It is well documented that I have a hoarding problem

[RG 2.0]

By now it is no secret that I like to collect grills and smokers much in the way others may collect sports memorabilia or DVDs/Blu-Rays, cars, motorcycles, etc.....

My interest has been piqued yet again. In a never ending quest to make perfect grilled/smoked skin on chicken with nice crispy skin I have come across the "Pit Barrel Cooker". I know that they are in a lawsuit which is a shame, their story can be found via a Google search but to put it mildly, the couple who started the company got shafted by another company that was supposed to be "helping" them and are suing them. I hope they win!!

Anyhoo, any of you guys and gals have one or have eaten food off of one? Curious as to your take on it before I spend any more money on yet another grill that I absolutely do NOT need, lol.

 

[BedouinBob]

RG, what are you thinking???? You have to light FIRE, you have to BUY briquettes, you can't lazy Q!!!!!  You COULD BURN YOUR BEAUTIFUL DECK DOWN!!!  This just looks SCARY!!! I think I am going to have to start some ribs and drink a beer to recover..... Just sayin'.  8) And kidding.... 

 

[RG 2.0]

All kidding aside, my wife damn near burned the house down before. I think I posted a picture of it here before, lol. I don't think we have to worry about that anymore, consider it a "scared straight" moment

Almost everything I own uses wood as a fuel, 3 kamados, 2 pellet poopers. Only my gasser and SI use no charcoal but at least the SI uses wood for flavoring! The good thing about Lazy-Q is it does give me free time to light some charcoal

 

[DivotMaker]

Curious as to your take on it before I spend any more money on yet another grill that I absolutely do NOT need, lol.

Haven't heard of this smoker, but will check it out.  BUT, more importantly....since when did NEED have anything to do with your (or mine, for that matter) smoker decisions???? ;D ;D ;D

 

[RG 2.0]

Curious as to your take on it before I spend any more money on yet another grill that I absolutely do NOT need, lol.

Haven't heard of this smoker, but will check it out.  BUT, more importantly....since when did NEED have anything to do with your (or mine, for that matter) smoker decisions???? ;D ;D ;D

True! lol

I don't really consider this a smoker, although it can and does smoke. It just does it in a higher range, closer to 300°. I know it's crazy to spend $300 just for a chicken cooker but I've spent more on dumber things! I am on the fence still, I actually PMed Smokeasaurus about it since he owns one. Maybe he'll chime in.

 

[DivotMaker]

Smoke will shoot you straight! 

 

[DivotMaker]

I checked out their site.  I can see the appeal, but I would be hard-pressed to believe the results would be anything you can't do better in your current devices.  By the way, the best crispy chicken skin device I've come across is the Charbroil Big Easy oil-less turkey fryer.  It's fast, and actually works very well.  It uses convection heat, and is easy to use (propane).  I don't use mine all that much, anymore, as we preferred smoked chicken, and we're not big skin eaters anyways.  Less than 1/3 the price of the PBS.

 

[RG 2.0]

I am not a skin eater either but the reason is that I don't want rubbery chicken skin! If I can get it crispy, then I'll eat it. My wife really is the chicken skin eater so it's mostly for her. As for the Big Easy, that's a good idea but it's not as versatile as the PCB. If I have any chance at ordering it without a hassle from the boss, I have to be able to say it does other stuff (at least that's the plan, it is very subject to change on the fly!)

 

[old sarge]

Besides the pit barrel smoker, the home brew version is called the ugly drum smoker. And I read about the law suit on another site and it is unfortunate.

 

[DivotMaker]

As for the Big Easy, that's a good idea but it's not as versatile as the PCB. If I have any chance at ordering it without a hassle from the boss, I have to be able to say it does other stuff (at least that's the plan, it is very subject to change on the fly!)

But you said, several times, you're looking for a "chicken cooker."  The BE is like having a toaster.  Yeah, you can cook bread in the oven, or in a toaster oven, but there's no substitute for a toaster, when you just want a piece of toast.  Spend less than 1/3 the money and try it to cook chicken.  If you don't like it, sell it or give it away, and spend 3x that for a barrel with a pan of charcoal in it. 

 

[jcboxlot]

Am lightly tempted too, but doubt I'd use much?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1zxwl1n_sA


The PBS smoke cooking show has a cook one one too. 

RG, leaning toward "the good one" if I have to take a non electric plunge.

 

[SconnieQ]

If I have any chance at ordering it without a hassle from the boss, I have to be able to say it does other stuff

This made me laugh for some reason. With all of your cookers, seems you might already have the "other stuff" covered. ;D

 

[DivotMaker]

This made me laugh for some reason. With all of your cookers, seems you might already have the "other stuff" covered. ;D

+1!  A truly "specialized" device couldn't hurt!

 

[RG 2.0]

Kari, we men know our role lol. I have sometimes gone by the "easier to ask for forgiveness than permission" route but I like to keep her in the loop. Then again, I did just buy her a toy when she wanted a Jeep to putt around in Did she NEED a Jeep? Nope. She just wanted it. I can tell you that ALL of my grills and cookery added up don't equal what I have invested in that Jeep so..........it looks like I could use that angle if I wanted to sleep on the couch. Good talk Kari, thanks for averting disaster

 

[RG 2.0]

Tony, while the BE looks like a viable option, it lacks real estate inside. I like having room so part of the attraction to the PBC is that I can do 4 chickens or 2 turkeys. Still thinking about it though. I usually take days to decide on something, I hate buying something and then feeling buyer's remorse. In reality, I have buyer's remorse on everything I buy, I always feel guilty knowing I could've spent money on something else more important. It's a struggle, lol.

 

[RG 2.0]

Besides the pit barrel smoker, the home brew version is called the ugly drum smoker. And I read about the law suit on another site and it is unfortunate.

I've thought about doing a UDS in the past but I like that the PBC is large but not a hulk like a UDS would be and supposedly the PBC is more of a "set it and forget it" deal. Watch this video to see what I mean : https://youtu.be/Tgr8aBrqbTk

 

[RG 2.0]

***UPDATE***

I've read all I can read about it, watched youtube vids. I am sold. I bought it, lol. I just plopped it on a Visa with 0% to get a few rewards points, that made me feel a little better about it

I'll do a cook on it maybe in a week or so once I get it. I'll give an unbiased review. If I don't like it, I do believe they'll take it back and refund my money so what do I have to lose?

Does the boss know about it you ask? I shall plead the 5th

If I don't show up here posting by 5:00pm EST today, you'll know that she found out and I indeed may be either in hiding or dead or both!

 

[BedouinBob]

Kari, we men know our role lol. I have sometimes gone by the "easier to ask for forgiveness than permission" route but I like to keep her in the loop. Then again, I did just buy her a toy when she wanted a Jeep to putt around in Did she NEED a Jeep? Nope. She just wanted it. I can tell you that ALL of my grills and cookery added up don't equal what I have invested in that Jeep so..........it looks like I could use that angle if I wanted to sleep on the couch. Good talk Kari, thanks for averting disaster

RG, by now you know if mamma ain't happy, no one is happy! 

 

[RG 2.0]

Kari, we men know our role lol. I have sometimes gone by the "easier to ask for forgiveness than permission" route but I like to keep her in the loop. Then again, I did just buy her a toy when she wanted a Jeep to putt around in Did she NEED a Jeep? Nope. She just wanted it. I can tell you that ALL of my grills and cookery added up don't equal what I have invested in that Jeep so..........it looks like I could use that angle if I wanted to sleep on the couch. Good talk Kari, thanks for averting disaster

RG, by now you know if mamma ain't happy, no one is happy! 

Got it covered, I just paid off her Acura not even 15 minutes ago.....I'm good lol

 

[RG 2.0]

So....the new baby will be arriving Wednesday. I have a habit of ordering stuff at the end of the week. I should order at the beginning maybe? I'll be showing my #3 some love this weekend so don't worry guys, I ain't ditching my #3 EVER!