webber tips please we are struggling.
Submitted: Sunday, Sep 19, 2010 at 11:59
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Chipsy
Hi there all,
I bought my husband a little square webber to expand our cooking options when away with the camper. we bought some charcoal and natural fire lighters as I discussed with BBQ
shop lady that I didnt like that pertoly taste from heat beads and this is what she suggested.
the first time we tested it at home we set it up on the glass outdoor setting table... not a good idea as it turns out. but thats not the real problem.
anyway we just dont seem to be able to get it going and stay going, the vents are open bit it just keeps dying on us. would the proper firelighters as opposed to the natural one work better? can anyone give us some tips or point us in the right direction to a good website for advice.
Reply By: Notso - Sunday, Sep 19, 2010 at 12:05
Sunday, Sep 19, 2010 at 12:05
These things work best with the heat beads.
The main reason you get a Petrol?? smell is if you start cooking before all the beads are all fully involved in the fire.
The best thing is to let them burn until they all have a greyish coating on them before adding the tucker.
I have also seen a gas conversion on one of them somewhere.
AnswerID:
430776
Reply By: Member -Pinko (NSW) - Sunday, Sep 19, 2010 at 12:06
Sunday, Sep 19, 2010 at 12:06
Go to the
www.heatbeads.com.ausite and you shall find much information.
AnswerID:
430778
Reply By: Member - Scoot (SA) - Sunday, Sep 19, 2010 at 13:26
Sunday, Sep 19, 2010 at 13:26
With charcoal I have found it best to get a tube open both ends say like a old pipe or flue put your fire liters in first and then your charcoal .Once you have it all packed in ready to lite lift it up about 10 - 12 mm just enough lite it.
Don't be impatient let all the charcoal get red hot before you lift the tube with tongs or pliers and spread the charcoal out. The trouble with charcoal is you get charcoal that burns
well and charcoal that doesn't.
Cheers Scoof . :-)
AnswerID:
430782
Follow Up By: Chipsy - Sunday, Sep 19, 2010 at 20:24
Sunday, Sep 19, 2010 at 20:24
thanks Scoof, I will try out your method, I really would like to master the charcoal, it must be possible, even for us.
just so Im clear though is the pipe upright, with the fire lighters at the bottom and then once they are glowing you lift the pipe up and let them out the open bottom end?
thanks
Chipsy.
FollowupID:
701602
Follow Up By: Member - Scoot (SA) - Monday, Sep 20, 2010 at 08:38
Monday, Sep 20, 2010 at 08:38
Chipsy It will work , the tube must be verticle like a chimney it will draw air in from the bottom and roar up the cylinder.
The tube we use is a old piece of flue.
A tall big dog food can with both ends out would be ok. Don't rush make sure it's all red hot. We
cook for about 41/2 hours so we have to keep adding charcoal all the time you may have to add a little as you are cooking.
I learnt this method from all my Greek mates we
cook every year for the School . Lamb on the spit to raise money for the School, a big hit always sell out.
The greeks are masters of the charcoal.
Best of luck,
Cheers Scoof . :-)
FollowupID:
701619
Reply By: Member - David G (WA) - Sunday, Sep 19, 2010 at 13:46
Sunday, Sep 19, 2010 at 13:46
Hi Chipsy we have the same unit and use heat beads which we light with 3 or 4 fire lighters let the heat beads turn to a greyish colour I turn them over with the tongs to make sure they are
well and truly alight and then add your food and start cooking its important that you try and place the webber some where protected from the wind as we have found exposure to a breeze doubles the cooking time. We enjoy the meals from the webber almost as much as the
camp oven. Good luck
cheers Dave
AnswerID:
430783
Follow Up By: Member - malcomp- Sunday, Sep 19, 2010 at 14:41
Sunday, Sep 19, 2010 at 14:41
Hi Chipsy
I like to use the Self Lighting Heat beads as they all light to-gether and when they go
grey you can start cooking. There is no smell when they are fully alight. Cheers.
FollowupID:
701586
Reply By: Wilko - Sunday, Sep 19, 2010 at 17:41
Sunday, Sep 19, 2010 at 17:41
Hi Chipsy,
My advice is to try the Cobb cooker greenfuel. I use it in the Cobb and its easy to light burns hotter then heat beads and last longer too.
Cheers Wilko
AnswerID:
430797
Reply By: Vernp - Sunday, Sep 19, 2010 at 18:35
Sunday, Sep 19, 2010 at 18:35
Chipsy
Heat beads are the go, I use easy lites. Light the easylites with the lid off until all the beads are white.
Cook with the vents open fully and try to avoid sneaking a peak as you will loose heat.
Enjoy
Vern
AnswerID:
430806
Reply By: Member - MUZBRY(Vic) - Sunday, Sep 19, 2010 at 19:28
Sunday, Sep 19, 2010 at 19:28
Gday
When you have lit the heat beads,leave the lid off, go away for up to an hour.
We had a roast beef last night and it was just great.
It was about 2 kg and took about 1.5 hrs. As said before, don't lift the lid and
cook out of the breeze.
Murray
AnswerID:
430810
Reply By: Chipsy - Sunday, Sep 19, 2010 at 20:26
Sunday, Sep 19, 2010 at 20:26
thanks everyone, heaps of ideas to keep us going and hopefully get dinner cooked eventually. Im going to keep trying with the charcoal so if anyone else has ideas id still love to hear them.
if I still cant make the charcoal work Ill move on to the heat beads.
thanks again.
AnswerID:
430814
Reply By: Bazooka - Sunday, Sep 19, 2010 at 20:28
Sunday, Sep 19, 2010 at 20:28
Hello Chipsy
Have the traditional Weber not the BabyQ but process will be similar.
Key is to use quality heat beads - difference in heat and burn time is significant. Use any firelighters you wish but leave the lid OPEN until the beads are greyed over as others have noted. There will be no petroly smell/taste if you do that. Then pop your food in and leave lid closed until ready. Have a look at the Weber website for some
recipes and approx cooking times.
http://www.weberbbq.com.au/
AnswerID:
430815
Reply By: Member - Geoff H (QLD) - Sunday, Sep 19, 2010 at 20:51
Sunday, Sep 19, 2010 at 20:51
Hi Crispy,
We have used a few different types but have found the "Heat Beads Briquettes" light easily with any brand of fire lighter and give a consistent performance each time.
Make sure you wait for the beads to be fully lit before use.
We use a bead lighter tube we bought from BBQ's galore, quick and easy but not a necessity.
Regards
Geoff
AnswerID:
430818