Let's Talk BBQ
Welcome Center => New Member Introductions => Topic started by: maktek on May 16, 2013, 09:04:42 AM
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I have been seriously into grilling and smoking for about 4 years now. I currently use a Char Griller Smokin Pro which i am pretty much sick of and have been kicking around the idea of getting something new. I am on the fence of whether to get a Kamado style grill or something like the Pit Barrel Cooker or just build a UDS. I started coming to this particular forum because there seemed to be lots of info about the Pit Barrel. I love the idea of the Pit Barrel for the simplicity of it. Where i see drawbacks though are not being able to do a High Heat sear or Pizza and i dont know if my wife is going to let me put a barrel on the deck where as a Kamado looks nice and i can smoke and do high heat sears. Any thoughts from you folks would be greatly appreciated. I look forward to having many discussions about bbq with you guys.
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Greetings from North Texas. My advice, get both. ;)
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Welcome from Minnesota. The brains of this outfit will be along shortly with opinions.
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I'll chime in before the brains get here. I'd find it difficult to have just one cooker - and won't try to answer that question. But, I will say that I love my PBC! You're right it's really not a "grill." But, for doing almost anything but burgers - it is a champ. And it does a fantastic pizza! Having said that, I bet someone will chime in with how to do great burgers on the thing... ;) ;D
As for a "barrel" on the deck - this is a good looking cooker and well made. It's not just a barrel - it's a cooker you would be proud to have on your deck and a great conversation piece when you explain how it works and why it is NOT a UDS.
Good luck and now, I'll let the brains step in.... ;)
Cheers,
David
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Since I don't see any of the brains around yet and I have no recent experience on either one I'll just say WELCOME from Augusta, GA. Glad to have you. Dee
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Hi and Welcome from NW Ohio. Pam .☆´¯`•.¸¸. ི♥ྀ
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Outstanding first post! WELCOME to the LTBBQ family.
I believe that the diversity of experience here can help you with enough information so that you can find the right pieces of outdoor cooking gear for your needs.
And - our Site Sponsors here have their own thread sections where you can post questions about their offerings. We have been very selective with the companies we allow to become site sponsors on LTBBQ, so you can be confident that they all offer quality, and great customer service.
One type of cooker that I did not see on your list that I can recommend you explore for some of your needs is a pellet grill/smoker. It took me a long time to accept this kind of cooker as a method that I could feel good about using.
But, once I did - I will never go back. ;) I also have gas, gas infra red, and a Pit Barrel Cooker for charcoal. And - they all have benefits in one or more areas.
It would be a great thread for you to post your outlined needs and request input. If you post this in the General Discussions, it will be seen by more folks, and you will get a lot of quality advice for sure.
We are happy to have you here. Never be afraid to ask any question, or offer your input. We all refer to the only real 2 rules on LTBBQ : 1. The Golden Rule in our interactions with one another. 2. Have Fun!. Yeah - it is a rule here ;D...relax, and have fun!
T
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Hi and welcome to the forum! I agree with Drholly. It really is a great addition to other cookers. Looks fine to me ;D and I do get a lot of comments about it too! Great food comes off it!
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Welcome from So-Cal.
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Welcome from Southern California.
I have a PBC and a pellet grill. My Memphis pellet grill is the most versatile cooker I have. It does temps from 180F to 600F+ all with wood fire. I can direct grill on it too.
I love my PBC for what it is... a great charcoal drum cooker. This is not a smoker. A set it and forget it cooker. Makes the best chicken hands down. It is so easy to use even I can use it ;)
Good luck on your decision and ask lots of questions so you can be an informed buyer.
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An ugly and utterly untrue rumor still continues to make the rounds: There is some limit on the number and types of outdoor cooking appliances one may own. Bah, Pish, Fie, Poppycock, and Rot! This urban legend needs to die ???
Just as some cookers are sort of one-dimensional, others practically do it all. Each has its own "sweet spot" too. I only have about six or seven right now but manage to limp along and get things cooked pretty well. When my wife raises any objection to my menagerie, I go around and count her toys and she changes the subject.
The same dynamic applies to gadgets: Frogmats, Grill Grates, Injectors, Thermometers, etc. ::) Both golfers and barbequers know the power of the gadget. Nobody can have just one.
Oh, just sit back and watch your collection grow!
Hub
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Thanks for all the replies. I really appreciate it. I will let everyone know when i make my decision but for now i think i am going to cook a brisket on the Char Griller this weekend.
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One thing to keep in mind... a good cook can cook good on a rock... the rest is just fun!
David
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Hey! Welcome from NW New Jersey!
The PBC is a power cooker, which is why I bought it. Temp at the grate (middle) is @290 + or -. I've put out some good eats with it. Check out the PBC board for yourself.
My MAK 1 Star does the heavy lifting in my house. The Weber Platinum satisfies the everyday quick charcoal meal. And the PBC has it's place in the line up for sure. It really does a great job on pork and chicken. I did a leg of lamb in the PBC too, outstanding!
Listen, if you live up this way, shoot me a pm. I can drop off the PBC and you can take it for test drive yourself. Your call.
Glad you joined us!
Sam
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Welcome from mid Alabama. I have 4 cookers on my deck and more in the garage and storage.
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One thing to keep in mind... a good cook can cook good on a rock... the rest is just fun!
David
First of all, Welcome from Illinois!
Lastly, I gotta agree with David on this, more proof that we are all here to have fun! Enjoy!
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Welcome Aboard!!
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welcome from washington
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First of all: Welcome from Germany!
I have about 10 cookers, including a smoking pro (which I really love), a Louisiana pellet cooker and 2 kamado cookers.
And I also agree with drholly, that it's the cook and not the cooker - but never the less the cooker can make life much easier for the cook. ;)
If you are limited to get just one cooker, take a kamado: I don't have a PBC, but I'm convinced, that it's an outrageous cooker and the folks here on LTBBQ are very enthusiastic on it. But as Sam3 already told it's a power cooker. So if you just want to take one cooker, it should rather be more universal.
A pellet grill is very easy to use and has a bright range of temeratures to work with. Depending on the product you are limited to indirect cooking, while Memphis and some other have the possibility for direct grilling. But be aware that, although they burn wood pellets, the smoke flavor is VERY decent: Most folks here use cold smoke generators to get smoke flavors to their food.
IMHO a kamado style cooker is most universal: It has at least the same temperature range like a pellet cooker (I think it's getting way hotter) and is almost as easy in use. The pro is, you get it very fast hot. The con is, it's VERY slow cooling down. But it keeps temperature very constant for a very long time. It's also very economical in use of charcoal. You light the charcoal and after your job is done you close all drafts to turn the fire off; next time you cook with the same charcoal. And it's very easy to smoke your food: just put in some chunks of wood or wood chips.
So you can use it for long jobs and smoking as well as a PBC style power cooker and as a high heat cooker for steaks and even pizza.
For indirect cooking you put in a plate setter, for direct grilling you take it out. In a Primo Oval XL you can even work with two temperature zones: one for direct grilling and one half covered with a plate setter for indirect cooking. For more space you get extended cooking grates.
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Hey Sam3 thanks for the offer i might have to take you up on that offer before i decide to purchase. The one thing about the PBC that i cant get out of my mind is the way Chicken looks when it comes out. Man does it look good. What is everyones opinion on how it cooks brisket. Myself even on my Smokin Pro i have always had great success with cooking hot and fast. Here is a brisket i recently cooked on the Smokin Pro.
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welcome from northern cali.
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Well if I were advising a cook who was just getting started in grilling and BBQ and could only get one grill it would probably be a Weber kettle. It will do a lot of things from hot and fast to indirect low and slow to smoking. BUT you have been cooking for over 4 years and have been turning out good food on a Chargiller Smokin Pro which is not that easy to do. At this point it depends on what your budget can handle and which style of cooking you do the most. You are getting lot's of good advice.
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Welcome from Nürnberg Germany!! I am sure you will enjoy this site as much as I do...
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Welcome to the forum. I have a PBC and I love it. I prefer chicken out if it than any other cooker I have.
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Welcome from North Alabama. I have 14 different grills, smokers & cookers Now trying for 15 ???
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Welcome from Southern Illinois
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I ended buying a char griller kamado. I think this will suit me best for now. I will show pics of upcoming cooks and experiences with everyone.
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I ended buying a char griller kamado. I think this will suit me best for now. I will show pics of upcoming cooks and experiences with everyone.
We like pics of new shiny grills all by themselves too ;)
Congrats!
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Outstanding! and -a great value...I think LA ( Lost Arrow) has one of those,a nd can give you some advise to get you comfortable with it quickly.
Looking forward to your cooks!
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Good for you! Looking forward t pics of the shiny new cooker and your upcoming cooks.
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Hello and welcome from NW Ohio. Pam .☆´¯`•.¸¸. ིྀ
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Hi from CT>>>>>>> Jet fan I hope ;)
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Welcome aboard!
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Welcome from Arizona.
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Hi from CT>>>>>>> Jet fan I hope ;)
WElcome from south jersey! What part of nj?
Tailgate, as a fellow Jet fan I could never impose that on someone else...esp this year :) ;D ::)
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Welcome from Arizona.
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Welcome from a fellow New Jersey-ite from South Jersey!
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An ugly and utterly untrue rumor still continues to make the rounds: There is some limit on the number and types of outdoor cooking appliances one may own. Bah, Pish, Fie, Poppycock, and Rot! This urban legend needs to die ???
Just as some cookers are sort of one-dimensional, others practically do it all. Each has its own "sweet spot" too. I only have about six or seven right now but manage to limp along and get things cooked pretty well. When my wife raises any objection to my menagerie, I go around and count her toys and she changes the subject.
The same dynamic applies to gadgets: Frogmats, Grill Grates, Injectors, Thermometers, etc. ::) Both golfers and barbequers know the power of the gadget. Nobody can have just one.
Oh, just sit back and watch your collection grow!
Hub
Hub, I think I married your wife's sister! ;D I get the same from mine, until I point out all her craft stuff and her collection of shoes..
Welcome aboard from Georgia!
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Welcome from Idaho! Although I have no business offering advice because I only own a mini version of one of the units you are thinking about, here are a couple of considerations:
- Kamodo style - looks really pretty, and cooks quite a few styles of food. I don't have lots of experience (I have a Big Green Egg Mini), but the wife loves it. She does not love my SRG, which is slightly reminiscent of a PBC. I love my SRG, and only use the BGE Mini when the wife insists
- PBC - I have no experience with this type of cooker, but from the posts I've seen, it performs in a stellar way when it comes to a wide variety of cooking.
The bottom line from my ignorance (keep in mind that wives are often similar - they really don't care about how well a machine cooks, just how good it looks) is that if you want the deck to look great, and keep the wife happy with the appearance of the place, get the ceramic cooker. On the other hand, if you want your guests to fall in love with food, the PBC might be the ticket - it looks more like a serious "Q" implement while the ceramic cookers in my opinion are more "yuppy" ;D