Trouble Deciding Between PBC and PBJ

[chimbleysweep]

I’m having trouble deciding between the 18” Pit Barrel Cooker and the 14” Pit Barrel Junior. The PBJ looks much smaller than the PBC, but 6 racks instead of 8 doesn’t seem like that much of a difference. I kind of like the idea of having something smaller that uses less fuel, but wonder how long it would last for pulled pork or brisket. I’d typically cook for 4–10 people, maybe up to 15 or 20 a few times a summer. I don’t see a lot of PBJ discussion on here, so I’m wondering if they are popular.

Background: I have a Weber Genesis and first tried smoking with it after reading Meathead’s book last summer. Naturally, I wanted to try charcoal and have gone from considering a Weber Kettle + Slow ‘N Sear to a WSM to a PBC (all similar in price).

[shify]

I was wrestling with the same question and ultimately went for the full PBC and its actually getting delivered today (happy birthday to me!!). I already have the 14.5" WSM which I bought since there was only two of us in the house at the time and thought the 18" would be too much. I dreaded it almost immediately as it barely fit in a spatchcocked chicken or pork butt bigger than 5 lbs.

When deciding to order a PBC, I didn't want to ever have to deal with a lack of space and would rather burn a handful more coals per cook then be short on space. Plus with a foodsaver and sous vide, bbq leftovers keep and reheat well.

[JeffJ]

I've fit a 17 pound prime packer (point and flat separated) in my 14.5 WSM. I also fit an 10 pound butt on the top rack and an 8 pounder on the bottom. For as small as it is the 14.5 has deceptive capacity.

[jfmorris]

Personally, I've never had issues with my smoker being too big, but rather with it being too small for what I need to cook for a gathering! Even if you only cook for 15-20 a few times a year, I think you would want to go for the larger of the two. That extra 4" does not sound like a lot, but if you are cooking anything OTHER than ribs, I think it will make a huge difference.

Fuel savings is always a consideration, but we are only talking a couple pounds charcoal difference here between the two. Cheap charcoal is around 26 cents per pound ($4 for 15.5# Royal Oak, $9.88 for 2x18.6# Kingsford), expensive charcoal is 60 cents per pound (Weber 20# for $12).

I would go for the standard PBC if it were me. Think of things other than ribs you might want to smoke - turkeys, chickens, Boston butts. The PBJ will likely cook one less of each of those than the PBC.

[Steve R.]

I would never opt for the PBJ unless portability was an issue. You can always cook a smaller amount in the PBC, but there is a limit to how much you could fit into the PBJ.

[Rod]

Definitely go for the full size. Don't know anything about the PBJ, but I would imagine due to it's size, you might have to add more coals during long cooks.

[N227GB]

The cook times in my PBC Jr are the same as what others have noted with the original size.

[RobertC]

My 14" cooker has 2/3 the volume of the PBC but the charcoal basket holds about 3/4 as much. I think the burn times are going to be right around the same.

[OSB]

Go Big!

[Nate]

Welcome from Indiana!

I have the Kettle w/ SnS and a PBC... honestly between the two it is a great backyard setup....

Anyway... When it comes to doing Pork Butts I usually use the grates instead of the hooks... I can easily and nicely fit 2 butts on the grate... I'm not sure if I would be able to get both on the PBJ or not...

If you are wanting to grill using charcoal then I would recommend the kettle with sns... if you are just wanting a cooker (I don't consider PBC a smoker) then I would recommend the PBC unless: space, fuel cost, portability are issues for you...

PBC sucks for having to reload charcoal but I only had to do that once.... if you don't try to overly control the PBC temps then you will also probably have some quicker cook times...

[chimbleysweep]

Grilling with charcoal might be too much work on a weeknight. I’m mostly interested in the Pit Barrel as a smoker that is easy to use.

[Nate]

chimbleysweep , I completely understand where you are coming from.... either way you will enjoy your PBC or PBJ....

[RonB]

One other consideration is that the Junior is a few inches shorter than original. That means the ends of your ribs are a few inches closer to the heat. With the original, people talk about the ends over cooking, so I don't think having the ends even closer would be a good thing.

[N227GB]

I have a PBC Jr. Cooking for 15 - 20 people would be a stretch for me, I think.

The only thing I have to watch is the length of brisket. The cooking times are generally the same as reported by people using the full size PBC.

[RobertC]

I don't have a PBJ but I do have a 14" barrel cooker, which is fine for our needs. I've made dinner for a dozen people several times, and I don't feel bad about making a single chicken, tri-tip, or chuck roast for our small family. I have done two pork butts. I've also done a 12 or 13 pound turkey; I could've gone bigger but maybe not a 17 or 18 pounder. The longest cook I've done on one load of charcoal is 7 hours. I don't usually do parties for 20 or more but on the occasion when I did I just staged things over two days. It's lighter than a full-size PBC so it's easier to clear of ashes and to move around. For us, it made sense. I'm pretty happy with it, and I've never really felt constrained by its size.

[JeffJ]

I'd say PBJ depending on the flavor of jelly, of course.

[chimbleysweep]

Raspberry

[JeffJ]

chimbleysweep Definitely go PBJ then.

[Potkettleblack]

PBC... everything I've read suggests it cooks a bit better than the Jr. Further, the price difference isn't that huge, the foot print isn't that big, but the capacity difference is probably worth your while, even if you don't cook for very many.

[Mosca]

I can’t be the only one whose mind was thinking, "Hmmm. Should I get a Pit Barrel Cooker, or should I just go make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich instead?"

😁😁

[JeffJ]

Post #11 was my attempt at making a joke out of that.

[Mosca]

Again, I prove myself to be one of the less observant members of the forum!

[MBMorgan]

Unless weight/portability is an issue, I suggest you go with the PBC. I've got one and I can't remember a single time I've thought, "Gee, I wish I had less capacity" ... even when cooking just a single duck or chicken.

[Potkettleblack]

Ditto... Smaller footprint, maybe, but never less capacity... the perfect cooker would be like the Tardis... bigger on the inside.

[EdF]

http://www.kbq.us/

Supposedly up to 60 lbs capacity (haven't needed to go there so far). Tiny footprint.

[cgrover60]

I guess I'm looking at this backwards. I have a PBC and love it but have considered the junior because most of my cooks are for the wife and I and the PBC is a bit overkill charcoal wise for small cooks.

[EdF]

Doesn't seem backwards to me. You know what you need!