Pit Barrell cooker

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bucko

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The pbc gets alot of great reviews and seems everybody on here loves them I never have heard anybody say bad things about them just would like to see if anybody has had bad experiences with them and wish they would have bought something else
 
I paid $239 free shipping. I'm about 5 years into owning the original version. My only complaint is I wish I'd bought two at this price. Mine stays outside in the elements 24-7/365 sometimes covered sometimes not. It's actually the cooker that gave me the confidence to use all my other coookers. Still in original condition as received. No adjustments to vents no thermometer no add on electronics- and that's what I love about it. Just heat and meat.

Should've bought 2 @239
 
Kanco Connection said:
I guess you're looking for negative reviews. I did the same thing, but the only negatives I heard/read were from people who don't have one. I love mine.
Click to expand...

You can look at Amazon for reviews but you'll still find it hard to come across too many complaints from those who own a PBC. Amazon has about 650 reviews with a 93% 5 star rating and zero 1 star ratings.
And like Kanco said, beware of the negative comments from those who've never owned or even cooked on one.
I don't know anyone who regrets their purchase. But most on here are never satisfied with just one cooker! :becky:
 
Most owners post in the PBC appreciation thread so you won't get too much info in QT. That thread is 450+ pages now and going strong with majority of the time on page 1 with NO BUMPING. That should tell you something. :grin:

Also the Amazon reviews like Andrew mentioned. Pretty impressive considering the raters are your average consumers not "consumed" by bbq like us.
 
I love my PBC but will give you some points as negative as you'll find on that cooker.

1. It's small if you need rack space. I can hang 8 racks of ribs but it will only fit 2 butts on the grate. If you need to do lots of stuff that need horizontal grate space like ABTs, moinks, fish, etc it's easy to run out of room.

2. The hanging grate (which give you the ability to hang on one bar and use grate on the other) and the ash pan should be included in the base cost. It's a shame they aren't and are almost a must have.

3. It doesn't have a second rack position or adjustable vents like a UDS would. It runs fine without them both but you have to be creative and use magnets or something to adjust the vents when needed...and engineer a solution for an additional rack if you need it.

4. Hard to run at less than 225. If you want to do jerky and run at 185 it's really hard to manipulate the fire and the cooker to be that low.

5. It doesn't make coffee, do laundry or mow the lawn. You can't use it to hammer in nails, paint a wall or make ice. It will however cook some excellent food.

Just some honest counter points so you understand some of the limitations.
 
I'll add to Stlsportster's good insights: Although the PBC website encourages cooking steak on it, I'm pretty sure it can't get the great sear I'm looking for on a steak. I haven't tried it, so can't say for sure, but a quality sear is really important to me for steak. My kettle still gets the call for steak.
 
The main criticism I've seen on this site is that it has horseshoe handles, and I'll admit it's very difficult to refute that argument. So before you buy one, you have to ask yourself if you are can live with that. Not everyone can.
 
Generally speaking, here are some indications that you MAY not be a PBC candidate:

- You lay in bed at night wondering if you should use briqs or lump
- You cannot handle a cooker that doesn't have a thermometer
- The thought of cooking "hot-n-fast" (above 250, and up to 300*) is nigh unto blasphemous
- You can't resist the urge to constantly fiddle with/modify your cooker
- You can't enjoy "real BBQ" that didn't require X hours to "cook right"
- You feel that "real BBQ" can't come from a cooker that can be moved without a trailer hitch
- You value tending a fire over drinking beer, socializing, making love, or sleeping

Aside from that, you're gonna be a happy camper.

John
 
You've got to let your imagination run wild :wink:



Thin steaks no. Thick steaks or reverse sear? Absolutely!

A tomahawk, a tri tip etc. cooked to -10* of desired IT and either seared at the end or crack the lid open and let her rip

20131014_171023.jpg


20131014_175414.jpg


20131014_180720.jpg


or vice versa

IOB4MCcsHjt_kki7udJV7y-igzRs_Gtrwty3S6POeTk=w1744-h981-no


YJbiWAqsANTkPfGuFrSKfxgm8NSd63q6pw5832qu34Y=w1744-h981-no


4YoKKDIG3j8HXwvBJo3WZv6fyH0w-6egDxqmweOhfzk=w1744-h981-no



Many ways to sear with most of us having multiple cookers

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I kindly disagree with Sportster on a couple points :thumb:

First, the PBC was designed to be a set it and forget it cooker so you don't have to worry about temps or temp monitoring. It's not a UDS or a kettle. If you want to control temps then any potential buyers can steer clear of the PBC. It's doable but again not it's design as it's supposed to be a simple cooker.



Second, you can fit three butts (max 8 lbs each) though when loaded regardless of the meat you will have to run it longer.

gbM0ML7h.jpg
 
And I think SSV was proving me wrong on the steak-searing thing! I've read enough of the PBC Appreciation Thread to know there's nothing that can't be done on the PBC--at least by SSV3! I should have known better!
 
Bob C Cue said:
I must have missed the part where the OP asked us to show off our culinary skills! :p
Click to expand...

Well, I tried to oblige to the op and find something negative about the PBC but failed terribly. :becky: Usually to me culinary awesomeness is inspirational. Especially since I'm a visual person.

Plus Im answering Kanco Bob. :-D
 
Kanco Connection said:
And I think SSV was proving me wrong on the steak-searing thing! I've read enough of the PBC Appreciation Thread to know there's nothing that can't be done on the PBC--at least by SSV3! I should have known better!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the kind words Kanco. It's a capable cooker to say the least.
 
ssv3 said:
Well, I tried to oblige to the op and find something negative about the PBC but failed terribly. :becky: Usually to me culinary awesomeness is inspirational. Especially since I'm a visual person.

Plus Im answering Kanco Bob. :-D
Click to expand...

You know I have mad love for both you and the PBC, Sako...

Those comments were my best attempt at something negative too.
 
Props to the PBC experts (SSV, 16Adams, Stlsportster, PatioD, and more . . .): Seems that the PBC experts are the least aggressive, most humble, and readily helpful BBQ experts on this site. It's amazing how many guys on here seem to get off on jumping on each other. Not with the PBC. (probably should have put that not he appreciation thread)
 
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