First cook

[pizza67]

Finally got around to the first cook on my new Hasty Bake. Even though I watched a few videos, going to be a little bit of a learning curve from the Weber Kettle, but not too much. Overall, everything came out great, just need to tweak the amount of charcoal and height adjustments.

[Spinaker]

Nos that is a great first cook! I love the Hasty Bake. They just seem like that are fun to cook with.

So, you mentioned fuel and height adjustments. Care to elaborate on that? Did you use too much fuel or too little? I have always been kind of curious how you load, light and control the temp on these rigs. If the charcoal right under the grates with no deflector plate?

[pizza67]

Since I have to pile the charcoal up (solution below), I had to eyeball it and didn't use enough to sear the steaks. I used the deflector plate since I was doing a reverse sear on the steaks. I learned from a video that for this method on the HB, you put the meat directly over the deflector plate as the heat funnels away from underneath it.

Lighting the charcoal - I lowered the 'bin' and used lighter cubes on the ash pan.

[pizza67]

Part 2 - Long story short, I have a lot of back issues and found a charcoal chimney that I can use where I just lift it up w/o having to dump the charcoal - ordered the Royal Gourmet Foldable Charcoal Chimney Fire Starter (leave out the insert when I fill it up). Will give it a try when I get it.

Temp control is by intake and exhaust vents on the sides.

Height adjustment is just raising/lowering the charcoal bed - the higher the hotter.

[Ace]

Great looking cook.

[Troutman]

I'd eat that

[ecowper]

Just wait .... you'll get it dialed in and then you are gonna love it!