For $900, the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800 is one of the best grills I’ve tested in recent years, and it all comes down to the final product.
Over several weeks, I put the grill to the ultimate test—how does the cooked meat actually taste? I will give you a spoiler right away: it tasted awesome. Slow-cooking over charcoal is my new favorite way to cook, although this highly versatile grill can also cook at high temps like 600°F to make sure everyone in your family doesn’t have to wait long.
Masterbuilt sent a technician to set up the grill, which is likely fairly typical if you go through a reseller who does the installation for you. Once fully configured, I found the controls to be remarkably easy to use. You press one button to adjust a dial and set the temp (say, 450°F for steak), then use another dial option to set a timer.
The grill uses gravity to drop charcoal into a heating chamber. I used lump coal that is more organic and then, after each grilling session, would wait for the ash to cool and dump it into a metal container. There’s a trade-off there in terms of propane cooking that involves a bit more maintenance but far less smell. In fact, that is one selling point of the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800: it’s nice to smell an actual charcoal fire rather than using gas.
To test the grill, I started with some choice cuts from Verde Farms and Omaha Steaks. The Gravity Series 800 happens to be a smoker, griddle, and grill all in one, so I wanted to test steaks, burgers, chicken, and various other fine cuts in various ways. Verde was just recently awarded a Master Chefs’ Seal for organic beef and released info about their nutrient density. I even tested a Triple-Trimmed Filet Mignon steak from Omaha against a store-bought steak.
Tasting the Results
I have to say, the way the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800 works is a good fit for my cooking style. I loved how thoroughly the grill cooked the meat, almost like an oven on your deck. Most grills that use propane are so hot that they sear the meat and you get something that is often a bit blackened and yet pink inside, depending on your skill level. The Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800 is different; it is more forgiving in terms of an even temp inside the grill.
The griddle is easy to use as well. I cooked chicken fillets and was able to use a meat thermometer to make sure they were cooked all the way through. I never cooked breakfast (my family only wanted me to cook lunch and dinner meals), but I could see the griddle coming in handy for that since there’s no way any of the eggs or sausage could slip through the grill.
The steak test comparing store-bought steaks proved surprising. I liked the Omaha filet mignon steak much better, especially with the included seasoning. The Verde meats cooked up nicely without any extra pieces that were not edible. Overall, everything I cooked tasted near perfect.
The Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800 cooks from 250°F up to 700°F. I slow-cooked meat several times as well, using the 250°F setting and letting my meat cook for hours instead of minutes. What a fantastic grilling machine that can do both. Masterbuilt even includes a meat probe that works with the digital display. I found the overall process to be smooth and efficient, although I had some issues with the Wi-Fi connection (because I have a mesh router).
For slow cooking, the grill can use up to 10 pounds of lump or 16 pounds of briquettes for about 10 hours of cooking. Any issues I had with the grill were my own lack of understanding. Initially, I didn’t realize just how important the two vents are. If they are not removed, the grill will not operate correctly, which is actually a bonus. I also found I had to use fire starters that were a bit larger and not the low-end dollar store versions to sustain a flame.
Overall, the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800 is just a phenomenal grill that helped me cook steaks, burgers, chicken, and other meats to perfection. I loved the easy cooking process, flexibility, and final product. The bonus is that this model is also quite affordable.