First Tri Tip and it's on the PBC!

[Ka Honu]

So if you're supposed to fire up the PBC with a full load of charcoal and the tri tip only takes 35 minutes, what do you do with the rest of the charcoal?  Seems like a waste to just let it go for several hours until it burns down but no one ever seems to address that.

[drholly]

Ka Honu, That is a fair point. Some times I will make something else, e.g. chicken to be saved for later. But for the most part, I don't have a good answer. But if I made the tri tip on my Weber or my 500x I would "waste" the balance of the charcoal as well. Maybe a bit less, but still.... Maybe some others have some ideas?

[Wing Commander]

I love tri tip and I love it rare, too, and I love brussel sprouts, so this looks like a perfect meal to me.

Ka Honu, That is a fair point. Some times I will make something else, e.g. chicken to be saved for later. But for the most part, I don't have a good answer. But if I made the tri tip on my Weber or my 500x I would "waste" the balance of the charcoal as well. Maybe a bit less, but still.... Maybe some others have some ideas?

I never tried it with other cookers, but it works fine with a ceramic grill: close all vents after cooking to stop the fire burning and use the remaining charcoal for the next use(s).

[sliding_billy]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'd eat that. 

[Sam3]

Nice tri tip David. Looks excellent!

[Sam3]

So if you're supposed to fire up the PBC with a full load of charcoal and the tri tip only takes 35 minutes, what do you do with the rest of the charcoal?  Seems like a waste to just let it go for several hours until it burns down but no one ever seems to address that.

I read here, or on another forum, that you can pull the basket and dump the charcoal into a metal can. Then place a lid over the can to snuff out the burning charcoal. Then reuse the charcoal at a later date.
I personally have not tried it.

[Pappymn]

Pow! Bet you have a little left over for Pappy. On my way! Looks perfect to me

[smokeasaurus]

Maybe a safer way to extinguish the coals is stuffing some HD foil in the bottom vent. Pulling out the rebar and doing the same to the top holes.........

[muebe]

I think the best way to extinguish the left over charcoal would be to either design a new charcoal basket that is designed so a lid can be placed on top of it with a solid enclosed bottom. When done you could place the lid over the basket.

Or place the existing basket into some form of metal housing that can have a lid.

I just let the excess charcoal burn out. A $12 bag of charcoal can get you around 3 cooks.

How much does charcoal cost on the island Turtle?

[africanmeat]

man it looks so good.
I am so jealous .
my butcher can't cut tri tip for me . it is not a south african cut.

[drholly]

I think the best way to extinguish the left over charcoal would be to either design a new charcoal basket that is designed so a lid can be placed on top of it with a solid enclosed bottom. When done you could place the lid over the basket.

Or place the existing basket into some form of metal housing that can have a lid.

I just let the excess charcoal burn out. A $12 bag of charcoal can get you around 3 cooks.

How much does charcoal cost on the island Turtle?

I suppose I could dump the basket into my Weber and close all the vents - actually, the whole basket might fit in the Weber. Will have to give that a try. I just wonder how this will impact the 20min start up time?

[4cornersmoker]

hi David i am new here but loved looking at your tri tip nice bark yet very pink inside spot on i did a 11 pound brisket sunday on my PBC so tender and juicy in just 6 hours it blew us away PBC rocks Russ

[drholly]

hi David i am new here but loved looking at your tri tip nice bark yet very pink inside spot on i did a 11 pound brisket sunday on my PBC so tender and juicy in just 6 hours it blew us away PBC rocks Russ

Thanks, Russ. I love the PBC as well. Haven't done a brisket yet - next on my list. I keep getting requests for chicken and pulled pork 
If you can, take some pictures next time. I'd love to see them.

[drholly]

Pow! Bet you have a little left over for Pappy. On my way! Looks perfect to me

You are always welcome, Pappy! I'll PM the garage code. 

[Ka Honu]

How much does charcoal cost on the island Turtle?

I can buy the 16.6 lb bag of Kingsford Original for $11 so if I get three loads out if it, I probably won't worry about the waste. 

Just out of curiosity, any experience with using less than a full load or using other types of charcoal?