I have an overnight pork shoulder going at home but had to book a last minute early flight this morning and now my wife is in charge of taking it off and closing the egg down. I think I prepared her well but who knows what I'll come back to.

It will be gone by the time I get home.

6/26/2016 9:22:13 AM

Going to spatchcock a few chickens on a pig cooker for the 4th.

Should I brine before?

6/26/2016 9:26:47 AM

So I bought a new akorn under duress (sort of) I needed it to grill like $60 worth of steaks on fathers day. Today I looked up parts on the Char Griller website and I think I can refurbish my old grill for >$50.

I might sell that mug on craigslists once its cleaned up.

6/26/2016 9:28:55 AM

If you decide to sell it, let me know. I have a buddy who might be in the market for one.

6/26/2016 9:33:58 AM

Chickens don't really need brining, IMO. 4 hours wouldn't hurt anything.

6/26/2016 9:41:59 AM

Got my grill loaded up and I've been on the road for about 2 hours and just realized that I'm pretty sure I forgot the stone for it. I know I can easily make a heat deflector with just a pan on maybe some foil, but I feel like without the stone working as a heat sink I'm gonna have a harder time maintaining steady temps. Is that accurate? I've never smoked without it...

6/26/2016 9:53:06 AM

No. I do 12 hour cooks with nothing but a pizza pan wrapped in foil.

6/26/2016 10:38:31 AM

Any experience with dry brining? If I'm reading correctly, you just put salt on the bird for a few hours?

6/26/2016 10:38:34 AM

Seems like it would pull the water out. Whole chicken really doesn't need a lot of help to be tasty. Why go through all the extra steps for marginal results?

6/26/2016 11:44:22 AM

Finally had time to try out my first smoke on the Kamodo my girlfriend got me. Did a rack of ribs and a shoulder.

Turned out pretty good, if I say so myself, though I do need practice to get my heat management more steady. Make a little pile with a divet in the top. Place a couple alcohol soaked cotton balls in the hole and lit it. Covered with a couple pieces of lump charcoal. Threw a few chunks at random on the pile. Would kind of range all over the 210 to 260 range, and could get it to fluctuate up and down pretty well, but could never get it to steady off. I guess it'll take practice (I might've used too much charcoal in general), but all-in-all a pretty good first attempt I think.

6/27/2016 8:48:47 AM

You guys notice a difference between frozen meat and fresh meat? We are having a big neighborhood cookout this weekend and I want to wow everyone with some pork ribs and wondering if fresh has a significantly better texture/taste for the additional price? Personally, Im fine with frozen meats.

[Edited on June 27, 2016 at 9:50 AM. Reason : a]

6/27/2016 9:50:21 AM

fresh >>> frozen

My dad ended up getting a Charbroil 4-Burner TRU Infrared Commercial Series instead of the Saber. We cooked on it for the first time last night (after seasoning the grates, etc.) and it performed very well. Got over 550 degrees pretty quickly and the side burner came with a cast iron griddle that we used to sear my steak with (we cooked a bunch of different meats - kebabs, chicken, steak, tuna steaks, etc.) and it was great. The stuff we put right on the grill had nice grill marks too. The sear from the side burner was as good as doing cast iron on the stove or directly on coals like we'd been doing. We enjoyed the ease and simplicity of not having to start coals, etc. All in all I think he made a good purchase and it has a decent warranty as well.

6/27/2016 10:11:36 AM

I get racks of St Louis spares from Costco. They come 3 to a pack. I vacuum seal them individually and freeze. Can't tell a difference between them and fresh.

I also buy lots of butts when they're on sale and freeze them. Taste the same.

As long as it's properly frozen, there's nothing wrong with frozen meat.

6/27/2016 12:24:32 PM

I put a 10 lb picnic on at 2 am. The Auber has it locked down.

7/4/2016 9:30:18 AM

'Twas excellent. And so easy.

7/4/2016 9:31:35 PM

Quote :

"The Auber has it locked down."

Which one did you get? What grill are you using it for?

7/5/2016 10:09:40 AM

Chargriller Akorn. It's whatever model they recommend for the Akorn. Works great. I changed the parameters based on a thread on kamadoguru.com or BBQ brethren. Don't remember.

7/5/2016 4:09:23 PM

I need one of you computer nerds to help me out. There's this open source controller thing out there called HeaterMeter that is everything I need rolled into one unit. It monitors grill temp and controls it via a PID controller and blower speed. It also monitors food temps via multiple maverick style probes. It's all wireless capable and supposedly you can monitor it all from your phone or computer.

The only thing is, I don't have Internet service at my house. I only have my phone with an unlimited data plan and crappie service. So, I need to make sure I can use the thing with just a wireless network with no actual Internet service. I want to be able to monitor the thing from my phone with the app as long as both my phone and the HeaterMeter are within range of the wireless router. Can one of you nerds confirm this is possible? There's tons of info on their forum, but I don't understand any of it. They don't have a decent "start here, noob" thread either. It's like they assume you are a proficient networking dude.

Please guys I have a cook tonight.

7/5/2016 7:09:58 PM

So I have gathered that all I should have to do is build or buy the version with raspberry pi and stick a wireless dongle in the USB port and I should be able to talk directly to it with the android app. I guess the only question is what kind of range can I expect with the dongle. Seems like I should be able to setup the wireless router without interwebs service and do the same thing, just not sure how to hook the raspberry pi to the wireless network. If I ever do get an ISP out here, I could post a link and all you jokers could monitor my cook's progress.

7/5/2016 9:34:28 PM

If your phone has wifi thethering this should work just fine without extra work. Its theoretically possible to use a regular wireless router but im not sure if you can configure android to not use wifi for internet access.

7/6/2016 2:26:03 AM

What if I had an old android phone or a tablet that I didn't care about Internet service and I just wanted to dedicate it to grill monitoring during a cook? Could the wireless adapter on the raspberry pi and the phone-sans-sim-card both connect to a router in AP mode with no actual Internet connection? The way it normally works is you go to the IP address of the RPi in a browser and then look at the temp graph and configure the PID controller and such. I set my grill up just outside my garage, so I'm hoping I can set an old router up just inside the garage, connect the RPi via dongle, then connect the old android phone to the network, plug the address into the android app, then monitor the cook anywhere within range of the router. Should work, right?

7/6/2016 8:42:49 AM

What if I had an old android phone or a tablet that I didn't care about Internet service and I just wanted to dedicate it to grill monitoring during a cook? Could the wireless adapter on the raspberry pi and the phone-sans-sim-card both connect to a router in AP mode with no actual Internet connection? The way it normally works is you go to the IP address of the RPi in a browser and then look at the temp graph and configure the PID controller and such. I set my grill up just outside my garage, so I'm hoping I can set an old router up just inside the garage, connect the RPi via dongle, then connect the old android phone to the network, plug the address into the android app, then monitor the cook anywhere within range of the router. Should work, right?

7/6/2016 8:42:49 AM

I guess I should see what kind of range I get out of the dongle by itself first. Some folks are reporting coverage areas the size of a football field.

7/6/2016 8:47:09 AM

Can you post the forum? I would be interested in taking a look at this tech.

7/6/2016 9:40:45 AM

http://heatermeter.myshopify.com/

7/6/2016 9:52:19 AM

http://tvwbb.com/forumdisplay.php?85-HeaterMeter-DIY-BBQ-Controller

There's a github page with all the specifics. Google heatermeter.

7/6/2016 9:53:19 AM

^^look at v4.2.4 for the latest info. They now use an RJ-45 plug for output so you can drive a fan and/or damper servo.

I have no experience with any of this technology, but I think there's enough support I can figure it out.

[Edited on July 6, 2016 at 9:57 AM. Reason : Gdgd]

7/6/2016 9:55:11 AM

Cool. Thanks!

7/6/2016 10:01:33 AM

just ordered the kit with thermocouple board and the 3d printed case. ordered raspberry pi model b and a wifi adapter from amazon. should be fun. gonna make an adapter pigtail so i can use my auber blower without hacking the end off the cord.

7/6/2016 8:50:59 PM

someone tell me how to cook a bone in pork chop to perfection? tips?

7/10/2016 10:14:14 AM

Assuming it's got some thickness, I'd think a reverse sear. If not brown it on direct heat. I'd probably cook it to 150-155 and rest

7/10/2016 12:08:48 PM

Pull it at 140 for a carryover of 145. That is plenty for tender pork cuts. Reverse sear would be best. I like Weber Steak and Chop on pork chops and pork tenderloin.

7/10/2016 12:33:52 PM

You can even bring it up slowly in the oven at 250 degrees and then sear on a really hot grill.

7/10/2016 12:36:56 PM

Yes they are about 3/4 to 1 inch thick bone in. Thanks for the help guys

7/10/2016 3:30:54 PM

i finished the soldering on the heatermeter board last night. just waiting on the raspberry pi to come in now. it should be here one day this week.

https://goo.gl/photos/QeU9bRRADHkHHpFH6
https://goo.gl/photos/i2uihBNLDwTTLFRj6

7/10/2016 3:57:36 PM

You're the man nerd now dog

7/10/2016 4:07:42 PM

yeah, i felt really nerdy. it's good to develop new skills and learn new stuff, though.

luckily i already had a really good soldering station for my RC stuff.

7/10/2016 4:17:25 PM

https://goo.gl/photos/MyXUHTeQqo8YgKf36

great success!

everything seems to work like it should. the only thing i haven't tested is the actual blower output. i still need to make up a pigtail to adapt my auber blower to the RJ45 output jack.

the web UI works great, as does the android app. it also looks like the little wifi dongle is going to have enough range to cover me anywhere in the house.

7/13/2016 8:44:04 PM

Awesome man looks great!

7/14/2016 12:17:36 AM

Badass. What was the total cost?

7/14/2016 9:16:01 AM

Heatermeter kit with thermocouple parts already installed was $105. 3D printed case was $22. Raspberry Pi was about $37. Wifi adapter is $8. You need a full size SD card or a micro in an adapter. 128MB or larger, so if you have one from an old camera, that works. I already had a fan and a 12V wall wart. I already had a thermocouple and thermistor probes.

I'm in for about $175. You could do everything for about $200. That's less than or the same as off the shelf options, but this has much more functionality and is more customizable. As long as you have an Internet connection, you are within range to monitor the cook. None of the others can do that.

[Edited on July 14, 2016 at 10:08 AM. Reason : Sggs]

7/14/2016 10:07:08 AM

i went retail with the cyberq and love it

7/15/2016 12:01:47 PM

The cyberq is very nice. It would've been almost twice the cost. It doesn't have the servo damper capability and isn't quite as customizable.

[Edited on July 15, 2016 at 1:07 PM. Reason : Plus, HM is just a really neat DIY project ]

7/15/2016 1:06:03 PM

got a 15lb shoulder to smoke. hoping the fucker fits on my lil Weber...maybe i can cut it half or something if needed

[Edited on July 15, 2016 at 3:55 PM. Reason : 17.5" wide]

7/15/2016 3:54:59 PM

do you have an 18" or 22.5"? shouldn't be a problem on the 22.5".

7/15/2016 3:55:51 PM

22.5, but obvi i want it to be as far away from heat as possible. guess it can wrap around some

[Edited on July 15, 2016 at 4:11 PM. Reason : just tell me it's not gonna fit and i need to go buy an Akorn please]

7/15/2016 4:09:29 PM

DO IT! Bought one 2 weeks ago. Best thing ive used.

7/15/2016 4:25:27 PM

$280 then you gotta get the stone, then the cover etc

[Edited on July 15, 2016 at 4:40 PM. Reason : fuck it i think im gonna pull the trigger]

7/15/2016 4:28:48 PM

Dont waste money on the stone for an Akorn. The charcoal grate in the bottom of your kettle fits the stone tabs perfectly. I just put a cheap pizza pan from Walmart on that lower grate and I'm set. You can put a foil pan down there if you want. Lowe's, and possibly home Depot too, carry the Weber charcoal grate as a spare part.

7/15/2016 5:20:41 PM

I have an Akorn and a 22.5 kettle and use both often.

7/15/2016 5:25:55 PM