First fire in the Pit Barrel Cooker

[smokeasaurus]

I know you are all waiting with credit cards in hand to call Noah and get yourself one...but.....you are waiting to see what Smoke says

So I am going to chronicle the first fire without any food. The Mfg says to fill the charcoal basket and even out the coals. Check
Soak the top layer of charcoal with lighter fluid. Check
Set the basket back in the barrel and drop in a lit match. Check
After 20 minutes the coals are ready and put on the lid.
So it is 11:40 and I will put on the lid at 12:00
I screwed in an extra thermo I had in one of the holes for the hanging rods to monitor the temps during the first cook only.
Picture time:

[Keymaster]

Cool, I guess Smoochy must be in the house watching from a distance as she probably has not had her "flame retardent" shot yet this year I was eyeballin the close out BBQ's today at lowes but nothin I really had to have, but did get a Beer can chicken stand for my SRG. My first SRG chicken was a bit of a struggle with out a stand of any kind.
That sure is a nice BBQ CAN you got there, I like it!!!

[smokeasaurus]

Check out the chicken video they have:  http://pitbarrelcooker.com/videos/

[smokeasaurus]

The pit holds temps like a barrel usually does....but the owner says to not let any thermos get near this cooker!!
It is a completely different style of cooking!! So there will be no report on temps. All the trial and error has been taken care of!!
Just light the coals
wait 20 minutes
hang your meat.......  (now lets keep it clean!!)
put on the lid
walk away

that is what we will do tomorrow!!

[Smokin Soon]

If that thing works as promised, I could sell about 6 of them to BBQ challenged neighbors & friends of mine + a couple of Asian caterers that struggle with offsight chicken cooks.

[drholly]

smoke - I think I want one - really looking forward to your report!

David

[Merrick Bill]

But why lighter fluid?  Why not some coals from a chimney on top of the unlit?

Bill

[smokeasaurus]

You can Bill. You fill the charcoal basket up first. Then remove roughly the top layer into a chimney starter (with a little practice you will know how much to put in the basket and the starter).
Light the starter and then when ready pour on top of the unlit in the basket. You are then ready to hang the meat as soon as you do that!!

but...............

It was extremely easy to do the lighter fluid as shown in the video.  I went out this morning and stuck my head in the barrel and it smells nice...no lighter fluid smell at all!!

So I figure both ways work quite well to light the PBC!!

OH, and clean up is a snap!! Just remove the basket...grab the barrel and dump the ashes in a trash can and you are ready for the next cook....just couldn't be simpler!!

[muebe]

Just make sure those ashes you are dumping are completely out Smoke

[Merrick Bill]

Smoke,

I just watched the Thanksgiving turkey video on the link from their web page.  I gotta say, working with the hooks on that thing seems very awkward.  He's working with that hook tool trying to extricate the bird and you can see a huge grease fire coming all the way up from the coals.  I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on this smoker once you've cooked something on it with the hooks and rods.

Bill

[smokeasaurus]

I believe Noah has something in the works to hang turkeys a bit easier.....will keep you posted. I have watched that turkey video countless times and I think he went a tab bit slow for the video. I will probably practice with some whole chickens to get the feel on hanging whole chickens and turkeys.........first cook is today!!!

[Kora Smoker]

Smoke convinced me to pull the trigger ,so by next weekend I should be doing something with my new Pit Barrel Cooker..    ..

[smokeasaurus]

Congratulations MY Brotha, I hope my convincing was from all the great pictures you have been seeing here!! Get your taste-buds ready for that old fashioned Grandpa pit flavor without being oversmoked like in our old BDS barrels!! Just keep in mind that this is more of a power smoker, not a lo and slo type cooker that the BDS/UDS are known for.

and please...no thermometers...only to check your grub!! 

[mikecorn.1]

Was getting one myself but Im sure most you saw my thread earlier  :'(  $249 for AC repairs at the house    Plus my kids birthdays are back to back. One today and one next week.

[smokeasaurus]

Those darn kids!!       You will bounce back and then when you get yours you will be all set!!