PBC Mod - The Test

[bobh665]

Made up a jerk seasoning I have been wanting to try. Seasoned the chicken about six hours before i started the cook and put in the frig.



Filled the basket even then filled my small Weber charcoal starter from the basket and started as I usually do.



I placed one half over the coal side and the other half on the side not under to coals. Cooked for 2 hours 10 minutes withe lid cracked the last 30 minutes. Checking the temps of the chicken there was no difference between the two halves.



Still plenty of heat after cooking.



The chicken turned out great. My wife noticed right away it didnt have the  dirty smoke taste. It was definitely milder. I noticed during the cook that there was much less smoke coming from the PBC. Im not sure if thats from drying the chicken out in the fridge or that only half the chicken was over the coals or a combination of both.

[tomcrete1]

Looks great! Kinda like cooking indirect not really but yes...

[Aclarke44]

Nice work.   Once I understood what you planned to do I figured it would work well.

By the way if you are trying to avoid drippings hitting the coals, I've seen someone (I believe Regular Guy) use 3 firebricks outside the coal basket and then sat a grill grate on the bricks.  If you do that you can put a drip pan or diffuser plate on the grate.  Works well and non-permanent.   Now I've also seen where a guy measured 1/2" above the coal basket handle and drilled 3 holes in the PBC.  He put stainless steel bolts in which holds a grill grate for the same thing as mentioned above but obviously a permanent mod. 
I will probably do one of the above because, as much as I enjoy the flavor produced by drippings hitting the coals, sometimes I want the different flavor of a more wood smoked cook.  Right now I just use my kettle for that but it limits the amount I can cook.

[TentHunteR]

Great post and some good looking chicken too!

[bobh665]

Nice work.   Once I understood what you planned to do I figured it would work well.

By the way if you are trying to avoid drippings hitting the coals, I've seen someone (I believe Regular Guy) use 3 firebricks outside the coal basket and then sat a grill grate on the bricks.  If you do that you can put a drip pan or diffuser plate on the grate.  Works well and non-permanent.   Now I've also seen where a guy measured 1/2" above the coal basket handle and drilled 3 holes in the PBC.  He put stainless steel bolts in which holds a grill grate for the same thing as mentioned above but obviously a permanent mod. 
I will probably do one of the above because, as much as I enjoy the flavor produced by drippings hitting the coals, sometimes I want the different flavor of a more wood smoked cook.  Right now I just use my kettle for that but it limits the amount I can cook.

I just used your idea and did it a different way. I just wanted to use less KB for short cooks. The fact that I can control the drippings with chicken is a bonus. Chicken is the only thing my wife didnt like before tonight.

[Smokin Papa Steve]

Nice work.   Once I understood what you planned to do I figured it would work well.

I just used your idea and did it a different way. I just wanted to use less KB for short cooks. The fact that I can control the drippings with chicken is a bonus. Chicken is the only thing my wife didnt like before tonight.

Curious to know how different in taste was the chicken - over the coals and not over?  When I do chicken the regular way (all over the coals), it almost tastes like it was boiled-which is in fact what happens as the smoke coming out is a lot of steam

[bobh665]

Curious to know how different in taste was the chicken - over the coals and not over?  When I do chicken the regular way (all over the coals), it almost tastes like it was boiled-which is in fact what happens as the smoke coming out is a lot of steam


Both sides tasted the same. Definitely less of a charcoal taste than a full basket.