The Puma by Nuke is an authentic Argentinean-style grill that allows you to burn logs to coals and grill with skill. This unit is for serious backyard cooks.
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Puma by Nuke
Specifications
- 500 square inches of cooking space
- Stainless Steel V-shape cooking grates
- Heavy steel firebox
- Body lined in 1/2-inch firebrick
- Steel construction with stainless steel components
- Grate adjusts from 4 to 19 inches above the coals
- Mounted on four rubber wheels
- Shovel and Ash tool included
- Made in Argentina by Nuke USA
Full Review – The Puma by Nuke
PROS
- Authentic Design
- Heavy Construction
- Large Cooking Area
- Great Cooking Versatility
CONS
- Prone to rust
The Nuke Puma is an Argentinean-style grill (or Parrilla) made in Argentina and imported to the United States. This is a serious grill, weighing over 350 pounds, and it offers all the traditional features. To the left is a heavy steel basket for burning whole wood logs (or chunks or even charcoal) down to the properly sized coals for cooking. These are shoveled over the firebrick and spread out to the pattern you want.
Unlike the Nuke Delta, the Puma has no lid. It is pure traditional grilling that requires practice and skill. But don’t worry—the learning curve isn’t steep. The secret is knowing how and where to place the burning coals.
First, you can use any type of charcoal. Light it as you normally would, then spread it evenly over the firebrick floor of the grill. You’ll have a heat source similar to cooking over a well-built campfire. Once you grasp a few key principles, you’ll notice how versatile this grill really is.
Design
The grill has a spacious, rectangular-shaped body lined with firebricks. To use the traditional method, start by burning logs or large wood chunks into coals. Shovel them over to the grill’s cooking area, pile them up for high heat, or level them out for less intense, even heating. The cooking grate can be adjusted to four inches above the fire or lifted to nineteen inches away for warming.
Mastering the fire allows you to use different cooking techniques. Placing a ring of hot coals around the food will cook it indirectly. On the other hand, a pile of coals directly under the food will sear it. Creating thick coal layers on one side will result in a high-temperature area while having few or no coals will create a cooler area. The firebrick will absorb and radiate a consistent and even heating throughout.
Nuke Puma – Sturdy Built
The Nuke Puma is an impressive grill with a firebrick-lined cooking area and a heavy, sturdy build. However, you will need help assembling it. The main body of the grill is made of heavy double-layer steel. The unit sits on four wheels, but there are no proper casters, so it doesn’t exactly turn. You will need to move it to a good spot and leave it there.
The cooking surface is suspended on a pair of cables that can be raised or lowered with a large wheel. It offers 500 square inches of cooking surface made of V-shaped stainless steel angled towards the front. Grease collected in the grates drains into a trough in the front. This reduces drippings getting to the fire and potentially causing flare-ups. The grates come in three sections and are lightweight, but it’s important to note that you cook using the heat of the fire, not by heating the grates.
The front of the grill has a full-width drop-down door, similar to the tailgate on a pickup truck. When opened, you can access the fire and move the hot coals as needed. Closed, it will hold in heat and help to keep the wind away from the fire. This door is heavy but locks securely in place.
This grill comes with a shovel that fits the firebox and an ash tool for grasping and moving the hot coals. An optional griddle sits in the firebox and can be used for cooking breakfast foods, vegetables, seafood, etc. I also highly recommend the very large, well-made cover.
Nuke Puma – Steel Features
The Nuke Puma grill features stainless steel components. The upper section and walls are made of stainless steel, while the rest of the grill is made of painted steel. The latter will need to be kept clean and covered to prevent rusting. During the month that I tested this grill, it developed some minor rust in a few areas.
This construction quality of the Nuke Puma is excellent. Although this unit is heavy, the assembly process is straightforward. For those who are serious about live-fire cooking, this is the grill to get. Make sure to purchase high-quality hardwood before starting your grilling journey. You’ll have a blast!
About Me
I have been writing about Barbecue & Grilling for 25 years. I have cooked on almost every grill or smoker ever built. In those years I have always endeavored to match people with the grill or smoker that is right for them. I believe that the right product is the one that you find easy to use, capable of doing everything you want, and is reliable. If you have a good first experience, you will be back for more. In this way, we grow barbecue for the next generation. I want you to make the memories that your children will cherish.
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This article and the website it appears on uses sales affiliates to cover the cost of operation. If you choose to purchase a product through the links I have provided, a portion of that sale will go to me. It helps me create content so I can help you and others have the best barbecue experience. I am grateful to all my readers over the years that have been so kind as to assist me in my exploration of outdoor cooking. Thank you.
