Let's Talk BBQ
FORUM SPONSORS => Pit Barrel Cooker Co. => Topic started by: pmillen on June 15, 2014, 10:27:52 AM
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Celebrated Father's Day a day early by cooking four chickens on my PBC (first cook). I didn't take photos 'cause they looked just like everyone's. The PBC is foolproof.
But, since it was my first time firing it up I put Maverick probes in the cooking chamber and a breast 'cause I wanted to be certain that it maintains temperatures. (Sorry, Noah, I'm overly cautious.) I followed the recommended lighting procedures using lighter fluid. The chicken went on at 4:25. Here's what I discovered (I wish that Tappecue would work on my Microsoft Surface Pro2 tablet):
Pit Breast
4:25 . . . . . . . 315
4:45 . . . . . . . 275 . . . . . 125
5:00 . . . . . . . 265 . . . . . 141
5:15 . . . . . . . 257 . . . . . 153
5:30 . . . . . . . 249 . . . . . 159
5:45 . . . . . . . 245 . . . . . 161
6:00 . . . . . . . 245 . . . . . 162
6:15 . . . . . . . 250 . . . . . 161
6:25 . . . . . . . 248 . . . . . 161 Normal removal time. Opened lid slightly.
6:35 . . . . . . . 291 . . . . . 160
6:40 . . . . . . . 329 . . . . . 161
6:45 . . . . . . . 367 . . . . . 165 Removed chicken halves
So-It appears that the temperature drops steadily.
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Chicken will tend to drip more juices onto the coal bed and lower the temp.
I will leave one rebar out if possible when cooking chicken to compensate for this.
You can also just move the shutter open just a bit instead.
And removing the lid for the last 5 minutes is great for finishing the chicken skin ;)
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Chicken will tend to drip more juices onto the coal bed and lower the temp.
That may be why the pit temp went up at one point. The juice volume reduced and the coals grew hotter.
I think that I'll monitor each cook until I grow more confident. I may have to invest in the Stoker. It doesn't appear that Windows systems are high on Tappecue's priority list.