fzxdoc I just wanted to give you a HUUUGE thank you for your effort and contributions! I recently purchased a PBC after much research (primarily your write ups). I started off with pellet grills for ease and the "set and forget" aspects. After learning so much from this site I wanted to expand. Because of you I took the plunge on a PBC and did my first cook of sausage and chicken this past weekend. I followed your recommendations and words just can't describe how good the results were. Once again, thank you thank you thank you!
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Whoop, there it it! Whoop there it is. I vote we keep her around, all in favor say Aye! Pit people Rock! -
I think she’s secretly on PBC’s payroll. 🙄Comment
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Kathryn is the PBC whisperer!!Comment
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Awesome! When it comes to the PBC, I would say the Doc has helped us all out a time or two!
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So Rod, I am curious to have your thoughts after a bit, owning both a pellet and the PBC, which one you like/use the most. I've got neither, and smoke on either a Weber kettle + SnS, or an offset. My MCS has me really itching to get either a PBC or a pellet smoker... to be honest PBC is more likely in this year's budget.Comment
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A physics professor and a 3,000,000,236,089 (and counting) page PBC Word document can't be wrong.Comment
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Well, goodness, Rod, you're very welcome! I'm just happy I could help. This mutual learning thing that goes on 24/7 all across The Pit is a wonderful thing, and I've received much more than I've given, for sure. It's great to hear that your chicken-and-sausage cook turned out so well.
Thanks to those of you who voted to keep me around.
Kathryn
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Aye, aye! Most helpful indeed. fzxdoc 's insights (and a few others - you know who you are) have definitely flattened out my PBC learning curve. THANK YOU.Comment
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jfmorris jfmorris Well I've only done 2 cooks on the PBC. However, in just those 2 cooks I think I'm pretty much hooked. While I was cooking on it I was also doing a butt on the Rec Tec. So I know I'll use both plenty. Right now I'll probably continue to use the pellet grill for long cooks and the PBC for shorter cooks. I wanted something that would produce a lot of smoke at higher temps so I could come home after work and cook. With the pellet grill you don't get a lot of smoke at higher temps. I'd even use a couple smoke tubes and not really notice a difference in terms of flavor. To me, it just seems the nature of pellets don't produce a heavy smoke profile. Now I will say things taste much smokier when I eat leftovers. I think there is some truth to the fact that your taste buds get temporarily desensitized when you're around a lot of smoke. I didn't taste a ton of smoke from the PBC food I cooked, but I was also inundated with a lot of smoke as I was beginning to acclimate myself to this beauty.
A good pellet grill is truly a "set and forget" cooker and makes fantastic food. It's a spacious outdoor oven and with Wi Fi capabilities ever advancing, you don't have to be tied down all day on a Saturday. I talked to the owner of Rec Tec and they'll be coming out with some technology this year that I can't wait for. He asked me not to post any details, but it's gonna be killer. I also think pellet grills are less affected by wind.
However, there aren't a whole lot of smells more pleasing than charcoal! So far, I have found like so many others that the PBC is as close to set it and forget as you can get with a charcoal grill. I'll definitely attempt a longer cook with it. I'm still toying with things like how to set up my probes, the best way to load and unload food etc. For me right now it's still a little awkward hanging food as opposed to just it slapping right on a grate. I can't wait to try kabobs!
I'm also (as I've gotten more experienced) not putting as much emphasis on cooker temps. I'm kind of a perfectionist which is a hard way to live life! So if Meathead says 225, that's what I would do to a tee. Easy for a good pellet grill. So fortunately I started off with a pellet grill. If I would have started with a PBC I probably would have given up and not be on this forum today.
So at the end of the day I would highly recommend a PBC. You seem to have enough experience with charcoal that it would be a breeze for you to master. And if the budget is tight, for $300 you are virtually guaranteed of no regrets.Last edited by Rod; January 15, 2018, 02:48 PM.Comment
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Rod, Thanks for that summary of the two smoking experiences. Eventually I am sure I will end up with both a pellet and the PBC. Not that I really *need* either, but I keep telling myself I need them! Haha. Maybe PBC this year, pellet the next. Time will tell! -
Well as you know I rigged my PBC with a fireboard and fan and it will run overnight without a reload. Almost as convienient as a pellet and if the fan ever fails I just open the lower vent and keep going.
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I use Kathryn's lighting technique. It works very well.Comment
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Rod how do you like using the PBC hanging baskets? I ordered about $150 of accessories, but I held off on the baskets for the time being .Comment
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