Bought a vortex, now what?

TxQGuy

TxQGuy

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I blame you folks on here for this. :biggrin1: After seeing how many of you utilize a vortex for your grilling, I decided to order one off Amazon and am now awaiting delivery.

I'll admit that I just trusted the Brethren on this one and bought it blindly, kind of a "well, it must be pretty handy so I should get it" sorta thing.

I know it is used for indirect, 2-zone kinda grilling, but someone tell me how to best use it. What are some tips/techniques?

Like I said, it was an impulse purchase for which I blame y'all. :laugh:
 
I have only seen them on a kettle. I wonder if it would work well with a PK.
 
The correct answer is to go get some wings and do them up using the vortex. As far as tips go it is pretty fool proof. You can light the coals in a chimney and dump them in if you are in a hurry or you can fill the vortex up and put a firestarter in the middle.
 
Mikhail said:
I have only seen them on a kettle. I wonder if it would work well with a PK.
Click to expand...

I have a PK Classic and a Vortex and have never tried this. I had the same question, but after reading around on the PK facebook group it does not appear that they are a good match. Think it has to do with airflow from the intakes.
 
Wings, Sausages, Steak, Corn for Elote, Potatoes... the possibilities are endless.

You don't always have to put it in the center of the cooker/grill... in fact, I often set it off to one side if I'm doing steak/potatoes/corn.

Hope it works out nicely for you... no matter what cooker you use.
 
drunkenmeatfist said:
I have a PK Classic and a Vortex and have never tried this. I had the same question, but after reading around on the PK facebook group it does not appear that they are a good match. Think it has to do with airflow from the intakes.
Click to expand...

Exactly what I was concerned with. Thanks!!!
 
Thanks y'all! I don't have a Weber (I know that is what it was intended for), but I figure I can use it on my Old Smokey. Wings are sounding goooooood. I think I'll wing it up for the inaugral vortex cook.
 
I use the vortex all of the time. It's great for a reverse sear steak. But let's be honest...its a wing cooker. Cook wings on it one time and you will see.

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk
 
^^^ yep

I pull the wings win the skin gets a little bubbly (fried) and you can see the the juices starting to churn underneath the skin...usually about 40 mins for whole wing sections with a full charcoal chimney...25 mins if separate wings/drummies
 
ShadowDriver said:
Wings, Sausages, Steak, Corn for Elote, Potatoes... the possibilities are endless.

You don't always have to put it in the center of the cooker/grill... in fact, I often set it off to one side if I'm doing steak/potatoes/corn.

Hope it works out nicely for you... no matter what cooker you use.
Click to expand...


The Vortex is limited "only" by your imagination.
Can be used in the volcano mode or inverted and filled for various cooking situations. Centered or not. Coals can go around the outside of the inverted V for low and slow etc...Endless possibilities...I love mine for fire roasting peppers of all kind. Extreme heat for a short time is the best way to roast em...


Enjoy your new purchase.
Hope it fits between the grates on your grill...
 
Great reminder.

I've absolutely loved the bigger birds cooked INSIDE the Vortex with coals OUTSIDE....

Oh, man... Appreciate the reminder as this isn't something I do nearly as much as the "normal" use of the Vortex.
 
TxQGuy said:
I blame you folks on here for this. :biggrin1: After seeing how many of you utilize a vortex for your grilling, I decided to order one off Amazon and am now awaiting delivery.

I'll admit that I just trusted the Brethren on this one and bought it blindly, kind of a "well, it must be pretty handy so I should get it" sorta thing.

I know it is used for indirect, 2-zone kinda grilling, but someone tell me how to best use it. What are some tips/techniques?

Like I said, it was an impulse purchase for which I blame y'all. :laugh:
Click to expand...

Go buy some wings RIGHT NOW!!!!!!! :clap2:

IMG_0530 by David Miller, on Flickr
 
I was about to buy one for tailgating, but i already have charcoal baskets for my 22. I can set those up to hold coals in the middle.

What does a vortex do that I cant already do?
 
Vortex gets way hotter in my opinion. It concentrates the heat much better while leaving a nice indirect zone on the outside.

I've used the baskets also. They work! The vortex works better for me.

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk
 
Fantastic tool. My three main uses are: wings, ABT's and brats. 40-45 minutes and done. Flip the brats from end to end once in the middle of the cook and done. Wings and ABT's never touch them. I do rotate the lid a quarter of a turn every 10 minutes but do not know if that is necessary as my buddy never rotates his and the results are about the same. Mainly on the 26" rarely on the 22" but seems to work the same, just less food volume. I have never inverted and used it that way and need to sometime. Don't know how big your Ole Smokey is, but if you bought the medium, it might be too big.



Robert
 
I got one for Christmas and actually just had my first wing cook on it last night and came out with amazing results. Total cooking time was approximately 45 minutes with flipping and saucing. Excellent tool. You won't regret your purchase.
 
Theres a good chance my next YouTube video will be a wing cook on the vortex.

Let me ask this question. For a 22" kettle, what size vortex is everybody using? I've seen most use a medium, but have also seen some use the small. I know Malcom at howtobbqright uses the small in one of his videos.

I'm curious if anyone thinks one is better than the other for a 22" kettle.

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk
 
Little Pig Barbeque said:
Theres a good chance my next YouTube video will be a wing cook on the vortex.

Let me ask this question. For a 22" kettle, what size vortex is everybody using? I've seen most use a medium, but have also seen some use the small. I know Malcom at howtobbqright uses the small in one of his videos.

I'm curious if anyone thinks one is better than the other for a 22" kettle.

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

The Medium Vortex is recommended for the 22" kettle.
 

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