Re: New Blue
Finally got a chance to try the new KK out.
First I had to switch the Propane nipple on the gas burner to the NG nipple. That went smoothly.
I made a quick trip to OSH for a bag of Lazzari mesquite lump and an electric match. Stopped at the market on the way home for ten fresh texas prawns and two prime New York strips. It has been a very long while since I have cooked with anything but gas so I approached the bag of lump with some trepidation. I started with about ten medium sized pieces and two large. Just enough to cover the bottom of the charcoal bucket and then some. The gas burner got it lit in about 10 minutes. I started measuring temps pretty soon. I wanted to see how fast it heated up. I was using a scripto digital food thermometer stuck thru the rubber grometted port on the right side of the KK. It quickly rose to about 275 but I couldn't seem to get it any hotter. I had the lower vent wide open and the upper vent open about three turns. I thought I might need more lump so I added some. I gave is some more time but them temp wouldn't go up much more. I then pulled the temp probe out of the hole on the right and stuck it in the hole up on the front of the dome and the temp climbed rapidly to over 500 degrees. Is this normal to see such a differential in temp from grill level to dome level?
I was using the lower grill. I started with the shrimp and they cooked very quickly. The steaks went on next and they to cooked a lot quicker than I was used to. 6 minutes on the first side and four minutes on the second. Two more minutes on the side of the grill and the internal temp was reading 150 degrees. I pulled them off and let them sit on a plate for about 4 minutes. They were a little over done for my taste but with practice I think I can get better.
I think I will have to use the upper grill if I want them to cook a little slower like I am used to. Temperature control on this beast looks to be a little more difficult than on my old gas grill but I am hoping with enough use it becomes second nature. I have a stoker but I think I will not use it until I have a little more experience.
All in all it was a fun cook. I shut down both vents when I was done and it looked like the charcoal was out about 45 mins later. I will check it again in the morning.
Heres to my new KK. Let the adventure begin.
