Finally got it! What to cook first?

[goosebr160]

Finally got my PBC! Unfortunately its looking like rain all weekend in MA, but I'm hoping to break it in Memorial Day weekend. Should I try cooking ribs or a Boston Butt first? I would love to cook both, but I'm thinking I should probably try one thing at a time to start until I get used to the process.

BTW, PBC customer service is awesome! I have a broken leg, and the box was too heavy for my wife to carry up my deck stairs. She had to unpack the box at the bottom of the stairs and bring each piece up to me. When I was getting it ready to assemble, I noticed a small dent and chip on the outside of the barrel where one of the grate holders is located. Now, after the whole painful process of unpacking the box, I didn't really want to pack everything up again to return it. It's an outdoor cooker, it's not going to be pristine forever. I emailed a picture to PBC to see what they recommend. Less than 5 minutes later, they called me and apologized. They said I could exchange it if I wanted to, or I could keep it and touch it up with rustoleum grill paint. I'm choosing to touch it up. For my inconvenience, they let me pick out an accessory free of charge. My set of skewers will be shipping out tomorrow!

[Frozen Smoke]

Very nice! Can never go wrong with ribs!

[grantgallagher]

yeah i would vote ribs too

[Troutman]

I like your gasser too, I’ve got the same one !!

[dshaffes]

Ribs are good, but a nice long smoke with a pork butt might season the cooker better.

[PBCDad]

I'll throw a curveball and say chicken. Much easier to do, much shorter, cheaper, and you will be amazed at how well it comes out. No offense to the other posters, but I don't know that any of them have a PBC. Give chicken a try, then move on to ribs, then pork butt after you have some practice with the lighting procedure.

[kenrobin]

I also vote for chicken. It’s almost foolproof on the PBC.

[grantgallagher]

No offense taken man. I do not have a PBC, probably should have made that clear in my post. I just love ribs!

[EdF]

I like this approach too. I was going to recommend ribs right off since they're a low risk cook. But chicken is even lower risk, and a very fine meal!

[W.A.]

I did chicken first. It really is the best thing out of a PBC

[RonB]

Congrats on the new toy.

[Nate]

Welcome to the PBC family

[goosebr160]

Thanks for all the great advice, I have decided to alter my plan (mostly because I'm impatient). I'm getting a chicken this morning and cooking it for tonight. Should I split it like Noah does in the video? Or should I use the turkey hanger? Any other advise is greatly appreciated as well.

[EdF]

Good man!

[Steve R.]

I would split it and hang the halves separately. This takes chicken from foolproof to something even easier than foolproof.

[smn1285]

Ive always split it, but also don’t have the hanger. Splitting it really seems to cook it perfect all around. If you happen to use the poultry seasoning it ships with, it’s delicious, but go light with it, it’s a touch salty IMO. Here is a chicken I have done:

[realdocBBQ]

Dang, that looks AWESOME!

[Mudkat]

That looks tasty!

[N227GB]

Welcome to the PBC club! I'd recommend the lighting procedure that's stickied here in the forum. I've had my best chicken results with splitting and using the hooks.

When I was getting it ready to assemble, I noticed a small dent and chip on the outside of the barrel where one of the grate holders is located.

I noticed the same thing after unpacking mine. Something had punched through the box, but the hole in the box was camouflaged by the graphics on the label. I decided to just touch it up with high temp Rustoleum.

[HawkerXP]

Hang a chicken on one side and some ribs on the other! Welcome to the Barrelhead club!! PBC, PBC, PBC...............!

[goosebr160]

Unfortunately tonight, I don't have time for ribs.

[Mudkat]

Those look great Hawker! I like double hook method. I'm gonna have to do that next time.

[Rdrjsm]

Dang, nice pic, I’m sold. Just ordered the PBC!

[goosebr160]

Split and dry brining with PBC all purpose rub.

[Rod]

Here was basically my first cook on the PBC.