TheFanatic
Footballguy
I only use one of these in my kamado. Sometimes I use the torch if I need to speed things up, but rarely. All I need is the diffuser/plate setter
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***Official Grilling and Smoking Thread*** (4 Viewers)
- Thread starter bryhamm
- Start date
TheFanatic
Footballguy
Honestly the biggest thing to do is learn the vents. They determine the temp. Most of my kamados needed to be open about an inch down low and maybe a half up high to stick between 250-300. My Primo needs almost double the oxygen intake at the bottom. Do a test run. Light the grill up, put it at an inch open at the bottom and close the top vent by half and wait 20 minutes. Go check the temp gauge to see what that temp is. Does it need to be closed more? Does it need to be more open for your desired temps? Once you figure out how to get your desired temp, your kamado should hold that for hours and hours.
Godsbrother
Footballguy
I haven't use a chimney in years. I make charcoal lighters from paper towels and bacon grease.
Every time I make bacon I toss a few paper towels on top of the grease, let them soak for 10-15 minutes, fold them up and then freeze them in a ziplock bag. Then when I am ready to light the charcoal I just arrange the lump charcoal around a couple squares and light them. It takes about 10-15 minutes for the charcoal to light.
Ron Swanson
Footballguy
Godsbrother
Footballguy
Occasionally I'll fry eggs in bacon grease but only a little and really you can fry eggs in anything, even water.
I've never made refried beans.
Grahamburn
Footballguy
I just put a Bic lighter on mine. It usually gets the coals going before the fluid runs out. I add the extra minutes to my cook times so I can advertise low and slow to my friends.
Ron Popeil
Footballguy
Thank you @Ron Swanson for the Wild Fork link. I got a prime brisket and some salmon.
First time cooking brisket here and using a Weber Bullet with charcoal. I've never fussed too much with temps but mine seems consistent(ish). One load of charcoal and modified Minion always has plenty of heat for large pork shoulders. But I imagine that once wrapped, the brisket cook might need more charcoal. Should I light that on the side in a chimney or just throw it on cold as I think I need it?
Also wondering if there are any here with experience augmenting the wrap with some beef tallow? Youtube tells me it may be one of Franklin's secrets.
Mostly planning on keeping it simple and learning but can't help reach out for the expert opinions here.
First time cooking brisket here and using a Weber Bullet with charcoal. I've never fussed too much with temps but mine seems consistent(ish). One load of charcoal and modified Minion always has plenty of heat for large pork shoulders. But I imagine that once wrapped, the brisket cook might need more charcoal. Should I light that on the side in a chimney or just throw it on cold as I think I need it?
Also wondering if there are any here with experience augmenting the wrap with some beef tallow? Youtube tells me it may be one of Franklin's secrets.
Mostly planning on keeping it simple and learning but can't help reach out for the expert opinions here.
Brony
Footballguy
It's not that I'm naive to other methods. I can get some charcoal coals to light no problem. It's just been highly variable on the amount of time needed to get enough lit where I can close the lid and maintain temp. The chimney solves this for me and costs like 40 cents to use a starter cube.Godsbrother said:
Ron Swanson
Footballguy
Awesome. Glad to hear it. I can't really help with the Weber bullet or charcoal used that way. Never done it.Ron Popeil said:
But, I can promise you the beef tallow thing is totally unnecessary YouTube hype at best. Aaron has experimented with just about every way on earth to cook a brisket and I'm sure he has experimented with tallow at one point. But it is not part of his standard process. And it is totally unnecessary, especially with Prime beef. Save that tallow for making the best french fries you've had since Mickey D's went veg.
Godsbrother
Footballguy
Faire enough. I do suggest you give the bacon grease/paper towel a try with the chimney. Why pay 40 cents for a cube when you can do the same thing for pretty much nothing?
Godsbrother
Footballguy
In bacon grease? No way. The only oils for popcorn are coconut or peanut. And flavocol -- you must use flavcol.
heckmanm
Footballguy
Godsbrother
Footballguy
Sorry, I am a bit of a popcorn snob. I am sure it tastes good but I like mine to taste like popcornI guess. I mean, if you don't like popcorn that tastes like bacon.
E-Z Glider
Footballguy
I think the better question is "why burn perfectly good bacon grease and paper towels when you can pay 40 cents for a cube"?
Godsbrother
Footballguy
Fair enough. I guess I don't put the same value on bacon grease as you. I typically throw it away so this is a good way for me to put it to productive use.
In The Zone
Footballguy
strykerpks
Footballguy
tldr; Moron asks for help
So....we won a Vision HD1 Series Kamado grill this past weekend from a raffle. It's apparently a cheaper cousin to the BGE but boasts some positives over that brand #marketing. You guys might already know about these . Whatevs, it was free so I'm gonna (try to) use it. I already have some lump charcoal coming.
I can do general grilling on my standard charcoal Weber (burgers, brats, a venison tenderloin, steak, chicken, etc) with relative success. But only twice have I tried "smoking" ribs, indirect with some wood chips (modified 3-2-1). Turned out ok. Good but not great. I've never tried anything else that this thing can do....can't wait for pizza but that's going to be like eleventy weeks down the road.
The little reading I've done over the past few days has been overwhelming. I hope I don't spam the thread but I'm going to have a ton of questions. I apologize in advance if these are easy or answered on every page but 153 of them is a little daunting to go through when half the terms I have to look up lol.
I guess my first one is seasoning. I've read the ceramic needs to be seasoned, much like a cast iron skillet. One site suggested just lighting it up and throwing some bacon on and letting it spray and then coating it with oil. I'm guessing they didn't mean Oscar Mayer thin sliced stuff, or did they? Or were they talking about getting a chunk? What kind of oil? Vegetable? Crisco? Grapeseed? What temp?
I realize learning temperature control is the next step. I just don't want to ruin this thing so I'm starting here. Sorry for being the n00b but how far should I go with the "seasoning" of it?. I can't do a ton in the coming weeks because my kids are starting baseball and whatnot so I may have a free few hours here and there to start that part. Just trying to :sehorn: for future reference.
PS I did see the links on page one. I'll get back to those. I'm literally blind here at this moment as to where I should begin. TIA
So....we won a Vision HD1 Series Kamado grill this past weekend from a raffle. It's apparently a cheaper cousin to the BGE but boasts some positives over that brand #marketing. You guys might already know about these
. Whatevs, it was free so I'm gonna (try to) use it. I already have some lump charcoal coming. I can do general grilling on my standard charcoal Weber (burgers, brats, a venison tenderloin, steak, chicken, etc) with relative success. But only twice have I tried "smoking" ribs, indirect with some wood chips (modified 3-2-1). Turned out ok. Good but not great. I've never tried anything else that this thing can do....can't wait for pizza but that's going to be like eleventy weeks down the road.
The little reading I've done over the past few days has been overwhelming. I hope I don't spam the thread but I'm going to have a ton of questions. I apologize in advance if these are easy or answered on every page but 153 of them is a little daunting to go through when half the terms I have to look up lol.
I guess my first one is seasoning. I've read the ceramic needs to be seasoned, much like a cast iron skillet. One site suggested just lighting it up and throwing some bacon on and letting it spray and then coating it with oil. I'm guessing they didn't mean Oscar Mayer thin sliced stuff, or did they? Or were they talking about getting a chunk? What kind of oil? Vegetable? Crisco? Grapeseed? What temp?
I realize learning temperature control is the next step. I just don't want to ruin this thing so I'm starting here. Sorry for being the n00b but how far should I go with the "seasoning" of it?. I can't do a ton in the coming weeks because my kids are starting baseball and whatnot so I may have a free few hours here and there to start that part. Just trying to :sehorn: for future reference.
PS I did see the links on page one. I'll get back to those. I'm literally blind here at this moment as to where I should begin. TIA
2Young2BBald
Footbaldguy
Meeting some friends at their place for drinks tomorrow night and want to bring a few smoked appetizers. I've landed on doing the bacon wrapped pickles, but want to do some form of smoked cheese dip in a small cast iron skillet. Lots of queso and beer cheese with pretzel dips out there; but I'd like something a little different. I quick searched the thread and didn't see anything similar. n Anyone have a "different" type smoked cheese dip idea?
Ron Swanson
Footballguy
Not sure about the detail of seasoning since I've never owned a ceramic Kamado. With all of my other smokers I've just fired them up.and got to cookin'. I usually do a pork butt as the first cook. It gives me a good chance to play with the temp control, pork butt puts off lots of grease so probably handles the seasoning aspect, and pork butt is probably the easiest thing to smoke.tldr; Moron asks for help
So....we won a Vision HD1 Series Kamado grill this past weekend from a raffle. It's apparently a cheaper cousin to the BGE but boasts some positives over that brand #marketing. You guys might already know about these
I can do general grilling on my standard charcoal Weber (burgers, brats, a venison tenderloin, steak, chicken, etc) with relative success. But only twice have I tried "smoking" ribs, indirect with some wood chips (modified 3-2-1). Turned out ok. Good but not great. I've never tried anything else that this thing can do....can't wait for pizza but that's going to be like eleventy weeks down the road.
The little reading I've done over the past few days has been overwhelming. I hope I don't spam the thread but I'm going to have a ton of questions. I apologize in advance if these are easy or answered on every page but 153 of them is a little daunting to go through when half the terms I have to look up lol.
I guess my first one is seasoning. I've read the ceramic needs to be seasoned, much like a cast iron skillet. One site suggested just lighting it up and throwing some bacon on and letting it spray and then coating it with oil. I'm guessing they didn't mean Oscar Mayer thin sliced stuff, or did they? Or were they talking about getting a chunk? What kind of oil? Vegetable? Crisco? Grapeseed? What temp?
I realize learning temperature control is the next step. I just don't want to ruin this thing so I'm starting here. Sorry for being the n00b but how far should I go with the "seasoning" of it?. I can't do a ton in the coming weeks because my kids are starting baseball and whatnot so I may have a free few hours here and there to start that part. Just trying to :sehorn: for future reference.
PS I did see the links on page one. I'll get back to those. I'm literally blind here at this moment as to where I should begin. TIA
One tip with a kamado and slow smoking, start the fire small and keep the vents just cracked to start and see where the temp goes to. It doesn't take much fuel or fire to get them very hot and they're so well insulated that it takes a long time for the temp to come back down and there's not much you can do about it. So start small. Smaller than you're even thinking. You can always raise the temperature.
Second cook should be a hot and fast spatchcocked chicken. If you've never cooked a chicken this way before you will be very pleased with the results.
sho nuff
Footballguy
I second this...pretty much all of it.
And I don't think you really need to season it either. I got a Kamado Joe last year around Father's day. Love that grill and use it often.
Once you get used to getting the temps right...I also suggest looking into a temp control unit. Sure, these things do well at holding temps...but my BBQ Guru will do it much easier for me...can basically set it like a pellet grill and let technology do the work. Especially helpful for long cooks and if I need to cook overnight.
Ron Popeil
Footballguy
fire it up once without food for burning off any manufacturing/warehouse/packaging schmutz. Get it hot, see how it works. It's for peace of mind as much as anything else. Adding bacon on the grate won't do much for the ceramic. Spraying oil on the ceramic won't hurt but also won't help. Treat the grate like you have for other grills, even if that's "I never do anything but cook on it."
Cowboysfan8
Footballguy
Any recommendations for a pizza stone for use on a pellet grill ?
The Gator
Footballguy
That’s the grill I have and is pretty awesome. You should enjoy it.strykerpks said:tldr; Moron asks for help
So....we won a Vision HD1 Series Kamado grill this past weekend from a raffle. It's apparently a cheaper cousin to the BGE but boasts some positives over that brand #marketing. You guys might already know about these
I can do general grilling on my standard charcoal Weber (burgers, brats, a venison tenderloin, steak, chicken, etc) with relative success. But only twice have I tried "smoking" ribs, indirect with some wood chips (modified 3-2-1). Turned out ok. Good but not great. I've never tried anything else that this thing can do....can't wait for pizza but that's going to be like eleventy weeks down the road.
The little reading I've done over the past few days has been overwhelming. I hope I don't spam the thread but I'm going to have a ton of questions. I apologize in advance if these are easy or answered on every page but 153 of them is a little daunting to go through when half the terms I have to look up lol.
I guess my first one is seasoning. I've read the ceramic needs to be seasoned, much like a cast iron skillet. One site suggested just lighting it up and throwing some bacon on and letting it spray and then coating it with oil. I'm guessing they didn't mean Oscar Mayer thin sliced stuff, or did they? Or were they talking about getting a chunk? What kind of oil? Vegetable? Crisco? Grapeseed? What temp?
I realize learning temperature control is the next step. I just don't want to ruin this thing so I'm starting here. Sorry for being the n00b but how far should I go with the "seasoning" of it?. I can't do a ton in the coming weeks because my kids are starting baseball and whatnot so I may have a free few hours here and there to start that part. Just trying to :sehorn: for future reference.
PS I did see the links on page one. I'll get back to those. I'm literally blind here at this moment as to where I should begin. TIA
heckman is correct in that it’s easier to raise temp. They hold temp very well and it’s a pain to get back down. But once you figure yours out it’s easy to repeat the amounts and get a nice even temp.
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CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
or use to hold your hair in place, give it that natural sheen, and draw all the ladies 'round?heckmanm said:
CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
I wouldn't worry about seasoning. I never heard of that, and didn't do it when I got mine many years ago. I would say one of the first things to do is to throw the dial thermometer in the trash and get a decent digital thermometer to use while you figure out how to steer that thing. In our neck of the woods, Discount Liquor on Oklahoma has good prices on the 40 lb bags of Cowboy lump and you can get Royal Oak lump charcoal at Menards.strykerpks said:tldr; Moron asks for help
So....we won a Vision HD1 Series Kamado grill this past weekend from a raffle. It's apparently a cheaper cousin to the BGE but boasts some positives over that brand #marketing. You guys might already know about these
I can do general grilling on my standard charcoal Weber (burgers, brats, a venison tenderloin, steak, chicken, etc) with relative success. But only twice have I tried "smoking" ribs, indirect with some wood chips (modified 3-2-1). Turned out ok. Good but not great. I've never tried anything else that this thing can do....can't wait for pizza but that's going to be like eleventy weeks down the road.
The little reading I've done over the past few days has been overwhelming. I hope I don't spam the thread but I'm going to have a ton of questions. I apologize in advance if these are easy or answered on every page but 153 of them is a little daunting to go through when half the terms I have to look up lol.
I guess my first one is seasoning. I've read the ceramic needs to be seasoned, much like a cast iron skillet. One site suggested just lighting it up and throwing some bacon on and letting it spray and then coating it with oil. I'm guessing they didn't mean Oscar Mayer thin sliced stuff, or did they? Or were they talking about getting a chunk? What kind of oil? Vegetable? Crisco? Grapeseed? What temp?
I realize learning temperature control is the next step. I just don't want to ruin this thing so I'm starting here. Sorry for being the n00b but how far should I go with the "seasoning" of it?. I can't do a ton in the coming weeks because my kids are starting baseball and whatnot so I may have a free few hours here and there to start that part. Just trying to :sehorn: for future reference.
PS I did see the links on page one. I'll get back to those. I'm literally blind here at this moment as to where I should begin. TIA
Ron Swanson
Footballguy
Bacon Day! Been curing for almost a week. The cook chart is the perfect example of how perfect a pellet smoker with good PID control is for a cook like this. Keep in mind, this is cured meat. I wouldn't smoke at this low temp for uncured meat. 5 hours 35 minutes hovering around 200F to bring the bacon to 150F. Plunge cool, vacuum seal, and into the deep freeze.
Start
Finish
Packaged 1/2 Slab
Fireboard Cook Chart
Start
Finish
Packaged 1/2 Slab
Fireboard Cook Chart
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kaso
Footballguy
Quick Kamado update. Have done 4 quick cooks: pizza, burgers, pork chops and chicken breast. Tomorrow is the first long cook, going with a family favorite of pulled pork.
I'm quite surprised with the flavor differences (all improvements) over the pellet grill, even when using a smoke tube. Just doesn't compare. And light years difference over cooking on propane. I think I'm slowly becoming a charcoal fan...
I'm quite surprised with the flavor differences (all improvements) over the pellet grill, even when using a smoke tube. Just doesn't compare. And light years difference over cooking on propane. I think I'm slowly becoming a charcoal fan...
WDIK2
Footballguy
I went the other direction from exclusively cooking/smoking on charcoal to getting a pellet grill for the convenience. I don't think I will ever completely get away from charcoal, but I am currently trying some charcoal blend pellets in my pellet smoker.
heckmanm
Footballguy
Cowboysfan8
Footballguy
WDIK2
Footballguy
Will do. I did a chuck roast with a mix of Pit Boss charcoal pellets and Kingsford Hardwood blend. It was OK, but not "OMG! charcoal flavor." A local store has Lumberjack Char-Hickory in stock I'm hearing good things about.
Ron Swanson
Footballguy
The charcoal flavor vs. wood smoke flavor thing is interesting to me. There are certainly people who like charcoal flavor and people who don't.
Ron Swanson
Footballguy
Many times. It works just as well as wood chunks on any other method. You can make decent BBQ that way.
In The Zone
Footballguy
I usually toss in a 3 or 4 chunks of Hickory or Oak when cooking steaks on my Weber Kettle. Sometimes for burgers as well. For me it just adds a little bit of extra flavor. Wife loves it like that.
Ron Swanson
Footballguy
Probably more tri tip, hamburgers, chicken, steak. I am prepared to spend up to $1k for a nice grill
Ron Swanson
Footballguy
So more hot and fast. I would recommend getting the natural gas line extended outside and get a good natural gas so you don't have to screw with tanks. Weber would be my top choice, with Napoleon as second just for the infrared sear capability.
A simple lump charcoal grill (the PK is nice if it's big enough) would be my second choice for that cooking style just because it can truly produce enough heat to sear quickly if you're willing to deal with charcoal. Some might argue for a pellet grill out of convenience and I wouldn't argue against that too strongly if it's one that can at least get up to the 700 degree range minimum.
A simple lump charcoal grill (the PK is nice if it's big enough) would be my second choice for that cooking style just because it can truly produce enough heat to sear quickly if you're willing to deal with charcoal. Some might argue for a pellet grill out of convenience and I wouldn't argue against that too strongly if it's one that can at least get up to the 700 degree range minimum.
Cowboysfan8
Footballguy
I think this is the 2nd time I’ve read in here of smoking a chuck roast. I’m interested.
Are you guys smoking them to slice or pull?
I sliced mine and made sandwiches with provolone and fried onions. I may have to do that this weekend.
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Ron Swanson
Footballguy
sho nuff
Footballguy
Ok, take this with a grain of salt....as I have not used mine for Pizza on the grill just yet (and it will be for Kamado, not Pellet)...but I went with Steel vs. Stone.
Found it online...1/4"-3/8" seasoned steel plate. After a lot of research (seriously, I typically overthink about everything I buy)...came to the conclusion I would like the steel better. Gets super hot, can use for multiple applications (Pizza, smash burgers, seafood, eggs, pancakes...) And it reviewed well vs. stone.
Im pretty sure this is what I have...
They have 1/2" and 1/4" as well...the downside...the weight.
Ordered it as the "Baking Steel" was not out for the round the size I wanted for the Kamado. There are a bunch out there for a rectangular shape that wouldn't work for me.
https://slice.seriouseats.com/2012/09/the-pizza-lab-the-baking-steel-delivers.html
sho nuff
Footballguy
Royal Oak has worked well for me...IMO, Cowboy is crap. Have had it twice and both were the same...some ok chunks but so many small pebbles...
B&B was also very good for me (found it at Academy)
sho nuff
Footballguy
I only use my propane if its just me throwing a chicken breast on or a quick small tuna or salmon filet.
Otherwise...its all the Kamado.
Even considering one of the small ones like a KJ Jr. To build into the same table as the regular. Then I think I would get rid of the propane anyway. Also would be nice to have for reverse searing steaks. Cook them slower to just under rare on the KJ...have the JR piping hot for the quick sear (rather than pulling the steaks from the KJ to then open the vents and get it up to searing temp).
sho nuff
Footballguy
Regular charcoal grill? Yeah...used to smoke things all the time in my Weber Kettle. Worked well...just a pain to constantly check and add coals to keep the temps up.
I always use chunks then and now in the Kamado. If I used chips...always wrapped them in foil to keep them from just burning up too fast.
E-Z Glider
Footballguy
Made some jerky yesterday. If this stuff wasn't such a PITA, Id make a ton of it and be rich. Rich I tell ya!
Ready for smoker - I think Ive maxed out capacity
Finished jerky
Ready for smoker - I think Ive maxed out capacity
Finished jerky
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