Let's Talk BBQ

FORUM SPONSORS => Pit Barrel Cooker Co. => Topic started by: ChrisD46 on December 28, 2014, 06:26:46 AM

Title: Using Bricks To Raise PBC Charcoal Basket Height ?
Post by: ChrisD46 on December 28, 2014, 06:26:46 AM

I believe I read a suggestion here to use a few bricks under the charcoal basket to raise the heat closer to the grill grate if cooking things such as chicken pieces , brats , etc. to get the skin to crisp up . Your thoughts and or experiences ? Also curious if one would lay the bricks horizontal OR vertical benieth the charcoal basket ?

Title: Re: Using Bricks To Raise PBC Charcoal Basket Height ?
Post by: Las Vegan Cajun on December 28, 2014, 07:38:22 AM

It may have been suggested but it's not necessary.  I've cooked wings in my PBC with the charcoal basket on the bottom and the skin crisped up just fine.  And when I cooked the wings it was ~7 hours after I had cooked ribs in the PBC and it was still hot enough to crisp up the wings.

Title: Re: Using Bricks To Raise PBC Charcoal Basket Height ?
Post by: hikerman on December 28, 2014, 09:09:22 AM

Be careful if you choose to add a few bricks to lift your charcoal basket. Anything other than fire brick could explode from the heat cooking the moisture out of the bricks! Nobody likes a trip to the ER because of a wing cook gone bad!

Title: Re: Using Bricks To Raise PBC Charcoal Basket Height ?
Post by: muebe on December 28, 2014, 10:34:17 AM

Simply leaving the rebar out or cracking the lid a little will get you all the crispy-ness that you need ;)

Title: Re: Using Bricks To Raise PBC Charcoal Basket Height ?
Post by: N. Ontario Smoker on December 28, 2014, 11:08:32 AM

Fire bricks are cheap at the building supply. I set my lit charcoal lighter on my cement walkway once and kaboom!!!!!! Learned my lesson real quick.

Title: Re: Using Bricks To Raise PBC Charcoal Basket Height ?
Post by: ChrisD46 on December 28, 2014, 11:26:18 AM

Thanks for the replies ...If I decide to use bricks I'll make sure they are fire bricks ! ... I will first try without rebar rods to raise the heat for crisping chicken skin ... My PBC resides in an area which often doesn't get much breeze / air circulation thru put so for items where you would like to cook at a higher temp it can be a challenge with wind at less than 5MPH .