I just picked up a used PBC from a buddy. I am super excited to use it. I would love any suggestions that you all have in regards to tips and tricks to getting it to work well.
Do I do some test burns on it before throwing some consumables on it? Or do I just take a run at it and hope for the best?
It is the PBC with all the original accessories minus the rubs. Anything that are mush have items/accessories.
Scotch: Current favorite- The Arran (anything by them), Glenmorangie 12yr Lasanta, sherry cask finished. The Balvenie Double Wood, also like Oban 18yr, and The Glenlivet Nadurra (Oloroso sherry cask finished) among others. Neat please.
About meReal name: Aaron
Location: Farwell, Michigan - near Clare (dead center of lower peninsula).
Occupation:
Healthcare- Licensed & Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) at MyMichigan Health, a University of Michigan Health System.
The answer to your question is; what's your tolerance for risk? You've entered a world where there is a mountain of experienced advice for PBC use. fzxdoc has devoted a considerable amount of bandwidth to sharing her valuable experience fine tuning operating one of these. Search out her posts and you'll see she both earned her Doctorate in Physics as well as PBC.
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
If the insides look good, as in no mold, then fire the PBC up and hang a chicken in there. You'll have a delicious dinner in no time. I have one of the original PBCs, purchased 8 years ago, and it gets pretty heavy use. It's still going strong.
Look at the sticky posts on the PBC topic to get you started, or go to the Pit Barrel Cooker website and fire the smoker up using their method. Either way will give you a good place to start your PBC cooking adventures.
As far as must-have additional accessories, some people like using the ash-catcher for easier cleanup. I like hanging sausages from a sausage hanger, and I use a split grate to hang ribs and put the side dish on the grate half, for example. You might want to get a cover for it. Really, though, as long as you have a few hooks (and a good remote thermometer), you'll be good to go.
Let us know how your cook turns out. There a tons of us PBC users here who are happy to help.
I got my PBC 2nd hand as well.
it came with almost every accessory.
the only one I really use is the ash catcher. Makes clean up a bit easier but is by no means a necessity.
I say just go for it. You'll get the hang of it pretty easy. Read some of the posts in the PBC section, grab yourself some ribs or chicken, and get cooking.
Enjoy
Kamado Joe Big Joe III
Pit Barrel Cooker
Camp Chef Flat Top 900
Weber Performer 22
PowerFlamer Propane 160
Meater +
Thermoworks Smoke
Thermoworks Thermapen
Temp Spike
Not sure if it came with the short stack charcoal chimney but I'd say that is a must-have. Congrats on the PBC, you are going to love it, and don't feel guilty when you realize how easy it is to make great food with it.
New (Older) PBC
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