Second cook with PBC

[Beefchop]

Congratulations!

For what it's worth, I never had to modify my PBC at all. Just used it the way Noah instructs in his videos and have never had a bad batch of BBQ.

I use the charcoal chimney vs. the lighter fluid method.

[smarkley]

Your designation is 1 of 46, Primary Adjunct of Unimatrix 8

[smarkley]

Woots! You have been assimilated... stay tuned for your designation!

[HC in SC]

I have been lusting after a Backwoods Chubby for awhile, but the price ($1000) is a bit steep -- not saying I don't believe you get what you pay for in most cases.

The price on the PBC makes it very attractive and I am all about the KISS principle - the unit looks pretty simple to use, but after reading many other posts here, I was also somewhat intimadted by all of the 'techniquing' tips and advice for using the PBC.

After reading what you guys have posted about the ease of use of the PBC on this thread I think I will pull the trigger on one and give it a shot.

At least I know the company has good support, there are lots of videos on its use and there is great support here by PBC users!

Best of all - no modifications like I had to do on my CVS Brinkmann 2 door.

Also is made in USA! Sounds like a win, win, win to me!

UPDATE: PBC to be delivered on 11/28 - will have all of next weekend to break it in!

[droszel]

Drozel, I have a Summit and a PBC and think I have the best of both worlds. The Summit is a great grill but a (relatively) poor smoker unless you fix it up like Meathead tells you to do. Even then it has a ton of openings for the smoke to leak out of. However, the temperature stays rock solid where you want it to. It's great for grilling and for lightly smoking meats or fish. But for that amazing smoke flavor, you need a PBC as well.

The PBC is a sweet piece of equipment. Everything on it is easy. Just start by following Noah's videos on the Pit Barrel Cooker site. Then after a while if you want to get fancy, look at some of the tips/tricks here in this PBC forum and on the general forum outside of the Pit. Every little bit of information is helpful, but don't overthink it. Every single thing I made on that PBC has tasted great!

Just get a PBC, fire it up, and have a good time!

Kathryn

Thanks, Kathryn. I've found some of your other posts on the PBC which have been very helpful.

[The Burn]

Droszel - to echo everyone else and expand, there's a lot of information about techniques for a variety of equipment on here. There are a lot of us into tweaking and searching for the often elusive perfect cook. And some of us who are into a very hands on approach to cooking and fire management. On the other hand, with a little knowledge it's not hard to put out good grilled or smoked food. I don't have a PBC, but the comments I read suggest that it can be a "set it and forget it" unit and you wouldn't go wrong in getting one. Heck, I've got a Weber kettle that I grill and smoke with, and a gas smoker, and even I think about a PBC from time to time.

[fzxdoc]

Drozel, I have a Summit and a PBC and think I have the best of both worlds. The Summit is a great grill but a (relatively) poor smoker unless you fix it up like Meathead tells you to do. Even then it has a ton of openings for the smoke to leak out of. However, the temperature stays rock solid where you want it to. It's great for grilling and for lightly smoking meats or fish. But for that amazing smoke flavor, you need a PBC as well.

The PBC is a sweet piece of equipment. Everything on it is easy. Just start by following Noah's videos on the Pit Barrel Cooker site. Then after a while if you want to get fancy, look at some of the tips/tricks here in this PBC forum and on the general forum outside of the Pit. Every little bit of information is helpful, but don't overthink it. Every single thing I made on that PBC has tasted great!

Just get a PBC, fire it up, and have a good time!

Kathryn

[Clarkgriswald]

Droszel. Take it from me. I am as green as grass on any charcoal grill and the PBC is pretty easy to use. I have used it three times and everything has turned out good.

[Ernest]

Droszel, the PBC is the easiest cooker/smoker and sometimes grill on the market. Get it, get a weber compact chimney and you're on your way to great Q.

[Ernest]

I used Briquettes first few cooks then I decided to rebel.
Now I used ozark oak lump charcoal 99.9 percent of my PBC cooks.
Started using it in my WSMs as well.

As for temp, 325 is great for birds. Duck, turkey, chicken.
My chicken is done in an hour and 15 minutes like clockwork.

[mtford72]

3DJ - I wrote up my turkey on the PBC below. It has temperature graphs for the PBC. The experience with the PBC seems to be consistent with everyone. Get the temp high at the start of the cook (360+) by cracking the lid if necessary. It falls back to a good cooking temp. I strongly recommend the spatchcocking approach - especially for bigger birds. Much faster cook time, more even application of heat. You might try ramping the temp up right at the end for a crispier skin - but as you can see from the pics, it's probably not necessary.

http://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/forum/grills-and-smokers/charcoal/pit-barrel-cooker/29222-spatchcock-turkey-on-pbc-pics-and-graphs

[3DJ]

Droszel, as W.A. Put it, it is nitpicking, the PBC is by far the easiest thing to use. In fact, all the nit picking I think is to see who can find a weakness in it lol. None so far!

[bep35]

Droszel. The Summit and PBC are two different animals. The Summit is a grill and the PBC is a smoker/cooker. You need to know what you want to cook and how you want to cook it. If you are looking to cook steaks, chops, etc. then look for a grill. If you are looking to smoke ribs, chicken, butts, etc. then look for a smoker/cooker. If you want to do both then possibly look for a pellet smoker/grill. Meathead does a great job explaining all this so you can make an informed purchase.

[W.A.]

Droszel - A lot of the stuff you mentioned is just nitpicking, i.e., trying to obtain more perfect Q. Just about everything comes out great in the PBC - even with lighter fluid.

[Huskee]

Droszel, it is understandable you may feel intimidated at the wealth of information and techniques available regarding the PBC. Try not to let that intimidate you though. View it as a troubleshooting manual that's there IN CASE you need to help. Never has anyone who uses a PBC had a negative thing to say about it.