Pit Barrel Cooker (PBC) Appreciation Thread

[TealStBBQKing]

I have one rack of St Louis ribs I want to fire up today. Has anyone used the half basket approach for ribs and does it work? I'd like to avoid a whole basket of charcoal for one rack of ribs if possible.

 

[AClarke44]

I have one rack of St Louis ribs I want to fire up today. Has anyone used the half basket approach for ribs and does it work? I'd like to avoid a whole basket of charcoal for one rack of ribs if possible.

I don't think you'll get enough time using that method. I usually only get about 2-2.5 hours from it.

What I would do is not fill the basket up all the way. You'll have to eyeball it some and estimate.

I just thought of something. Below are two pictures. The first is the half basket method I usually use for short cooks. That method will only get about 2.5 hours of cook time. The second pic though will go longer because moving the bricks allows for more room. I bet you'd get 3.5 hours or possibly 4. But you can always move the brick a little farther back. That method might just get you what you are looking for.

Edit: I forgot I use to use that method (bottom pic). I may have to use it again next cook. ...:biggrin1:

 

[MichiganBBQ]

Welcome! When do you expect it to be delivered?

Showing sometime between the 24-27 of June.

I'm not a patient man, this isn't easy. lol :biggrin1:

 

[TealStBBQKing]

I don't think you'll get enough time using that method. I usually only get about 2-2.5 hours from it.

What I would do is not fill the basket up all the way. You'll have to eyeball it some and estimate.

I just thought of something. Below are two pictures. The first is the half basket method I usually use for short cooks. That method will only get about 2.5 hours of cook time. The second pic though will go longer because moving the bricks allows for more room. I bet you'd get 3.5 hours or possibly 4. But you can always move the brick a little farther back. That method might just get you what you are looking for.

Edit: I forgot I use to use that method (bottom pic). I may have to use it again next cook. ...:biggrin1:

Thanks as always Andrew. I love this thread it has so much info. I've only had my PBC since Christmas as this has been a huge help. The fire bricks I bought only allow me to do the 2nd picture method (mine are the size of a standard brick). I'll take some pictures as I'm planning to enter the on the grill /smoker throwdown and next week I've got some plans for the noob throwdown too.

 

[AClarke44]

Showing sometime between the 24-27 of June.

I'm not a patient man, this isn't easy. lol :biggrin1:

I know the feeling! I just ordered a new truck. 6-8 weeks till I get it......:shock::doh::mmph::twitch::frusty: :tumbleweed:

 

[AClarke44]

Thanks as always Andrew. I love this thread it has so much info. I've only had my PBC since Christmas as this has been a huge help. The fire bricks I bought only allow me to do the 2nd picture method (mine are the size of a standard brick). I'll take some pictures as I'm planning to enter the on the grill /smoker throwdown and next week I've got some plans for the noob throwdown too.

No problem. With the full bricks it may take a little longer to get hot, but I think it'll work fine otherwise. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[TealStBBQKing]

I have one rack of St Louis ribs I want to fire up today. Has anyone used the half basket approach for ribs and does it work? I'd like to avoid a whole basket of charcoal for one rack of ribs if possible.

I'm one hour in and temperature is holding around 305° +-5°
Edit: 3 hours in and they are almost done picture is just after adding sauce

 

[AClarke44]

How'd they turn out?

 

[Evil-g]

I re-thought my position and I now know exactly where the PBC sits in the mix. It's pretty much at the top after I did some PBC chicken. Wow this may be some of the best chicken I've made. She will definitely get the call once a week. Here's some pRon.

 

[dcimike125]

Did my very first pork butt ever on the PBC. Came out great. My wife said she might give me my fathers day present early:wink:. She whipped up her jalapeno corn salad to run with it. Another success on my PBC. Best investment since I married my wife.

 

[TealStBBQKing]

They came out great! I also hung the corn in tinfoil for about 40 minutes which was also really good. Next time I think I'll cook the corn without the foil and see what kind of smoke flavor it takes on.

 

[AClarke44]

I re-thought my position and I now know exactly where the PBC sits in the mix. It's pretty much at the top after I did some PBC chicken. Wow this may be some of the best chicken I've made. She will definitely get the call once a week. Here's some pRon.

Lol.....I like it! That chicken looks great! PBC Is hard to beat!

 

[AClarke44]

Did my very first pork butt ever on the PBC. Came out great. My wife said she might give me my fathers day present early:wink:. She whipped up her jalapeno corn salad to run with it. Another success on my PBC. Best investment since I married my wife.

Looks like your living the High Life! :biggrin1:

 

[AClarke44]

They came out great! I also hung the corn in tinfoil for about 40 minutes which was also really good. Next time I think I'll cook the corn without the foil and see what kind of smoke flavor it takes on.

Yeah that looks very good! So the half basket worked well? How much coal was left??

 

[TealStBBQKing]

Yeah that looks very good! So the half basket worked well? How much coal was left??

Half basket was fine. I started my coals around 4:45pm and now at 9:20 I've still got some coals left putting out heat, but not really enough at this point to keep cooking but the half basket was plenty for one rack of ribs.

 

[AClarke44]

Half basket was fine. I started my coals around 4:45pm and now at 9:20 I've still got some coals left putting out heat, but not really enough at this point to keep cooking but the half basket was plenty for one rack of ribs.

Nice! Glad it worked out!

 

[Magichelmt]

Great results on my 9 pound butt tonight. It fell apart and the bone pulled clean. It could have used more bark. I am very happy with the results. I also cooked 2 fatties for us and 2 for my neighbors. I love this PBC.

 

[Bob C Cue]

Great looking cooks folks. Gonna do a brisket tomorrow and offered to cook a couple of racks of ribs for neighbors.

 

[Westx]

I re-thought my position and I now know exactly where the PBC sits in the mix. It's pretty much at the top after I did some PBC chicken. Wow this may be some of the best chicken I've made. She will definitely get the call once a week. Here's some pRon.

The PBC is a chicken cooking machine. Even though I just got a Humphreys Pint for Father's day the PBC w8ll be my go to for chicken for ever.

 

[TealStBBQKing]

Great results on my 9 pound butt tonight. It fell apart and the bone pulled clean. It could have used more bark. I am very happy with the results. I also cooked 2 fatties for us and 2 for my neighbors. I love this PBC.

Looks awesome!