Let's Talk BBQ
General => General Discussion & Topics => Product Reviews => Topic started by: teesquare on December 25, 2012, 05:52:33 PM
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As I mentioned in Part A this cooker comes packaged very well and assembled with not tools. In fact "assemble" is an over-statement, as it is completely built.
WHat could be better than that? How about true set and forget - not "I wish I had known" cooking which is common for first time cooks on a new device.
Seems that the folks at Pit Barrel Cooker Co. had making something as goof proof as possible when they designed the PBC - and WOW did they succeed!
So - I applied the PBC All Purpose Rub to a split chicken:
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq1/teesquare1/PBC%20COOKS/PC169562_zps159d4b10.jpg)
And in approx. 1-1/2 hr.......
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq1/teesquare1/PBC%20COOKS/PC169572_zps5b37f87e.jpg)
I truly thought it a fluke that I got that beautiful color, and perfect doneness on the first try. ( The chicken was so juicy - it was incredible!)
So, I had another chicken in the fridge...I split it, rubbed it with the PBC All Purpose Rub, and hung it in the pit. This time tho, I mopped some of my BBQ sauce on the splits about 15 minutes before they finished cooking...look at that color! WHere are Art and Hub with my trophy!!! :D
Seriously - if you are doing any competitions - the PBC will give you some great options. I can genuine see someone like Harry Su converting to the PBC, it is that solid a performer.
(http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/qq1/teesquare1/PBC%20COOKS/PC169615_zpscf570ed2.jpg)
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Man, that looks real good Tee. Beautiful color on that last one.
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The PBC is a better cooker than the WSM IMHO. Just look at those beautiful chickens T2 did Harry......
'T needs to wear a chicken hat. Then the PBC will be considered"
(http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc469/s1cott11/sooavatar.jpg)
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Bird looks beautiful.
Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk
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Thanks guys - but I think we will all agree that the PBC can make a rank rookie look like a champion. I can't think of another cooker that is this simple to be successful with. With no prior experience I think who have been hesitant to try cooking with charcoal will be astounded.
T
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The PBC is a better cooker than the WSM IMHO.
heh heh. i love my WSM's. be nice. :P really nice chicken T. great color to them. the PBC makes chicken very moist. 8)
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I think that the WSM in the hands of someone with experience using it - is an awesome cooker. No question. Darn near the top of the heap if someone said..."If you could only have one cooker..."
But, I think the advantage of the PBC is for simplicity. Anybody - with no experience - can look good using it. Just a different way.
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The WSM does not produce the "Grease Fog" that you only get with the meat directly over the coals........but the WSM is a proven winner no doubt about it............
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the WSM is a proven winner no doubt about it............
;) ;) ;) ;) 8)
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The chicken looks fantastic Tee!
Both cooks on my PBC have been whole chickens. Even when the first pair fell into the coals they were still good!
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Thanks muebe! The moisture content of the chicken I did approached that of chickens cooked in an electric cabinet style cooker. *But* the skin had a better texture - almost bite-thru skin.
The distinctive taste of charcoal comes thru - but is a pleasant background, not in your face kind of flavor or aroma. I like it - I like it a lot!
T
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Teesquare- Great review, glad you are liking your PBC!
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It is wonderful enigma.... ;D
A tool so simple to use, that it can confound those of us that are pre-conditioned to have to do more work, or have more instrumentation, etc.... in order to produce incredible, evenly cooked, great tasting food.
I am just blown away by how much "non-technical" fun cooking on the PBC really is!
T
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It is wonderful enigma.... ;D
A tool so simple to use, that it can confound those of us that are pre-conditioned to have to do more work, or have more instrumentation, etc.... in order to produce incredible, evenly cooked, great tasting food.
I am just blown away by how much "non-technical" fun cooking on the PBC really is!
T
Next thing you know T will buy a Horizonal barrel grill & cook like us good ole boys ;D
At my hunting camp we still cook " old school" the same as has been done since the 1950's
We have a 36 in X 24 in homemade barrel cooker made from 1/4 in steel pipe.
Fire is in a basket on one end & meat on the other.
Grill has 3 adjustments, fuel door cracked ( warm weather ) open 1/2 in, ( winter cooks) open for high heat.
The cooker will go at max 3 hours without adding fuel.
We put a thermometer on the meat side about 3 years ago! Drilling a 7/8 in mounting hole in 1/4 in steel without the right tools was a pain!
We've had a couple meat thermometers but they get lost.
Butts are done when the bone is loose.
Chicken done when leg twists
Brisket is done when Jerry say's ( he's the only one who will buy a brisket for this group)
We're older , it's rare for everyone, heck even half, to actually go hunting.
For safety's sake you can drink, but if you do you can't go hunting so most afternoons most of us sit around the cooker & every hour someone will add a mini log or some charcoal .
The food we turn out is good!
You don't have to be sophisticated in your cooking methods!
(http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz203/Lostarrow-photos/d55dae00.jpg)
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Right on LA. Coals on one side and meat on the other!! That is how I cook in the CB940X..when not grilling in it!!
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After watching all you guys cook on these, I almost wish I needed another cooker. ::)
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It is wonderful enigma.... ;D
A tool so simple to use, that it can confound those of us that are pre-conditioned to have to do more work, or have more instrumentation, etc.... in order to produce incredible, evenly cooked, great tasting food.
I am just blown away by how much "non-technical" fun cooking on the PBC really is!
T
Next thing you know T will buy a Horizonal barrel grill & cook like us good ole boys ;D
At my hunting camp we still cook " old school" the same as has been done since the 1950's
We have a 36 in X 24 in homemade barrel cooker made from 1/4 in steel pipe.
Fire is in a basket on one end & meat on the other.
Grill has 3 adjustments, fuel door cracked ( warm weather ) open 1/2 in, ( winter cooks) open for high heat.
The cooker will go at max 3 hours without adding fuel.
We put a thermometer on the meat side about 3 years ago! Drilling a 7/8 in mounting hole in 1/4 in steel without the right tools was a pain!
We've had a couple meat thermometers but they get lost.
Butts are done when the bone is loose.
Chicken done when leg twists
Brisket is done when Jerry say's ( he's the only one who will buy a brisket for this group)
We're older , it's rare for everyone, heck even half, to actually go hunting.
For safety's sake you can drink, but if you do you can't go hunting so most afternoons most of us sit around the cooker & every hour someone will add a mini log or some charcoal .
The food we turn out is good!
You don't have to be sophisticated in your cooking methods!
(http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz203/Lostarrow-photos/d55dae00.jpg)
This might sting a little LA...but... ?? :-X..... :D :D :D
The PBC is like your i-pad....that is, it is a much simpler, more elegant solution to the way we used to accomplish the same thing - to wit:
The PBC is the exact reason I will never go back to a Horizontal barrel grill ;D ;D ;D
The truth is John...I was really dubious about all of the hoopla ( led by the illustrious Mr. Smokeasaurus ;) ;D) about how great the PBC is - because I could not see WHY it cooks food so well ...HANDS-OFF!!. Frankly - I still do not "know" - tho I suspicion - based on the few cooks I have done - that the PBC is the result of engineered airflow, and pre-determined BTU, as the basket is designed and sized for the exact amount of charcoal. Even the variables in charcoal are taken out! If you use recommended Kingsford, fill the basket level - light, 20 minutes - cook....Easy Bake oven for adults ;D
Now - for an accomplished cook like you, and someone that likes to tinker with the fire, and cooker...this may be ...dare I say it...boring...? :D :D :D
But - I will say that this is the most goof-proof charcoal cooker I have ever seen. You could literally give one to someone that burns water when they cook - and they can be successful.
I think that is Noah and Amber's "intelligent-designed miracle" ;D......
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Noah had told me that they went through over -30- prototypes before they got the barrel to run the way they envisioned it to.
Hey if I got the time, I dont mind feeding coals and chopping wood for my Q!! But when I got other things to do and I still want some kick-arse BBQ, the PBC is the way to go!! You can even cook chickens right when you get home from work and have a great weekday supper!! The PBC will cook chickens in the time that it takes the smoking chamber in my off-set to heat up!!!