Bullseye Temp drop.

[mabpath]

Third week with my Bullseye. Love it big improvement over my Weber Smokefire. One question. I set the temp for 500 and the grill reaches temp but when I put six burgers or a steak on the temp drops to 450 and doesn't recover. Any thoughts

 

[SmokeOCD]

grill grates. Is there something wrong with the cook or you just want it at 500?

 

[mabpath]

grill grates. Is there something wrong with the cook or you just want it at 500?

Cook was fine but didn't get much of a sear. The grill should have gone back to 500 after I put the food on. Not sure why it didn't

 

[SmokeZilla]

Third week with my Bullseye. Love it big improvement over my Weber Smokefire. One question. I set the temp for 500 and the grill reaches temp but when I put six burgers or a steak on the temp drops to 450 and doesn't recover. Any thoughts

The answer is preheated cast iron. If you don’t like the maintenance, Carbon Steel works almost as good. With either, they won’t drop the temp as quickly. I realize some use Grill Grates (which I own) but they are made from anodized aluminum and should’t be used with an ambient temperature over 500F.

 

[v1per95]

The answer is preheated cast iron. If you don’t like the maintenance, Carbon Steel works almost as good. With either, they won’t drop the temp as quickly. I realize some use Grill Grates (which I own) but they are made from anodized aluminum and should’t be used with an ambient temperature over 500F.

I am curious as to the science behind why you can't use them over 500F?

 

[Motodad1776]

I believe it could be concern for outgassing of the anodized aluminum.

 

[SmokeZilla]

Great question. Here is the science behind the anodizing process:

https://www.nmfrc.org/pdf/sf2002/sf02f01.pdf

Further, GG’s attestation addresses the product’s use case in the following statement:

“PLEASE NOTE: High heat burn offs are not recommended. Prolonged exposure to 850°F + temperatures will result in warping and or melting of your GrillGrates.”

In my opinion (whatever that is worth) they have been selectively vague in the term of art called “Burn Off”. It almost implies short duration, thermal exposure for cleaning of the GGs similar to the self cleaning cycle of your oven (which they also caution you not to do with their consumer level product). If you extrapolate the fact that they can raise the temperature from 100F-250F as cited on their web site, depending on the heat source (e.g., NP, LP, Charcoal, Sticks, etc) that reduces the effective temperature range use of the GGs to the mid-500F range, accounting for thermal spikes. When they replaced my warped set, they inquired as to my source of heat and I “confessed” I used them with the Trident Burner on my Lynx Professional 36” propane fired grill with a temperature setting of approximately 600F I was told I exceeded their temperature range (which at the time of my purchase cautioned against anything above 500F in their instruction booklet, that I didn’t read). Fortunately, they replaced them but I was cautioned that it was by exception, not rule. By the way, they warped in the first 30 days after purchased from their web site. Fortunately, I also own GG’s professional series products that have a range much higher than the consumer level devices and it/they can handle 850F with no problem. YMMV.

Below I added information from their site. There are many things anyone should be aware of if using the GGs.

 

[v1per95]

Very interesting. The current professional GG on their site is also anodized aluminum, so I wonder what the discrepancy is between the two that would allow the "professional" version to withstand higher heats?

 

[SmokeZilla]

I can’t say for sure but mine seems more dense and the weight is considerably higher. As an example, one section of the GG “commercial” series weighs about the same as the entire 3 piece segment that goes on my RT700. The commercial version does not have any holes in it either and allows me to channel grease and debris better, especially when I want to do a flat sear or make pancakes, omlets, or similar low viscosity items which cannot be done with the predrilled version. I replaced an entire grate on one of my gassers with the GG commercial to simulate a griddle and it handles the temps from my Trident Burner for full contact searing with no problem or fear of a flare up. I purposely stopped short of saying it is a griddle because technically, a griddle has a way to direct debris, drippings and other liquids (think grease) and this definitely does not include that feature. For reference, my version (6 years old) does not have the same color anodize either. If I had to guess I don’t believe it is treated and it is dishwasher safe also. When I compare it to my griddle, nothing is better than cast iron or rolled steel (IMHO). However, with a constant heat source, it will pass as an alternate. If I had to do it all over again, I would buy the custom cut commercial series and forego the version I purchased from their “economy/consumer” line. When I go into the equipment closet I will try to take pictures and highlight the differences, if needed. YMMV

 

[SmokeOCD]

450* + grill grates gives me a pretty good sear…
for a pellet grill.