BBQ Charcoal - good buy

[Gryph]

Not sure if this is the right forum for it... but...

I can totally recommend the current Tesco lumpwood charcoal, 5kg bags (red with black top). If you are a BBQ fanatic at all, stock up on it now!

Done 5 BBQs since saturday, and a 12 hour slow smoking session (mmm pulled pork). This current batch of lumpwood holds the heat, and with the right settings (weber kettle, weber smokey mountain used) you get a long burn with very consistent temps. I'd say more heat and 3 times the length of the equivalent BigK instant lighting.

Yes, I'm a BBQ fan

Planning to pick up 70kg or so at the weekend to last a while.

The current (and last year) batch of Penbead briquettes from B&Q are still rubbish. Low heat, suddenly go out. Not found any Sainsbury/Homebase briquettes yet, but last year they were also good - lower burn temp than the lumpwood but consistent.

Oh - and a long slow charcoal smoke of a fat meat joint is a definite excuse to monitor it in the sun and partake of beer and cigars!

[Lee Nub]

Sounds great, and pulled pork mmmmm, a staple of mine every year in the states lol

[Gryph]

Sounds great, and pulled pork mmmmm, a staple of mine every year in the states lol

Oh yes, love it - even better a few days after in sandwiches. Freezes amazingly well too once cooked... I tend to get family orders for batches of it.

Most I've smoked for so far is 30 odd, and managed not to kill anyone - but got a biggie coming up in the summer for a family do.

This is the recipe I use: http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/pork2.html but at the weekend tried a faster smoke with the lumpwood, it worked a treat!

If anyone likes BBQ, I can totally recommend a Weber Smokey Mountain, it really is fire and forget. Works in the rain too

[nicwing]

Man I love pulled Pork, shame you are so far away.

Any chance of you doing the catering for the Forum Annual Herf???

With your Barbecue obsession may I introduce you to the Monkey Man and his coffee machines.

Or are you two by any chance related?

[Gryph]

Man I love pulled Pork, shame you are so far away.

Any chance of you doing the catering for the Forum Annual Herf???

With your Barbecue obsession may I introduce you to the Monkey Man and his coffee machines.

Or are you two by any chance related?

I've not BBQed any monkeys or their coffee....

FAH - I'm always up for a BBQ, but best to have someone else their to share the blame for anything nasty lol More seriously, it's been a little while (18 months) since I did a big group (it was only 10 at the w/end), my next one is in July, so can report back then on success or not!

[daverave999]

Thanks for the heads up!

[Jimmeh]

See look Sean - someone in the UK knows how to BBQ!

[Gryph]

See look Sean - someone in the UK knows how to BBQ!

I was horrified the other day when someone insisted that the produce was not cooked until it was 'burned'. WTF. I've spent ages making sure indirect heat was toasting nicely, even showed a sausage, burger, kebab and rib internal temp... but no... BURN IT. Yeah, they went hungry.

[Pipe Dude]

Gryph, since you seem to be well up on the subject, do you have any sites you could recommend for cold smoking info, please?

[Gryph]

Oooh cold smoking. I've only ever cold smoked some cheese ( http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/cheese.html ) which worked very well. Also http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/coldsmoker.html details generating smoke outside of the kit and piping it in.

[SeanP]

Wooo-Hooo another BBQer on the board

I thought this craft was lost on the "Crispy carbon on the outside, bloody raw beef in the middle" backyard 'chefs' of 'ol Blighty.

Kicking myself for leaving my upright smoker in the States with my BIL but am thinking about building one in the near future. I have been grilling my whole life and BBQing for about 15 years.

Looking forward to sharing some recipes...

[Ryan]

BBQ fan here too.

Here's last year's Christmas turkey.

Turkey (Medium).jpg

I use a bit of mesquite in the coals too. The flavour from the stock off the carcass is unbelievable.
It also gives me a good excuse to get outside on Christmas Day for an Upmann Monarch.
I've been using Weber brand briquettes recently, they burn for hours and very consistently.
Here's a good site for techniques on the Weber.
http://www.hotsmokebbq.com/home.htm

I use these guys for my bits and pieces, prices aren't bad plus a reasonable shipping cost to Ireland.
http://www.bbqworld.co.uk/bbqworld/weber-bbq-accessories.asp

[tonyg]

The BigK instant lighting bags used to be really good and dam convenient but when the recession hit they did seemed to get a bit light charcoal wise , i find the loose bricks a bugger to get running properly though .

[skins]

I do barbecues - we've had four already this year. I love the sound of that pulled pork.

My parents are thinking of buying a 'Q for this summer and I was going to make them something built-in, but your smoker has me thinking of a different angle. Gryph, can you do normal grill-style barbecues in your Weber or is it just for smoking?

[Gryph]

That looks fantastic! Cheers for the links.

I'm working my way through a cherry tree at the moment for smoke.

BBQ fan here too.

Here's last year's Christmas turkey.