Pit Barrel Temp Control

[isu006]

Any idea on how best to keep temp control on pit barrel smoker. I have had some good cooks on it but its too up and down for comp cooking. It was hitting over 400f this past weekend. I want to use it as my chicken cooker as its ok to cook at 300f for chicken but not so much for my ribs? I like the lump charcoal flavor but have a feeling I am going to have to stick with briquets moving forward.

[UncleFester]

Yeah I'd probably encourage going over to briquettes since you know exactly what you are getting. I know it was developed using Kingsford blue and is pretty rock solid with that. Getting temps up in the PBC isn't hard as you mentioned, but getting them down can be. If I want to run mine in the 250-275 range, I usually start with less lit coals than the recommended 40. You can also squeeze some foil into a couple of the rebar holes to close those off.

[isu006]

Thanks that is what I did with the foil technique ... I will have to resort to the briquettes and use this more as my hot pit for chicken

[jecucolo]

When the temps are that high it is usually caused by a leak in the lid. Short term solution you might put something heavy on the lid like bricks or even a full bag of charcoal. Long term go on line and purchase gasket like lava lock. I think the website is bbqgaskets.com
This will save you lots of heartache.

Also check the PBC forum under charcoal grills. There is a very good post that will help with lighting the PBC

[fzxdoc]

isu006 I agree with jecucolo that most often when PBCs run that high there is a lid leak. Even a small leak can really shoot the temps up high.

Several folks here use lump in their PBCs, so before you go to the briquette route, try securing that lid and see what happens.

When my PBC developed a lid leak after about a year or more of use, I would crimp a length of aluminum foil around the edge of the lid/barrel seam (in the area of the leak). That would seal up the leak. But not too long after that I installed a Lava-Lok BBQ gasket inside the lid's rim and haven't had a problem since.

Best of luck taming that PBC. It's a sweet cooking machine.

Kathryn

[isu006]

Thanks I will give it a go.. I like the foods I have cooked on it but it sort of threw me for a loop at comp...