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Lodge Sportsman Grill Review
Lodge Sportsman Grill is a compact grill perfect for tailgating or campings. Its compact size means that you can fit it in your rv or vehicle without much issue. You can even grill things at your backyard if you do not want a compact grill alternative. It has a heavy cast iron construction that holds heat well and reduce the amount of coals needed. This review will take a closer look at the design and feature of Lodge Sportsman Grill.
Lodge Sportsman Grill Review Quick Summary
| Categories |   Lodge Sportsman Grill |
|---|---|
| Performance | Excellent |
| Compatibility | Charcoal or Wood |
| Colors | Black |
| Warranty | Lifetime Warranty |
| Brand Awareness | America |
| Country of Manufacturer | USA |
| Thoughts | A great hibachi style of grill. However, the style of bbq is different from your traditional grilling. Most notably is that you cant smoke the food with a cover. However, once you get past that, it is a great compact griller. Perfect for camping or your RV/Motorhome. |
| Reviewed Cookware | Lodge L410 Grill, 10.25″ H x 8.25″ W x 19″ L, Black |
History of Lodge
Lodge was founded by Joseph Lodge in 1896. The blacklock foundry goal was to produce cast iron goods including cookware. Through the years, they faced some setbacks including the burning of the blacklock foundry. However, each time, they always manage to pull through. They even manage to survive the great depression. As their business grew, they started some revolutionary process that streamline manufacturing. Such as automation of their molding process. This made them more efficient and productive. One of the process that made them so successful was their preseasoned cookware. This shot sales through the roof and other manufacturer soon followed suit. Today, their product range is expanding from enamel cookware to even carbon steel. Their continued innovation is what makes them such a successful company.
Lodge Sportsman Grill Design
This section will discuss the design and features of Lodge Sportsman Grill. We will go over construction, features and overall performance.
Assembly and Construction
When you first get the grill, you have to assemble it together. Putting it together is not too difficult, as there is just a couple of pieces. It is made of mostly cast iron. The only piece where its not cast iron are probably the screws and the wire handle. The wire handle is the thing that I have the most issue with. Its not particularly comfortable and I wish they would have used something a little bit more robust.
Grill Grates
The grill grates has too height. One where you rest it on the feet. This raises the grill away from the heat. The other is on the flat side. This just lowers it to sit flush on the coals. It makes the heat more intense if you need it to be.
Since the construction is cast iron. It should be nonstick. However, you need to maintain the seasoning. The high heat of the charcoal can burn it off. So its always best to oil the grate before use. If you see that the black seasoning is coming off. Rub it with oil and bake it in a oven at 350 degree Fahrenheit for half an hour. Repeat as necessary to re season it. This instruction can be applied for the whole grill. If any part has the seasoning removed, it is highly recommended to re season it or it will rust.
Hibachi Grill Cooking?
Cooking with Lodge Sportsman Grill its different from your traditional grill. It most resembles a hibachi style of cooking. Which is a Japanese form of BBQ. Instead of enclosing and smoking the food, you have a open design where you only get one heat source. The amount of space that you can grill is also relatively small compared to a full size grill. To those who are unfamiliar with this style, it can be a bit of a challenge to cook with.
Generally, it is recommended that you follow a two heat source type of cooking. One side is cool and the other is hot. You can do this by only using coals on one side. The other side will be left empty. I recommend that you cook thinner cuts of food. Things like Chicken leg will take forever so plan accordingly. If you are willing to try, I recommended cooking things like yakitori. The intense heat of the grill is perfect for using this type of grill. Another things would be kebab, it is very similar to yakitori and the small pieces of food will be perfect for this.
At the bottom of the grill, there is a opening that will let you adjust the air flow. This adjustment will be your method of controlling the heat. As more air enters, the heat will rise. In case you need increase or reduce searing, this is a perfect way of doing it. This can also help you reduce the chance of burning your food.
The center of the grill can also be propped opened slightly. This lets you adjust the position of the charcoal. You can also pop in some wood or additional charcoal if need be.
Caring for your Grill
After you are done cooking, it is recommended that you remove any stuck on food. You can do this with a nylon scrubber and water. Do not use a metal scrubber as that will remove the seasoning. After that is done, coat the grills with a layer of fat and heat it to smoking point. This should help maintain the seasoning.
If you see rust on the grill, they can be easily removed with some sand paper. After the rust is removed, you can then re season it so that it wont form. When storing it, It is recommended that you cover the grill. Lodge makes a cover specifically for this grill. This will protect it from the element and reduce the chance of it rusting. I recommended storing it in a dry area with low humidity.
Lodge Sportsman Grill Thoughts
Lodge Sportsman Grill is a great compact grill that is perfect for camping or outdoor cooking. However, this style of cooking might be foreign to some people. Most notably, you cannot cover and smoke food like you would with a traditional grill. This involves some style adjustment. The most similar technique would be hibachi style of cooking. A popular japanese bbq method. Given that, once you master this technique, you will see how wonderful it is. If you want a compact grill, the Lodge Sportsman Grill is the way to go.
I hope you like this Lodge Grill Pan Reviews, If you would like to see more, please visit our Pots and Pans Review page.