Outdoor cooking - Barbecues, Barbecue, BBQs, BBQ, Smokers, Grills. And Ribs.

Made a few changes to my Donohue road bike. Swapped DA7800 shifters for 5700. Swapped 7800 chainset for 4600 compact chainset (it gets worse and worse eh) clement strada tyres (not the shit tan wall ones) and a c15. Did a leisurely 40 miles today, after not having ridden the bike properly for over 2 years... so much fun.

And bbq?

Always count on you...

WSM is more old school and can be used as a smoker, bbq or grill.

GMG is more modern, less finickety but gives a milder smoke and works as a bbq but it does not get the same searing hight grilling heat of the WSM. But it is computer controlled and easier.

So if you want to be able to do more it’s the WSM but if you want simplicity of use it’s the GMG. I own both but tend to use the GMG more. This is also because my wife prefers the more subtle smoking of the GMG. Though there are times when I want the deep smoke of the WSM.

Thanks James. It's tough to get an idea on what 'milder' smoke means - I appreciate that that's all relative but could I ask you to do your best to quantify? I feel as though the ease of use of a pellet burner suits my lifestyle, a little more - but I'd hate to feel disappointed by my finished products. I know both are at the cheaper ends of smokers, but don't want to upgrade and then not feel like I'd gained anything in what I cook.

The GMG will never give the acrid creosote bite that some people seek when smoking. In some ways I’d say it actually gives a flavour that is more distinct to the type of wood pellets it is using, so greater subtlety than a misused WSM. This is because a lot of people burn too much wood on their WSM.

The other issue is that to get the best results on a WSM you want a PID to control temp/airflow.

So if you want ease of use -GMG
If you want more control and ability to upgrade - WSM

Bought one of these beauties after being suckered by Instagram advertising over the winter. Need to get it out!
Packs up super tiny though so hoping to use it on some mountain bike day trips.

Is it a chair? looks uncomfortable.

I did the whole of last summer without a barbecue in my life. Dunno wtf I was thinking. Want something big, cheap and cheerful. jerk pan?

Yup

can someone help a complete newbie to the world of proper bbqing?

I have one of these and always struggle getting the heat constant and even. happy to spend £20 on stuff if it lets me get a decent cooking for fish/veg/meat.

any pointers to a basic instruction guide for how not to fuck up a charcoal grilling experience?

It’s more a grill than a bbq. Will struggle to do indirect cooking as heat will fluctuate quite wildly.

Get a starter chimney to help with ignition. Once coals are lit wait until they have turned grey and then start grilling.

thank you! this thread is the advice my old man should have been able to give me...

I have a Tesco kettle barbecue that was left in the shed when I moved in, with adjustable vents top and bottom. Am I likely to be able to barbecue on it, or will it be shit?

As above, if it’s small and of light materials it’ll be hard to stabilise temperature.

Ta; I wasn't sure if something like a Weber was actually better as a barbecue, or whether it was just likely to last longer. Grilling it is then.

@platypus You can try bbq but pile coals on one half and put a metal container filled with water on the other half.

Then you can put the grill rack above, put food over the water when the lid is on for indirect cooking. Remove lid and place food over over the coals for grilling.

The water acts as ballast to stabilise temperature and keeps the atmosphere in the bbq moist.

Webers are definitely very good. but ^ good advice.

Barbecue aficionados what is the general consensus on this ?

http://www.argos.co.uk/product/2870520?cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59156|acid:444-797-0832|cid:189934285|agid:18091941805|tid:pla-411617889077|crid:77627768965|nw:g|rnd:15281019249654352582|dvc:c|adp:1o2|mt:|loc:9046404&gclid=CjwKCAjwlcXXBRBhEiwApfHGTd3nSR4jR-Ed9ywIuQyzZlsmGqksMnYveOdXLKunr_idSEMJ4uMKBxoCGXoQAvD_BwE

Seems a good price and like I could successfully barbecue a load of meat on it.

Had one of those once, lasted a season before falling to bits, but guess that happens to most.

I see Aldi have a sale coming up, including their version of the big green egg, for significantly less money. They also have a cheap smoker, if people want budget indirect cooking.

https://www.aldi.co.uk/c/specialbuys/garden-shop/outdoor-kitchen

Morrisons are also doing the same / a very similar ceramic for the same price in bigger branches. I think the Aldi one is sold out

Ah interesting, cheaper versions seem to be popping up a bit now, apparently Costco do one too

We had this one too, it’s very thin metal and rusted through after a couple of years even though we kept it covered after use.

I really liked the design though and if I could justify the cash - which I can’t - I’d love something similar fabricated out of oil drums.

This kind of thing

https://originaljerk.co.uk/?gclid=CjwKCAjwlcXXBRBhEiwApfHGTYYJnd4uqJhJq4vU7N4Ngs6xHE62EFHbpm-mVVApWI0_TgHBA6-VrBoCYpcQAvD_BwE

First attempt in the Weber, lamb shoulder for three hours. Very tasty.

3 hours - needs 8... :)

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