These grills DO add additional searing/flavor to high end steaks. Some may think they are a bit too "spendy" but after cooking several steak meals on them, I have to say they DO enhance the flavor of a good steak and make them easier to grill correctly.
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I have a Napoleon grill with a cast iron grill that's heavy duty but sits too close to the heat source to do what the man grate does. Allows one to cook over high heat for the sear even on fatty chicken pieces like leg-quarters without flare-ups and blackened skin. That alone makes it worth the price. Reminds me of a chunk of the grill at the restaurant I worked for years ago. Just make sure you get at least two-the size is on the wimpy side. (only reason I didn't give it 5 stars)
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These things aren't cheap, but they're amazing. And if you shop around for bargains, you can get a decent deal.
I first heard about these on Adam Carolla's podcast. He plugs them all the time and gives them as gifts to his guests, so I figured I'd give them a try. I bought a set of four. Make sure you read the instructions and season them first. Then give them a good twenty minute preheat before you use them. I fired up my grill to about 550 and preheated it for twenty minutes. Then I dropped the steaks on and could instantly see a difference. Per the instructions, I turned down the heat to medium after I put it on. The meat seared nicely right away and I turned it 45 degrees to get nice sear marks. Same with the other side.
These steaks turned out perfect. I've been grilling for decades and have never really been disappointed by my cooking, but these Mangrates truly improved the quality of the cooking. The shape of the grills recirculate a lot of the heat and the juices and create an incredible cooking surface.
Again, shop for bargains. See the comments below for the deal that I found.
EDIT: Now that I've been using the Mangrates for a few more days, I have to say that these things are even more amazing than I first thought. Check out my pictures at the top of the product page. Everything I've cooked so far has turned out as good or better than restaurant quality.
Honest reviews on ManGrate 2G-1B-B Grill Enhancement System, Two ManGrates One Brush
I have a Ducane natural gas grill that I've had for about 10 years. It has been a good grill, but the stamped stainless steel grates that came with the grill have been lacking. They just don't hold heat very well. I'd get the grill good and hot, throw a steak on it, and within a minute, the sizzle would die off. NEVER a grill mark. And there were definite hot spots, with definite dead areas as well. After the heat was pulled out of the grates by the meat, my grill basically became an oven.
After hearing about them on the Adam Carolla podcast, I ponied up the money for 4 mangrates. Four of them cover 80% of my grill surface. Not perfect, but every inch of the Mangrates is useable, because the cast-iron heats much more evenly than the stamped stainless grates. No more hot spots, no more dead areas like before.
The key to Mangrates is how well the heavy cast iron holds the heat. It does take a bit more time to get them screaming hot, but once you're there, they hold the heat beautifully! The sizzle stays the entire time you are cooking. The meat cooks much faster now, searing the outside perfectly while keeping the inside moist. The grease gutters catch the drippings and turn them into smoke. It takes a while to get used to the increased smoke--this used to mean flare-ups, but this is not the case with Mangrates. That smoke is helping to give your food that authentic grilled flavor--even with a natural gas grill like mine.
Mangrates are heavy enough (8 pounds each) that they do not slide around when you are cooking. I will get some movement when cleaning them with the brush, but this is not a problem for me.
Are they expensive? Yes they are. BUT, they are made in the USA, they work as advertised, and they will outlast you if you take care of them. Also remember they are easily moved to your next grill should you need to replace your current one.
Are you a serious griller looking to upgrade your grill? Give Mangrates a shot. I think you'll be glad you did!
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Great piece of BBQ engineering. Really happy with the end-result but the path to perfect grill marks was lined with frustration, confusing marketing and me up-selling myself.
Bait, switch, great grate.
If you want to fundamentally change the end-result of inhaling noxious fumes and smoke while your family awaits you cooking up the day's kill---ManGrate is for you. A word (well, several) of caution. Be certain to buy at least two of the grills. When I ordered mine, the one arrived and I started looking forward to the weekend when I could cook up one burger and two buns (in alternating shifts).
You need two to lay out your ManSteaks on at least two ManGrates.
I contacted them and asked why the box showed two grates on it. The reply "We had some old brochures we had to get rid of".
Quality.
Also, I was promised very own Adam Carolla wire brush. DENIED! The ManGrate-branded brush was in the box ready to clean my lonely little BoyGrate. When I questioned the rep, he was silent. I thought best to not overly-explain why I wanted a Carolla brush. I'm ready to promote Adam's show; not so ready to have ManGrate logo's all over my deck.
Fact is, I wouldn't know about ManGrate unless Adam raved about it.
I bought the second one and we're up to $70 or so. Well worth it.
