Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800 Digital Charcoal Griddle, BBQ & Smoker

Charcoal goes into the tall hopper on the side of the cooker. It burns at the bottom, and as it burns away, gravity drops fresh charcoal down to keep the fire fed. You don't top up coals during the cook or move them around.

The DigitalFan sits below the fire and pushes air through the burning charcoal. More air means more heat, less air means less, and the controller adjusts the fan to hold your set temperature. Heat and smoke travel through a manifold into the cooking chamber, where the food sits away from the open flame.

Ash falls into a removable ash tray below the hopper. Safety switches on the hopper lid and ash door stop the fan whenever either one is open, so the fire settles down while you're loading or emptying.

The griddle covers the whole cooking area rather than half, so you can run a full breakfast, a batch of smash burgers or a stir fry for the family in one go. It sits over its own heat manifold, which comes in the box alongside the grill manifold, and you swap between the two depending on how you're cooking.

Because the heat is set on the controller, griddle cooking works the way it does on a gas flat top: pick a temperature, let it come up, and cook. The difference is that the heat is coming from charcoal.

Like any steel cooking surface, the griddle needs seasoning before its first use and a light coat of oil after cleaning to protect it from rust.

For grilling and smoking, two reversible cast iron grates replace the griddle. One side has raised ridges for searing steaks, chops and burgers with strong grill marks. Flip them over and the wider, flatter side suits low and slow cooks like ribs, pork shoulder and brisket.

Two porcelain-coated racks sit above the main grates. Use them to smoke extra food, cook vegetables and sides, or keep finished food warm while the rest of the cook catches up. Never flip the grates while the grill is on or hot.

The control panel on the left side of the cooker sets the cooking temperature and a timer, and shows grill and meat probe readings. Turning the knob scrolls through grill temperature, timer and each probe.

There are four meat probe ports, with one probe in the box. Set a target for each probe and the controller sounds an alarm when it's reached. Pair the grill with the free Masterbuilt app over WiFi or Bluetooth and you can set temperatures and timers, watch your probes and get alerts on your phone. If the app loses connection, the grill keeps cooking to the last settings.

The controller and fan run on mains power, so the cooker needs to be within reach of a power point.

The hopper takes approximately 4.5 kg of lump charcoal or 7.25 kg of briquettes, which gives up to 10 hours of cooking. Because the hopper holds more briquettes than lump by weight, briquettes such as Nature Flame Charcoal Briquettes suit long smoking sessions, while lump such as Masterbuilt Lumpwood Charcoal works well for grilling, searing and griddle cooks.

For more smoke flavour, there are two ways to use wood. Place a chunk or two in the ash tray before you set the temperature, so embers drop onto it and it smoulders, adding no more than about 0.2 kg at a time. Or mix chunks through the charcoal in the hopper, using no more than about 0.7 kg of wood in total. Fist-sized smoking wood chunks suit both methods.

Never use fast-light charcoal or lighter fluid in the hopper.

To light it, place a fire starter on the charcoal grate at the bottom of the hopper through the ash door, light it with a match stick or long lighter, wait a minute or two, then set your temperature and close the doors. The fan starts once the hopper lid and ash door are closed.

Season the grill before the first cook to burn off manufacturing residue. Fill the hopper a quarter to half full, run it at 121°C for 60 minutes, then at 204°C for 30 minutes, and shut it down. Once completely cool, wipe a light coat of cooking oil over the grates, racks, charcoal grate and the inside of the lid and body, then repeat the heat cycle at 175°C.

The cooker is for outdoor household use only. Keep at least 3 metres of clearance from walls, overhead structures and anything combustible, and set it up on a level, non-combustible surface rather than a timber deck.

With 0.52 m² of total cooking space across the main grates and warming racks, the 800 fits approximately 12 chickens, 6 racks of ribs, 57 sausages or 36 burgers at once. That's comfortable for a family and for regular entertaining without taking over a small patio.

If you need more room, the Gravity Series 1150 is the larger model. If you're short on space and don't need the griddle, the Gravity Series 600 is more compact.

The Masterbuilt Pizza Oven Attachment fits the Gravity Series 800 and turns it into a charcoal-fired pizza oven. The Masterbuilt Gravity Series Rotisserie Kit adds an electric spit for whole chickens and rolled roasts. For storing it outdoors, the Masterbuilt Gravity Series BBQ Cover suits the 600, 800 and 900 models.

Masterbuilt covers the Gravity Series 800 against defects in materials and workmanship for 1 year from the date of original retail purchase, with proof of purchase and product registration required. The warranty doesn't cover the paint finish, rust or commercial use. Your rights under the Australian Consumer Law apply in addition to this warranty.

You're welcome to come and see it at our showroom at Unit 18, 79 Williamson Rd, Ingleburn NSW 2565 (corner of Brooks Rd and Williamson Rd) before you buy. We're open Monday to Wednesday 9:30am to 4:30pm, Thursday and Friday 9:30am to 5:00pm, and Saturday 9:30am to 3:00pm. Delivery is available, with the cost calculated at checkout.