"JimnGin" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Hey, all- I hope you had a good Thanksgiving. I have a couple
> questions- I live in Ohio, and now that winter weather is here, I'm
> wondering how best to store my Char-Griller. Should I store it in a
> cold area, or in a heated area? I was afraid to keep it in a warm area
> for fear that mold, etc may grow inside it. Secondly, and slightly
> off-topic: The wife is getting me a set of kitchen knives for
> Christmas, and wants to know what kind I want. What brand/kind do you
> recommend? I'm looking for some that are decent, but not too expensive-
> under $250.00- even less is better!
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jim

I have a chargriller also. It might be a bit too late for you but here's
what I did.

First thing in the morning I washed the insides out with soap and water (my
wife's dish soap) and rinsed it out. I just used water and a brush on the
grates. Then let it air dry for a few hours. Then I coated everything down
(inside and out) with the cheapest cooking oil I could find. Fired her up
and ran her at 350 degrees for about an hour or so. I don't know if it made
a difference but I added some mesquite I had laying around. Let the fire
burn out and let the whole thing cool down. When cool, I emptied the fire
box, put the cover on and moved it next to the house.

That should hold it till next spring. If you have a garage, and feel better
about getting the chargeiller out of the elements, you could move it there.

As far as knives go, my wife bought the block set of Miracle Knife lll. I
went out and bought a 8" chef's knife with a granton edge by Chicago
Cutlery. Then my wife bought me a 9" from Cuisinart.

If you have a chance, and the bucks, get yourself a copy of Alton Brown's
Gear For Your Kitchen. He has a section titled "Sharp Things" that cover the
diferent types of knives and why you should buy the individually.

To make a long story short... Buy a knife that is comfortable in your hand.
If the store lets you (probably not) rock it on a cutting board. Some knives
feel good and some don't.

BFD