1st cook Weber One Touch Premium & Smokenator

[Dodge]

Hi all

My Weber One Touch Premium & Smokenator will arrive during the week, and I'm going to bust it straight out for some low n slow action.

Any recommendations very welcome regarding which meat, size etc, for a 1st cook please? We like all meat, and I'm well up for the job.

Also, is the correct way to season the Bbq to lightly coat the inside with olive oil, and give it a chimney full for an hour or so?

Thanks in advance, never cooked anything low n slow before.

[JEC]

Don't worry about seasoning with oil, really not required but I would do a practice run with nothing on it to learn about temperature control and burn of anything nasty. I'd go for a pork shoulder or a whole chicken for a first cook, size wise a family sized chicken or one of the vacuum packed pork shoulders from Tesco would work out well.

[Dodge]

Excellent, thanks. A chicken sounds like a plan. Now I'm thinking maybe beer can chicken, but don't really like the idea of using a can, i guess its ok as thousands do it all the time.

Another thing, reading up on the Smokenator, its seems designed for temp around 225f - 250f, i wonder if its possible to get higher temps out of it? i guess using more than the suggested 48 coals would give a higher temp if more will fit i don't know.

As you say, the best thing to do would be to have a practice run and go from there.

Cheers
Chris

[JEC]

No issues with using the beer can, if you are really bothered about it you can buy a fabricated unit that you pour liquid in to or holds the can securely

http://www.amazon.co.uk/BBQMaster-Beer-Can-Chicken-Roaster/dp/B0030BKZIS

I got this as a present

http://www.biggreenegg.co.uk/shop/product/sittin-chicken-ceramic-roaster

Regarding temperatures just light more charcoal at the start and open the vents wider

[RobinC]

The point of the smokenator is to keep the temp low. If you want higher temps in the kettle no need to use it. You will probably find that as your kettle isn't seasoned it will burn hotter initially anyway

[Dodge]

Thanks guys, can't wait to get started.

I love the look of the BGE ceramic chicken roaster as you can add liquid to it to steam the inside. I checked it out and its £10 delivery, so £27.50 total

What you think about this one for £6.50? looks like i could still add a bit liquid to the bottom, although i guess thats for catching fat which will also steam the inside ok?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-UPRIGHT-C ... 565ce71e65

Cheers
Chris

[JEC]

These are ok, the liquid you add in the bottom does help a bit but not as much as when the chicken is sat on it. It is mainly design to catch the drippings. Unless you are ordering other stuff from BGE it's way to expensive to justify. If you do want to order an Egg I can recommend you and you'll get 10% off.

[Dodge]

I will give the £6.50 chicken roaster ago for now. Will also let you know if any friends decide to get a BGE, thank you letting me know about the discount.

Cheers
Chris

[Scantily]

Any particular reason you went for the smokenator? The water pans seem tiny and needs refiling often, the snake and minion method alone seems enough to control low temps for smoking on a kettle.

Enjoy your new toys!

[rigchris]

What you think about this one for £6.50? looks like i could still add a bit liquid to the bottom, although i guess thats for catching fat which will also steam the inside ok?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-UPRIGHT-C ... 565ce71e65

Cheers
Chris

I've got that very same roaster, and it gives amazing results! The first few times I used it, I added liquid into the bottom, but then I read the beer can chicken article on amazing ribs and now I don't bother adding anything to it, and it comes out just as good, just make sure you've got a drip pan on the coal grill, because you get fat dripping all over the place!

Edit: this is a link to the article, if anyone is interested http://amazingribs.com/tips_and_techniq ... icken.html