New Akorn questions

    Hi guys,


    Just picked up a akorn from bunnos and have given a few things a crack. Already have a gasser and a pellet smoker (but will likely sell the pellet smoker to cover the akorn cost)


    After a couple of goes I have a few questions if anyone has suggestions.


    1. I bought the weber grate (really easy over the phone by the way - no hassle), and the chargriller charcoal baskets. I can position the baskets on the grate, which makes it about 2cm under the grill which I think will be perfect for high heat reverse sear. Only question is there an easy way to light the charcoal in the baskets directly, or do most people still do a chimney starter? I just figure if I can light in the baskets then it's less stuffaround / ash / embers flying everywhere, and i'm ready to grill quicker. I was thinking maybe getting some of the Bunnings samba lighters going, then drop the charcoal on top. Or I also have some of the bunnings Fatwood starters that work pretty well.


    2. Does anyone have the inkbird fan controller with the Akorn? It comes with two adapter plates to fit the bottom damper (and shims), but I can't seem to get either of them to fit. They both seem too big. Wondering if I need to take a hacksaw to one of them?

    I have used the Samba Natural starters before.


    Its important to only use the Natural ones as the whitefoam ones can leave a nasty smell which can impact your cook.


    cant help you with the Inkbird i am afraid. maybe jump online and ask them ?

    Enjoy your "Q"
    James


    Primo XL, Primo Jr, GMG Davy Crockett, Char-Broil Grill2go and Weber Baby Q.


    I use a chimney over my wok burner on the gasser. By far the quickest way or I use a looftlighter direct into the pit. Bunnings has them.

    Jumbuck 7 burner with hood. Baby Weber kettle. 52" Kettle. Weber Go Anywhere. 5' SS Spit rotisserie. Offset smoker. Akorn Kamado. :) ASMOKE AS500N. Hibachi.:bbq:

    G’day

    I’ve had the matodore knock off for now for 6 months. Works well. Used a heat gun before that but with the Akorn jr you have to poke it low down and with the walls being so close I was worried about melting the plastic body. No such probs with the matador it has a long metal tube. So the body ( and your hands are back away from the action

    Regards CD

    Light small bits which you place on top of the pile. They will light easier than big chunks.

    Big Green Egg - Asmoke Pellet Grill - Weber Kettle - Maximus Pizza Oven - Dragon Hibachi - Ziggy Portable - baby kamado - Grillz 2 burner - Cobb BBQ - Converted Gas Bottle Spit - Charbroil Grill2go - Anova sous vide - Digi Q controller - plus Tip Top Temp - Smokeware cap - Grill Grates

    Below is a photo of the two adapters with the ink bird that don’t fit.


    The first is the large adapter in landscape - it’s too tall for the grooves


    The second is the small adapter in portrait - again too tall.


    I’m thinking my options are to bend the grate grooves slightly to allow it to fit (but not sure if this may leak air when grate is closed)


    Or trim the smaller adapter with a hacksaw.


    Thoughts? Anyone else with an akorn and inkbird comment?






    G’day

    I’ve got the acorn junior and the small one fits after easing out the top slot on the acorn With a long screwdriver. Didn’t take much and it’s still a tight fit.

    Regards CB

    The larger one looks like it would fit if you could slide it in from the other end. I cut away a small section of the lip on the bottom channel at the far end so I could slide the adapter in on my previous kamado.

    Big Green Egg - Asmoke Pellet Grill - Weber Kettle - Maximus Pizza Oven - Dragon Hibachi - Ziggy Portable - baby kamado - Grillz 2 burner - Cobb BBQ - Converted Gas Bottle Spit - Charbroil Grill2go - Anova sous vide - Digi Q controller - plus Tip Top Temp - Smokeware cap - Grill Grates

    If you see this link this is what I did with the bbq guru adapter for the Akorn Jr


    File
    BBQ Guru Adapter Installation Instructions for Akorn Jr
    How to fit adapter for BBQ Guru or Smartfire to an Akorn Jr.
    Jimmy70

    Enjoy your "Q"
    James


    Primo XL, Primo Jr, GMG Davy Crockett, Char-Broil Grill2go and Weber Baby Q.


    Like 1

    So did some 4cm thick scotch fillets tonight that turned out amazing. Sous vided them, then finished on ripping hot charcoal on the akorn


    Used the Weber grate and put the charcoal baskets on top (so the coals were 2cm below the grill grate.


    My only question is they flared up heaps - not due to the firelighters (as I let them burn off for 10min and it was clear smoke from the coals). I think it was dripping fat from the steaks.


    I kept moving them round to minimise the flame, but wondering if that was necessary? The steak is cooked and I’m just trying to get a good crust - does leaving it over a roaring flare up cause an issue (as long as I don’t burn it?)


    On gas BBQs or using chemical firelighters I can appreciate it might cause a chemical taste, but I’m hoping I can just leave them in the charcoal flame to char up for serving?

    My preference would be to let the flames roar at max heat and crust up the (already cooked) steaks, but new to charcoal cooking and the Kamado so don’t want to mess it up.


    I let the steaks cool a bit so they are about 48c when I put them on, and I pull them at 56c so overcooking is not an issue

    Hey mate, it’s the rendered fat flaring up when it hits the charcoal. Apart of the beauty of cooking over charcoal adds that beautiful flavour and colour.

    weber performer, weber compact with gas conversion, napoleon rodeo, pro q 20", PBC, ziggy portable, ozpig with rotisserie, pro smoke offset, pit boss mini kamado, asmoke portable, master built 560.

    Edited once, last by Bruckster ().

    Quote from roflbbq

    does leaving it over a roaring flare up cause an issue (as long as I don’t burn it?)


    On gas BBQs or using chemical firelighters I can appreciate it might cause a chemical taste, but I’m hoping I can just leave them in the charcoal flame to char up for serving?

    If the coals are completely red hot you can literally put your steaks directly on them (assuming lump anyway).


    I'm not suggesting you do (though maybe try at least once), I'm mostly pointing it out so it's obvious you don't need to worry about direct flames causing off flavours.


    I remove the grate, and put the centre small grate directly on the coals, then sear on that. Takes less time and charcoal to get it to sear temps that way.

    How to Cook a Giant Steak Caveman Style


    The video shows how to cook steak indirect and direct on the coals using a Big Green Egg kamado.


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    Check this out as well.


    Steak Cooked Directly on the Coals (Caveman Style)
    Ribeye and NY strip steaks grilled directly on the bed of hot lump charcoal.
    www.smokedbbqsource.com

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