I will never live this down, a fiasco, all credibility gone....

Pretty sure that it was the quality of heat beads, had enough or at least according to the book of words.

Another go today;))

Michael

Anyone tell you that volcanic rocks don't work!

I dunno about the quality of heatbeads, perhaps they don't make them as they used to.
I found two originally sealed (paper)bags of heatbeads in the shed. They would have been there at least 15 years (yes, I'm a hoarder:-). Anyway, used those beads and had no trouble at all lighting them with 3 firelighters and then cook a nice mini roast.
First I used those cheap white firelighter cubes, these produced massive flames and plenty of stinky smoke. Now I'm using the ones that look like little fibre board squares soaked in metho or something. They still light the beads perfectly and much less smoke & giant flames - I'm using the Cobb on a boat and don't want to set fire to it.

the trick with the beads is to place them closely together and intersperse the firelighters. A solitary bead on the side will not stay alight, they need to touch each other.

I always use the Heat Beads® brand of solid fuel for the Cobb and sometimes the camp oven. But I cheat.

I have a beaut little gadget called a BLOWTORCH.
I assemble the required amount of beads in a pile and wave the torch over them for a couple of minutes while sipping on the first glass of red. Within ten minutes or so the beads have that brown coating over most if not all surfaces and they are them placed in the firebox of the Cobb.

I was away last week with a group of people and we had volunteered to cook the meal for a dozen people the first night.

Put all the Heat Beads® on a wire mesh stand which was sitting in a 14" cast iron frypan. After waving the magic wand over them, eight went into the Cobb with a few foil wrapped veggies and a boneless piece of Pork. 14 were put on the lid of the Hillybilly camp oven and 10 left on the mesh stand. The Hillbilly was placed on the stand and a boneless piece of both lamb and beef placed in the oven. Next came the veggie ring with the majority of foil wrapped spuds and carrots and finally the head bead laden lid placed on the top.

Two hours and the remainder of the bottle of red (or was that two) later and dinner was declared ready.

Had no complaints from any of the group who declared the standard had just been set.

The rest of our stay at the particular location turned somewhat pair shaped (nothing to do with the other meals that followed) and I may tell everyone about it at some time or other, when the scene has been set and the timing is right.
I would hate other people to experience the same "Friendly Hosts" as we did.

Anyway, back to the Cobb (and Camp Ovens too).
Just persevere and be prepared to experiment a little.

The main thing I have found is to make certain the heat beads are burning sufficiently before you place them in the fire box, otherwise they will go out.
Personally, I don't like any of the fire lighters on the market as they stink and will impart a distinct "flavour" to the food.

Heat Beads® are available in a 3kg "easy-lite" pack which I have found are good for a while, but will "lose" the "easy-lite" ability if an opened pack is left for a long time before next use.

As Mike has mentioned, metho used carefully also works well and will not taint food.

Or, do as I and help them along with the good old blowtorch when necessary.

I'm feeling better.......lol

I'm feeling betterer still;)))

Sounds like they need to make a gas model!

Tks Waynepd,

All by the book except for the quality of beads.
Will try again today and post results.

"The most wasted day of all is one in which we have not laughed."
-in that case my last two days certainly have not been wasted.....lol lol

That's the thing i love about our society, we can take the bleep out of ourselves and genuinely enjoy the humour of it.

I am still no expert at Cobb cooking by any stretch but practice often on your captive/built-in guinea pigs and keep the spare meal handy.....LOL. You will learn.

Hmmm, I agree. Soounds like you need to plan the whole afternoon around cooking dinner. I'll stick with gas or real fire.

My Coleman shellite stove works first time, every time...picked it up for $25...
It will do me

Stu

I have had the same problem but I think it may not be the heat beads but the firestarters. I use both a Cobb and a webber and sometimes I have great trouble just lighting the firestarters in the big webber or they dont burn long enough to get the beads burning properly. I have given up on cheap firestarters for this reason.

You have hit the nail on the head.
Slow cooking and while cooking enjoy something to wet the pallet plus a bit of conversation or great lisentening music or bush sounds. A drop or two of scotch, bottle of red wine or white or whatever or a bit of everything. Desert and cream dont go well with the red or the white so a billy of water to wash the dishes goes well after cooking the roast but then maybe too many red or white or port and you dont really feel like washing up anyway and of course in the morning the washing up water will be stone cold and the dishes will still be there to doubt you will have enjoyed another great night away from home away from the normal everyday stress and life so lets all go for the slow cooking experience and the weekend away from normal existance.
Bring on the next weekend away

Now that's my kinda cookin'!

If you are going to do that, you might as well cook it on the gas stove

My .02

Stu

Yes - see my response further down.

Baked beans for you mate.........lol lol
-while Judith dines on a succulent roast..yum

Cheers