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Building a Cajun Microwave - Thoughts and Ideas
Posted on 9/14/15 at 9:33 pm
Posted on 9/14/15 at 9:33 pm
Going to build a cajun microwave for upcoming use. I have a decent design down with steel base and drain, BBQ rack for cooking above firebox, pig jig to make flipping easier, etc. Any other ideas you have put in your own design or seen others that works well? Also any ideas on surplus stainless counter tops, sinks, tanks, that could be reused to make the inside liner stainless?
4
Posted on 9/14/15 at 9:45 pm to Tbooux
My Cajun microwave is made from 1 sheet of plywood and a steel pan. I line it with heavy duty aluminum foil every time I assemble it to cook, and use some disposable aluminum pans to elevate the pig on a surplus BBQ grate and keep it off the bottom. Works awesome. The beauty of the Cajun microwave to me is the simplicity. Don't over think it.
This post was edited on 9/14/15 at 10:07 pm
Posted on 9/15/15 at 7:32 am to The Last Coco
quote:
Don't over think it.
whats the fun in that!
Posted on 9/15/15 at 7:53 am to Tbooux
Sounds like it's going to be heavy. Put some wheels on there.
Also maybe a sight glass.
I have one for about 10 years and use it 6-8 times a year. It's lined with sheet metal. The bottom where the meat rests is a 1" elevated expandable metal grading. Floor has a drain on one end with a valve.
Also maybe a sight glass.
I have one for about 10 years and use it 6-8 times a year. It's lined with sheet metal. The bottom where the meat rests is a 1" elevated expandable metal grading. Floor has a drain on one end with a valve.
Posted on 9/15/15 at 9:18 am to Tbooux
I'd definitely line it with sheet metal and make a drain on one end. makes for easier cleanup.
Posted on 9/15/15 at 10:00 am to Motorboat
What's the best way to do the sheet metal? Do it yourself? Get a local fab shop to make you a box?
Posted on 9/15/15 at 10:03 am to Tino
Sheet metal insert. Give the fab shop dims or bring the box and let them build
Posted on 9/15/15 at 10:25 am to SaDaTayMoses
Any idea on about how much that would run me?
Posted on 9/15/15 at 11:11 am to Tino
One 4x8' sheet of 18ga, 304 stainless is going to run you around $200. You'll pay less if you get a lighter gauge, but then it starts getting a bit more difficult to weld.
Don't know what the shop will charge for the work.
I've always wondered why anyone would want a cajun microwave instead of a smoker. But I guess it's just a big oven. If I'm using charcoal, I want to taste some smoke.
Don't know what the shop will charge for the work.
I've always wondered why anyone would want a cajun microwave instead of a smoker. But I guess it's just a big oven. If I'm using charcoal, I want to taste some smoke.
Posted on 9/15/15 at 11:21 am to BiggerBear
Damn, think I might just buy one from the felons at Angola next month
Posted on 9/15/15 at 11:24 am to Tino
Posted on 9/15/15 at 11:25 am to The Last Coco
Is there some sort of insulation between the plywood and steel?
Posted on 9/15/15 at 11:39 am to ForeverLSU02
quote:
Is there some sort of insulation between the plywood and steel?
Nope. The top is plywood wrapped in HD aluminum foil with a center cutout for the pan. The rest is all just plywood lined on the inside with HD aluminum foil and stapled to the inside. The pig rests on a grate on the disposable aluminum pans so almost all of the drippings are collected there. The cleanup is stupid easy. I can disassemble/assemble it in 10 minutes and it all stores flat in the shed so it takes up very little room.
As far as why you want a cajun microwave vs. a smoker, for me it's about the size. I can cook a headless 55-60# pig with mine and a head-on 35# pig. It costs very little outside of the cost of the steel pan too. I can easily make another box once this one is worn out and the steel pan will still be rocking and rolling.
Posted on 9/15/15 at 12:22 pm to The Last Coco
quote:
As far as why you want a cajun microwave vs. a smoker, for me it's about the size. I can cook a headless 55-60# pig with mine and a head-on 35# pig. It costs very little outside of the cost of the steel pan too. I can easily make another box once this one is worn out and the steel pan will still be rocking and rolling.
I guess it's just a matter of preference. I prefer to cook the separate parts of a pig and cook them at different temperatures and for different times etc. I've never cared for a whole hog cook, but if that's what you like, I can see the appeal of the cajun microwave, except that it seems that your cleanup would be faster if you just used a heating element instead of fooling with charcoal - at least for cookouts in the backyard where electricity is reasonably accessible. A heating element like that would even obviate the need for the steel pan. You could just use all plywood and foil.
Posted on 9/15/15 at 12:25 pm to Tbooux
What I'd used is 20 in. x 50 ft. Aluminum Drip Edge Flashing from home Depot about $35 a roll. I'd over lap the edges and staple it to the wood.
Posted on 9/15/15 at 12:30 pm to BiggerBear
quote:
it seems that your cleanup would be faster if you just used a heating element instead of fooling with charcoal - at least for cookouts in the backyard where electricity is reasonably accessible. A heating element like that would even obviate the need for the steel pan. You could just use all plywood and foil.
Many times this is used at a tailgate, camp or in a place without accessible electricity. And besides, the whole point of this is that I have to sit outside and poke to fire to make sure it doesn't get too hot or cold inside the cajun microwave, lol. You take all the fun out of it if I can set it and forget it. It's about the process as much as the pig. You get an 8 hour excuse to sit around and drink beer.
Posted on 9/15/15 at 1:13 pm to The Last Coco
quote:
What I'd used is 20 in. x 50 ft. Aluminum Drip Edge Flashing
This is what I've seen most made with, was thinking about goign overboard and getting a stainless tub made but may just go this route.
quote:
You get an 8 hour excuse to sit around and drink beer.
This guy gets it completely!
Posted on 9/15/15 at 1:55 pm to Tbooux
I've got an old time heavy cast bath tub, hang pig inside with chicken wire, one sheet of corrugated metal roofing over the tub with metal fence posts fastened to it for strength and removal. I build a big fire next to it and just shovel coals on to the lid periodically.
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