Paella Experience and Open PBC Temperature Data

[cidbearit]

So I decided to try my PBC as a paella grill with mixed results, mostly on the poor side.

I set my PBC up just as I would for any cook, but added in the grate. I let the coals set for about 15 minutes with the lid on after pouring in the lit ones. With the rebars in, I took the lid off and set the paella pan on top of the bars. I also had my Maverick ET733 probes set inside the PBC, one on the grate, one across the rebars. For the rest of the cook, the lid was off and the pan was on top.

Immediately I noticed about a 40-50 degree difference between the grate temp and the rebar temp, with the grate being higher. The grate was running around 260-280, with the rebar running aroung 220-230. While that was hot enough to cook the chicken and chorizo, it wasn't hot enough for a true saute', so each stage took longer than they should have. The temps held in that range for about two to three hours (again, the whole process took longer than it should have).

At the three hour mark, right around the time I added the rice and liquid, the temperatures started to drop pretty quickly. From the three hour mark to the three and a half hour mark, the grate temp dropped steadily to around 230, and the rebar temp dropped into the 190's. Definitely not hot enough to bring the liquid to a boil. At that point I moved the pan to my gas grill and finished the paella off there.

The paella itself was delicious, but it took over three and a half hours to cook. For the future I will NOT cook a paella on the PBC again. Also, I found it interesting, and it makes sense, that the coals started to burn off and lose heat at about the three hour mark. With the lid off, that's a lot of oxygen feeding the coals. I've included some photos below.


Prepped for Paella


Chicken and Chorizo


Shrimp, Mussels and White Fish


Veggies


All Together with Rice and Broth


Finished Paella

[CeramicChef]

That certainly looks tasty for the cheap seats here in OKC!

[MBMorgan]

Great experiment! Thanks for documenting and posting! I'd say you took the PBC to its limit (or perhaps a bit beyond) with this one ...

[JPP]

Awesome!

[Spinaker]

Looks like you need more heat. I ran into the same problem the first time when I put my Wok on my Kamado. I didn't have enough BTU's to keep all the food up to stir fry temps. And the fire was much closer to the wok than would be the case with your set up. I think you should get a smaller pan, and set it on the grate to get the fire closer to the pan. cidbearit

[cidbearit]

Lack of heat was definitely the issue. From now on I'll stick to my gasser if I want to cook a paella. It was a cool experiment, and in the end the food was delicious. And hey...experimenting, tweaking, and learning is why we're all here.

[RonB]

I think putting the top on the pit would raise the temp very nicely, but then, I've never used a PBC nor have I cooked paella.

[MBMorgan]

Another way to try it, Would be to place a cinder-block, on end, in the PBC. Then place the basket on top of that. This raises your basket quite a bit and gets that heat right under the grate. This may help your cause. I did this a while back when I was searing a beef lion on the PBC. It worked great!!!

Just a cautionary note: Concrete has been known to violently explode when exposed to high heat ...

[CeramicChef]

+1^. Please don't use cinder blocks. Guest is absolutely correct. I've seen one explode and it's not pretty. The guy didn't get hurt but only because he wasn't leaning over the grill at the moment. Had he, it would have been a different outcome.

[Spinaker]

Wow, I had no idea.

[fzxdoc]

I agree with Spinaker. You need to have the coals closer to the pan. You could set the basket on the grate with the paella pan on the rebars.

I may be confused; but what was the purpose of the grate? In my experience, a grate often attenuates the heat.

In fact, you've given me an idea for reverse searing: put the basket on the grate and a grate on the rebars. Hmmm...I'm going to have to play with that and see if it works.

Oh and P.S. I've never made paella before, so if these questions sound stupid, they probably are.

Kathryn

[fzxdoc]

Oh, now I get it, @ciderbearit . Thanks for the additional information.

K

[bshu951]

fzxdoc any luck with trying that idea out? I am looking to do the same on mine for burgers, paella, pancakes etc

[fzxdoc]

I've never done it, bshu951 . Not long after this post I bought a Weber Summit Charcoal Grilling Center and do all my burger, etc. cooks on it. I just use the PBC for smoking now.

Kathryn

[fzxdoc]

For a great story about exploding concrete, read this post:

https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/forum/pitmaster-general-discussion/140692-i-m-an-idiot-again?p=140857#post140857

I try to be thoughtful and kind, but every time I read it, I laugh out loud. I figure it's my big brother channeling his humor through me.

Kathryn

[MBMorgan]

Paella ... hmmmmm ... something else to add to my fair-weather to-do list. I think I'll try it over the Genesis sear station rather than the PBC, though. Now to think about how to convince the DW that the new paella pan is just that old shallow wok that we've had for years ... ...

[Breadhead]

Funny but true Big Daddy Jay ...😆 Saying a $1000 shotgun only cost a couple hundred $$$, is just a play on words. She might feel ok getting a hundred dollars for it because it was an old used shotgun.😡

[MBMorgan]

I never lie about prices (DW is an accountant). I might have suggested that Sage fly rods only come in pairs or that there are at least 28 golf clubs in a set, though. I might have ...

[Spinaker]

Genius, Genius, Genius MBMorgan

[fzxdoc]

Hee, hee, hee, (stroking a cat and putting a little finger to my lips...) you husbands are powerless against the IFoW. You just think I've fallen into your trap. Thank heavens for my superpowers*!

*Thanks to Spanx. We know you guys will be Googling that term. Hahaha.

K.

[MBMorgan]

I shall have to speak to David Parrish about the need the change someone's screen name to DocEvil.

[David Parrish]

That's not a bad idea. Put it to vote!

[Breadhead]

How about @Queen of PBC's...🤔

[Big Daddy Jay]

Her Royal Highness