Your Very First Kettle Cook

[93_confirmed]

I'm brand new to the world of charcoal grilling and just nabbed a new Gold Series Performer this afternoon. I haven't fired it up yet and before I do, I'm curious to hear what you guys cooked when you broke in your very first Kettle. Any suggestions for a fun starting cook? Is there a standard Kettle initiation that I should be aware of? 

[jcnaz]

I like to get a new or "new to me" kettle really hot the first time that I fire it up to burn off any chemical or cleaner residue.
Next I like to cook something that will put a good coating of vaporized fat and smoke all over the inside  of the kettle. Sort of gunking it up but with MY gunk! Chicken is good for that, or a bunch of burgers and ABTs!

[Hogsy]

Roast pork, nothing does crackling like a kettle
Of course you'll have to do all the other trimmings as well, roast vegies , Apple sauce, gravy

[pbe gummi bear]

For grilling- steaks, brats, or burgers. For low and slow ribs or the forgiving pork butt if you got time and mouths to feed. Anything cooked with your effort on a shiny new toy will automatically taste better. Make sure to report back.

My first charcoal cook as an independent adult was a small 8 rib rack of lamb, grilled indirect on a CGA. For my OTG first cook, I think I cooked some marinated tri tip from Trader Joes.

[JDLones]

My first cook on mt OTG, after years of only using a gasser, was grilled shrimp.  I followed that, a few days later, with some nice ribeyes.  Cook whatever you want.  I guarantee it'll be good. Have fun and welcome yo the club.

[jamesnomore]

Chicken thighs was my first kettle cook, lots of fat very forgiving.

[1911Ron]

My first was hamburgers, they turned out great considering i used to use a crappy grill and they turned out so so.

[jimmy_dong]

Marshmallows when I was 5ish

Still have the kettle.

[One Touch Platinum]

My first Weber Kettle cook was on my first and only Weber I've ever had and still have and use all the time for every cook. I made up some hotdogs because I wanted to try out the grill and nobody was home since everyone was out Christmas shopping. I didn't really care what I grilled up as long as I got a chance to get something cooked up on it. I wanted a Weber for a while after using another brand....never want to use any other grill! The control I can get with the kettle design and the flexability makes it the perfect design for me.

[93_confirmed]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm going to throw a package of extra-thick cut bacon on tomorrow and see how it goes. I have thermometers coming so I'll wait to do any major cooks until I have those in hand.

[HankB]

First thing I cooked on my 18" kettle back in '74 was baby back ribs. They came out really good. I'll never forget them and so the die was cast.

[davethepom]

We cooked a stuffed chook the day we scored our old redhead from the inlaws, and have never looked back!

[blackdog1101]

My first kettle cook was just this past weekend, I just cooked burgers and brats. The burgers dripped on the coals and cooled things down, but with a bit of patience everything turned out great.  Planning to cook some ribs and ABT's this weekend.