We have a tendency to prepare better meals for ourselves out in the field than we do while at home, and there’s nothing quite like grilling a big steak after a long day on the trail.
If you’ve spent any time reading anything on American Adventurist, you know they love 3 things, their freedom, their guns, and talking trash about Expedition Portal their cast iron cookware. Their threads are chock full of posts on traditional cast iron dutch ovens, skillets, and fry pans, all with enough amazing recipes and photos to make you want to try them on your own.
I’ve always been a fan of “grilling” steaks out in the field, but the majority of my experiences had been using a griddle on top of a Partner Steel stove. Now while the flavor was pretty good, it was always missing that special something (i.e. It wasn’t a real grill).
Then on one fateful camping trip, Tax brought along his Lodge Sportsman’s Charcoal Grill. The Lodge unit is a hibachi style pre-seasoned charcoal grill that includes a 17″ x 9″ grill grate, draft door to adjust temperature, and the best part, it’s made out of 100% genuine american freedom cast iron.
So far we’ve used the grill on a few camping trips, my bachelor party, and Tax has even made a few meals for one with it at home. It easily grills up 4 New York Strip steaks, a dozen hot dogs or brats, and it’s also great for bacon. Now you’re probably wondering if it does vegetables, and we’re sure it does, but we prefer to eat our meat with a side of freedom bacon not salad.
Another great use for the grill top is to use it over a fire. We’ve had great success placing the grate between two well positioned logs, and fire grilled bacon is probably the most delicious thing I’ve ever consumed.
Now something to consider is this grill isn’t exactly light, but it’s not too heavy either. It weighs in at a solid 31 lbs which is heavier than your typical stove, but it’s still portable enough to do some serious grilling. Trust me, this thing is so tough that you’re kids will probably be using it twenty years from now to tailgate before another Redskins loss.
Another thing to consider is that if you use this grill, you can’t just immediately pack it up and throw it into your truck. Cast iron retains a lot of heat, and this 31 lb beast is no different, make sure you give yourself at least a good hour for this thing to cool off. Also all of the standard cast iron maintenance requirements apply here, don’t use soap, make sure to oil it, etc.
If you find yourself looking for a charcoal grill and you’re not Hank Hill, I guarantee you’ll love using the Lodge grill in the field. It really adds a whole new dimension to your cooking game and you just can’t beat that charcoal flavor.
Pros:
- It’s a heavy duty and portable.
- Plenty of space on the grill top.
- Will probably last longer than a Toyota Land Cruiser
Cons:
- It’s heavy – 31 lbs
- Takes a while to cool down.
- Requires standard cast iron maintenance.
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