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We have hands-on experience testing this product. We have also gathered info from the manufacturer, owners, and other reliable sources.
We have seen this product up close and we have also gathered info from the manufacturer, owners, and other reliable sources.
We have researched this product from afar by gathering info from the manufacturer, owners, and other reliable sources, with our BS meters on high.
Our reviewers
Many reviews are by Meathead, the author of most things on this website. In 2012 Max Good joined our staff as Director of Buyer's Guides and more and more of the reviews come from him. A few reviews have been contributed by Scot Murphy and Gordon Hubbell.
Best value medals
Best Value Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals are given only to products that we highly recommend based on features, quality, and especially value. Rarely will a $400 Gold Medal be in the same league as an $800 Gold Medal, so it is important that you read the reviews. Rest assured that when we award a medal, it is because we are impressed by the product, not because someone has paid us to say so or because the company is an advertiser or sponsor. We do not accept advertising from products we review.
Manufacturers: Click here for permission to use these medals in ads and on packaging (there is no charge) and for info on how to get a high resolution version of the medal.
About model numbers
Manufacturers often make slight variations to their basic model exclusively for certain merchants. For example, a grill manufacturer might make their Firebrand Grill Model ABC123 with cast iron grates available only on Amazon. Meanwhile, the ABC125 is identical except it has stainless steel grates, and it is sold only at ACE Hardware. Of course the prices can differ.
Your Amazon purchase supports this site
When a product is available on Amazon.com, we often provide a direct link. Amazon often has the best prices anywhere, even better than many manufacturers' websites because manufacturers know that if they undercut retailers like Amazon, they may drop the products. Amazon also offers fast delivery (often free), no sales tax (in most states), gift wrapping (on many items), and painless refund policies. Check out Amazon's Gift & Wish Registry.
IMPORTANT. Amazon pays AmazingRibs Inc. a small referral fee when you purchase from them after clicking on a link on this site, so purchasing from them helps underwrite the cost of operating AmazingRibs.com.
If you like all the info we give you for free and would like to help us stay free, please copy the link below and save it. It takes you to Amazon.com and tags things you buy with the AmazingRibs code so we get that referral fee. It works on anything from grills to diapers and it has zero impact on the price you pay. http://tinyurl.com/amazingribs
The Definitive Buyer's Guide and Reviews of Smokers, Grills, Cooking Accessories, Tools, Gadgets, Books, Magazines, Sauces, Ingredients, and More
This section is about tools and toys. Here's where we get to comment on the huge range of smokers, grills, accessories, gadgets, books, magazines, sauces, and the ingredients in my recipes. We think you'll have no difficulty determining what I like and dislike. Rest assured that when we recommend a product, it is really because we like it, not because someone has paid us to say so or because the company is an advertiser or sponsor. In fact, we do not accept advertising from products we review.
Buyer's guide to grills
How to buy a grill. There are hundreds of grills on the market. Here's a checklist of things to look for in making your selection.
Best pellet smokers. These are very sophisticated devices, and because pellets are wood, you can use them in most barbecue competitions.
Best gas smokers. Gas smokers are great, especially in cold weather. There are some great bargains to be had.
Big Green Egg, Ceramic, and other Kamado-Style Cookers. These are modern versions of the 3,000-year-old Japanese ceramic Kamado, made of ceramic, an extremely good insulator. Indian tandoors are similar in concept. They are very efficient.
Mobile & trailer mounted. So everybody says you make the best ribs ever and the your church has asked you to cook at its picnic. Is it time to turn pro?
Stovetop smokers. These small gizmos are great for smoking indoors or over a campfire.
Pig roasters. Here are some gismos if you want to go whole hog.
Wood Burning Ovens. For the best Italian style pizzas or rustic breads, nothing beats a wood burning forno. They are available indoor or out, built-in or portable for caterers.
Everything else a cook needs and then some
Guide to thermometers. The secret to properly cooked and safe food is a good thermometer. But not all thermometers are created equal. Here's what you need to know and Meathead's recommendations.
Bar necessities. A list of what you need to make sure you serve your drinks in style.
All about corkscrews. They do not have to be torture devices. The best are user friendly. Really.
Designing an outdoor kitchen. For many Americans, the back yard has become a second kitchen, dining room and living room. It's easy to understand why. Life is just more relaxed outdoors. Here's what you need to know when planning an outdoor living space.
Best cookbooks, books, and mags. There are numerous good books and magazines on barbecue and cooking. Here are some of my favorites and links to buy them on Amazon.com.
My favorite commercial sauces. There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of commercial barbecue sauces. I taste as many as I can get my hands on. Here are my faves.
My favorite ingredients. Here is a partial list of some of the ingredients I use in my recipes.
Meathead's photo gear. With the exception of some of the products in the Buyers' Guide section of this site, I do all my own photography. Here's my toolkit and some tips on how to shoot foodpron.
1) If you are looking for info, please use the table of contents or the search box, at the top of every page before you ask for help.
2) Please don't ask any questions that involve temperature unless you tell us that you are using a digital thermometer! Dial thermometers are often off by as much as 50°F! If you are not using a good digital you have no idea what the temp really is so I can't help you. If you are still using a dial thermometer, please read this article about thermometers, then buy a good digital, and then, if the problem persists (chances are it won't), hit us with your questions. Please tell us everything we need to know to answer your question like the type of cooker you are using.
3) Please don't ask "What grill (or smoker) should I buy?" Read our Buyer's Guides and the buying checklists and follow the links. We've shared just about everything we know. Pay attention to the awards I have given my faves. We cannot pick the right cooker for your needs any more than we could pick the right car or spouse for you.
Important Info About This Website
AmazingRibs.com is all about the science and zen of barbecue, grilling, and outdoor cooking, with great BBQ recipes and techniques: Baby back ribs, spareribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, steak, burgers, chicken, smoked turkey, lamb, barbecue sauces, burgers, steaks, rubs, and side dishes, with the world's best buying guide to barbecue smokers, grills, and accessories. It is edited by Meathead.
AmazingRibs.com is published by AmazingRibs, Inc., a Florida Corporation.
Our philosophy about food is simple. First of all it must taste great. It must be easy to make and emphasize fresh seasonal products with a minimum of processed ingredients. We think that people need to know why as well as how, so we spend a lot of time explaining things, and we believe that there are no rules in the bedroom or dining room.
About Product Reviews and Best Value Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals. These are highly recommended products based on features, quality, and especially value. Rest assured that when we recommend a product, it is really because we like it, not because someone has paid us to say so because we do not accept advertising from products we review. We purchase many products we review although occasionally suppliers send us samples. We have always been transparent about when we are reviewing a product sample, even before the Federal Trade Commission Required it in 2009. Click here to read more about our medals.
About links on this site. Other than clearly marked ads, links and recommendations on this site are all products, services, and websites we truly admire, and are never paid endorsements. Your suggestions are always welcome. If you would like us to link to your website, click here to read our links policy first.
Advertising on this site. AmazingRibs.com is one of the 100 most popular food websites in the US according to comScore, Alexa, and Quantcast. It is by far the most popular barbecue website in the world and pageviews increase rapidly every year. Advertising on AmazingRibs.com is a great way to build your brand or make direct sales. We do not accept ads from products we review and we keep a strict wall between editorial and advertising, so, for current pricing and availability of prime space, contact our agency, Federated Media, by clicking the logo at right. Click here for analytics, stats, demographics, and advertising options.
Our Privacy Promise. AmazingRibs, Inc. promises to never sell or distribute any info about you individually without your express permission, and we promise not to, ahem, pepper you with email or make you eat spam. Click here for more details of our privacy promise.
Disclaimer. The information on this website is for educational purposes only. All material within comes without warranties of any kind. The authors are human and capable of mistakes, omissions, or errors, so we make no guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness, or safety of the information. Under no circumstances are we liable for any damages that result from use of the site (so you can't sue us if you don't like a recipe or if you burn your tongue on hot ribs, OK?).
This link takes you to Amazon and tags anything you buy with a code so we get a referral fee. It works on anything from grills to diapers and it has zero impact on the price you pay. The best reasons to buy from Amazon are low prices, fast often free delivery, fair return policies, and often there is no sales tax. But clicking on that link before you shop helps us devote more time and money to you. Thanks!
Look At These AmazingRibs.com Best Value Gold Medal Winners
The prize for Best BBQ Tool at the 2012 The National Barbecue Association conference went to a simple inexpensive fridge magnet by Meathead. It includes the latest USDA recommendations as well as chef recommendations (and they often differ) as well as color photos of the different stages of doneness for red meats. The temperatures are the same for both indoor and outdoor cooks. Click here for more info and how to order it.
GrillGrates Take You To The Infrared Zone
GrillGrates are the best new product I have tested in years and the best thing to happen to beef since salt and pepper. The base superheats, eliminates hot spots, and blocks flareups. This is the concept behind the expensive new infrared grills. A must for gas grills. Click here for more about GrillGrates.
The Smokenator: A Necessity For All Weber Kettles
If you have a Weber Kettle, you need the amazing Smokenator and Hovergrill. The Smokenator turns your grill into a first class smoker, and the Hovergrill can add capacity or be used to create steakhouse steaks. Click here to read more.
ThermoWorks Pocket Thermometer - No More Guessing
A good thermometer is why I never serve overcooked or undercooked food. This one has a very thin tip with a tiny thermocouple so it gives an accurate reading in just six seconds. I cannot recommend it more highly. It will improve your cooking overnight and pay for itself in a hurry. And it is inexpensive. Click here for more about thermometers.
Steakhouse Knives
These are the same knives used at the best steakhouses (Peter Luger, Smith & Wollensky, Morton's and others). Machine washable, temper-ground, serrated, high-carbon stainless-steel, full-tang blades with excellent cutting edge retention, beefy hardwood handle, rust and stain resistant, and they stay shiny without polishing. And now they have the AmazingRibs.com imprimatur. Click here for more info on these wonderful knives.
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With a $30 donation you'll get a 100% cotton brushed twill adjustable low profile cap with the AmazingRibs patch sewn on. I'll even toss in a small bag of BBQ'rs Delight wood smoke pellets. Click here for more info.
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AmazingRibs.com is all about the science and zen of barbecue, grilling, and outdoor cooking, with great BBQ recipes and techniques: Baby back ribs, spareribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, steak, burgers, chicken, smoked turkey, lamb, barbecue sauces, burgers, steaks, rubs, and side dishes, with the world's best buying guide to barbecue smokers, grills, and accessories. It is edited by 
About Product Reviews and Best Value Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals. These are highly recommended products based on features, quality, and especially value. Rest assured that when we recommend a product, it is really because we like it, not because someone has paid us to say so because we do not accept advertising from products we review. We purchase many products we review although occasionally suppliers send us samples. We have always been transparent about when we are reviewing a product sample, even before 
The prize for Best BBQ Tool at the 2012 The National Barbecue Association conference went to a simple inexpensive fridge magnet by Meathead. It includes the latest USDA recommendations as well as chef recommendations (and they often differ) as well as color photos of the different stages of doneness for red meats. The temperatures are the same for both indoor and outdoor cooks. 
With a $30 donation you'll get a 100% cotton brushed twill adjustable low profile cap with the AmazingRibs patch sewn on. I'll even toss in a small bag of BBQ'rs Delight wood smoke pellets. Click here for 
