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re: Teach me how to barbecue in my backyard
Posted on 1/6/25 at 3:02 pm to SUB
Posted on 1/6/25 at 3:02 pm to SUB
quote:
I've had mine for 16 years and it sometimes goes a year or more without use. I've never had an issue with the ash mechanism, but I don't live near the coast so that may factor in. I also don't own a cover for it so it just sits in the backyard exposed to all the elements.
Do you live in a Arizona or something?
I actually have two of the Webers pictured above. One is at my mother's house for when I cook over there, the other is on my back porch. They are very good grills, it's just that my PK is so much better for most of what I use a grill for. Even if the ash cleaning mechanism held up, the PK would still be better for me, however, there are charcoal basket accessories that could close the gap. I had the advantage of patching up my father's old PK and testing it out before deciding I wanted to buy a new one. I also keep a Weber Smokey Joe at both my house and my mother's house for cooking for just two. I don't use mine since I bought the new PK, but would take it on trips if I needed to.
1
Posted on 1/6/25 at 3:31 pm to Thundercles
If you want a dedicated smoker, not a grill, a Weber Smokey Mountain is a good entry point. Not too expensive but a little easier to smoke on than a kettle.
Posted on 1/6/25 at 3:36 pm to Thundercles
Like others have said starting out on a stick burner is going to be tough for the novice. Fire management is an art that truly comes with experience. I have been smoking meats for 25 years and it still frustrates me at times. Get a Weber or charcoal pit and start there.
Posted on 1/6/25 at 3:41 pm to Mouth
quote:
do not start with an offset smoker like tha
Can’t this just be used like a charcoal grill without using the smoker box?
Posted on 1/6/25 at 3:55 pm to CharlesUFarley
quote:
Do you live in a Arizona or something?
No. Central TX. quote:
Can’t this just be used like a charcoal grill without using the smoker box?
Yep. Most offsets come with a small grate that you can use over the coals in the fire box, so you can grill like you would on a non-smoker bbq pit.
This post was edited on 1/6/25 at 3:57 pm
Posted on 1/6/25 at 4:08 pm to SUB
quote:
Can’t this just be used like a charcoal grill without using the smoker box?
Yep. Most offsets come with a small grate that you can use over the coals in the fire box, so you can grill like you would on a non-smoker bbq pit.
The last offset I had came with a coal grate in the main chamber, you could raise and lower it too, so you could do plain old fashioned grilling in it. And for traditional smoking, for only a few people, I would usually not even use the fire box, I'd make my coals and wood in the main chamber on the firebox side and have my meat on the other side. It worked well. I hardly ever used the actual firebox. Downside is you have to open the whole lid to do any fire tending, which is frowned upon.
Posted on 1/6/25 at 4:17 pm to TackySweater
quote:
Can’t this just be used like a charcoal grill without using the smoker box?
no. you would use the smoker box to do that.
go look at the pic in the OP. you can see the handle/lid on the smoke box.
Posted on 1/6/25 at 4:53 pm to Thundercles
Dude,
I would NOT recommend you delve into BBQ starting with a stick burner. If you want to stick to fire and charcoal BBQ, start with a WSM or other type vertical smoker or kamado.
You could go with pellet rills, but not sure which direction you want to go.
I would NOT recommend you delve into BBQ starting with a stick burner. If you want to stick to fire and charcoal BBQ, start with a WSM or other type vertical smoker or kamado.
You could go with pellet rills, but not sure which direction you want to go.
Posted on 1/6/25 at 4:56 pm to Mouth
quote:
no. you would use the smoker box to do that. go look at the pic in the OP. you can see the handle/lid on the smoke box.
I had one similar years ago. Different brand though.
They had a tray, I guess you could call it, that ran the length of the bigger side that you could use for direct charcoal grilling without having to utilize the smoker box.
Posted on 1/6/25 at 5:11 pm to Thundercles
Weber Kettle.
Once you get good you’ll prob end up acquiring lots of other items but you’ll never toss out your weber kettle.
Once you get good you’ll prob end up acquiring lots of other items but you’ll never toss out your weber kettle.
Posted on 1/6/25 at 6:14 pm to Thundercles
Vote #37 for the Weber Kettle. There is a learning curve to perfecting BBQ as you’re always learning. Pork, chicken, and beef are all different. . The Kettle is the most forgiving as you can grill or smoke. Buy a Thermworks product to monitor internal meat temp and grill temp. A Thermopop is around $25 and perfect for checking meat temp. Lots of great products on sale . Thermoworks
Posted on 1/6/25 at 6:18 pm to Thundercles
Home Depot and Lowe’s have the Chargriller/CharBroil pits that are similar in shape for $300.
Posted on 1/6/25 at 6:42 pm to Thundercles
If I were you I would consider buying one of these SNS grills, it has a separate fire box (and water capacity) you can use for smoking or you can go full charcoal down in the middle. I have been using my SNS for 4 years. I cooked on a Primo XL for 18 years which is still my favorite primary cooker. SNS is currently on sale for $349, that is a good deal:
SNS grill
SNS grill
Posted on 1/6/25 at 6:44 pm to SixthAndBarone
quote:
Look for a pit like the Judge in this link. Oklahoma Joe Pitts
Looks like my first grill, which was made by CharBroil. It was a great grill that lasted a long time and was pretty versatile. I'd get one of those or a basic Weber.
There are a lot of videos out there to help you get started.
Posted on 1/6/25 at 6:58 pm to Thundercles
Weber Kettle plus SnS insert for when you want to smoke something
I love my kettle, it's so versatile. It's like the Toyota of grills. So many accessories to complement it. Would buy another if my current one breaks.
I love my kettle, it's so versatile. It's like the Toyota of grills. So many accessories to complement it. Would buy another if my current one breaks.
Posted on 1/6/25 at 7:17 pm to Thundercles
quote:
Teach me how to barbecue in my backyardby
Buy a Webber Kettle, lighter fluid, kingsford charcoal briquettes, and go from there. Everyone should start with the kettle and a lighter fluid fireball. Experiment with just burgers and chicken over the open flame and then try to get coals on one side and ribs on the other side for slower cooking. Add some smoke chips if you want.
From there you can move to clean burning high quality lump charcoal, etc.
But Webber Kettle and lighter fluid is the gateway drug to backyard grilling IMHO.
First burger cook:
Put charcoal briquettes in the bottom of the kettle stacked into a pyramid. Put a paper towel in the middle of the pyramid. Squirt lighter fluid into the pyramid. Let sit for a couple minutes. Light the charcoal. Let the flame get big and then die down until the coals are grey. Spread them out a little with a spatula, put the grate back on, throw the burgers on the grate for 5-7 mins and then flip them, add cheese if you want, and let cook until they’re done.
This post was edited on 1/7/25 at 7:11 pm
Posted on 1/6/25 at 9:09 pm to Thundercles
I prefer a charcoal grill but some folks find propane easier to use. You can find some videos on YouTube to get started.
Posted on 1/7/25 at 5:44 am to Thundercles
I started with a Weber Smokey Mountain Smoker (WSM), which I bought after grinding the Virtual Weber Bulletin Board for a weekend. LINK It's a great resource on all things Weber and BBQ.
I still have my WSM and use it often, but I also have a Weber kettle for grilling/roasting wings or rack of lamb, using a rotisserie (requires additional equipment), and small low and slow cooks like just a rack or two of ribs.
The 18 inch WSM cost ($419 in Amazon) a little more than the Weber kettle, but it is better for low and slow overnight BBQ. If you get a kettle, spend an extra c-note for the premium ($219), which is much nicer. I started with a basic kettle, but gave it away after a couple years and upgraded to the premium, which I've had for probably 10 years.
You can do low and slow on a kettle, but it holds less meat and can take more technique and attention. And you may end up buying extra equipment to smoke with a kettle, like a Slow 'n Sear (which I love) ($70-$100).
The WSM comes in a larger 22 inch size as well. Plenty of opinions out there on 18 v 22, but I say that unless you cook for a big crowd often just get the 18. I've done 4 pork butts at once in mine, as well as plenty of whole packer briskets. My neighbor just had to have the 22 despite my cautions, but he never uses it because it's just him and his wife, and the 22 eats a ton of charcoal relatively speaking.
Whatever you get, cook some chickens to start. That's a cheap way to experiment on how to use your cooker. No big deal if you screw up a $6 chicken, but it sucks to dry out a $60 brisket.
I still have my WSM and use it often, but I also have a Weber kettle for grilling/roasting wings or rack of lamb, using a rotisserie (requires additional equipment), and small low and slow cooks like just a rack or two of ribs.
The 18 inch WSM cost ($419 in Amazon) a little more than the Weber kettle, but it is better for low and slow overnight BBQ. If you get a kettle, spend an extra c-note for the premium ($219), which is much nicer. I started with a basic kettle, but gave it away after a couple years and upgraded to the premium, which I've had for probably 10 years.
You can do low and slow on a kettle, but it holds less meat and can take more technique and attention. And you may end up buying extra equipment to smoke with a kettle, like a Slow 'n Sear (which I love) ($70-$100).
The WSM comes in a larger 22 inch size as well. Plenty of opinions out there on 18 v 22, but I say that unless you cook for a big crowd often just get the 18. I've done 4 pork butts at once in mine, as well as plenty of whole packer briskets. My neighbor just had to have the 22 despite my cautions, but he never uses it because it's just him and his wife, and the 22 eats a ton of charcoal relatively speaking.
Whatever you get, cook some chickens to start. That's a cheap way to experiment on how to use your cooker. No big deal if you screw up a $6 chicken, but it sucks to dry out a $60 brisket.
Posted on 1/7/25 at 6:16 am to Thundercles
Start with a Weber kettle product. They are versatile and fun. Work your way to a stick burner. Good luck. Have fun.
This post was edited on 1/7/25 at 12:46 pm
Posted on 1/7/25 at 11:27 am to AwesomeSauce
+1 on the Weber Kettle. I ruined a few briskets on my old side-smoker. I can now rival some Lockhart, TX style brisket quality on my weber.
I have it down to an easy to follow set of steps.
I have it down to an easy to follow set of steps.
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