Dyna-Glo Signature Series DGSS675CB-D Smoker Charcoal Grill Review
If you love to host cookouts and grill for large numbers of people or smoke large cuts of meat, then a standard kettle grill likely isn’t going to fit the bill. To answer these interests Dyna-Glo provides their Signature Series DGSS675CB-D.
This barrel-style charcoal grill features an expansive main cooking chamber with 675 square inches of grill space. The heavy-duty cast iron grates have also been specially coated with porcelain material to provide it with non-stick properties as well as superior heat retention. This allows you to create an almost Steakhouse level sear on a steak, or to grill a whole chicken.
The Dyna-Glo Signature Series DGSS675CB-D doesn’t include an offset smoker chamber in the initial purchase. However, there is a specific accessory designed to attach to the main grilling chamber. With some grills like this, the smoker box is pretty much necessary if you want to multi-task the grill as a smoker.
However, the Signature Series DGSS675CB-D’s 675 square-inch grill grates provide you with a large enough grilling chamber that you could build a charcoal and wood chip fire on one end of the firebox and there would be sufficient space to hold a significant amount of food on the other end.
The Dyna-Glo Signature Series DGSS675CB-D also comes with cool touch handles and a built-in thermometer on the lid. It’s wide-grip handles and large, sturdy wheels also help you move the rather large grill without the help of a second person.
Construction & Ease of Assembly
For the most part, the Dyna-Glo Signature Series DGSS675CB-D is made from robust materials and components. The stainless steel grill grates are stout and coated with a special non-stick porcelain layer. The wide-grip, cool touch handles and large diameter wheels also speak to its quality and durability. However, the metal gauge of the lid feels a little thin for a grill of this size.
As a large charcoal grill, it can take a little longer to assemble the Signature Series DGSS675CB-D than it would to assemble a basic kettle grill. With some basic tools and mechanical skills, you should expect it to take you a little over an hour to fully put together. If you opt to also purchase the accessory smoker box, you should expect that to add another half an hour or so to the total assembly time. It’s also worth noting that some online vendors also offer expert assembly for a small additional charge.
Grilling Performance
The large primary grilling chamber is designed to be able to hold a large amount of grilled food or to also accommodate classic barbecue from the accessory smoker box. However, the Signature Series DGSS675CB-D has a large enough grilling chamber that you could build a charcoal and wood chip fire on one end of the firebox and there would be sufficient space to hold a chicken, rack of ribs or a pork shoulder on the other side. Something like a large brisket or multiple butterfly cut chickens might be a little too large or would require periodic turning to prevent overheating.
One factor that could complicate this sort of improvisation is the seals on the air dampers or draft doors. They tend to be a little loose, which in some slow-and-low applications might lead to too much oxygen being provided to the fire leading to flareups as well as heat control issues. You might be able to get around this by installing some fireproof gasket seals from the hardware store, or simply shimming a piece of folded heavy-duty aluminum foil.
Grilling Areas
The Dyna-Glo Signature Series DGSS675CB-D has cast iron grill grates that have been carefully coated with a special non-stick porcelain material. This provides you with an enormous 675 square inches of grilling space.
The accessory DGSS287CB-D offset smoker box measures 24.2 inches wide by 18.4-inches deep and 21-inches long. Even if you don’t use it as a smoker during a particular grilling session, you could still multitask the accessory smoker box as a warmer or use it to grill side dishes.
The thermometer is a little high on the lid for a grill this large. The massive potential airspace under the lid when is closed could give you a misreading on the temperature near the grill grate. This is more likely to be an issue if you are barbecuing with the offset smoker box. Keeping a simple infrared or instant-read thermometer on hand will allow you to double check the grate-level temperature if there’s ever a question.
Ease to Clean
Like all charcoal grills, ash cleanup is necessary after every session. This is especially true if the forecast calls for rain or extremely high humidity, as damp charcoal ash is corrosive and can potentially shorten the life of the firebox. One potential knock on the Dyna-Glo Signature Series DGSS675CB-D is that it doesn’t feature some sort of removable ash pan or collection box, like other grills of this size. This means you will need to scoop any lingering ash and unburned embers and put them in a separate metal bucket with some water to ensure they are fully extinguished.
The special non-stick porcelain coating on the cast iron grill grates certainly helps prevent burned on material from adhering. Yet it still is possible for excess marinades, seasonings and other drippings to occasionally become stuck on the grate bars or in the corners. This is more likely to occur if you are using the accessory offset smoker box to barbecue a piece of meat with a glazed-on sauce like Kansas City-style spare ribs or sticky sauce barbecue chick.
Most of the time the lingering heat of the fire will dry out any lingering material. You can then use a wire or firm nylon bristled brush to carefully scrape it away. If you are dealing with a significant mess on the grates, they can be easily removed and soaked in warm soapy water before scrubbing them clean.
Warranty
The Dyna-Glo Signature Series DGSS675CB-D carries a 1-year warranty against broken or damaged parts. the paint is warrantied to be defect-free for up to 90 days except for rust caused by misuse.
Conclusion
The Dyna-Glo Signature Series DGSS675CB-D provides you with the expansive space to grill for a large number of people. With the accessory smoker box, you can reproduce high-quality barbecue pork shoulders, and briskets as well as copious racks of ribs. It does all of this with a relatively friendly price point.
However, little things like leaky dampers and draft doors, as well as the high position of the lid thermometer, will need to be compensated for to really maximize this grills versatility.
