Let's Talk BBQ
Outdoor Cooking Equipment => Grills & Smokers => Kamado Style Cookers => Topic started by: LostArrow on April 18, 2015, 11:03:59 AM
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We're getting a few more Akorn cookers & even Sparky thinking about one ::)
Well the akorn works like any vertical smoker, heat below & meat above.
Because of the close proximity of the fire to the cooking grate a heat shield must be used.
Chargriller now makes a ceramic stone for about $40 that works fine.
When I got mine the stone was not available so homemade heat shields were used.
Homemade shields used a Weber 22 in charcoal grate ($10 ) as base & a flower pot base as the shield.
I found a 14 in round cast iron griddle ($12 @ academy sports) fit perfectly!
Has a lip & easy to wrap with foil for cleaning.
At low heat 200F to 275F the akorn uses very little fuel , airflow is so minimal most have to learn by mistake haw minimal to open the vents.
Load the charcoal chamber with wood chunks & charcoal.
Light a small amount of charcoal (1lb) & put on top.
Heat shield in place set vents & cook.
It's best to slowly let the cooker come to temp, it's to easy to overshoot your temp & takes forever to get back down.
The temp slowly rises during the cook, as the air temperature in the cooker rises the airflow slowly increases with the same vent settings. My settings will start closer to 225F 1 hour into cook & endup about 260-275F 6-7 hours in & stay there.
Pics to follow shortly.
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(http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz203/Lostarrow-photos/D9F0C743-196C-410B-B67C-8CDDECFF5575.jpg)
Charcoal loaded
(http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz203/Lostarrow-photos/15A72336-702F-42B5-82B5-F832560C43F6.jpg)
Support grate
(http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz203/Lostarrow-photos/D453F098-3FD3-478A-9B97-B385377B5E62.jpg)
Cast iron griddle ( un cleaned since last cook ::)
Cooking grate
(http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz203/Lostarrow-photos/4F786C06-D1A5-4033-A1F2-F694AB77BDA5.jpg)
(http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz203/Lostarrow-photos/CFBD5BDD-B310-4797-8DA4-B6BA7A6F2B0C.jpg)
Top vent setting
Bottom vent
(http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz203/Lostarrow-photos/FD0D4C21-B312-4D4B-89C6-6AA053D6D825.jpg)
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I have never cooked on an insulated but I figure if you miss your target temp, the cooker will take a while to get back down to the desired temp...........
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LA I have been thinking about getting a ceramic also....I have seen you and others have been happy with the Akorn. Looks like your's has been broke in pretty good. Is that bottom vent open at all ? Some people complain of not being able to control the temp....with the settings you have I see why they are overshooting their target temp. Thanks for posting.
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LA I have been thinking about getting a ceramic also....I have seen you and others have been happy with the Akorn. Looks like your's has been broke in pretty good. Is that bottom vent open at all ? Some people complain of not being able to control the temp....with the settings you have I see why they are overshooting their target temp. Thanks for posting.
Bottom vent about 10% open.
About 1/2 on the scale