there is going to be a local amateur bbq team putting on a 4 hr. class on brisket, and some type of pork.
the cost is 60$ and I'm wondering if that seems to high. I have never been to any type of class and would like to go but not sure if it would be worth it or not....
???
Do they have any youtube videos? I'd hate to pay good money to attend a class where they teach myths and bad info. A few videos would give you an idea whether or not they know what they are doing.
That’s $15 per hour which isn’t bad, but as JCGrill wonders, "are they any good?" Depending on how many people are in the class you can gain a lot if there’s time to ask questions. Chances are the presentions are basic, but seeing things done in person can be helpful. It helped me to see a demonstration of separating a point from a flat and seein a live reverse dear.
Hi, my name is Darrell. I'm an OTR truck driver for over 25 years. During my off time I love doing backyard cooks. I have a 48" Lang Deluxe smoker, Rec-Tec pellet smoker,1 Weber Genesis 330, 1 Weber Performer (blue), 2 Weber kettles (1 black and 1 Copper), 1 26" Weber kettle, a WSM, 8 Maverick Redi Chek thermometers, a PartyQ, 2 SnS, Grill Grates, Cast Iron grates, 1 ThermoPop (orange) and 2 ThermoPens (pink and orange) and planning on adding more cooking accessories. Now I have an Anova sous vide, the Dragon blower and 2 Chef alarms from Thermoworks.
I'd say save your money and just hit this group up for info. 4 years ago I would never have tried a brisket, but thanks to this site and this group of great people I can say that I can now turn out a pretty respectable just-about-anything grill-related. However, networking with like-minded folks can be a blessing as well.
Troutman is right save your $ most of what you need to know can be found out on this site or if you don't see it ask. So much stuff is available on the internet that unless you really need someone to give you hands on help you shouldn't need to go to a class.
My toys:
Weber Summit Charcoal Grilling Center (WSCGC) aka Mr. Fancypants
Pit Barrel Cooker (which rocks), named Pretty Baby
Weber Summit S650 Gas Grill, named Hot 'n Fast (used mostly for searing and griddling)
Weber Kettle Premium 22" named Kettle Kid, eager to horn in with more cooks in the future
Camp Chef Somerset IV 4-burner outdoor gas range named AfterBurner due to its 30kBTU burners
Adrenaline BBQ Company Gear:
SnS Low Profile, DnG, and Large Charcoal Basket, for WSCGC
SnS Deluxe for 22" Kettle
Elevated SS Rack for WSCGC
SS Rack for DnG
Cast Iron Griddle
Grill Grate for SnS
Grill Grates: five 17.375 sections (retired to storage)
Grill Grates: six 19.25 panels for exact fit for Summit S650
gasser
Grill Grates for 22" Kettle
2 Grill Grate Griddles
Steelmade Griddle for Summit gas grill
Fireboard Gear:
Extreme BBQ Thermometer Package
Additional control unit
Additional probes: Competition Probes 1" (3) and 4" (1), 3 additional Ambient Probes. 1 additional Food Probe
2 Driver Cables
Pit Viper Fan (to pair with Fireboard Fan Driver Cable)
Pit Viper Fan new design (to pair with Fireboard Fan Driver Cable)
Thermoworks Gear:
Thermapen MK4 (pink)
Thermapen Classic (pink too)
Thermoworks MK4 orange
Temp Test 2 Smart Thermometer
Extra Big and Loud Timer
Timestick Trio
Maverick ET 73 a little workhorse with limited range
Maverick ET 733
Maverick (Ivation) ET 732
Grill Pinz
Vortex (two of them)
18" drip pan for WSCGC
Ceramic Spacers for WSCGC in Kamado Mode: 2 sets each 1/2", 1", 2". The 2" spacers work best with the 18" drip pan. The 1+1/2 inch spacers work best with the 14 inch cake pan.
Two Joule Sous Vide devices
3 Lipavi Sous Vide Tubs with Lids: 12, 18 and 26 quarts
Avid Armor Ultra Pro V32 Chamber Sealer
Instant Pot 6 Quart Electric Pressure Cooker
Instant Pot 10 Quart Electric Pressure Cooker
Charcoal Companion TurboQue
A-Maze-N tube 12 inch tube smoker accessory for use with pellets
BBQ Dragon and Dragon Chimney
Shun Classic Series:
8" Chef Knife
6" Chef's Knife
Gokujo Boning and Fillet Knife
3 1/2 inch Paring Knife
There's something to be said about the camaraderie found in a group of like-minded people enjoying the same hobby, whether online or IRL. For me, a balance of both is good.
I'd say if you can afford it and previous reviews of the classes are good, then go for it. From the experience, you might just make the acquaintance of one or two BBQ hobbyists among your classmates with whom you can share cooks and spin BBQ stories IRL. Might be fun. Plus you may learn a few new things from the class or at the very least find out how the instructors' techniques compare to Meathead's and fellow Pit Member's approaches.
marshall, Here In Fargo The NDSU Meat Lab, The Range Sience Dept, The Food and Nutrition Dept's and Carnivore Catering Put On a One Day "BBQ BOOT CAMP"â—ï¸ In The Past The Fee Has Been +- $35.00 Including a Lunch To Die Forâ€¼ï¸ I Believe I've Went 5 Times Now and Wouldn't Miss It‼ï¸
This Coming Weekend the MNBBQSOCIETY SPRING TRAINING SESSION Is Being Held at the "U of M Meat Lab" In St. Paulâ€¼ï¸ Based On The Recommendation Of Spinaker and Skip I Am Planning To Be Thereâ€¼ï¸ The Fee For This Session Is $175.00â—ï¸ Which Includes The Annual Fee For The MNBBQSOCIETY Membershipâ“ Not Cheap But Well Referencedâ€¼ï¸ Besides MN Want To Keep The Vikings and The Twinsâ“ Costs a Lot of Moneyâ“â“
Eat Well and Prosperâ—ï¸ From a Backyard Cremator in Fargo ND, Dan
You could probably learn the same amount or more in half the time of research on this forum, then go buy yourself a super sweet prime brisket, 6-pack of some brews, your smoking fuel, and be all the better for the knowledge and experience gained.
Kosmo's Q put together a GREAT video series for the 4 big meats...the benefit is you pay once price and can go back to the videos as many times as you'd like. Going to a class, you need to make sure you are keeping good notes for reference later. Kosmo's videos are very well done and he has WON (a lot)...these would be great for a backyard cook looking to step it up! The standard rate for a competition class right now is in the $750-$1500 range...just FYI.
I agree with most of what has already been said here. The basics are well covered here in great detail. I have learned a ton from this site and from watching Aaron Franklin's YouTube videos, and feel confident in my brisket game as a result. But there is also something to be gained from attending a class in person, assuming the instructors know what they are doing. If this is a brand new thing to you, it might very well be worth the cost, which really isn't that much. You didn't say whether you hope to get some competition tips or just improve your briskets that you cook at home, so keep that in mind, as far as expectations. Personally, I would spend that $60 on a packer and invite friends and neighbors to bring sides, but that's just me.
The problem with videos is that you can't taste the finished product.
EVERYTHING looks good on a computer screen. But you won't know if that brisket is better or worse than what you are already making unless you can taste it.
Unfortunately, you won't know if the $60 is well spent until you spend it. But, 4 hours? Nothing in BBQ is done in 4 hours. I would expect a full day, 6-6, to get my money's worth.
Steve R. , Will it be better than what you are already doing? Worse? Different? Will it be what you want? I know what you are saying, but the truth is, there are too many variables. Here is Jacques Pepin on recipes:
All I know is once I read Meathead's instructions, and then watched the Aaron Franklin videos and did what I saw him do, my briskets got a lot better in appearance, taste and tenderness than they had been previously. That method of learning will never be better than attending a hands-on class taught by a knowledgeable instructor. My concern would be just how knowledgeable these guys really are.
I'm going to vote save your money. I took a two day homebrew course once. It was a waste of money for me, most I already knew, the instructor tied too many on the first night so spent the second day praying to the porcelain god while his assistants tried to keep it together. The only redeeming part was it was some distance from my house and I rode a Harley at the time, it was a nice bike ride.
Experience is the best teacher. By reading some books and, now in this day and age, watching YouTube videos, a half way intelligent individual (your membership here already proves your qualifications) can self teach with practice. fzxdoc is correct about camaraderie, but you shouldn't have to pay for it. Even if it is just a friend and the blind leading the blind the experience is what is going to teach you.
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