Weber Kettle or PBC?

[cgrover60]

I agree the first purchase should be the Weber with SNS and DNG pan. I started cooking on a Weber in the 70's and with SNS now it's versatility is very impressive. Yet my inner caveman finally forced my to try the PBC because heck - what is more cool than hanging meat dripping over a fire after all. So now I use the Weber primarily for reverse sear cooks and the PBC for smoking and "slow" cooking even though the Weber with the SNS will do it all.

[bradjo222]

What is PBC?

[Butchman]

Pit Barrel Cooker

[Spinaker]

Ya beat me too it! Butchman

[Steve Vojtek]

Welcome to the Pit bradjo222

[Spinaker]

What is PBC?

Welcome to the Pit! PBC stands for Pit Barrel Cooker. One of the many great options out there. When you get a second, take a moment to click over to our introduction page to introduce yourself.

Since this is your first post, please check out our homework assignment post for new members, it contains a few how-tos and please-dos. This will help you learn your way around so you can get the best experience from our forum.

Also, it's very important that you:
Give us an email address you actually use. You can check the email we have on file for you by clicking your name in the upper-right, then User Settings, then the Notifications tab. You currently cannot change your email on file with us since it’s tied to your Pitmaster Club account as well as our payment processor, Stripe. Don’t worry though, we’d be happy to change it for you. PM (private message) ”Huskee” with your email change request, or via email at huskee[at]AmazingRibs[dot]com.

Add the domain AmazingRibs.com to your email safe list. We NEVER spam! This is important to receive notices about your account, such as if you’re up for renewal or are ever drawn as our monthly Gold Medal Giveaway winner, which is open to all USA members or those with a USA delivery address (we’d hate to have to pick another person because you don’t answer us)!

[Spinaker]

Personally, I would go with the 26" kettle and SNS. Especially if you want to do some grilling. The PBC really is not for grilling. Yeah, you can do it, but its well short of the performance of the SNS in that department. Smoking head to head? Close match up.

If you want a true double threat, at this price point, you can't beat a Weber kettle and an SNS.

[Nate]

This isn't an uncommon question. My typical response is that it shouldn't be a question of either. A PBC and a Kettle w/SnS make a great setup and compliment each other extremely well....

That being said... I know you mentioned it has to be one or the other (at least for now) and I completely understand where you are coming from.

Like a lot of the folks have mentioned... I would tend to lean towards the Kettle but only if you are willing to get the SnS with it. That is what is going to make the kettle worth it. Also I lean towards the kettle if you don't have a good grill since it can easily double as both. The PBC can be used to grill but I personally think it is easier to use the kettle.

If you already have a good grill that you like to use then I would definitely be giving the PBC serious consideration. I have a both a PBC and Kettle w/SnS and love them both. As I mentioned they compliment each other extremely well and I also think you should add a PBC to your Grill/Smoker/Accessory Acquisition Plan.

Let us know what you decide.

[abandonedbrain]

Agree; if you already have, say, a gas grill, I feel the PBC is the best "next step up", as the gasser can do most anything the PBC can't, especially if you've upgraded the gasser to GrillGrates!

[Pirate Scott]

26" Weber in the Mail. Will add the SNS, DNG later. Thanks for all the advice.

[Huskee]

Congrats! I think you made a great decision. If I had to pick ONE, I'd do what you did. And I agree with Breadhead below, I think you just got the kettle *first*

[FLBuckeye]

I bought a 26" kettle a few months ago. Already had two SnS's so I am good to go. My next purchase is going to be a fireboard. I now have three 22" kettles, an 18" kettle and 2.5 WSM's plus the aforementioned 26" kettle.

[Huskee]

2.5 WSMs? With all those cookers how'd you misplace half of a WSM?

[FLBuckeye]

Bought a WSM from a guy on craigslist. He had another midsection that he threw in for free as well as a hinge. Good deal for $150. Can do 8 pork butts at once on my "double" WSM

[RobertC]

I bought a 26" kettle a few months ago. [...] I now have three 22" kettles, an 18" kettle and 2.5 WSM's plus the aforementioned 26" kettle.

Two and a half WSM's?

A guy once called Click and Clack seeking support in a dispute he was having with his wife. They had saved to buy a new pickup truck. When the day arrived, he came home with three used Volvos. After Click and Clack stopped laughing they asked the key question: "How many of these Volvos work?" They guy answered "Two. Almost."

[fuzzydaddy]

26" Weber in the Mail. Will add the SNS, DNG later. Thanks for all the advice.

Congratulations! You'll love the 26" kettle. Have fun and eat well!

[phoccer]

I HATE threads like this! Now I'm thinking I need to add a PBC to the Weber 22 + SnS combo I have.

[NortheastAl]

The more hobbies you have, the more acquisition disorders you develop. It's proven science. Just go with the flow.

[phoccer]

With spin & fly fishing, photography, & BBQ my disorders are multiplying, & going up in price . I try to give an idea a month or two before pulling the trigger. My "need" to have things usually dies down in a couple of weeks. My interest in the PBC, however, has lingered for well over a year now.

[JeffJ]

I hear you, @phoccer
Other than pork ribs, my other cookers have plenty of capacity for just about anything I'd want to cook. We just don't entertain crowds large enough to need more than the 26 + SnS. Yet, I have the PBC on my birthday wish list anyway.

[Breadhead]

I have a 26" Weber kettle with the Slow N Sear... the ONLY reason I bought the 26" kettle is because I really liked the searing capability of this new product I had been hearing about, the Slow N Sear. I immediately thought it would be the better cooker on the market to execute Meathead reverse sear technique. I've had both now for about 15 months and I'm a very happy customer for both products. I went with the 26" instead of the 22" just for the larger capacity.

Now... for you Pirate Scott - you may not know it yet but you are probably not making an either or decision here, more than likely. This is probably a which is first decision.🤑 Obviously... in that you are close to pulling the trigger on acquiring new gear since joining the Pit you've come down with MCS. Eventually you are going to realize the massive capacity of the PBC is just to tempting and you will pull that trigger too. How big is your patio or deck? You might start looking for a storage Shed to put in your backyard too.😎

[Pirate Scott]

Yah, I am Pretty OCD when it comes to my Hobbies.( Boating, Fishing, Custom Rod Building, Lure Making,Guitar,Cigar Box Guitar Building, Woodworking) I am sure I will have to throw a large party and need that extra Capacity of the PBC. But I will also need the Kettle too!

[bcostlow]

I have both: you won't go wrong with either one. Weber is a bit more versatile, especially with the SNS. But if you do a lot of tailgating, the PBC is a conversation starter that travels better.

[ken g]

If you can't afford both, go with the Weber. I have a 22" Performer with SnS, DnG and added a PartyQ from BBQ guru last week. The probe on it failed after two test runs, but they replaced it fast. Have one more test run going right now. It has not budged from 230 for 1.5 hrs.

[abandonedbrain]

Pirate Scott Good choice, the kettle is really the do-all grill everyone should own. I learned how to use my 22" by skulking around this site, devouring every post I could from all of the helpful people here, and quickly found that I can do amazing things with that kettle paired with one other thing: Meathead's book! Not to make this post sound like an advertisement, but seriously, the book (plus a Pit subscription) helped me to learn how to master low-and-slow cooking without any other additions to the kettle grill. Using a C-snake briquette layout, I can keep my kettle at 225-235F for 6+ hours without adding briquettes. It's a little fiddly with vent control.

I was able to (I'll call it) perfect smoking pork shoulders/butts on the kettle before my family purchased the PBC for me for Christmas this year. Honestly? I prefer the butts on the kettle grill. They have a better smoke profile which makes a difference on pork. I'll ALWAYS do chicken on the PBC, though. And brisket, now that I've done a flat.

If you want to see an example of doing a pork butt on the Weber without using an SnS (just two foil pans), feel free to check out one of my posts from last year here in The Pit. Meanwhile, congrats on a great purchase!