Cobb Cooker Help needed
Submitted: Saturday, Nov 29, 2008 at 22:13
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63893
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Member - Graham H (QLD)
Have bought one of these and would like to know how long it takes for the beads to change colour to allow u to start cooking on them.
Have read the book but it just says to wait till they do.
Would like to get an idea so we dont end up with dinner at either 4pm or perhaps midnight.
We have just sold our house and have moved into the van till end of school hols .
Then heading south and across the bottom to WA.
Cheers and TIA
Reply By: Kev - Member - Wynnum - Saturday, Nov 29, 2008 at 22:18
Saturday, Nov 29, 2008 at 22:18
Graham,
We use the recommended heat beads and fire lighters and it generally takes about 30 minutes to turn eight black beads white, ready for cooking
Kev
AnswerID:
337458
Reply By: Member - cuffs (SA) - Saturday, Nov 29, 2008 at 22:19
Saturday, Nov 29, 2008 at 22:19
Should go from black to all
grey in 20-25 minutes
AnswerID:
337459
Reply By: Member - bungarra (WA) - Saturday, Nov 29, 2008 at 22:25
Saturday, Nov 29, 2008 at 22:25
our experience is to wait until they mostly turn
grey....20 to 25 mins.........if you wait for the 'text book" all
grey you will lose cooking time at the other end of their life
secondly beware of cheap imitation beads..we learnt the hard way (actually the guy who sold us the cob sold us the wrong beads..same thing he stated..THEY ARE NOT..use heat beads
AnswerID:
337460
Reply By: Gramps (NSW) - Saturday, Nov 29, 2008 at 22:40
Saturday, Nov 29, 2008 at 22:40
I usually count on 30+ minutes with just the firelighters. I've heard some use a butane torch to speed up the process.
AnswerID:
337461
Follow Up By: Ozboc - Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 08:25
Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 08:25
i also use an assisted method to heat them up quick , i use the cobb cooker when
camping in my jayco - so i just put the basket on the burners of the stove -- throw 9 beads in - light up the gas -- and within about 10 min all are white ...
only use the heat beads when not in the van .....
Boc
FollowupID:
605114
Follow Up By: Ozboc - Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 08:25
Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 08:25
oops that's meant to read i only use firelighters when im not in the van ...... ( need an edit button )
FollowupID:
605115
Reply By: AdrianLR (VIC) - Saturday, Nov 29, 2008 at 23:21
Saturday, Nov 29, 2008 at 23:21
I made up a "chimney" as suggested on the
HeatBeads website. 20 to 25 minutes is enough to make such that the beads are
well enough alight that all stay burning. I did try to speed things up by putting the Cobb basket on the gas burner (as someone else suggested in a similar thread a while back) and it does work but you end up with some ash on the stovetop.
Adrian
AnswerID:
337463
Follow Up By: Member - Barry H (WA) - Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 01:06
Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 01:06
Graham H,
Cobb cooker is whithout doubt the best bit of
camping equipment we own. Agree with all the comments about the hear beads, but lately we have tried the new Cobblestone heat bead, one bead will last for 2 and a half hours, we actually have experiemented with half beads for lesser cooking time and that works
well to. Big advantage is these things light in under 2 mins and are ready for cooking almost immediately no waiting for 20 - 30 mins. They are made from compressed coconut fibre and burn completely, to ash.
Well worth having a look at, cost around $13.95 for a pack of six.
Barry
FollowupID:
605101
Reply By: Member - DAZA (QLD) - Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 11:47
Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 11:47
Hi All
I cheat, I pour some Metho on the Heat Beads, in a small S/S Bowl,
they go
grey a lot quicker, then I place them in the Cobb, and what
ever we
cook is FANTASTIC, we love our Cobb Cooker.
Cheers
Daza
AnswerID:
337512
Reply By: Holden4th - Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 20:16
Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 20:16
My Weber booklet uses the phrase "ashes over" meaning the entire outside of the heat bead is covered in ash. The chimney idea speeds up this process (down from 40 minutes to 15). I haven't come across the 'cobblestone' yet. I wonder how it would work in a Weber?
AnswerID:
337584
Reply By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 20:53
Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 20:53
Thanks folks am certain now that its about 30 mins. Was worried that it might be an hour or more
AnswerID:
337593
Reply By: Member - Min (NSW) - Monday, Dec 01, 2008 at 12:35
Monday, Dec 01, 2008 at 12:35
Hi Graham,
We now use Cobblestones and find them excellent. I haven't worked out the cost comparison of them with Heat Beads but I don't care, they are so much better. As others have said, it is important to use good quality beads and make sure they have not been exposed to moisture or they don't work. Cobblestones come individually sealed and take up less space then beads.
I can just smell that roast lamb and bread now ...
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337678