I’ve been told to pick my Christmas present early enough that my wife can actually have it here by Christmas. I was looking at the Santa Maria attachment for the wonderful PK360 I won here. I have never used one. Is there something they do better than anything else? Is it a unitasker? I do steaks on the kamado often and have no complaints at all with either the slow side getting them up to 125 F or the hot side searing them. This thing is going to take a lot more of the limited storage space in my cooking area. In your opinion are there enough different things it does very well to justify the cost and space problems or should I keep looking for something else. If I keep looking I’m pretty sure this line of questioning will continue.
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Personally.... I was really wanting one of these for my kettle at one point. But then I realized that with the kamado I won here (SNS Kamado), I could get 3 levels of cooking, with charcoal and wood chunks in the bottom of the firebox, my upper charcoal grate for searing, the main grate, and an elevated half grate.
I think if I had the Santa Maria for the kettle, I would use it a bunch at first, tossing oak splits in the kettle for example, and cooking over them. But when the novelty wore off, I would end up shoving it in the backyard shed or garage, hanging it from a hook or putting it on a shelf somewhere.
I think I would opt to get one of the elevated grates for your PK 360, so that you can add a second higher level of cooking without having something big to store when not in use.-
Thank you Jim. This what I was concerned about. I don’t want a novelty item. I want a tool that I will use because it does something I couldn’t do before. Since I posted this I’ve been looking at pizza attachments and such. If this isn’t something I will use often then I’ll look into either a pizza attachment or a pizza oven.
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I was gifted a SM attachment for my kettle by my Secret Santa last year. It's just a different way to cook, but it also give a different, (and better IMHO), flavor to food cooked with it. I'd like to use it more often, but I have to store it in the shop and that requires more effort than I normally expend on a cook. Every time I use it, I think I should use it more often...
If ya do get one a cover will help enhance the flavor. I front sear then raise the grate and place the cover over the meat to help add smoke flavor and speed the cook.Comment
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“If I keep looking I’m pretty sure this line of questioning will continue.“………😂
I’ve never cooked on a Santa Maria grill before, but here’s my thoughts. I kind of agree with jfmorris about how often you might use it. I did the same thing with the rotisserie kit I bought for my SNS kettle. I used it a few times when I first bought it, the novelty wore off and now its just hanging on a hook in my garage….unused for the last 1 1/2 years now. When things take more time and effort to use than other ways, I kind of lose interest in it. Nothing against the rotisserie at all, chicken and pork loins turned out great, but taking the time to set it up, removing a piping hot chicken off the rod, then cutting it up before eating…well, just a little more work than I feel like messing with.
I kind of get the feeling after reading about your limited storage space, you might want to consider something else.Comment
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Thanks John, I think I see a pattern developing. I’m trying to avoid a situation here. I have in the past been justly accused of not using the Christmas presents my wife so generously gets me. Toward that end she ask that I show her several things I would actually use and she will surprise me with one of them. You can’t beat a deal like that. I know if I put it on the list I’d better use it. I’m thinking I might keep this off the list unless someone comes up with something very convincing. -
I've got the Weber rotisserie for my Performer, and it gets used on average 3x a year. It was gifted to me in 2020, and I like the results every time I use it, but I've only used it for chicken and turkeys. I've used it less this year because I can't buy a whole chicken anywhere close the price Sam's or Costco charge for an already cooked rotisserie chicken.
I will bust it out for the Thanksgiving turkey though. And thinking of spinning a Boston butt after seeing Steven Raichlen do it...
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I have one for my PK360 as shown by the pictures below. It works great. No issues. And fun to use, especially when you have company and standing around the grill talking BBQ.
But, I have only used it twice since I bought it (about 1.5 years ago). It's a novelty item, fun to have, a tool to play around with. Would I buy it again - yes. I love having gadgets and equipment to add to my grills/smokers. Does it create better food - no.
If the meat is getting too burnt or crusted or you want to slow down the cooking, you can just raise the grate. But on the PK360 without the SM attachment, you can just move the food to the cool side, which basically does the same thing. Also, you cannot close the lid. So you lose that ability to finish the cook and bring the meat up to your desired temperature quicker with the lid closed.
Also, you lose capacity with the SM attachment. In the pic below, that is a split 4.5 lb chicken. Can't get much more on. In the other pic is a roughly 3 lb Tri-tip. So you can't really cook for a crowd on the SM attachment.
FWIW......Attached FilesComment
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I completely agree with your assessment. I had a PK360 with SM attachment. I actually really loved SM cooking but the foot print is too small to be useful for anymore than 2 people. IMHO SM cooking is really meant to be a bit of an event.
The other problem I have is storage when not in use. The attachment doesn’t really fold down, so it’s going to take up space somewhere in your garage and then it’s going to rust. That rust is a pain to get off. -
I ran out of space so finishing my comment here.
I decided to sell the PK360 and am getting a griddle instead. Cooking on the SM is super fun and I agree with those who said it gives a unique flavor. (I’m not sure I want to do tri tip any other way!) so I have a different SM on order that is stainless steel, and a unique collapsible design.
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