PBC cooking time on a single load of charcoal

[jfmorris]

I'm still "window shopping" for a way to fulfill my MCS in 2018, probably towards summer and increased entertaining opportunities with lots of people over. I've been looking at pellet smokers, and the PBC. After reading a few stories about people getting their new PBC or PBJ for Christmas, I was reviewing the recipe videos for the PBC. It sure looks like you can cook just about anything on a single load of charcoal, as it appears to cook even things like a 16 pound brisket in 7-8 hours total, based on their published recipes. I guess this is a factor of smoking at a higher temperature than 225.

I was just wondering whether this is the experience of most of the PBC users on here. If it truly is "set it and forget it" and can cook even the largest items like a brisket or Boston butt on a single load of fuel - something I cannot do on either my Weber Kettle with SnS or my offset smoker - then I am starting to think a PBC would fulfill my needs in a much cheaper fashion than a pellet smoker would.

Can anyone comment on this?

Thanks!

Jim

[jfmorris]

Just realized there was a PBC subforum. Can a moderator move this question/thread there? Thanks!

[smokenoob]

I don’t know anything about pbc, but costwise, I got my camp chef smoke pro delux on sale for $350 which I think is pretty close to pbc cost.

[RobertC]

If you re-post this over on the PBC forum you'll certainly get more responses there (including mine).

[cgrover60]

My experience is 6 - 7 hours tops on one load of charcoal and as long as you know that longer cooks will need to be replenished, it's all good. What the PBC won't do is "extended" cooks at 225 - 250 degrees as it really needs to run in the 270 - 290 range to keep burning.

[gabulldog]

I did a 16 lb whole packer last week with a full load of charcoal. Maintained around 275 for about 8-9 hours before it petered out. I can get the color I want by then, wrap it and finish it in the oven. I figure that's the longest I'll need it to cook for...

[phoccer]

If you happen to be able to get a hold of B&B charcoal, I believe I've seen Jerod Broussard mention getting close to 10 hours out of a load in a PBC. I know you can get a lot longer cook on the kettle and SnS using B&B as well. That's assuming you want to cook longer.

I just looked through some of my cook logs on the PBC. In April in 42 degree no wind weather I cooked at 15lb(untrimmed) brisket in just over 5 hours.This was my first cook on the PBC so it ran a little hot. It ran between 310 and 350 the first 2 hours then settled into the 290 range the last 3+ hours.
In October on a 33 degree light wind day I had a 13.5 brisket on the PBC from 09:30 to 16:30. Took the brisket off at an IT of 187 and finished wrapped in the oven at 17:15. I had my IQ 110 hooked up and set at 300. PBC ran in the 290 to 300 range the entire time.

I use Kingsford Pro which runs hotter and burns faster so regular Kingsford may last a bit longer and I know B&B lasts longer if you can find it.

[jfmorris]

JeffJ, I have a couple of bags of Weber, have not tried them yet.

[phoccer]

Good to know JeffJ as finding Weber briquettes is FAR easier and I'm seeing them at my local Lowe's for $12 for a 20lb bag now. They list that as their new lower price and not a sale too.

[jfmorris]

There is a thread on the Weber charcoal that is worth a read. Some like it, some say it has an "off" taste. All seem to agree that it starts slower, but burns longer. I bought two bags when I saw it for $12 at my local Lowe's recently, and will try it soon on the kettle or in the offset firebox.