BBQ EQPT - Advice and what have you got

[Dogwatch]

Zoon said:

LordGrover said:

I'm a BBQ virgin and just ordered a Weber Compact 47cm to get me started. Bought the Weber chimney starter too.
Should be here tomorrow so will be giving it a test run at the weekend.

You can't go far wrong with that.
Near enough the same as I have.

Me too. I also use an old pair of tongs for shifting stray lumpwood back on to the heap plus, believe it or not, one of those behind-the-radiator mini paint roller long handles for pushing hot coals about when the grill is in place. Very effective!

[Craikeybaby]

Another Weber 57cm here. I wish I'd gone for the premium version which catches the ash though.

The main tools I use are wire brush to clean the grill and separate tongs for coal/raw food and cooked food. I'm looking at getting a BBQ thermometer, possibly one that connects to my iPhone.

[scottri]

Schmy said:

Happy hour in Yates' can be a scary experience, huh?

Weber OT 57
Chimney starter
Reversable rib rack (upside down it holds a bird)
Digital meat thermometer
Various flipping/turning/cleaning tools

Charcoal wise I tried Big-K from Waitrose this weekend after hearing about them on here. Very disappointing in terms of temperature and time (both low). They're not cheap but Weber 240min briquettes really are the bomb.

If you want the good big k stuff you need the restaurant grade like this http://www.bigkproducts.co.uk/Product-Shisha-Resta... its seriously hot (nearly 280c on my weber with the lid closed yesterday)

or this

http://www.bigkproducts.co.uk/Product-Restaurant-G...

[Phud]

best thing I find is chimney and good quality charcoal

[Schmy]

scottri said:

Schmy said:

Happy hour in Yates' can be a scary experience, huh?

Weber OT 57
Chimney starter
Reversable rib rack (upside down it holds a bird)
Digital meat thermometer
Various flipping/turning/cleaning tools

Charcoal wise I tried Big-K from Waitrose this weekend after hearing about them on here. Very disappointing in terms of temperature and time (both low). They're not cheap but Weber 240min briquettes really are the bomb.

If you want the good big k stuff you need the restaurant grade like this http://www.bigkproducts.co.uk/Product-Shisha-Resta... its seriously hot (nearly 280c on my weber with the lid closed yesterday)

or this

http://www.bigkproducts.co.uk/Product-Restaurant-G...

Ah OK I'd got the normal stuff, I'll give that one a go. Any shops do it? Ordering burnt wood off the internet feels a bit weird.

[Nick Grant]

Webber Spirit E310, that's gas so goes against the trend here. I use a smoker box in it and a roasting tin with a rack for joints.

[scottri]

Schmy said:

Ah OK I'd got the normal stuff, I'll give that one a go. Any shops do it? Ordering burnt wood off the internet feels a bit weird.

Not that i know of, its a fixed £10 for delivery so i just make sure i order a lot in one go.

[PGM]

I get two or three big bags of the restaurant grade from my local coal merchant every now and then, around £12 a time, worth a look around for a local merchant to you.

[HarryFlatters]

PGM said:

I get two or three big bags of the restaurant grade from my local coal merchant every now and then, around £12 a time, worth a look around for a local merchant to you.

Makro do big bags of restaurant grade lumpwood charcoal, if that's any use to anyone. I've bought it in the past and found it to be good with decent sized lumps that get nicely hot, rather than the tiny bits that get to smelting temperature for about five minutes, then go out

[Schmy]

Outside of a Dickens novel I don't think I've come across the phrase local coal merchant. Do they have them outside the Labour heartlands?

ETA - Well stone me there's one in Ascot. I guess it's an Aga thing.

Edited by Schmy on Thursday 25th June 11:18

[tuffer]

Two drawers......to fit to my BBQ table to hold bits and bobs:

[PGM]

HarryFlatters said:

PGM said:

I get two or three big bags of the restaurant grade from my local coal merchant every now and then, around £12 a time, worth a look around for a local merchant to you.

Makro do big bags of restaurant grade lumpwood charcoal, if that's any use to anyone. I've bought it in the past and found it to be good with decent sized lumps that get nicely hot, rather than the tiny bits that get to smelting temperature for about five minutes, then go out

A local guy I know who does catering BBQ contracting swears by that stuff too.

[Bill]

Dogwatch said:

plus, believe it or not, one of those behind-the-radiator mini paint roller long handles for pushing hot coals about when the grill is in place. Very effective!

Genius.

I have the usual Weber + chimney, but my top tip is a paintstripper if it's a bit stubborn getting going. Much better than a hairdryer as it's not enough to light charcoal and swmbo doesn't complain about the smell when she next uses it.

Edited by Bill on Thursday 25th June 16:05

[LordGrover]

Minus the fluffy bit?

[Bill]

Silly boy!

[don4l]

I've been reading the main BBQ thread, and I must say that I am very impressed.

However, before I take the plunge, I would like to get some opinions.

I have only barbecued on an open BBQ before. The lumpwood only seems to last 45 minutes before it starts to lose its heat. How do you cook something for 6 hours? How often do you add more charcoal?

My current favourite is the Brinkmann Dual Zone Charcoal Grill BBQ. http://www.costco.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/co...


Is this suitable for slow cooking and smoking?

Would a Weber, or something else be better?

TIA.

Edited by don4l on Thursday 25th June 20:47

[don4l]

I've been reading the main BBQ thread, and I must say that I am very impressed.

However, before I take the plunge, I would like to get some opinions.

I have only barbecued on an open BBQ before. The lumpwood only seems to last 45 minutes before it starts to lose its heat. How do you cook something for 6 hours? How often do you add more charcoal?

My current favourite is the Brinkmann Dual Zone Charcoal Grill BBQ. http://www.costco.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/co...


Is this suitable for slow cooking and smoking?

Would a Weber, or something else be better?

TIA.

Edited by don4l on Thursday 25th June 20:48

[deckster]

My wife has just shown me this http://www.jaggrill.com/

The Weber's going in the bin, frankly. I don't think I've ever wanted anything quite so much...

[LordGrover]

LordGrover said:

I'm a BBQ virgin and just ordered a Weber Compact 47cm to get me started. Bought the Weber chimney starter too.
Should be here tomorrow so will be giving it a test run at the weekend.

Hmmm.
Assembled and started, just to 'bed it in' and burn off the 'newness'.
Chimney starter is great - within a few minutes the charcoal's glowing nicely. After 20 minutes appears to be perfect with white ash all over so I tipped into the grill. Spread it around a bit, which I think is where I went wrong, and popped the lid on. Went back to it 20 minutes later and it wasn't as hot as I'd expected. Not gone out, but barely living. Opened the vent in the lid to try to draw a little air through and stacked the charcoal a little but I think too late. 45 minutes or an hour later and it's pretty much out.
I wasn't aiming to cook anything tonight, which is just as well.
I think before I start grilling decent steak I'll have a few runs with bangers and burgers to get the hang of it.

Onwards and upwards. Huzzah!

[Bill]

Fire needs air. If you shut down the vents it'll die like it's had a fire blanket put on it. Opening the vents will allow it to burn and raise the temperature, and vice versa.


(FWIW my bottom vent control rusted away some time ago and I don't have a thermometer but I manage, with the odd crispy moment...)