Ceramic or Cast Iron Platesetter

MJLivingston

Hello all another noob here my wife surprised me the other day with my new LBGE and very happy with it.  I spent months pouring over this and other forums trying to decide what was the right new grill/smoker for me and she got tired of me talking about and ended the discussion (the best way possible way I think)  I have done a few grills with it some succesfull some not.  But I am trying to get it set up for some smoking this weekend and my local dealer is really pushing the cast iron platesetter over the ceramic one and I was really hoping to get all of yalls opinion on this before I make my purchase.

JohnInCarolina

The PS is a heat shield, and ceramics do a pretty decent job of that.  I'd think a CI PS would be quite a bit heavier, and I'm not sure I see any real advantage.  It's probably less likely to crack/break, but that's about it.  

aukerns08

I'm a noob myself but went with the cast iron one.  I originally bought the ceramic the day before Dizzyfest but after spending the day at Dizzyfest talking to the cooks they all talked me into the cast iron one.  I've been happy with it, it does great for smoking and I've used it to put my dutch oven on after a cook to serve.

JohnInCarolina

BTW I think there was an earlier thread on this topic here:

http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1157200/has-anyone-got-a-cast-iron-platesetter

If that's what you're looking at then I understand that it's actually a little different, in the sense that it's designed to be cooked on.  

fishlessman

i would look at the adjustable rig combo with spider and stone first, it will set you up with alot more options down the road, google ceramic grill store

lousubcap

Before you go with a platesetter of any material, take a look at the various setups offered here-

http://www.ceramicgrillstore.com/ I have the platesetter (ceramic) and it works well but there are configurations at the cgs that will give you much more versatility down the road.  hopefully the eggsperts will be along to provide more info.  Just an opinion and we all know what those are worth.

BTW-great score from SWMBO-welcome aboard.

Mickey

IMO not even a close call. Do the spider and a stone. Then you can do all kinds of other things.

henapple

Would cast iron act as a conductor instead of a heat shield?

caliking

I'm in the "don't get either of them" camp. Money will be better spent on an adjustable rig setup from CGS.

@henapple - CI woiuld still act as a heat shield. A better conductor than ceramic but air between the meat and the CI would still be an insulator of sorts. CI may give off more radiant heat than ceramic though - don't know for sure. 

MJLivingston

Thanks everyone for their input I was wondering do yall get commission for selling the AR.  I am just kidding I can see thats the route I need to go just to be sure though when I get the AR with the spider and stone there would never likely be a reason to get the platesetter right.

fishlessman

MJLivingston said:

Thanks everyone for their input I was wondering do yall get commission for selling the AR.  I am just kidding I can see thats the route I need to go just to be sure though when I get the AR with the spider and stone there would never likely be a reason to get the platesetter right.

only reason i can see to get the platesetter is if you are a full time artisan baker, its just not needed if you have the rig setup. for low and slows a pan hanging under the grate will do the same thing ansd lots of us just used bricks years ago with a second grid, a weber kettle grill grate fits. but the rig is the go to if you have the cash

henapple

@Caliking. ..time for one of your science experiments.

RAC

fishlessman said:

i would look at the adjustable rig combo with spider and stone first, it will set you up with alot more options down the road, google ceramic grill store

+1

pab

I agree with those suggesting the adjustable rig and stone set up. I got the ceramic plate setter when I bought my large two years ago this past October. For Christmas two months later my wife and family sprung for the rig. The plate setter has been in the garage since then covered in dust.

MJLivingston

Thanks everyone for the great advice just completed my order for the customer combo adjustable rig.

caliking

henapple said:

@Caliking. ..time for one of your science experiments.

I guess i could sometime... I still have some WG left  :ar!

@MJLivingston - forgot to mention that I bought a platesetter when i purchased my first egg and returned it after 2 cooks since I didn't like it. I currently use 2 bricks to raise the grid +/- a water pan or clay saucer to make it indirect. Plan is to buy an AR soon.