Stlsportster
Babbling Farker
Mold = Flavor?
BK,
The dynamics change when the PBC is loaded. Dare I say that's the only drawback of the PBC? 2-3 slabs or 2 halved chickens for example and she chugs along just fine. Now, when I loaded it to 3/4 full or full capacity, that's where I experienced the exact symptoms you described. Most people don't load up the PBC with multiple cuts of meat or 8 ribs so it works just fine. IMO, a lot more meat to cook and finish times were extended significantly when loaded. Also, with a packed barrel there are a lot more drippings which in my experience extinguished the fire so I had to rotate the basket halfway through and at times pull off the rebars. A lot more mass so it needs a lot more energy to pull off the cook is how I look at it. It still does the job but takes longer and there is more involvement.
I'm a bad PBC owner. Went to use my barrel today for the first time in weeks if not months and it was full of mold. In a panic I texted Noah and he called me back in two minutes. First thing he said was I was guilty of not using my PBC enough; I got a good chuckle out of that. He walked me through how to burn off the mold and so hopefully that work in time for tonight's cook. An amazing quality product with next to non customer service you can't beat the Pit Barrel
Bleu Cheese Brisket or Antibiotic Ribs anyone?Mold = Flavor?
Has anyone had their lid not seem to seal properly out of the blue? I haven't dropped the lid or banged the barrel around. I use it regularly and keep it covered.
I've been getting real uneven burns the last two times out where the half of the basket closest to the intake pretty much burns out while the back half isn't really lit. Had to stick my hand in there and rotate the basket around on Saturday or it seemed like the fire would have died. Haven't adjusted the intake in over a year and I'm lighting it the same way as I always have.
I'm now noticing smoke coming out of the lid. If I move the lid more to one side, the smoke will stop coming out where it was but instead leak out somewhere else. Don't think this is what is causing the bad burn pattern, but it's just started up at the same time. Last few cooks have had people remark that it doesn't taste as smoky...maybe just a coincidence as well but she ain't just chugging along easy like she used to.
Six racks of ribs were on for seven (!) hours on Saturday. I wound up taking the rebar out with three racks hanging on each and flipping them so the rack in the back could get some more of the heat closer to the intake. Regardless, I'm usually a five hour rib guy since I think I run my barrel a little lower temp wise but this is taking it too far. Two of the racks even needed more time in the smoker but I had to pull them since it was time to leave the house for the night.
By the way...just a point of order...
Welocme to page 500 of the PBC thread!
:clap2:
By the way.... I was thinking. When I joined this thread and got my PBC it was about a year and a half ago and the thread was only ~250 pages or so. I read ALL of them when I was thinking of buying and right after I ordered...
It would be really hard for someone to get through all 500 pages now. Andrew, Sako, Bob, Thingfish and I should put together a single document...like the Bandera 101. Most common issues, mods, fixes, how to half basket cook, raise the charcoal basket, lump vs kbb vs RO. You get the idea. Everyone could contribute.
Then someone doesn't have to read all 500 pages. We could just post the info somewhere.
Thoughts?
Sounds like you have a pastrami plan, SS13 ... be sure to let us know how it turns out (and pics, pics, pics)!
Well it cooked beautifully although in the beginning 1/2 my basket of coals seemed to kind of go out so I added a 1/4 chimney of hot coals in and then temps were better.
I have not tasted it just yet other than a small flap of meat that I hung and the of the hook. It was really good. I'll share cut pics a little later.
I need PBC expert help from you guys please -
Doing a 14lb turkey and a 6lb costco half ham in the PBC, and I need to figure out the timing so I can get both done about the same time. I thought I'd start the turkey for an hour first (figure about 3 hours total for it), and then start the little boneless ham (about 2 hours I'm guessing for this). What do you suggest?