Spinaker i know you said that you use the lodge cast iron grate from the sportsmen on top of the KBQ fire box- do you happen to have grill grates? if so have you tried those on top of the firebox? Anyone else? Ernest I see a lot of weber products - maybe you've tried them. GrillGrate Brad has anyone ever asked you to rig something up for the fire box of the KBQ?
I have used my Grill grates on the fire box It works pretty well. Not as well as the cast iron grate though. The grill grates are lighter, and they move around a bit on the fire box. The KBQ fire box is about 8 "wide and 13" long, If I remember correctly, and Grill Grate sections are only a little over 5 inches wide, so you have to put two on the fire box. This can cause them to want to separate at the seam. They were designed to sit on a flat surface, not hang over a flat surface by a few inches on both sides. But you need it to hang over a bit on the sides because the fire box just isn't wide enough to handle large cuts.
In my opinion, the Lodge grate is the best option, and it has little legs that help to keep it in place on the fire box. The grate doesn't move at all. Very nice when you get a huge piece of meat up there.
Craigar - not my grill. A fellow on a kamado forum did this on his KJ Jr. I imagine if he had been working the bellows he would have just shown us a picture of the puddle of melted aluminium.
What's up? The KJ GG melt-down? GrillGrate Brad sends a warning out to all Kamado owners not to push their GGs to the limit. Aluminum melts around 1221 F plain and simple. Fact is GGs sear great when they're around 850 F. Much beyond that and you're branding the meat, not searing it.
Ernest Well.... maybe me and beef ribs are just not meant to be! They were much better than my first batch, but what I am getting is pretty much pot roast on a stick. The cook went perfectly... pulled them at 192. All I can think is that because they are not prime I can't get close to the same result you do. Time to move on to the tri-tip! Thanks for you help... maybe the KBQ will help some with the beef ribs.
slvance I think your meat is the issue. Are they well marbled? Did you wrap them?
To much moisture in your kamado? You could be steaming them.
Don't give up on them. Try another meat source.
I finally talked my local Costco into ordering some Prime beef short ribs for me. If I am successful in getting them, I'll be back here looking for advice on doing them in the KBQ, preferred rub, etc.
SpinakerErnest No water pan in the kamado. But I did foil after 5 hours - I was stalled at 160 and had to get them done for dinner. That could be it.... Little steps... Little steps..
Ernest Ill try them again then.... but I'll wait on the KBC first!
In the KBQ they will be amazing, trust me. The only rack I've made came out insanely good. Although I needed to trim the fat cap a little bit more. We cant get good plate ribs up here in the north so thats why i am limited on the amount I have cooked. (unless you want to pay an arm and a leg)
Last edited by Spinaker; September 22, 2016, 08:42 AM.
Beef Ribs on KBQ are excellent! The choice or prime grade are the way to go. No wrapping necessary. Hickory and apple till probe tender. BBBR is my fave for these
I was gonna do a KBQ cook today. Then I opened it up.........MOLD!!! Its been really rainy here and the humidity has been high. I was not impressed with myself. I should be taking better care of the KBQ, I guess. DAMN!!! Gotta hit it with the power washer and bleach. Then do a bunt out. I've got a huge Ryder Cup Party that I am cooking for next weekend. So I gotta have this baby cleaned up and ready to go.
Speaking of grates on the KBQ firebox - I have a Master Forge SS Propane Grill with one of those side sear burners. This sear burner doesn't really work that well, haven't used in on a long time.
But - look at the nice heavy SS grate:
Put on top of the KBQ - fits pretty well. I seemed to recall that Meathead preferred SS grates over cast iron for searing. Side to side movement is good, now to fine a way to help the front to back movement. Maybe a few SS clamps.
I would use a vice and a channel lock. Try to bend the ends of those grates. Your not going to want to have to fiddle with it while the fire is going. You want to be able to lay it on the box and not have to worry about it. This is why the lodge grate is so nice. The legs on the bottom of the grate hold it in place. But I would try to bend the ends down on that grate to get it to hold onto the fire box. JGrana
Thanks Spinaker, I might try the bend! In the mean time, I found 4 rope clamps and put 2 on each end. After a few minor adjustments, fits well and keeps it stable in both directions. Photo is in a later post.
Last edited by JGrana; September 26, 2016, 11:52 AM.
Reason: Adding a photo in a later post
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