Cobb cookers

Medskipper

Medskipper

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Does anyone use one of these?


I have heard that they are particularly good on boats as unlike a normal BBQ the outer case does not get hot, you can pick it up while it's cooking and even place it on a plastic table.
It does look quite small to me but I guess it would be fine for two people? Also I would like to find out how long the brickettes last for? For instance will one brickette cook say a couple of burgers with sausages etc?
There are clips on utube but don't really inform as to how long or how many fuel bricks must be used for a meal!


All info gratefully received,
 
Medskipper said:
Does anyone use one of these?

I have heard that they are particularly good on boats as unlike a normal BBQ the outer case does not get hot, you can pick it up while it's cooking and even place it on a plastic table.
It does look quite small to me but I guess it would be fine for two people? Also I would like to find out how long the brickettes last for? For instance will one brickette cook say a couple of burgers with sausages etc?
There are clips on utube but don't really inform as to how long or how many fuel bricks must be used for a meal!

All info gratefully received,
Click to expand...

Often been mentioned on these forums. Generally very much liked.

Do an advanced Google search of ybw.com/ forums for Cobb BBQ and you should find loadsa peoples experiences together with some advice on choice of fuel.
 
I've got 2 Cobbs, needless to say I think they are brilliant. Certainly one of their brickettes (the large round one, about 4" wide) carries on producing enough heat to cook for about 2 hours, almost too long as I've generally finished all my cooking after half an hour or so. And yes, they do stay cold on the outside so picking it up and moving it around is easy.
My only dislike is that cleaning is a bit of a faff, so I tend to use it quite a few times before doing a proper clean. But you do need to dispose of the fat after each use.
 
longjohnsilver said:
I've got 2 Cobbs, needless to say I think they are brilliant. Certainly one of their brickettes (the large round one, about 4" wide) carries on producing enough heat to cook for about 2 hours, almost too long as I've generally finished all my cooking after half an hour or so. And yes, they do stay cold on the outside so picking it up and moving it around is easy.
My only dislike is that cleaning is a bit of a faff, so I tend to use it quite a few times before doing a proper clean. But you do need to dispose of the fat after each use.
Click to expand...

Like wot he said. The real advantage of using the 'proper' large Cobb briquettes is that they are coated with some sort of fast lighting stuff: light in one place and it's ready to use for cooking within a few minutes. You can use both lump charcoal or small briquettes but both need firefighters to get going (can't use squirty BBQ lighter fluid, as it'll leak out the bottom of the BBQ and set fire to the surroundings...) and it takes as long as an ordinary BBQ before it's ready to use: you pays your money, you makes your choice. I usually cook on the sugar scoop if we're at anchor.
 
We use ours a lot. We cook with lumpwood charcoal normally as I have found the performance with the cobblets ( the one piece purpose made brick) a bit hit and miss. When they are good they are very good. Cleaning is a pain. Its nice to be able to take it to thr beach and cook on a picnic table occationally
 
longjohnsilver said:
I've got 2 Cobbs, needless to say I think they are brilliant. Certainly one of their brickettes (the large round one, about 4" wide) carries on producing enough heat to cook for about 2 hours, almost too long as I've generally finished all my cooking after half an hour or so. And yes, they do stay cold on the outside so picking it up and moving it around is easy.
My only dislike is that cleaning is a bit of a faff, so I tend to use it quite a few times before doing a proper clean. But you do need to dispose of the fat after each use.
Click to expand...

Thanks to all who replied sounds good!
as far as cleaning is concerned I guess cleaning too often spoils the flavour? :)
 
Medskipper said:


Does anyone use one of these?


I have heard that they are particularly good on boats as unlike a normal BBQ the outer case does not get hot, you can pick it up while it's cooking and even place it on a plastic table.
It does look quite small to me but I guess it would be fine for two people? Also I would like to find out how long the brickettes last for? For instance will one brickette cook say a couple of burgers with sausages etc?
There are clips on utube but don't really inform as to how long or how many fuel bricks must be used for a meal!


All info gratefully received,
Click to expand...

Agree with all thats said, a faff to clean but swmbo does that, Ive only used the briquettes, impressed, Ive cooked a whole chicken before now with just one, with the veggies in the moat.
Stu
 
actually sold ours this winter and replaced with a larger gas one....
yes they do stay cool on the outside..
Downsides, ;- Not a very large cooking surface which was single main reason we have switched
Oh and an absolute pain in the backside to clean..
 
I've had one for a few years, not used it on the boat yet but I'd have no hesitation in doing so. Best to consider them as an outdoor cooking appliance, rather than a bbq. I have roasted a (small) chicken on one cobb "cobblestone" briquette. If you're going to the expense of a cobb then worth having a couple of the alternative cooking surfaces as well, like the griddle & the frying pan. Think I'd probably use the disposable liner on the boat to ease cleaning chores. Main downside is they can struggle to get hot enough - you're not going to get that burned to a cinder bbq experience!
 
yes cleaning is a faff, but made easier if you follow the tip Cobb give - after cooking pour some water into the well and the remaining heat helps to steam clean it. Makes a difference.

We cooked a joint of pork on it last week - large enough to feed four - in about an hour and half with one Cobb briquette. Including baby potatoes roasted in the well and in the last 10 mins threw some brocolli and asparagus on top. I use it in the cockpit and stand in the companionway to tend it when necessary.
 
Ive used the Australian Heat Beads in mine, they seem to work very well. Little smoke and keep burning for a long time. My local Range shop had them in.
 
Had a Cobb for a year or two, and here are a few points!

Good:

Will cook a whole chicken on the top and veggies underneath wrapped in foil. will never burn anything! Sausages, Burgers, mixed meats, you name it, it all comes out perfect with no effort. its compact, comes in a bag (order one in a bag!) and has a wide range of bits, but the wire grille and Griddle are what we use most. It's very easy to get up and running (5-10 mins to start cooking) and if you use the foil liners easy to clean in a modest boat sink. It's cool as a cucumber on the outside, you can literally put it on a plastic table, and lift and hold it.

Not so good:

Best used with genuine Cobb 'Cobblestones' or if you want a shorter faster cook, Charcoal version which is a bit cheaper. These do cost a few quid each, but take up little space and last hours. The foil inserts are not cheap either, but worthwhile. Accessories are not cheap, but in fairness all good quality. Finally, things cook slowly, so allow 2-3 hours for joints or Chickens, an hour or so for Burgers and Sausages. Not a real issue, you just light it, and leave it, but if you forget to cook early, you'll be eating late!

Bad:

I have found no bad points!

The ability to cook meat and veg separately is handy, you can just feed four if you pack the Cobb to the brim! Absolutely cracking little thing....
 
We have used ours for a couple of years and agree with previous comments from NR. Start up time can be slow with Cobblestones so we carry both these and charcoal on board . Havent yet ventured to trying whole chicken etc but certain found Cobbles had plenty of heating duration but slow to start.

Only other tip would be to have some form of plastic down under the Cobb if cooking in cockpit if sheltering from rain under cover to protect the decks from oil and grease . If weather better can also use on pontoon or stern platform of course. Do buy the one with the bag though as can then carry away to beach or home for cleaning etc.
 
If you want a slowish oven then a Cobb is fine, however it's no substitute for a BBQ. We ditched ours and bought a gas BBQ & have no regrets!
 
I bought one of the larger ones and will use it for the first time this year. A question, does wind have an effect on it? The reason I bought it was that the simple charcoal BBQ over the back of the boat would roar away in any wind and was difficult to control.
 
I don't think wind per se has an effect, but with only the lid to keep the heat in heat loss by wind chill or a low ambient temperature has an effect IMO. Possibly an issue roasting a chicken, for example. Not a showstopper, just something to consider.
 
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