So i did my first pizza cook recently using a raised stone on charcoal holders:
http://weberkettleclub.com/forums/grilling-bbqing/finally-did-pizza/msg175452/#msg175452It was OK for a first try but i see a ton of room for improvement. My main issues were heat:
1. Not enough fuel to get the temp up high enough and not enough coal to keep the heat up long enough to do two pies
This problem will be a simple solution: Use More lit coals to start and use lump instead
2. The Stone wasnt hot enough. Even when my coals died out my second pie should have cooked due to stone heat alone. The fact that it didnt means my stone wasnt hot enough.
What do you do to preheat the stone to get it hot enough?
I'd prefer not to preheat in the oven inside since running a hot oven during the summer will tax my a/c system
I preheated in my Genesis last time but i dont love running my gasser at such high temps (topped out at well over 550) for a prolonged period and it didnt get the stone as hot as i wanted it anyway.
Do any of you preheat the stone in the kettle? If so,what charcoal arrangement is best? Indirect or direct?
Should i preheat on the cooking grate or in the raised cooking position?
Any preheating advice from the Pizza Pros is welcome.