Category Archives: Top Posts

Recteq RT-700 “The Bull” Compatible Third Party Grill Cover – $23.98 w/Stacking Deals

When I bought my Recteq RT-700 “The Bull” the cover was backordered. I did order it, but it took quite a while to arrive.

Since I keep the RT-700 outside I wanted to have something to protect it so I looked for a compatible non-OEM option. Doing some digging, I stumbled on Unicook’s Heavy Duty 55″ Cover. I’ve since received the Recteq branded cover, but have yet to open it.

See picture above for this cover on my RT-700

It works great. Of course it doesn’t have a tailored section for the vent, but there’s enough room in the cover to make up for that. I’ve found that it’s high quality and easy to put on.

5/12 11 PM Central: This is on sale for $26.98. Apply the $3 of page coupon and the price drops to $23.98 at checkout. Shipping is also free to many US addresses with Prime Membership [Try Prime for Free] or a qualifying order. Prices and availability can change quickly. Check product page for current info.

Unicook Heavy Duty Waterproof Barbecue Gas Grill Cover, 55-inch BBQ Cover, Special Fade and UV Resistant Material, Durable and Convenient, Fits Weber Char-Broil Nexgrill Brinkmann Grills and More – note that multiple variations of this product may be available, as such a different version may appear at this link

Price, promotions and availability can change quickly. Check the product page for current price, description and availability. top:rtcover tag:del

Recteq RT-700 “The Bull” Compatible Third Party Grill Cover

When I bought my Recteq RT-700 “The Bull” the cover was backordered. I did order it, but it took quite a while to arrive.

See picture above for this cover on my RT-700

It works great. Of course it doesn’t have a tailored section for the vent, but there’s enough room in the cover to make up for that. I’ve found that it’s high quality and easy to put on.

Price, promotions and availability can change quickly. Check the product page for current price, description and availability. top:rtcover

Multiple Deals at ThermoWorks!

Thermapen Classic – For a limited time, ThermoWorks is marking down the Thermapen Classic by a whopping 25%.
ThermoWorks Smoke Long Range Wireless Thermometer – Save 30%… Matches Black Friday 2021
BBQ Month Sale
Liquidation Sale
Our Coupon…

Price, promotions and availability can change quickly. Check the product page for current price, description and availability tag:twdeals tag:del

Removing Pellets from Your Pellet Grill?…. Bucket Head Shop Vac!

There are a few good reasons I can think of to remove pellets from your pellet grill/smoker.

You want to switch to a different type of pellet for a particular cook.
You need to clear some sort of a jam or fix a problem.
You’re storing your pellet smoker and want to remove pellets to avoid potential problems.

Maybe some pellet grills have a way to easily remove pellets, but mine (Recteq RT-700)… does not.

Looking for solutions I cam across the Bucket Head Shop Vac. The Bucket Head attaches to any standard 5 gallon bucket and… vacuums. When I need to remove pellets from my pellet smoker, I just vacuum them out. When I’m done I detach the Bucket Head from the bucket and put a regular lid on for storage. It works great!

I only use this for pellets so I don’t have to worry about cross contamination with dirt and such.

5 Gal. 1.75-Peak HP Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum Powerhead with Filter Bag and Hose (compatible with 5 Gal. Homer Bucket)

Make sure the components you use are compatible and rated for your intended application. Contact manufacturer with questions about suitability or a specific application. Always read and follow manufacturer directions.

Price, promotions and availability can change quickly. Check the product page for current price, description and availability. rp:hdbuckethead tag:rp

In Search of Crispy Smoked Wings

I’m very happy with my smoked briskets and ribs. I’ve done a lot of these meats. Through trial and error and learning from other, these generally turn out delicious.

Not that there’s one right way, but for these, there are some pretty clear guidelines out there that can get you close in short order. For ribs, there’s the classic 3-2-1 method, for brisket Aaron Franklin’s Method provides a methodical approach that makes for outstanding brisket.

For chicken wings, the picture isn’t as clear. I posed the question on Twitter, and walked away with some great ideas. In fact… lots of ideas. The path to the perfect smoke wing, varies, just like a lot of smoked weeks, but I’ll say, I think there may be more and more varied paths on this meat as compared to some others.

This post is a chronicle of my journey to get a great wing off my smoker.

Continue reading →

My Brisket Knife… Mercer Culinary’s Model M23210

I use Mercer Culinary’s Model M23210 10″ Knife to cut brisket. It’s serrated and made from high quality Japanese steel. The handle is polypropylene.

Previously I had used the “chef’s knife” from my kitchen knife set. That knife, at times, would cause brisket to shred instead of cutting a nice neat piece. The M23210 is super sharp and makes quick, neat work of cutting brisket.

For safety… I also picked up the 10″ x 2″ Mercer Knife Guard which fits the M23210 well.

What are Other’s Saying? Search this product’s Amazon reviews for “brisket – may include reviews for other sizes or variations

Mercer Culinary M23210 Millennia 10-Inch Wide Wavy Edge Bread Knife, Black – note that multiple variations of this product may be available, as such a different version may appear at this link
Mercer Culinary Knife Guard, 10 Inch x 2 Inch – note that multiple variations of this product may be available, as such a different version may appear at this link

Also Consider…

Pink Kraft Butcher Paper Roll – 18 Inch x 100 Feet (1200 Inch) – Food Grade Peach Wrapping Paper for Smoking Meat of all Varieties – Unbleached, Unwaxed and Uncoated – Made in USA – note that multiple variations of this product may be available, as such a different version may appear at this link

Aaron Frankline Teaches Texas BBQ, MasterClass

Price, promotions and availability can change quickly. Check the product page for current price, description and availability tag:brisketknife

Cook Day Recap – Prime Brisket on the RT-700

Brisket!

A Cook Day Recap!

Continue reading →

Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker Size Comparison

Thank you to BBQ Finds Reader Jeff for this photo! – Connect with Me!

Weber’s Smokey Mountain Cooker comes in three sizes….

I’m a huge fan of Weber’s line of products and their customer service. I’ve owned many of their products including the Smokey Mountain Cooker. Although I’ve since moved on to a different primary smoker, I found the Smokey Mountain Cooker to be one of the best smokers for the money.

Here are the general dimensions and capacity of the three sizes of Smokey Mountain Cookers. These may change slightly with model year adjustments.

22″ Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker

Dimensions – Lid Closed (inches): 48.5″H x 23″W x 24″D
Total cooking area (square inches): 726
Diameter (inches): 22

18″ Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker

Dimensions – Lid Closed (inches): 41″H x 19″W x 21″D
Total cooking area (square inches): 481
Diameter (inches): 18

14″ Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker

Dimensions – Lid Closed (inches): 31.4″H x 14.7″W x 14.7″D
Total cooking area (square inches): 286
Diameter (inches): 14

Weber 14-inch Smokey Mountain Cooker, Charcoal Smoker

Weber 18-inch Smokey Mountain Cooker, Charcoal Smoker

Weber 22-inch Smokey Mountain Cooker, Charcoal Smoker

Price, promotions and availability can change quickly. Check the product page for current price, description and availability. rp:wsmc tag:rp

Recipe: Jack Stack BBQ’s Cheesy Corn Bake! – from Jack Stack

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting Jack Stack BBQ, you’re probably familiar with their Cheesy Corn Bank. It’s pretty amazing.

Jack Stack used to make this recipe available on their website, that was years ago. From what I can gather, it has since been pulled down.

Here is the recipe. Credit goes to Jack Stack BBQ

Yield: 10-12 servings

Ingredients:

8 oz Cream Cheese, cubed 1”
2 cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded
3/4 cup 2% Milk
½ tsp Garlic Salt
¼ lb Smoked Ham, diced ¼”
10 oz Kernel Corn, frozen

Procedure:

In a four-quart sauce pan, over low heat, melt cream cheese, cheddar cheese, & 2% milk. Stir constantly to prevent scorching, until thickened, smooth and bubbly.
Stir in garlic salt and remove from heat.
Stir in corn and ham.
Transfer mixture to a two-quart casserole dish.
Bake at 350°F for 1 hour.

Variation: I’ve also put this on the smoker instead of baking.

Connect with BBQ Finds to Stay In the Loop!

Price, promotions and availability can change quickly. Check the product page for current price, description and availability. rp:jsccb tag:rp

The Case for Better Coffee – how to make a better cup

Pictured: French Press Starter Kit – via La Colombe

A good number of years ago, I had the pleasure of watching Alton Brown’s Good Eats on the subject of coffee. It explained many things and helped me understand why I was struggling to produce something that I would call a good cup of coffee. Since I have had the pleasure of traveling to Central America many times and have furthered my love and appreciation of a good cup of coffee. I’ve gone from drip to french press to pour-overs to roasting my own green coffee beans to making espresso in my home that rivals or often time exceeds the brew that’s coming out of many coffee shops at a fraction of the price. Here are some tips to take your cup to the next level no matter where you are in the spectrum.

For the pre-ground drip coffee maker crowd – Use the right amount of coffee. Generally speaking, you’re looking for 2 tablespoons per 6 ounces of water. If you like your coffee weaker than that… dandy. Make it using 2 tablespoons for 6 ounces and dilute it to taste with hot water. Using too little coffee draws unwanted and bitter compounds from the coffee. Use the right amount of coffee.
Start with good water. If your water is overly hard or otherwise unpleasant pick up a filter or consider using bottled water.
Grind your own. The biggest bang for the buck improvement in my opinion is grinding your own beans. Green coffee beans have a shelf life of years, in fact some think that green coffee beans get better as they age. Roasted coffee beans have an optimal shelf life of 2 weeks or under. Ground coffee has a shelf life of… minutes. Ground coffee has a lot more surface area (compared with whole unground coffee) to interact with oxygen and stale/oxidize. Also fresh beans release CO2. That CO2 helps to drive important oils and flavors out during the brewing process. Ground coffee left to sit, releases all its CO2. Leaving no CO2 left to help drive the flavor extraction process. All pre-ground coffee is stale. Amazon Best Sellers in Coffee Grinders
Get the grind right. Each brewing method calls for a specific grind size. That grind corresponds with the speed of the method and helps extract the right flavors and compounds. Choose the right setting for your equipment.
Get fresh beans. Look for a busy coffee roaster that includes roast dates on the bag. Busy means beans aren’t sitting around too long. In my opinion… I suggest running away from bins of coffee beans. These are open the air and are most likely stail. Who knows how long they’ve been sitting there. Run from the bins!
Skip the drip coffee maker. Most drip coffee makers do not get hot enough for optimal brewing. A pour over brewer is generally inexpensive and gives you control over your water at a reasonable price. You can be certain your water is hot enough by heating it yourself in a tea kettle. In my opinion a freshly ground pour-over coffee is an economical way to get a great cup of coffee that outclasses most drip machines.
If you want to make the jump to espresso… plan on saving up. A quality setup is pricey. Expect to spend $400+ for just the grinder. I started with a cheap espresso maker (real cheap) and had terrible results, I moved on to a Rancilio Silvia and a Rocky Grinder and have since moved on to a Rocket Espresso Appartemento. A great cup of coffee can be made relatively inexpensively with fresh beans that have been recently ground using a method that allows you to heat up the water to the right temperature – french press, pour-over, chemex and more. Inexpensive and quality espresso setup are mutually exclusive terms in my opinion.

If you’re happy with your cup of Joe, that’s what counts. If you’re not and looking to improve consider some of these ideas.

Melitta Single Cup Pour-Over Coffeemaker with Red Brewing Cone and Ceramic Coffee Mug -via Amazon
Brewer’s Guides at La Colombe – Step by step guides for Chemex, French Press, Aeropress & more.
Amazon Best Sellers in Coffee Grinders
Behmor 1600 Coffee Roasting Kit via MoreCoffee
MoreCofee – green coffee beans, roasting equipment, brewers and more

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