this on a Master-Touch 22". Does the little handle get in the way? Should I leave it, cut it off, or bend it back? Love your vids... Liked and subscribed!!
I think I’ve mentioned it to you before, but I’m pretty sure by taking a pizza stone and cutting it with a tile saw you can make a good alternative to the grill stone from bbq dragon
MeatCranium BBQ AND REVIEW how thick is it? I’ve got an ancient pizza stone that my grandma bought back when pizza stones 1st became available. It’s about a quarter inch thick. The thickest one I’ve ever seen
Julian Kirby I just measured. My pizza stone is 1/3 inch thick, the grill stone is 1/2 inch cordiarite material. I probably spelled it wrong. But yeah, 1/2 inch thick
Always enjoy these comparison videos, I know you put a lot of work into them. Personally, I'd hand the win to the SNS because it clearly held temp for much longer with no tinkering required. However, both setups are legit and reliable. Can you do a cook with the SNS and Tip Top together on one grill?? 😁
Barlow BBQ I think the SNS and TTT would work very well together. The TTT WAS ALMOST SET IT AND FORGET IT. I only adjust about once every Hour to hour and a half. For the price and no electronics it truly is amazing. ADRENALINE BBQ or BBQ DRAGON should add this to there line up. Thanks for the support and watching Brother.
I have the SNS and was wondering the same thing. Generally, it holds a steady temperature for quite a while with minimal (if any) adjustments. If I load it up with charcoal and dial it in, I can let it go all night without me having to check on it. But something like the TTT might give some extra peace of mind for times like this.
John Romanowski the TTT works great on the Expert grill, the grill stone needs to be cut down 1/2 inch. I made a video where I show you how to customize the grill stone for the expert grill. Thanks for the support and watching.
I love my TTT, that and a thermometer I can dial it in fast and forget it. In an environment with wind I only have to block the wind for it to maintain temp.
Issom Beituni it’s been great, only issues is it will reset multiple times during the cook but it goes right back to where it was. I like the fact that I can go to the store and control it. Thanks for the support and watching.
@@meatcranium4280 love ur videos man.. such a straight shooter... im in a toss up on the flameboss or the dx3 from. BBQ guru.. i like the idea of the phone control.. or go with the dx and no phone support. I think I like the graphing
Ok, new idea I’d love to see...vortex flipped upside down under the grill stone and regulated by the TTT. I figured the vortex upside down would’ve solved your coal temp issue ( on the start) and make a great cook since when the TTT gets the heat from the greater amount of coals it should respond better sooner. Just a thought and if you don’t give it a go I may, however it’s cold here in Ohio so it will have to wait.
Greenid Guy only problem is, is that the grill stone fits below the grate tabs so it wouldn’t be compatible with the vortex. I do have a ring that will fit that I should of used. Thanks for the support and watching
MeatCranium BBQ AND REVIEW I was thinking the grill stone on top of the grate, I’ve done it on some cooks for needed room, however I don’t have a vortex yet so I don’t know the dimensions....getting one soon along with the latest InkBird. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
MeatCranium BBQ AND REVIEW guess I won’t find out how good the stone is. Opened the box and it was broken. No replacement with amazon. However, the TTT is rock steady. A little fiddly to get going but once up to temp it dials in real nice. Kept temp +/- 3° for hours in 60° weather. Thanks for the honest reviews and keep em coming
So this is a non electrical version of bbq guru? since our temp at the moment is around 1°c then two hours later 15° would this be able to adjust on its own
Yes a much cheaper non electrical version. It would self adjust, however You will need adjust periodically as the ambient temp changes. Thanks for the support and watching
Lose all of the gadgets and run a test. None of them are needed. A 2x2x1 snake works just fine in cooler weather. TTT is a gimmick just like the SNS. You of all people know that.
Wow!! You completely missed the entire message of this video. The point is, is that you do not need the really expensive accessories,”IF” you Choose to use accessories this is an extremely inexpensive option, “IF” you don’t use none God bless ya. I like to give people options. Thanks for commenting
You know Chris, the first time I saw the SnS and he did the steak with the spin on the grate and the "cold" grate system and said it was the "best" way to make a steak I thought it was as you stated, "a gimmic".
Because if it was true why weren't the best steakhouse houses in the country using it, like Peter Lugar's in New York? I mean if you're going to pay $100 dollars or more for a steak you want it cooked the best way possible. And they do there, but they don't spin it around on a grate.
No offense to anybody and I'm not trying to make anybody mad here. But I'm not going to buy a piece of equipment that cost almost as much as the grill does if it doesn't make the steak taste any better.
And thanks to people like you who have gone out of their way to do comparisons like these. You've proven to the people that you don't have to spend a ton of money to get the same results that the Slow and Sear does. People like you approval and you can spend less money on equipment in more money on Quality Meat and enjoying the results with your family and friends.
So Thank you Chris for all the great videos that help show us how we can save money on equipment. I for one appreciate it.
Darin Loken ABSOLUTELY EPIC COMMENT!! You get pinned
Peter Luger's in New York also just got a 0 star review in the NYT... www.nytimes.com/2019/10/29/dining/peter-luger-review-pete-wells.html so there's that
Also, I doubt any steak houses are grilling their steaks on Weber kettles
Kevin Gentsch There is A Weber Restaurant that uses the 36inch kettle Ranch (I think THATS what it is called) and they make steak on the kettle with no SNS or goofy cold grate technique. Smokin Jazz BBQ Did a review of there restaurant. I think it’s in Nashville
I have the SNS kettle and have done the cold grate technique. First of all, no offense taken. ;) I had some extra b'day and Christmas money and had been using a gas grill / electric smoker for almost 18 years. So I just bought the deluxe kettle, which comes with a spin grate. Really, I'm all about doing whatever it takes to get the best possible results. And if you can get the same or better results for cheaper, that's great.
The burgers I did with the cold grate technique were reverse seared and the results were outstanding. Some of the best burgers I've ever had. However, switching to charcoal alone may account for some of the quality improvement.
I also did a ribeye last night (reverse sear / cold grate) and it was amazing. However, I'm not sure if it was noticeably better than just cooking it over a hot grate. Maybe I'll try it that way and see if there's much of a difference.
I know this was done 4 years ago. But it's great information, I've used my TTT for 3 years now, and I love it. I'm curious how the cook would turn out with B&B briquettes or B&B Char Logs?
Very informative Video. Thank you very much. 👌👏👏👏
Akorn user here, and I got to put a TTT to the test for an 8hr brisket cook over the weekend. I watched your video with a slew of others before making my purchase, and I have to say, my grill held temp like a pellet smoker pretty much the whole cook. I made 2 adjustments. One at the start when dialing it in, and once toward the end when I wanted to bring my temp up a bit. Other than that, it was rock solid at 270. TTT is hands down the best 30 some bucks you can spend for your grill. Good videos man, I know I use a kamado, but my dad has a Kettle and I like to learn what I can for these grills to make the best food possible. Thanks
Mobius_1 Great testimony. Thanks for sharing it.
I bought the SNS kettle grill a few months ago. Even though I purchased a temperature regulator about 5 years ago, I haven't used it on the SNS. I'll just dial it in, and if I missed the mark, make whatever adjustments are needed. For the most part, it holds very steady for hours without me having to do anything. I didn't even know the TTT existed until a couple of weeks ago. Very interesting and helpful product. Looks like a really good budget alternative that should give really comparable results. Thanks for the video!
That was a fabulous video. The Weber Kettle has been around for a while and people have cooked great Q on it, but now we need to make improvements. You are showing how those improvements don't have to be all that expensive.
Jeff Nope literally a shoe string budget accessories with high dollars results. Thanks for the support and watching Brother
Awesome comparison! The Tip Top Temp is under rated, I thinks it’s because people don’t understand how effective and efficient it is without plugging it in or without any computer program. Lol, chilly in Florida!
Tom Horsman I completely agree. There should be more out there, and the simplicity is amazing. Thanks for the support and watching Brother
Love mine
Now I know what to ask for Christmas this year. Tip Top Temp
Ozker Snchez They are so simple and affordable. Exactly what I like. Thanks for the support and watching Brother
I have one I use on my UDS. I originally cut a 2” hole in the top, made a spring loaded cover that pivots out of the way. Now I just open the cover wide open and sit the TTT over the top. Works great.
MeatCranium BBQ AND REVIEW one thing that one needs to do once in awhile is soak it in some alcohol to remove the build up of smoke on the spring and rod.
I like your test. I purchased tip top from watching your videos. I had one distintive observation when using mine. I w used fire ring, naked basked from woodshed bbq,and aura outdoor kettle syatem. It is similar to kamato joe system 2 ceramic halves with grate system. I did minion method lighting coals in center of ring. Using tip top the coals burned from lit coals to tip top. It was just like you cut pizza in half. From center to tip top other half not touched. This was observation
After about 4 hr cook. So my suggestion is to light coals farthest from tip top. Im still experimenting with and without tip too, I feel like kettle is fairly simple for heat control , it seems like the amount of coals you seed you coals with big help. You test are great. I am curios what is life of tip top If you take care of it Im suprised spring doesnt rust up.
John Knapp After about 3 cooks I clean it in hot soapy water, dry it, then oil the spring. Thanks for the support and watching Brother
help me brother got a grill stone like it noy using it to day trying to use tip top temp outside temp 70 humed as hel burning kingsford in 1 webber basket as full as i could get it started up fine took grill up 20 200 at cooking level put tip temp on at 4 setting closed bottom vents white i think i got it its commin up to 225slow ttp set at 5 lets see what happens fill you in later just incase some one has proplem like this your the best at passing on TRUE info thanks
Joe Kee You can crack the bottom vent if you need to. Let me know. Thanks for the support and watching.
@@meatcranium4280 ya i got thr weber with that p opening i opened it to just thr o part of went got temp up a that bitch held gtrat still gotta play with it some motr but like what im seeing oh ya i got the idea to open from one of YOUR videos thank you there was nothing in box cheep fucks could of put in that sheet on uot side temp to match up with dial you rule dude FUCKDAVE
Joe Kee LMAO!! Right on man.
What about the snake method without a tip top temp and grill stone? Should also last a decent enough amount of time I reckon
- Hilbert - It would probably work as well. You would just need to FUTZ around with the dampers more. Thanks for the support and watching
Tks for making this one Meat. My Webber kettle is my latest BBQ got it for 30$ it's got a dent but the seal is good . I was wanting to figure out a set up for the long cooks and the ttt.With the stone is perfect .
This vid was made for me man right on a perfect smoker grill for under 100$ total .your a Guru way to share your skills bro
Gordon Goodkey Man I’m just trying to make sense of things and the SNS At it’s price point and the things it eludes to do makes no sense. I can go even cheaper with paver bricks, and vegetable can with water in it. Lol. Thanks for the support and watching Brother
The basic premise of these tests always seem to be that if you can get the same results with less money that the expensive product is a rip off. The truth is that if you are a good enough operator of your grill and willing to manage it closely, you can achieve similar results with the bare bones kettle and no extra equipment at all. The gadgets buy you convenience, consistency, and peace of mind that you can walk away from the fire for extended periods of time and the controller will make the adjustments for you. How much those things are worth in dollars and cents is a choice for every individual. There was a time in my life where sitting next to a cheap offset stick burner and fiddling with the fire for a 17 hour brisket cook was great fun. Time and circumstances have changed my outlook these days and being able to start a cook, monitor it from anywhere and make almost no manual intervention is well worth a few hundred dollars.
Great comparison. Yep I think I am more of a shoe string budget guy. I mean for a quarter of the price you end up with basically the same results. Thanks for sharing this.
Strong's Adventures Exactly. If I had the coals closer together It would have been near a tie. Thanks for the support and watching Brother.
One of the things I really like about the slow n sear with the stainless drip pan is that the pan catches all the grease which keeps the grill mess to a minimum. Also, I noticed on Black Friday that SNS now has the original version of the slow n sear for $69 or so. So, that, along with a stainless drip pan is not that expensive. I find that I can keep my temps pretty stable without using a controller. I'm not sure I'd want to deal with the mess that a couple of shoulder roasts would make on the stone and the bowl of the grill. I've heard some say that the grease sizzling on the stone makes an unwanted flavor, but that could just be opinion. Would like to see your test also with the tiptoptemp and slow n sear used together. I may just order a TTT. Thanks for a fun and informative video!
glctrains7 You are like the 3rd person that wants to see a SNS/TTT pairing. I may make that happen. I use a cheap aluminum pan to catch drippings, or I use foil and form it into a pan. I just dropped a broke my grill stone and it was completely Black. I have had any odd or unsavory flavors come from it, no worse than Fat and drippings going inside my Drum cookers. If anything is makes it better IMHO. Thanks for the support and watching.
@@meatcranium4280 My TTT is on the way. Will be a fun experiment!
Nice to see that manual fire management kept right up and x4 cheaper. There's many times I almost bought a guru device but figured if I went that route then I might as well save up for a set it an forget it cooker and that's prob not going to happen. Awesome video and Thanks for sharing.
Joe's BBQ House Yes indeed. The TTT is truly remarkable. Thanks for the support and watching Brother
What a great comparison idea, I can't wait to see the results!
Greenid Guy It’s going to raise some eyebrows.
@@meatcranium4280 No doubt...I'm definitely intrigued, however I have a guess as to what the results will be.
• Watching had to pause at 2:10 mark! Man that is great news to hear that the Real Joey B will start to create videos! Awesome news!
Now back to the regularly scheduled program.
Big Lew BBQ I think he’s working on it, and he is a SNS fan, so it will be cool what he finds. I think he is going to do A cook with his. Thanks for the support and watching Brother
Great video man. Happy Thanksgiving
Samuel olivero THANKS MANE!! I appreciate your support. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving
Thank you for this. I know it takes a lot of time to do these test, not counting your editing, plus you have wardrobe and maybe beard grooming to look your best.
FRED WILEY LOL!! My beard is probably the most erratic thing. I have struggled to get it under control. Thanks for the support and watching Brother
So with the TTT, when you were fully rolling, you had the bottom vents completely closed? I have a grill stone and TTT. My big issues with the SnS (besides the price) is the fact that you lose half of your grate space with it, so you become limited with size. I need to get my stone and TTT set up.
Mark Halvorson once your grill comes to temp completely close the bottom. Now, if your are in a higher altitude you may need to crack the vents. I have shown where you can use 100% of the grill grate surface with the Grill Stone. The SNS is a room jogger. Thanks for the support and watching Brother
I like that tip top temp. the way i see it is the slow n sear is the ultimate charcoal basket its probably going to out last you it has integrated water catcher it can really be used on any grill/ smoker is it worth the price that's up to you to decide.
I prefer being able to use all the surface of my kettle, the SLOW N SEAR Takes up 40% of the space In the kettle, they are now made with a cheaper grade steal than the first ones, and most models have a screen at the bottom of the basket which gets clogged with ash. You are right though, I really like the tiptoptemp.
@@meatcranium4280 yep i agree with you money wise its not worth it. hell my first pit all i used was a small cast iron frying pan with charcoal elevated with a house brick
I bought an 18 inch WSM few weeks ago for $90. Now you have me wondering if I should have spent that cash on a grill stone and Tip Top Temp.
Visibly Charred I would get TTT For sure and use a snake method without the stone, that way you can maximize your space and concentrate the meat in the center. Thanks for the support and watching Brother
You got a great deal on the wsm
Visibly Charred I’m sorry. I just read your comment again. You mentioned the WSM. I thought you were referring to the kettle. The TTT works with the WSM Very well. I agree with the other commenter, Great Deal
Use the ambient probe to monitor the other grill. Both graph lines on one screen makes comparing easier and it also eliminates any discrepancies in the two apps readings. Just fyi. Great job though.
What do you thin n of using a komado joe big joe pizza stone with bit cut off Vs your stone there:)
Ann Mc Keon Collins LCGI That would probably work
You can pretty much use a slow n sear or grill stone by itself and get similar results. Adding the extra controllers is only a deflection.
Jody Bishop I would say the opposite. I know for certain that the SNS isn’t needed and the grill stone is for thermal mass. A controller would keep it steady. Thanks for the comment.
@@meatcranium4280 You adjusted the TTT thourought the cook, right? So why do you even need that? You don't need a slow and sear, but it makes the minion method easier. The grill stone is legit, but you can add themal mass with bricks, right?
Jody Bishop Right that’s why you don’t necessarily need a Grill Stone. I found the snake method is much more reliable and I proved that the SNS isn’t as reliable as SNS GRILLS would want you to believe and I proved the water trough is a disgusting disease filled receptacle. The SNS is now made with cheaper construction and metal. The TTT I may adjust a few time throughout the cook, however it is generally as easy as a Sunday morning. If you really want to go inexpensive, line the sides with flat bricks and use the snake method with a TTT.
@@meatcranium4280 I've had no problems with the snake, the sns, the grill stone or even the baskets. I saw some early videos of yours about the sns that really didn't prove anything. Are there updated ones? I enjoy your videos, for sure, just a little confused I guess.
Jody Bishop I have spoken about the SNS in random videos since the series and did another comparison video. I have found the SNS To be bulky, inefficient (except the first generation), and quite frankly an overpriced charcoal basket.
Great video. TipTopTemp for me.
James Macgillivray Those TTT’s are pretty amazing. Thanks for the support and watching
I put my charcoal on one side of my PK 360 grill...put a weber cube on one end of the charcoal....3 minutes later lower the lid open the vent under charcoal 3/4 and the vent above the food 3/4 to full open.....temp settles in to 250 for 5 hours while my ribs smoke.....I feel really bad I don't have the need to $upport the bbq toy market.
I love reading about people techniques, it’s really cool. I don’t need the toys either however, being that I have a review channel I need to check them out. I have given away a lot of the BBQ toys to my sons. Thanks for the support and watching.
Watched a couple of your vids bro; I like the way you operate. By the I’m a new sub.
Cristian Ah Man Thx a lot. I do appreciate the support
Next test: swap the controllers? The bulk of the price was in the flame boss.
Grill Top Experience Yeah I had someone say to pair the SNS with the TTT. I was wanting to show that all this expensive stuff AINT needed, however if one wants to spend the money on it. God Bless Them. Thanks for the support and watching Brother.
Great comparison Chris. I have one huge criticism though. Did u use the words “ chilly “ and 63 degrees in reference to each other? If so - 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 come visit me in minny in January🥶
Lol!! It started off in the 50’s. By the end I was back with my hat on. I’m a Thin blooded native Floridian. Thanks for the support and watching
Great comparison brother! I’m sure that took some work and time!
MrBigKid Sure did. I may not be able to do something like this for a long time. Thanks for the support and watching Brother
Will the tip top temp work on the exhaust of an offset smoker?? Maybe u could try that out
Greg Sitzer I don’t think so. It works on Kamado type grills and Kettles. The exhaust needs to be wide enough to fit it on top. Thanks for the support and watching Brother
Interesting stuff as always. Your channel definitely helps me decide where I'm going with my grilling hardware.
City Escape Griller I’m very glad I can Help. Q on a budget is a Great thing. Thanks for the support and watching
Doesn’t the grill stone help hold temperature? I would think the thermo mass of it is helping you keep temp.
Scott Anderson you would be correct. Thanks for the support and watching
Both ways seemed to get the job done for the most part. I'd go with the cheaper option given the results! I've seen you use that TipTopTemp before. It's simple, effective and comes at a good price. Sounds like a good combo to me!
Light 'em Up Outdoors The TTT is a great product and great price. I really like it. Thanks for the support and watching Brother.
Once again 👍🏻👍🏻 I love these kind of videos. Honest down to earth common sense test with none of the marketing self interest nonsense. Once again you have proven you don’t need to spend a ton of your hard earned cash to make great BBQ. Thanks Bro, have you ever thought about comparing the BBQ Dragon grill stone to the Aura Outdoor Products Kettle Zone Cooking System? Interested in your thoughts on the two.
Jack Rodosta I would need to get one. However, I think those look really intriguing and I would love to try it. Problem I’ve seen with the Aura is that it would be difficult to monitor temps on a test. Thanks for the support and watching
Ever ise them together?
@@TheDaddystressed yes, better using them the way I did it.
Congratulations on 1 YEAR!
Thanks I appreciate it
Even cheaper is a 20” pizza pan and some 3.5” by half inch bolts up through the charcoal grate along with the tip top temp. Your not gonna drop a lightweight aluminum pizza pan, and break it, if you wanted to pull it out to sear.
Only about $70 total for me.
Only problem with An aluminum pan is the heat really doesn’t spread out evenly. With a Pizza Stone or Grill Stone it spreads a lot more evenly because its porous. However it is a nice alternative to block the heat coming up. Thanks for the support and watching Brother
I really wanted to get on of these ever since I seen you first try one some time back, I have the 26 inch Weber kettle. Will this fit on top, thanks for all your videos and time I really enjoy them.
David McCorcle yes. It will absolutely fit on top. Thanks for the support and watching Brother
@@meatcranium4280 thank you so much for you time brother. I'll be adding this to my grill.
Hey Meat! Appreciate all your work with this comparison. I guess both set ups will get the job done. It's up to the user.
What I'de like to see is the Tip Top vs. a stoker using the grill stone and same amount of briquettes on both. Is it intake or exhaust.....that's the question? 👍
Heavy Metal Bar-B-Que HMMMM!! 🤔 it would have to be on 2 separate pits. I have 2 Stones, 1 for the Weber, 1 for the Expert grill. I don’t know if that would be to many variables though. Good idea, I may add that to my list. Thanks for the support and watching Brother
Love the video. Keep up the good work. One question. How do you like the ink bird and their app? Do you find the temperature readings accurate? I’m thinking of upgrading to one and I see you using it a lot. Would love to know what you think. Thank you.
goody869 I really like it. I just needed to update the Bluetooth part of the app, It was my error. The battery last an extremely long time and it is very accurate. The temps will chart for up to 4 hours, as long as you don’t close out. During this cook It was getting a little buggy and resetting the chart without me closing out of the app, it did irritate me a little. But yeah, good product. Thanks for the support and watching Brother.
Thank you for your input. I really appreciate it.
Great videos, keep up the good work. Not gonna lie, I kind of want the SnS but can’t justify the price. I’d like to say this, you keep saying we can use a whole bag with the grill stone. I’d love to see you use a whole bag with the grill stone and cook some good food just for the hell of it!
Iyana Dull Ken At Heavy Metal BBQ did it a while back, he went 23 hrs before calling it Quits. I may do it too someday. Thanks for the support and watching
Anyone know how to attach a tiptoptemp to a char griller grand champ with a 5 inch exhaust stack?
Is there something like the tip toptemp for okj bronco?
Derrick Walsh No there isn’t. However the OKJ BRONCO does great without it. IMHO. Thanks for the support and watching Brother
Great video!!! To bad bbq dragon doesn't have grill stone for the 26 kettle.
Jonathan Hicks I have asked them about that before and they said it would break easily or it would be very thick and heavy. Thanks for the support and watching Brother
MeatCranium BBQ AND REVIEW what if they made it in 2,3 or four pieces?
Is there a big difference with blocking edge of stone vs not?
Jason Toy yes. Blocking it directs the heat out of one location, without blocking it, it acts like a whirlwind inside, making it unreliable to monitor temps. If your not worried about monitoring temps then you good to go. Thanks for the support and watching Brother
MeatCranium BBQ AND REVIEW ok sold me on it but where do you fit a water pan?
Jason Toy Honestly you don’t need one unless you want the drippings. In that case, set a grate on top of a pan and set both on the grill grate, the dome lid will go over both. Thanks for the support and watching.
MeatCranium BBQ AND REVIEW Dude: did my first run yesterday. Stone with snake, i did use a smobot (I like a little tech) as my temp controller. SOLID 6 Hours with less than a full chimney and crazy even heating. Amazing! Glad I found your video.
Jason Toy That’s awesome. Thanks for letting me know.
Sorry to be so late on this comment/question...
I wonder what the best way is to install this on a Master-Touch 22". Does the little handle get in the way? Should I leave it, cut it off, or bend it back?
Love your vids... Liked and subscribed!!
Leave it. You can put the tab in front then take the silicone ban and put over the tab, keeping both together. Thanks 😊 for the support and watching.
@@meatcranium4280 Thank you SO MUCH for your reply! You are my favorite of all the Texas BBQ TH-camrs! (Proud Native South Texan)
Wayne O that is awesome to hear, I hope that me being in Florida doesn’t change your mind about me. Lol
I think I’ve mentioned it to you before, but I’m pretty sure by taking a pizza stone and cutting it with a tile saw you can make a good alternative to the grill stone from bbq dragon
The grill stone is a lot thicker. But yeah, that would work. Thanks for the support and watching
MeatCranium BBQ AND REVIEW how thick is it? I’ve got an ancient pizza stone that my grandma bought back when pizza stones 1st became available. It’s about a quarter inch thick. The thickest one I’ve ever seen
Julian Kirby I just measured. My pizza stone is 1/3 inch thick, the grill stone is 1/2 inch cordiarite material. I probably spelled it wrong. But yeah, 1/2 inch thick
MeatCranium BBQ AND REVIEW that is quite thick!
Maybe even get some large floor tiles and cut them to shape.
Tip top ten
Frank Viper79 LoL!! I like it
Do you think it will work on a WSM
Always enjoy these comparison videos, I know you put a lot of work into them. Personally, I'd hand the win to the SNS because it clearly held temp for much longer with no tinkering required. However, both setups are legit and reliable. Can you do a cook with the SNS and Tip Top together on one grill?? 😁
Barlow BBQ I think the SNS and TTT would work very well together. The TTT WAS ALMOST SET IT AND FORGET IT. I only adjust about once every Hour to hour and a half. For the price and no electronics it truly is amazing. ADRENALINE BBQ or BBQ DRAGON should add this to there line up. Thanks for the support and watching Brother.
@@meatcranium4280 yep both the TTT and SNS held up and performed great. I'm still really interested in the TTT thanks to you, keep up the great work!
Barlow BBQ No thank you my bearded brother
I have the SNS and was wondering the same thing. Generally, it holds a steady temperature for quite a while with minimal (if any) adjustments. If I load it up with charcoal and dial it in, I can let it go all night without me having to check on it. But something like the TTT might give some extra peace of mind for times like this.
This was interesting new friend Ruthie here
Pople BackyardFarm THANKYOU ma’am welcome
Chris would the tip top temp and the grill stone work on my expert superior 22" kettle
John Romanowski the TTT works great on the Expert grill, the grill stone needs to be cut down 1/2 inch. I made a video where I show you how to customize the grill stone for the expert grill. Thanks for the support and watching.
I'm definitely on a shoe string budget!!!
Curtis Fogleman most of us are Brotha
I have a TTT it is incredible.
Barry Williams It truly is a remarkable piece of equipment. Thanks for the support and watching Brother
What thermometer system are you using?
Ink bird
@@meatcranium4280 thank you
@@JMoore65 your welcome
Dollar for dollar, I’d sat Tip Top Temp for the win.
Yeah me too. If All the coals would have burned it would have been almost a tie. Thanks for the support and watching Brother
I love my TTT, that and a thermometer I can dial it in fast and forget it. In an environment with wind I only have to block the wind for it to maintain temp.
Hey man want to know how the flameboss is holding up? Thinking of getting it for my 26er
Issom Beituni it’s been great, only issues is it will reset multiple times during the cook but it goes right back to where it was. I like the fact that I can go to the store and control it. Thanks for the support and watching.
@@meatcranium4280 love ur videos man.. such a straight shooter... im in a toss up on the flameboss or the dx3 from. BBQ guru.. i like the idea of the phone control.. or go with the dx and no phone support. I think I like the graphing
Issom Beituni The graphing is great
Ok, new idea I’d love to see...vortex flipped upside down under the grill stone and regulated by the TTT.
I figured the vortex upside down would’ve solved your coal temp issue ( on the start) and make a great cook since when the TTT gets the heat from the greater amount of coals it should respond better sooner.
Just a thought and if you don’t give it a go I may, however it’s cold here in Ohio so it will have to wait.
Greenid Guy only problem is, is that the grill stone fits below the grate tabs so it wouldn’t be compatible with the vortex. I do have a ring that will fit that I should of used. Thanks for the support and watching
MeatCranium BBQ AND REVIEW I was thinking the grill stone on top of the grate, I’ve done it on some cooks for needed room, however I don’t have a vortex yet so I don’t know the dimensions....getting one soon along with the latest InkBird.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Greenid Guy 🤔THAT MAY WORK!!
Just going to throw this out there. The BBQ Dragon pizza stone is $39 on Amazon for Black Friday.
North Florida Adventures WOW!! Great Deal.. are you going to get it?
MeatCranium BBQ AND REVIEW sure did. Picked up a TTT too
North Florida Adventures Great decision. You will love both.
MeatCranium BBQ AND REVIEW guess I won’t find out how good the stone is. Opened the box and it was broken. No replacement with amazon. However, the TTT is rock steady. A little fiddly to get going but once up to temp it dials in real nice. Kept temp +/- 3° for hours in 60° weather. Thanks for the honest reviews and keep em coming
North Florida Adventures Email BBQ DRAGON. The owners name is George. He will send out a replacement. He’s a good dude and stands behind his products.
😎👍✌
Steve Litteral 👍🏼 Thanks mane
So this is a non electrical version of bbq guru? since our temp at the moment is around 1°c then two hours later 15° would this be able to adjust on its own
Yes a much cheaper non electrical version. It would self adjust, however You will need adjust periodically as the ambient temp changes. Thanks for the support and watching
@@meatcranium4280 Thank you
Meatcranium do you have a way to message me or contact me I wanted to ask you a couple of questions
My email is in the description.
Perfect thank you very much I will be contacting you shortly
Lose all of the gadgets and run a test. None of them are needed. A 2x2x1 snake works just fine in cooler weather. TTT is a gimmick just like the SNS. You of all people know that.
Wow!! You completely missed the entire message of this video. The point is, is that you do not need the really expensive accessories,”IF” you Choose to use accessories this is an extremely inexpensive option, “IF” you don’t use none God bless ya. I like to give people options. Thanks for commenting
MeatCranium BBQ AND REVIEW My bad! I admit I skimmed through and probably would have caught that otherwise.
The sns is a rip off.
Nick Blevins Yes it is. IMHO. Thanks for the support and watching
Right, it’s just a charcoal basket...Weber already has those for much cheaper.