Cobb BBQ disappointment

[BlueChip]

Used our new Cobb for cooking steaks on the boat over the weekend.
I used the shaped self igniting heat brick in the fire basket and left it to get warm but as soon as the lid is off to grill the steak, the grill plate goes cold and the steaks wouldnt sear and seal the juices in. I ended up having to cook them with the lid on and then they turned out really overcooked and dry. I'm very dissapointed after the good reviews I have seen here.
What am I doing wrong?

 

[sarabande]

I never use those pre-formed artificial blocks, just plain lumps of dry wood (TM). Sometimes we have bits of charcoal left over from land barbies, and they are the genoux of the abeille.


Never really had any difficulty getting it hot.

 

[Searush]

Got any pics?

Self-ingniting lumps shouldn't make a difference. They are bonded with an inflammable resin & soaked in lighter fuel but should burn like natural charcoal. FWIW, I use ordinary lump wood charcoal with 3-4 self-igniters spread around. One match will light the self-igniters & they light the lump wood. Quick, easy & low cost.

Was there adequate draught? Did you put the charcoal on the steel base direct or on a grating?

 

[Tradewinds]

Used our new Cobb for cooking steaks on the boat over the weekend.
I used the shaped self igniting heat brick in the fire basket and left it to get warm but as soon as the lid is off to grill the steak, the grill plate goes cold and the steaks wouldnt sear and seal the juices in. I ended up having to cook them with the lid on and then they turned out really overcooked and dry. I'm very dissapointed after the good reviews I have seen here.
What am I doing wrong?

By shaped block - do you mean a Cobb 'cobblestone'?

I used my Cobb with the cobblestones last year on the boat & it was great - didn't do a steak though, just chicken & kebabs.

 

[BlueChip]

By shaped block - do you mean a Cobb 'cobblestone'?

I used my Cobb with the cobblestones last year on the boat & it was great - didn't do a steak though, just chicken & kebabs.

I suppose it was like a cobblestone but it wasnt by Cobb. I got them from SoCal in Southampton, they are made for the Cobb.

Its a small cylinder about the size of a CD and has slots in it for airflow, its just firs in the firebasket.

I think its anthracite and its self lighting, just put a match to it and it lights like a firework and lasts for ages.

When you cooked your chicken & kebabs was that with the lid on or off?

 

[Tradewinds]

I suppose it was like a cobblestone but it wasnt by Cobb. I got them from SoCal in Southampton, they are made for the Cobb.

Its a small cylinder about the size of a CD and has slots in it for airflow, its just firs in the firebasket.

I think its anthracite and its self lighting, just put a match to it and it lights like a firework and lasts for ages.

When you cooked your chicken & kebabs was that with the lid on or off?

Lid on for the chicken (it was whole) - off for the kebabs.

Cobblestones are made from coconut by-product. The Socal ones by Lokkii are an anthracite mix as you say.

There's an interesting blog about these here -

http://davescupboard.blogspot.com/2008/08/lokkii-bbq-briquettes-expensive-and.html

 

[BlueChip]

Lid on for the chicken (it was whole) - off for the kebabs.

Cobblestones are made from coconut by-product. The Socal ones by Lokkii are an anthracite mix as you say.

There's an interesting blog about these here -

http://davescupboard.blogspot.com/2008/08/lokkii-bbq-briquettes-expensive-and.html

Thanks Tradewinds, interesting blog - the reviewer sums up those blocks quite accurately I thought -

"Lokkii BBQ Briquettes - Expensive and Disappointing....the most useless pile of **** I've ever bought for my grill"

Off to B&Q tonight to buy some lumpwood charcoal

 

[Croc]

For my last birthday I persuaded the family to give me a Cobb barbeque with all the extras. Unfortunately the supplier was out of Cobblestones but recommended some super quality charcoal briquettes.
Well I was extremely disappointed...took ages to light faded fast without cooking very well. This was all fairly embarrasing as I had pressed for this fairly expensive bit of kit and it was pathetic.
However.... the proper Cobblestones came into stockand I bought a packet just to see how it was before I hid the cooker away in the back of the cupboard and never mentioned it again.
I fitted the Cobblestone in its rack put a match to it and it immediately lit without smoke or the reek of parrafin-wax that normally accompanies instant -light charcoal. The book said you can start cooking in two-three minutes and you can. The coconut shell charcoal is compressed into a round shape that exactly fits the burner ring. It burns cleanly to a fine grey ash and provides a fine powerful heat source for at least an hour's cooking.
With the right fuel ...and there is only one right fuel the Cobblestone.. the Cobb barbeque does exactly what it says on the tin. It is truly an excellent device.

 

[rivonia]

For my last birthday I persuaded the family to give me a Cobb barbeque with all the extras. Unfortunately the supplier was out of Cobblestones but recommended some super quality charcoal briquettes.
Well I was extremely disappointed...took ages to light faded fast without cooking very well. This was all fairly embarrasing as I had pressed for this fairly expensive device and it was pathetic.
However.... the proper Cobblestones came into stockand I bought a packet just to see how it was before I hid the cooker away in the back of the cupboard and never mentioned it again.
I fitted the Cobblestone in its rack put a match to it and it immediately lit without smoke or the reek of parrafin-wax that normally accompanies instant -light charcoal. The book said you can start cooking in two-three minutes and you can. The coconut shell charcoal is compressed into a round shape that exactly fits the burner ring. It burns cleanly to a fine grey ash and provides a fine powerful heat source for at least an hour's cooking.
With the right fuel ...and there is only one right fuel the Cobblestone.. the Cobb barbeque does exactly what it says on the tin. It is truly an excellent device.

Hmm it actually will last TWO hours, and at ignition will give off a vapourous smoke which does not smell nice or do food any good. Wait for 4 mins then start to cook.

Peter

 

[stuhaynes]

Used our new Cobb for cooking steaks on the boat over the weekend.
I used the shaped self igniting heat brick ihttp://www.ybw.com/forums/misc.php?do=attachmentsn the fire basket and left it to get warm but as soon as the lid is off to grill the steak, the grill plate goes cold and the steaks wouldnt sear and seal the juices in. I ended up having to cook them with the lid on and then they turned out really overcooked and dry. I'm very dissapointed after the good reviews I have seen here.
What am I doing wrong?

I know that this is an old thread but it gave me the opportunity to post one of my favourite memories.

 

[Captain Haddock]

I bought one too and used around 7-8 charcoal briquettes this seemed to last around an hour and a bit. However, I did notice that if I put too much food on the grill it would take ages to cook.

I had steaks and when I put 4 on at once it was taking an absolute age. Put 2on and we had really quick cooking and worked nicely. I had spuds cut in half, covered in foil and shoved in the well. These worked nicely too whilst I was waiting for everything else to cook.

I'm going to try the official cobblestone next year.

I loved being at anchor with the Cobb going in the cockpit for the meat and the pans on the stove steaming the veg or cooking wholemeal pasta. Nice proper healthy meals. We hate the Yacht clubs for food as it's always deep fried or Microwaved to within an inch of its life plus they charge a fortune to sit in stuffy surroundings.

The Cobb is just as essential as a depth sounder for us now

 

[FullCircle]

Did Xmas dinner in the cockpit last year - a 4 bird roast with spuds & parsnips. Did the rest in the galley.

Love my Cobb, but only when I got used to paying for Cobblestones and not trying to save 50p on fuel to ruin a £7 steak.

 

[FWB]

Aussie Heat Beads work really well with the Cobb

 

[Ru88ell]

Despite some negative reviews here I bought some Lokkii fuel blocks from Home Bargains and found them to be excellent - especially at just over 70p for two. I cooked a leg of lamb on the Cobb yesterday, and loads of burgers and sausages on just one of them. It burned for over three hours. I won't be bothering messing around with charcoal any more.

 

[smeaks]

Despite some negative reviews here I bought some Lokkii fuel blocks from Home Bargains and found them to be excellent - especially at just over 70p for two. I cooked a leg of lamb on the Cobb yesterday, and loads of burgers and sausages on just one of them. It burned for over three hours. I won't be bothering messing around with charcoal any more.

also agree... for steaks use the griddle plate it is fantastic and chuck a few bits of soaked chickory wood under the fire basket and once seared bang the lid on.

champion!

 

[geem]

Used our new Cobb for cooking steaks on the boat over the weekend.
I used the shaped self igniting heat brick in the fire basket and left it to get warm but as soon as the lid is off to grill the steak, the grill plate goes cold and the steaks wouldnt sear and seal the juices in. I ended up having to cook them with the lid on and then they turned out really overcooked and dry. I'm very dissapointed after the good reviews I have seen here.
What am I doing wrong?

It might be a good idea to read the instructions. Not something us blokes do very often. We used ours for the first time this weekend and it was fantastic. My wife pointed out that you need to cook with the lid on to keep heat in (she read instructions). To stop food drying out you can pour water or beer or wine into the moat. This will give your steak a nicer flavour and keep it moist.
the plate on ours was incredibly hot. no danger of that getting cold. we did have a slight problem lighting the cobblestone initially but a bit of fire lighter on it and off it went. PS. instruction say dont use fire lighter!

 

[Talulah]

I quite often use 2 cobblestones one on top of the other.
Any kind of breeze and I find one cobblestone doesn't keep it hot enough.

 

[geem]

I quite often use 2 cobblestones one on top of the other.
Any kind of breeze and I find one cobblestone doesn't keep it hot enough.

I wonder if the ligher fuel i put on mine was the reason why it was so hot? I couldnt fault mine for temperature. it was red hot for about 2 hours.

 

[paul.norton]

A lass at the local Lakeland store told me her children missed the charring which a conventional BBQ gives burgers.

Her solution is to remove the normal cooking plate and replace it with the roasting basket. So rather than the fat draining into the "moat" it drips in the fire and you get loads of smoke

Paul

 

[Ru88ell]

Here's a link to the ones I used:-

http://www.homebargains.co.uk/produ...c-instant-light-bbq-briques-36-x-briques.aspx

Fill your boots!

Just put one block the right way up in the basket, light it, watch it fizz a bit, then in about 10 mins it's glowing and it will last for at least a couple of hours.