Misc. Thoughts on Father’s Day Cook

[STEbbq]

No pics because, frankly, I was super tired and the food looked the same as always.

Today’s cook:

12 burgers a mix of 5 oz. and 3 oz. patties
3 chunks of squeaky hollumari cheese
2 grilled cheese sandwiches with doubled smoked cheese
4 grilled and buttered buns
2 pans of smoked frozen French fries

A few takeaways:

1. it has only taken me 42 years but I finally started weighing my burgers for consistency. Damn, what a good idea.

2. Grilled cheese sandwiches on the smoker are fun but not much different than the frying pan on the stovetop.

3. My LEM meat grinder was a damn good purchase. Today’s custom blend was a mix of some choice beef plus 25% brisket trimmings. Custom burger blends with high quality meats are excellent. Next time, we have some yak and bison to be mixed in.

4. I used a mini CI griddle on the PK300 today and it was fun. It did make flipping the burgers easier so maybe I will keep doing it like that.

5. Temps are tricker relying on the grill thermometers on the PK300 and Akorn. Maybe I need a cheap wired probe with a nice physical display.

6. PK300 was out within a hour but the Akorn is still chugging along after a few hours. I guess I need to pinch up the gasket again.

7. Emptying the ash tomorrow is going to test my desire for a nice ash basket.

8. I was going to clean my grills but oops. Maybe tomorrow.

9. The Akorn diffuser can serve as a griddle in a pinch.

[WillTravelForFood]

Our invite must have often lost

[STEbbq]

I bought a simple Thermopro for $34 that should be more accurate without risking my expensive Combustion probes.

[STEbbq]

Panhead John don’t you have one like this?

[Panhead John]

I had an older one similar to that, it wasn’t rechargeable. It worked great for the time I had it. Something happened to it, don’t remember what, but I now have the ThermoWorks Smoke. ThermoPro is good stuff, especially for the price.

[STEbbq]

Panhead John Perfect. All I need it to do is help me get my smokers to temp quickly. Then the Combustion enters the arena.

[barelfly]

LEM grinder is top notch!!!!!! I’ve used it once or twice for burgers, mainly used for sausage. I’ll need to get that sucker out and make some burgers soon.

glad you had some fun cooking it up this weekend!

Happy Father’s Day!

[fzxdoc]

My metal grinder attachment for the KitchenAid mixer works like a champ whenever I grind meats for burgers. My needs when it comes to meat grinders are modest. That doesn't mean that I don't look at the LEM grinder with stars in my eyes though.

Kathryn

[STEbbq]

I bought my LEM off Amazon as a warehouse special for $63. I think full price is like $130 so that helps.

Even for small jobs (4-5 pounds of meat), it powers through it in 2-3 minutes. The KA took like 45 at least when I had it. Plus, the fun factor!

Maybe keep an eye on Amazon for another warehouse deal?!

[Smoker_Boy]

My metal grinder attachment for the KitchenAid mixer works like a champ whenever I grind meats for burgers. My needs when it comes to meat grinders are modest. That doesn't mean that I don't look at the LEM grinder with stars in my eyes though.

Kathryn

We got out my 35 year old plastic KA meat grinder today and reduced some pork shoulder into little tiny pieces.
My wife noticed 2 cracks on each side of the rear bearing housing.

Guess I'll either have to pay $100 for a metal KA grinder, or $130 for a small LEM.
Seeing as how the vintage KA is close to 50 years old, she will probably tell me to buy the LEM.

(she's a keeper)

[STEbbq]

It is a great tool!

[fzxdoc]

If I hadn't already purchased the metal grinding attachment for the KA, I would have purchased the LEM grinder too. Let us know how you like your new toy when it arrives.
I'd say you got your money's worth out of that 50 year old KA attachment, unless it's newer than the KA itself, that is.

K.

[Smoker_Boy]

We got out my 35 year old plastic KA meat grinder today and reduced some pork shoulder into little tiny pieces.
My wife noticed 2 cracks on each side of the rear bearing housing.

Guess I'll either have to pay $100 for a metal KA grinder, or $130 for a small LEM.
Seeing as how the vintage KA is close to 50 years old, she will probably tell me to buy the LEM.

(she's a keeper)

Well, I was right.

My wife said:
"From a safety standpoint, I don't think you should be grinding meat with anything plastic."

This was the same logic we used to buy a nice vertical french fry slicer.

I also make a lot of bread.
If and when the old KA gives out, I guess I'll have to buy a new one.
You know, because I have so many attachments for the KA.