Let's Talk BBQ

Outdoor Cooking Equipment => Grills & Smokers => Charcoal Grills => Topic started by: teesquare on September 18, 2013, 10:33:48 PM

Title: WEBER KETTLE/PERFORMER TIPS AND TRICKS
Post by: teesquare on September 18, 2013, 10:33:48 PM
Due to the popularity of the Weber kettle and Performer - let' put any tips and tricks for them here - so they will always be easier to find.
Title: Re: WEBER KETTLE/PERFORMER TIPS AND TRICKS
Post by: LostArrow on September 19, 2013, 06:20:52 PM
I've wanted to try this on a weber 22 kettle.
Buy a 20 in pizza pan ( cheap)
Make a fuse burn with charcoal wood & firebricks.
Place the pan on top of fire bricks & grate in normal position.
Light one end adjust vents to run bout 250F
Bet you can cook 8-10 hours without refueling!
Title: Re: WEBER KETTLE/PERFORMER TIPS AND TRICKS
Post by: sparky on September 19, 2013, 06:35:03 PM
I've wanted to try this on a weber 22 kettle.
Make a fuse burn with charcoal / wood chunks
Light one end adjust vents to run bout 250F
Bet you can cook 8-10 hours without refueling!

been there, done it.  got 11 3/4 hours from one side of the fuse burn to the other running @ 230° solid the entire time.   8)
Title: Re: WEBER KETTLE/PERFORMER TIPS AND TRICKS
Post by: tnjimbob on September 20, 2013, 11:49:05 AM
Scroll down to see my reply & a couple of setup pics. The ring of fire (fuse burn) as shown lasted 8+ hrs. and I didn't have to babysit it.

http://www.letstalkbbq.com/index.php?topic=5961.0 (http://www.letstalkbbq.com/index.php?topic=5961.0)

As I mentioned in this post, I had a hard time keeping this small fuse burn at or above 250°, so I would make it a little bigger next time, with three briqs on the bottom row and two on the top with wood spaced periodically around the fuse.
Title: Re: WEBER KETTLE/PERFORMER TIPS AND TRICKS
Post by: veryolddog on September 20, 2013, 09:40:22 PM
I found this video that I thought was very interesting and a simple solution for indirect cooking of meat on the Weber kettle.

Ed

http://youtu.be/NaUUrc9rLmI
Title: Re: WEBER KETTLE/PERFORMER TIPS AND TRICKS
Post by: smokeasaurus on September 21, 2013, 09:37:51 AM
Great video Ed. One basket with -25- unlit briquettes. Take out -8- and get em lit. Add em to the -17- unlit brisquettes. Add a little chunk of wood. Every hour add -8- unlit briquettes and a small chunk of wood. Lid vent wide open. Bottom vent just cracked to 1/4. You will be cooking lo and slo just like the big boys..................

Oh, and for longer more greasier cooks add a foil pan on top of the foil lining.......
Title: Re: WEBER KETTLE/PERFORMER TIPS AND TRICKS
Post by: sparky on September 21, 2013, 03:44:11 PM
maybe we can have a weber kettle and WSM section for posting cooks using a weber kettle or WSM.  maybe in the charcoal section.  just a thought.   8)
Title: Re: WEBER KETTLE/PERFORMER TIPS AND TRICKS
Post by: smokeasaurus on September 21, 2013, 04:27:29 PM
Good one Sparky. The charcoal grill section is great for the kettle.
Title: Re: WEBER KETTLE/PERFORMER TIPS AND TRICKS
Post by: drholly on September 23, 2013, 05:43:52 PM
Very interesting video, Ed - thank you for posting it!
Title: Re: WEBER KETTLE/PERFORMER TIPS AND TRICKS
Post by: pz on September 23, 2013, 11:32:48 PM
I like it, Ed.  Before being a member of this forum and watching informational videos like this I thought a charcoal cooker was nothing more than a pile of coals beneath a grate
Title: Re: WEBER KETTLE/PERFORMER TIPS AND TRICKS
Post by: HighOnSmoke on September 24, 2013, 05:11:05 AM
maybe we can have a weber kettle and WSM section for posting cooks using a weber kettle or WSM.  maybe in the charcoal section.  just a thought.   8)

I go along with this since the majority of my cooks have been on the Performer or the WSM, prior
to getting my pellet cookers. I like the ease of the pellet cookers, but there is something about
cooking with charcoal that seems to make certain foods taste better, IMHO.
Title: Re: WEBER KETTLE/PERFORMER TIPS AND TRICKS
Post by: smokeasaurus on October 12, 2013, 02:25:26 PM
I was registering my Weber Smoochy Mountain and the CS lady asked me if I have ever used the Weber shovel. She said it is specially shaped to clean the ashes out of your WSM and works semi-well with the OTG kettle.

Of course I had her send me one. I found the link on Amazon in case anyone wants to give it the hairy eyeball......

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009IH0HYK/ref=pe_385040_30332190_TE_tr_M3T1_ST1_dp_i1
Title: Re: WEBER KETTLE/PERFORMER TIPS AND TRICKS
Post by: TwoPockets on October 12, 2013, 04:03:02 PM
I was registering my Weber Smoochy Mountain and the CS lady asked me if I have ever used the Weber shovel. She said it is specially shaped to clean the ashes out of your WSM and works semi-well with the OTG kettle.

Of course I had her send me one. I found the link on Amazon in case anyone wants to give it the hairy eyeball......

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009IH0HYK/ref=pe_385040_30332190_TE_tr_M3T1_ST1_dp_i1

Gotta get that.
Title: Re: WEBER KETTLE/PERFORMER TIPS AND TRICKS
Post by: muebe on October 12, 2013, 04:25:44 PM
Cool shovel!

Smoke you actually called to register your Weber? You can register it at their website... You really are "old school" 8)
Title: Re: WEBER KETTLE/PERFORMER TIPS AND TRICKS
Post by: smokeasaurus on October 12, 2013, 05:17:56 PM
Like Sparky said in a previous post:  Old School is best.

Heck I still send all my bills out in the mail. In case anyone forgot...stamps still dont taste good when ya lick em........... :P
Title: WEBER KETTLE/PERFORMER TIPS AND TRICKS
Post by: Pappymn on October 12, 2013, 05:20:50 PM
Like Sparky said in a previous post:  Old School is best.

Heck I still send all my bills out in the mail. In case anyone forgot...stamps still dont taste good when ya lick em........... :P

Haven't the adhesive stamps made it to Cali yet? ???
Title: Re: WEBER KETTLE/PERFORMER TIPS AND TRICKS
Post by: grossie on December 04, 2013, 08:16:22 PM
Smoke ordered his adhesive stamps via Pony Express...should be there by Christmas. 
;-)
Title: Re: WEBER KETTLE/PERFORMER TIPS AND TRICKS
Post by: smokeasaurus on December 05, 2013, 08:10:51 AM
 :D :D
Title: Re: WEBER KETTLE/PERFORMER TIPS AND TRICKS
Post by: RAD on September 28, 2014, 10:13:22 AM
Not sure if this goes here but I thought this was shareable

http://www.weber.com/mobile-apps/weber-grills
Title: Re: WEBER KETTLE/PERFORMER TIPS AND TRICKS
Post by: Big Dawg on September 28, 2014, 12:56:39 PM
Thanks for the tip, I'll give it a try.





BD
Title: Re: WEBER KETTLE/PERFORMER TIPS AND TRICKS
Post by: tlg4942 on February 16, 2016, 04:14:10 PM
  My recent purchase of the Weber Performer has me wondering what took me so long.  I have friends that have them , I have bought them as gifts for the kids. I had a mini kettle years ago that I found on the side of the road. We worked it over for a couple years and really liked it.
  This thing is great. Meat is just awesome on it.
 I will try cowboy charcoal on it next. The Kingsford is good but it has to be very well started to avoid an off flavor it seems to have. I have not noticed this on the tank but there is a lot more room to breath on it. Stubbs does really well though and Ill use it if nothing else going forward.
 I used the coal trays that came with it and they are fine but I also used a bunt cake pan in the center. that works really well.
 One thing is for sure. When I go out the door I head straight for this grill now.
I plan on adding a nomex seal to the lid as it leaks a little.
 
Note, I think that "OFF" flavor is what some folks are getting on the PBC's . If so let the coals burn a bit longer before you start the cook.  Or use Stubbs...
(http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h344/tlg4942/IMG_2192_zps9a3d6443.jpg)
(http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h344/tlg4942/IMG_2193_zpsa308941f.jpg)
(http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h344/tlg4942/IMG_2197_zps92f08e85.jpg)
Title: Re: WEBER KETTLE/PERFORMER TIPS AND TRICKS
Post by: Big Dawg on February 16, 2016, 05:56:40 PM
  My recent purchase of the Weber Performer has me wondering what took me so long.  I have friends that have them , I have bought them as gifts for the kids. I had a mini kettle years ago that I found on the side of the road. We worked it over for a couple years and really liked it.
  This thing is great. Meat is just awesome on it.
 I will try cowboy charcoal on it next. The Kingsford is good but it has to be very well started to avoid an off flavor it seems to have. I have not noticed this on the tank but there is a lot more room to breath on it. Stubbs does really well though and Ill use it if nothing else going forward.
 I used the coal trays that came with it and they are fine but I also used a bunt cake pan in the center. that works really well.
 One thing is for sure. When I go out the door I head straight for this grill now.
I plan on adding a nomex seal to the lid as it leaks a little.
 

Your "bunt" pan looks an awful lot like a Vortex, bet it would work about the same as well.





BD
Title: Re: WEBER KETTLE/PERFORMER TIPS AND TRICKS
Post by: tlg4942 on February 17, 2016, 07:48:07 AM
Ok,
Bunt should be bundt.
And I think in actuality it may be an Angel cake pan.
I did get the idea of the pan from looking at the Vortex. However I have been useing small containers for extra charcoal  in the big tank for many years to help maintain higher temps when needed.   
The bundt or angel pan was $4at Tuesday Morning's clearance bin.
 
Title: Re: WEBER KETTLE/PERFORMER TIPS AND TRICKS
Post by: Big Dawg on February 17, 2016, 02:59:00 PM
Great pick up!  But, whenever I hear that word, I immediately go to this:

http://youtu.be/Rqbo2612lww





BD
Title: Re: WEBER KETTLE/PERFORMER TIPS AND TRICKS
Post by: Daze823 on March 05, 2016, 12:23:26 PM
  My recent purchase of the Weber Performer has me wondering what took me so long.  I have friends that have them , I have bought them as gifts for the kids. I had a mini kettle years ago that I found on the side of the road. We worked it over for a couple years and really liked it.
  This thing is great. Meat is just awesome on it.

First, I'm just gonna say I'm insanely jealous of the deal you got on your performer...  im looking to buy a weber this week, but I can't decide between the performer and the performer premium..  I actually prefer the smaller, foldable table on the premium, but I'm thinking the charcoal storage on the perf. Prem. may be worth the extra money...  I've never really cooked with charcoal, and I'm wondering what those without that charcoal storage bin do to store the charcoal in a convenient location...  Does anyone know of a way to mod the performer to add a charcoal storage bin?
Title: Re: WEBER KETTLE/PERFORMER TIPS AND TRICKS
Post by: TwoPockets on June 03, 2016, 03:45:35 PM
I have a couple of Kingsford Kaddy containers I use :

http://www.amazon.com/Kingsford-Kaddy-Charcoal-Dispenser-Container/dp/B002HO27WQ/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1464982793&sr=1-2-catcorr&keywords=kingsford+kaddy

Plus the charcoal container under my Weber Performer. I was afraid the Weber storage would let the charcoal get damp but have not had a problem. With the Kaddys and the Performer I can store regular charcoal, lump and wood chunks separate.
Title: WEBER KETTLE/PERFORMER TIPS AND TRICKS
Post by: Pappymn on June 03, 2016, 05:22:14 PM
  My recent purchase of the Weber Performer has me wondering what took me so long.  I have friends that have them , I have bought them as gifts for the kids. I had a mini kettle years ago that I found on the side of the road. We worked it over for a couple years and really liked it.
  This thing is great. Meat is just awesome on it.

First, I'm just gonna say I'm insanely jealous of the deal you got on your performer...  im looking to buy a weber this week, but I can't decide between the performer and the performer premium..  I actually prefer the smaller, foldable table on the premium, but I'm thinking the charcoal storage on the perf. Prem. may be worth the extra money...  I've never really cooked with charcoal, and I'm wondering what those without that charcoal storage bin do to store the charcoal in a convenient location...  Does anyone know of a way to mod the performer to add a charcoal storage bin?
I use a 5 gallon bucket with a lid that locks on with a rubber gasket. Works great
Title: Re: WEBER KETTLE/PERFORMER TIPS AND TRICKS
Post by: RAD on June 04, 2016, 12:35:44 PM
Terry, when I want to do steaks or something that is high heat and seared I will take the Weber baskets and turn them over and heat up about ¼ basket of bricks and go direct over the heat. Almost like a cowboy cook without touching the coals.

(http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l501/rdelemos/weber/Silver/Blackened/20150501_172758_zpswvrnemlb.jpg)

(http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l501/rdelemos/weber/Silver/Blackened/20150501_172918_zps0ntp5nj6.jpg)

(http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l501/rdelemos/weber/Silver/Blackened/20150501_174100_zpsk0wvwhoq.jpg)