Vortex Question/Experiment Update/Pics Finally !

[guitarfish]

Anyone try low and slow with a Vortex? Filling it up with unlit then a few lit on top?

[Big Dawg]

Have never tried doing that.  It might work just well with the lit coals that the bottom, too.





BD

[guitarfish]

@Big Dawg  Thinking that might just be like starting a chimney. Visiting my daughter and granddaughters this weekend. Just got them a new 18 as a house warming gift. Doing chicken thighs tonight, made a bootleg Vortex out of a coffee can and just got to thinking...... that would make a lot of room on a 18.
Thanks for the response  

[Big Dawg]

@guitarfish, I was thinking along the lines of how the FireButler works.  But, either way (up or down) if you control airflow, you should be able to control combustion to some degree.





BD

[Jon]

I've tried it a couple of times. Had the thought that I'd go low temp to start with a few lit coals, then pull the lid and let the Vortex light up the rest. I wasn't successful, the Vortex ran away from me.

[MikeRocksTheRed]

I would think you can use it as a barrier for your snake.  Place it slightly off center then pour your charcoal between the vortex and side of the kettle.

[THUNDERDOME]

I have in an XL BGE w/ the Plate Setter. BUT, I was using a Guru

[guitarfish]

So I gave it a try. Cooked pork necks and a small chucky yesterday, going low and slow with my "bootleg" vortex. It worked great! I filled with unlit and added 10 lit on top. Top vent wide open, bottom vent just slivered. After 30 minutes I was pleasantly surprised by how responsive lower vent adjustments were.Almost like gas, but in charcoal time. I was able to hold my target temp and keep it there over 5 hours.
I will post cook pics later this week. Thanks to all who commented ! This gave me a heads up on what to look out for.

Finally had time to post pics courtesy of tropical storm Colin.....

[guitarfish]

I would like to find a piece of 6"-8" diameter cast iron pipe and miter the top and bottom to fit tight to the kettle side. It would open a lot of space up on the grill. Something like this //  Just need to find some....

[Big Dawg]

Great cook!

Never had pork necks, those look tasty!





BD

[Troy]

i tried it like that, as well as upside down snake barrier.
neither were worth the effort.

the vortex only gets pulled out for wings at my house, and even then I've been using the slow'n'sear for wings instead.
the wing rub my family prefers has some sugars in it, and the vortex just burns them all before they're even crispy skinned.

[Nate]

Never tried it for low n slow cooks, only high heat. Cooks my wings and chicken thighs perfectly, imp, without worrying about adjusting the dampers. I just did my first beer can chicken using it, which is not my first on the kettle, and worked very good. This now will be the way I do beer can chickens.

[guitarfish]

@Big Dawg Thanks! Basically big meaty ribs. Traditionally braised here in the south. I discovered them as a starving musician back in the 80's. Cooking them on a "borrowed' grill because the electricity had been cut off! They were about $.35 a lb in those days. Give them a try. Just cook them like you would normally cook ribs.