Just a question for those in the know.

I am thinking of purchasing a Webber "Smokey Mountain "  so I can venture a little way into slow cooking and smoking. My question relates to the size of the smallest one which fits with how much I want to spend.  I am thinking it may be too small but hoping it isn't.

I don't cook for many people, usually 4 and on occasion 6-8 but that is not very often. Will the smallest model be adequate in terms of capacity?

 

Thanks .

1 hour ago, al said:

haha yes something will have to get used to ! as used to open bbq's prior. the lady at the shop 1st up asked me too ... have you had a webber before.... when I said no. she said 2st thing. you'll have to get used to keeping the lid closed. unless the lid is closed it aint happening  

 

intersting ! will indeed have to keep it in mind

 

daughters got some friends coming over tomorrow so we'll give it a go for that  

 

ps whats your thoughts on the half plate TB. I never got it, the sauce pan instead. but wondering now if I should have got the plate as well. is there much the half plate is useful for ? 

I use mine when cooking eggs, pancakes, fish  etc. you should see how you go with your skillet. 

2 hours ago, rantan said:

 

Just a question for those in the know.

I am thinking of purchasing a Webber "Smokey Mountain "  so I can venture a little way into slow cooking and smoking. My question relates to the size of the smallest one which fits with how much I want to spend.  I am thinking it may be too small but hoping it isn't.

 I don't cook for many people, usually 4 and on occasion 6-8 but that is not very often. Will the smallest model be adequate in terms of capacity?

 

Thanks .

 

Really depends on what you want to cook as capacity wise its fine for a crowd of 4 or more but what you will run into is the diameter might not fit that rack of ribs or full brisket so you might have to end up trimming it a bit to fit. No difference taste wise though.

 

The smoky mountains are a great choice though due there flexibility. Remove middle section and grill direct on coals or insert water pan and do a low temp cook that will last all night. Do a search on them and you'll find many teams using these exclusively in comps (and winning) over there brothers using mega dollar smokers (Harry Soo being a good example). 

first run yesterday... going with the cliche of some prawns on the barbie  

 

 

followed the recipe in the book you put upon TB. using their fish grill suggestion. 2.5min each side on the fish grill

 

but thought looking a bit anaemic, and best to give it some time right on the grill, about 2 min each side,

 

its quick cooking that much I'll say ! 

 

and came up an absolute treat  juiciest prawns ever done. 

 

I did wonder if kind of thing should have done on a half plate, I think I might grab one when get a chance  

18 hours ago, al said:

first run yesterday... going with the cliche of some prawns on the barbie  

 

 

followed the recipe in the book you put upon TB. using their fish grill suggestion. 2.5min each side on the fish grill

 

but thought looking a bit anaemic, and best to give it some time right on the grill, about 2 min each side,

 

its quick cooking that much I'll say ! 

 

and came up an absolute treat  juiciest prawns ever done. 

 

I did wonder if kind of thing should have done on a half plate, I think I might grab one when get a chance  

Nice.

 

I've got a half plate for my baby q for camping breakfasts of bacon and eggs. If I had a cast iron frypan with removable handle, I'd think that would be preferable as it would be more versatile and I'm always looking for somewhere to keep that bloody half plate as it's ONLY used for eggs. I would just cook those prawns on the grill as you finished them for a bit of char. I find with prawns, once they are lightly charred, they are ready. I found the Q bbq's got me used to not over cooking food as much as I used to.

18 minutes ago, blybo said:

Nice.

 

I've got a half plate for my baby q for camping.

Camping is a slap in the face of evolution!! 

?

@:) al THe whole idea of those roasting trays is they allow some direct heat thru, using the baking paper probably negated that.

 

Last night I did 2 mini lamb roasts in our Weber Q with the roasting tray and rack. Got them to just under medium rare by internal temp, and then seared them and let rest for 10 minutes. Bloody beautiful, just marinated with salt, fresh rosemary and some garlic infused oil (wife is on low fodmap diet so can't have garlic or onion but for some reason infused oils are okay).

 

I would have had use the Kamado but was out till 5:45 and didn't have time to get the fired going

7 minutes ago, jakeyb77 said:

Camping is a slap in the face of evolution!! 

?

Not how I do it ?

 

Fresh ground espresso, beer and bbq across the road from the surf beach. What more could you want?

27 minutes ago, blybo said:

Nice.

 

I've got a half plate for my baby q for camping breakfasts of bacon and eggs. If I had a cast iron frypan with removable handle, I'd think that would be preferable as it would be more versatile and I'm always looking for somewhere to keep that bloody half plate as it's ONLY used for eggs. I would just cook those prawns on the grill as you finished them for a bit of char. I find with prawns, once they are lightly charred, they are ready. I found the Q bbq's got me used to not over cooking food as much as I used to.

I'd never do eggs on the family Q, can understands while camping though. yep the lady at webber store was dead set convincing me not to get the half plate as she felt it robs a great deal of the webber experience with its open grill.

 

2 minutes ago, blybo said:

THe whole idea of those roasting trays is they allow some direct heat thru, using the baking paper probably negated that.

could be right, I followed the recipe instruction that said use the baking paper. we like doing marinated chicken and lady at webber store suggested would be best to grill using the baking tray and then finish off for char.

 

do you pre heat the baking grill ? its something I didnt do.

12 minutes ago, al said:

I'd never do eggs on the family Q, can understands while camping though. yep the lady at webber store was dead set convincing me not to get the half plate as she felt it robs a great deal of the webber experience with its open grill.

 

could be right, I followed the recipe instruction that said use the baking paper. we like doing marinated chicken and lady at webber store suggested would be best to grill using the baking tray and then finish off for char.

 

do you pre heat the baking grill ? its something I didnt do.

I agree with her and wish I'd done the same. With camping a handle-less frypan would be more versatile.

 

If that's what the recipe said... However the roasting grill fits nicely in our dishwasher so I don't worry about a little mess.

 

I preheat the weber, then clean plates with a wire brush when up around 400 or over, put in tray and roasting grill. I then leave for a few minutes getting right temp for style of cooking, whilst putting finishing touches on preparing the meat. I find the Weber takes a good 15 minutes before temps are stable enough to be able to walk away from.

 

I've learnt since getting the Q, and more so the Kamado, (although difficult with prawns or fish) to use internal temps with probes rather than relying on times at certain temps to do my cooking. I'm now annoyed if I miss getting food off quick enough which reminds me my bluetooth probe sensor needs a new battery. I like the Weber 1's as they are also wifi for better range, but they were out of stock at the time I needed one. As an Apple watch wearer it's cool when your watch tells you your cooking is done!

Edited October 8, 20187 yr by blybo

good stuff @blybo might have to invest in one of the probes would be handy for larger stuff like chicken whole fish and such I think.

51 minutes ago, al said:

good stuff @blybo might have to invest in one of the probes would be handy for larger stuff like chicken whole fish and such I think.

look for 1 that has 4 probes so you can also do your common steaks, pork chops etc. If you ever go for a charcoal firedbbq, it can measure your pit temps too.

 

This is the 1 I have but is bluetooth only so range is limited.

https://www.bigwigjerky.com.au/shop/maverick-ichef-2-probe-bluetooth-app-enabled-bbq-thermometer/

Edited October 8, 20187 yr by blybo

1 hour ago, al said:

I'd never do eggs on the family Q, can understands while camping though. yep the lady at webber store was dead set convincing me not to get the half plate as she felt it robs a great deal of the webber experience with its open grill.

 

I happily use the Family Q (and BabyQ) when cooking breakfasts, especially around Christmas/ hotter times of the year.  Below is the classic breakfast cooking instructions from Weber.

BTW - I agree with using temperature probes when cooking larger pieces of meat.

 

Weber Aussie breakfast

• Prep Time
  10 minutes
  Cook Time
  15 minutes
  Difficulty
  Easy
  Servings
  6
  Ideal
  for
  charcoal or gasQ
  Ingredients
  Butter
  Bacon
  Eggs
  Mushrooms, finely sliced
  Tomatoes (halved)
  Salt
  Freshly ground black pepper
  Method
  Step 1
  Preheat the barbecue with one half grill and one half hotplate, for direct cooking. 

  Once the barbecue is preheated, turn the burners to medium.

  Step 2
  Melt the butter on the hotplate. Place the mushrooms, tomatoes and bacon on the hotplate. Season the mushrooms and tomatoes with salt and pepper.

  Step 3
  With the lid closed, cook for approximately five minutes and then turn the mushrooms, tomatoes and bacon.

  Step 4
  Melt a little more butter on the hotplate and crack the eggs on to it.  Season the eggs with salt and pepper and put the lid back down.

  Step 5
  With the lid closed, cook for a further five minutes.

  Method

Step 1
Preheat the barbecue with one half grill and one half hotplate, for direct cooking. 

Once the barbecue is preheated, turn the burners to medium.

Step 2
Melt the butter on the hotplate. Place the mushrooms, tomatoes and bacon on the hotplate. Season the mushrooms and tomatoes with salt and pepper.

Step 3
With the lid closed, cook for approximately five minutes and then turn the mushrooms, tomatoes and bacon.

Step 4
Melt a little more butter on the hotplate and crack the eggs on to it.  Season the eggs with salt and pepper and put the lid back down.

Step 5
With the lid closed, cook for a further five minutes.

22 minutes ago, frankn said:

I happily use the Family Q (and BabyQ) when cooking breakfasts, especially around Christmas/ hotter times of the year.  Below is the classic breakfast cooking instructions from Weber.

mouth is watering reading that  

My old ratty 4 burner Jumbuck has finally died.  The burners have split and the rest of the old thing is in a bad way.

Can't afford a new one just yet -  so, l have remove all the gas bits and i'm going to try using heatbeads or charcoal in it before it gets thrown out.

44 minutes ago, Grumpy said:

My old ratty 4 burner Jumbuck has finally died.  The burners have split and the rest of the old thing is in a bad way.

Can't afford a new one just yet -  so, l have remove all the gas bits and i'm going to try using heatbeads or charcoal in it before it gets thrown out.

What a brilliant idea! The irony being you'll most likely be getter better tasting food than you ever did previously.

1 hour ago, Grumpy said:

My old ratty 4 burner Jumbuck has finally died.  The burners have split and the rest of the old thing is in a bad way.

Can't afford a new one just yet -  so, l have remove all the gas bits and i'm going to try using heatbeads or charcoal in it before it gets thrown out.

I too might just do the same on the old one we have as its the same with the gas bits a bit shot out. but rest of it is still ok

 

take one picks of how it all turns out grumpy  

@:) al

@Grumpy

 

You 2 may want to look into some sort of cast iron fire grate so you can get some air under the coals, and not over heat the floor of the existing bbq.

 

This stuff is pretty cheap from a camping supplies store or even BBQ galore/Rays and could also eventually be used in a DIY fire pit/brazier/heater

 

 

 

1 hour ago, blybo said:

@:) al

@Grumpy

 

You 2 may want to look into some sort of cast iron fire grate so you can get some air under the coals, and not over heat the floor of the existing bbq.

 

This stuff is pretty cheap from a camping supplies store or even BBQ galore/Rays and could also eventually be used in a DIY fire pit/brazier/heater

 

 

 

blybo thats particularly why I was thinking on our old bbq, as it has a good grate already there, anyways maybe a summer project. anyways I will have a look next chance i get.

28 minutes ago, al said:

blybo thats particularly why I was thinking on our old bbq, as it has a good grate already there, anyways maybe a summer project. anyways I will have a look next chance i get.

@:) al I have a have a Weber half moon plate for the 320Q thats only been used twice you can have for free if you want. Would it really like it to go to a good home and yours sounds perfect ?

19 minutes ago, Tubularbells said:

@:) al I have a have a Weber half moon plate for the 320Q thats only been used twice you can have for free if you want. Would it really like it to go to a good home and yours sounds perfect ?

thats very generous of you TB ! hang onto it for me, consider it taken  

Done 

1 minute ago, al said:

thats very generous of you TB ! hang onto it for me, consider it taken  

Just another reason to pull my finger out and host a GTG.

 

....it WILL happen (I promise)

1 minute ago, Tubularbells said:

Just another reason to pull my finger out and host a GTG.

 

....it WILL happen (I promise)

perhaps in time to christen the beast !!

 

we can all come to pay homage !