Let's Talk BBQ

FORUM SPONSORS => Steak Cookoff Association - "Building the Sport of Steak Cookoffs" => Topic started by: Old Dave on February 23, 2017, 04:36:04 PM

Title: SCA Contest Steak Cooking and the Slow 'N Sear Accessory
Post by: Old Dave on February 23, 2017, 04:36:04 PM
I did this cook today in my Weber Gen 2 Performer Kettle in another one of those middle of the Winter warm and wonderful Spring like days. I think it’s our third day at about 70 degrees.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/OldDave/WSM%20Cooking/IMG_0266.jpg)

Trimmed up a couple of steaks that weighed about one pound each and were about 1-1/8” thick and applied two different competition rubs. The top steak has a rub with dill seed in it and is my wife’s favorite and the bottom steak is my favorite and has a little heat in it. Both are very good rubs for competition steaks.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/OldDave/WSM%20Cooking/IMG_0267.jpg)

I moved the Slow ‘N Sear as far to the middle of the cooker as it would go and then foiled each side of the unit to force all the intake air up thru the center of the accessory for maximum air flow and heat. I filled a Weber chimney full of all Kingsford Professional  all hardwood charcoal briquets for this cook and lit if off for this cook. I would rather use all lump but I think that SCA and Kingsford will team up again this year and offer the additional “double your contest purse” if you win and I sure can’t pass on this great offer.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/OldDave/WSM%20Cooking/IMG_0269.jpg)

My tools for this cook. I decided to try two different methods of cooking the steak in the Weber Kettle to see which one might be the best for the setups I had on hand.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/OldDave/WSM%20Cooking/IMG_0271.jpg)

I did the first steak on my standard size Grill Grates after a 15 minute warm up (to 625 degrees) and this took a total of 10 minutes to get it seared up and looking good.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/OldDave/WSM%20Cooking/IMG_0272.jpg)

After the first steak was done, I setup the kettle with my cast iron steak grid setup and let it warm up for about 20-25 minutes to my cooking temp of about 500 degrees and this steak took about a minute less to get to my pulling temp of about 136-138 degrees for that perfect finish temp of medium that the SCA rules call for.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/OldDave/WSM%20Cooking/IMG_0276.jpg)

You know...I think both of them looked great and would be competitive in a contest.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/OldDave/WSM%20Cooking/IMG_0275.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/OldDave/WSM%20Cooking/IMG_0274.jpg)

Both steaks in the presentation box and ready for turn-in.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/OldDave/WSM%20Cooking/IMG_0278.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/OldDave/WSM%20Cooking/IMG_0279.jpg)

The results of the cook looked about right on the doneness of warm and pink in the center (medium) and my sear marks on both steaks came out well. For ease of cooking, I thought the steak on the cast iron grid was the easiest to cook. I also found out that I could have used much less fuel (maybe 2/3rd chimney of charcoal) for this type of cook.

I sure feel that a fellow could do quite well with either of these setups and method for cooking a competitive steak in a SCA contest with the Weber Kettle and the Slow ‘N Sear accessory.
Title: Re: SCA Contest Steak Cooking and the Slow 'N Sear Accessory
Post by: RAD on February 23, 2017, 06:50:20 PM
two perfect looking steaks.
Title: Re: SCA Contest Steak Cooking and the Slow 'N Sear Accessory
Post by: Big Dawg on February 23, 2017, 07:02:43 PM
Both steaks look good, Dave ! ! !

I was checking out the SCA site and see that there is pending contest tied ion with the Biker Blues and BBQ (KCBS)event.  I still want to cook even though the Sultans have had to drop off the KCBS circuit and this would be a fun event.

If it ends up going forward, I will be in touch for some pointers ! ! !





BD
Title: Re: SCA Contest Steak Cooking and the Slow 'N Sear Accessory
Post by: ACW3 on February 23, 2017, 07:18:24 PM
Dave,
You are one fine chef around a grill!!  I have tasted some of your cooking and would not hesitate to recommend it to any and all.  Whatever you cook, I would like to eat.

Art
Title: Re: SCA Contest Steak Cooking and the Slow 'N Sear Accessory
Post by: N. Ontario Smoker on February 23, 2017, 11:28:25 PM
Great looking steaks. I also like the cast iron one the best. Now I have to go look up where to buy one.
Title: Re: SCA Contest Steak Cooking and the Slow 'N Sear Accessory
Post by: sparky on February 23, 2017, 11:52:57 PM
I thought they both looked great.  Where did you get that cast iron thingy?. No turning the steak.
Title: Re: SCA Contest Steak Cooking and the Slow 'N Sear Accessory
Post by: Old Dave on February 24, 2017, 01:31:58 AM
My cast iron cooking grate is from Marin Restaurant Supply in California and is a replacement grate for a Vulcan or Char Broiler commercial grill. It measures 21-1/2 X 5-1/4" and will fit the 22-1/2" Weber grill right thru the middle without any modifications. However, with the high cost, I decided to cut it down to where it would fit several of my grills as it does work great. I cut it down to 17" in length on a bench mount chop saw. I now use it in my smaller Weber Jumbo Joe, my two Hasty-Bakes, two of my pellet cookers, and my Char-Broil charcoal grill.

One of the nice things about this grate is that you don't have to get it as hot as you would the Grill Grates which makes it nice for cookers that struggle to get to the higher temps.

The price at my time of purchase was $108.00 + shipping

http://www.dvorsons.com/parts/wolf/wolf-parts.php?recordID=264
Title: Re: SCA Contest Steak Cooking and the Slow 'N Sear Accessory
Post by: Old Dave on February 24, 2017, 01:34:04 AM
Both steaks look good, Dave ! ! !

I was checking out the SCA site and see that there is pending contest tied ion with the Biker Blues and BBQ (KCBS)event.  I still want to cook even though the Sultans have had to drop off the KCBS circuit and this would be a fun event.

If it ends up going forward, I will be in touch for some pointers ! ! !

Be more than happy to try to help you with competition steak cooking with what knowledge I have about this hobby or sport.



BD
Title: Re: SCA Contest Steak Cooking and the Slow 'N Sear Accessory
Post by: teesquare on February 24, 2017, 06:46:55 AM
Yeah!!! I love the look of that cast iron grate. It is iron - which i prefer over aluminum. I love my grill grates...But CAST IRON RULES.......
Title: Re: SCA Contest Steak Cooking and the Slow 'N Sear Accessory
Post by: Smokin Don on February 24, 2017, 09:00:36 AM
The steaks look great Dave!!! Don