I just started with charcoal on an Akorn but I keep dreaming of getting a hasty bake. I grill on gas often and smoked on a pellet but hated cleaning it etc. I would love to be able to have a grill that can do it all. But my concern is longer smokes with the hasty bake? How easy are they, how reliable how finicky? I love every other aspect but I get many mixed responses online of "oh it's not great for low slow burns" get a dedicated smoker. But I don't see anything that can compete at ~$1200 with the hasty bake.
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I’ve never used one, but I know of a guy who has one. I’ve eaten ribs he made on it, and they were freakin’ excellent.
But geez. An Akorn can do it all. It’s a cheap (and good) kamado. It will do low and slow as well as any other kamado, just as well as my BGE. Maybe not 28 hours, but it will go at least as long as a Hasty Bake. I’m not trying to talk you out of a HB, I’d love to have one, too. But it won’t do anything more than my BGE will. I’ve done briskets, ribs, pork butts, rib roasts, chickens, wings, (lots and lots of) burgers and hot dogs, Wagyu ribeyes and filets… that’s the draw of the kamado. It’s not the best at any one thing, but it is really good at almost everything!Last edited by Mosca; April 2, 2025, 07:15 PM. -
I think you'll get an easier process of loading/reloading your wood & charcoal with the HB vs the kamado, plus the convenience of hot & fast grilling & searing with the adjustable rack, plus the extra space under the hood. But would you need it? Who cares. Iffin ya wants it, and can affords it, gitt it!Comment
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I've posted here before that the HB is my dream grill. It's super unique, can do anything, has great size, gets the Meathead seal of approval, and is even made in 'Merica! I say go for it!! Personally, I really like the look of the Legacy 133 model, with the Corten steel, but that's a personal choice. The 133 also has the improved dampers from the roughneck, over the standard flaps. But alas, my wife has informed me that she wants new patio furniture this year, so it's not in the deck of cards for me.Comment
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I agree with everyone that the Hasty Bake *can* do it all. But I have a concern when you say you find that cleaning your pellet smoker is a chore. Cleaning the Hasty Bake or any charcoal cooker is at least as much if not more of a chore than cleaning a pellet smoker, I would think...
There is really nothing the Hasty Bake can do that your Akorn cannot do, other than cook MORE food at once, since it is much larger than the Akorn. It will require a lot more charcoal than the Akorn, just due to the fact that it is not as efficient (or insulated) compared to a kamado style cooker.
I would say if you JUST started with charcoal on the Akorn, try that for a little while - perfect grilling versus smoking on it - before considering jumping to the expense of the Hasty Bake. Unless you just have plenty of money to spend on it... and a spouse who doesn't mind more cookers on the back porch!
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The Akorn is outstanding. Someone moving out of town gave one to my friend. He gave it to me. My first kamado. I upgraded it some with a kick ash basket and grill grate. Then gave it to a son after I lucked into a BGE.
IMO, the Akorn may be the most under respected cooker out there. If I had to limit myself to one charcoal rig, that would probably be it. With an adjustable charcoal grate, it can mimic the searing ability of fancier rigs.
But in the end, like Huskee says above, get the HB.
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Yeah I'm not going to get it immediately, but I can already say I'm hooked. Can't really justify a hasty bake gourmet or anything but damn if the legacy in corten steel isn't cool. And is a great size for my deck. My pellet grill was very cramped under the hood (a 2023 Members mark Sam's club one) it was good but big on the deck and I didn't like the electricOriginally posted by jfmorris View PostI agree with everyone that the Hasty Bake *can* do it all. But I have a concern when you say you find that cleaning your pellet smoker is a chore. Cleaning the Hasty Bake or any charcoal cooker is at least as much if not more of a chore than cleaning a pellet smoker, I would think...
There is really nothing the Hasty Bake can do that your Akorn cannot do, other than cook MORE food at once, since it is much larger than the Akorn. It will require a lot more charcoal than the Akorn, just due to the fact that it is not as efficient (or insulated) compared to a kamado style cooker.
I would say if you JUST started with charcoal on the Akorn, try that for a little while - perfect grilling versus smoking on it - before considering jumping to the expense of the Hasty Bake. Unless you just have plenty of money to spend on it... and a spouse who doesn't mind more cookers on the back porch!Comment
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Well, if you get it, be sure to share pics with us!
I love cooking with charcoal more than any other method, and recently gave my offset to my nephew, as I just don't have the energy to stay up all night feeding wood to a fire. I do keep a gas grill for quick convenience cooking, when I don't have time to wait on charcoal for 30+ minutes. In fact, tonight's dinner for 3 adults and 2 kids was prepared with gas... -
Hasty Bakes are nice. I have four of them. If I was getting a new Legacy these days, I would definitely go with the Corten model over the regular steel one and probably over the stainless steel even though I prefer stainless. The round vents of the Corten model is what I prefer. My Roughneck has them and I love them. I do not like the flap vents because they are either open or closed. They just change the angle of the air coming in or exiting the grill and are not great for temp control.
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