Hi all,
Is there a forum dedicated to the 26" kettle? I can find advice and setups for the 22" everywhere, just not the 26". Don't get me wrong, I appreciate and love the 22", however the size difference does matter.
If there isn't a forum, can someone suggest a username of someone who is known for good 26" configurations?
Thank you,
wingnutt
We don't have a dedicated forum, but I think you just started a good conversation specific to the 26'ers with this thread. I know many members use the larger 26 size as their daily-drivers. I use a SnSXL in mine.
Anything low and slow gets a snake in my 26 three wheeler, hot and fast or reverse sear the AT code 26 and the SNSXL gets the call. I love the 26 could not imagine not having it
I also use a snake. I think I normally do 2x2 if I remember right. High heat grilling is different on a 26". A lot of times I cook with all vents open and the lid cracked for increased air flow when needed.
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Quote from: wingnutt on January 28, 2021, 04:26:23 AM
Hi all,
Is there a forum dedicated to the 26" kettle? I can find advice and setups for the 22" everywhere, just not the 26". Don't get me wrong, I appreciate and love the 22", however the size difference does matter.
If there isn't a forum, can someone suggest a username of someone who is known for good 26" configurations?
Thank you,
wingnutt
Is your 26 new or older? The design changed years ago and I find newer ones cook differently than the older ones especially for high heat as others have said.
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Oh wow! Thank you so much for your interest. I'll do my best to catch up here...
Mr. CPHo and JEBIV - I can see what you mean. As much as I appreciate the charcoal baskets included with the 26er, they just aren't big enough for a true indirect cooking in such a large kettle. They're probably perfect (if not too big) for the 22er, but in the 26 all vents have to be wide open to even hold 325F at the grate. Now, if you used 2 of the SnSXLs, that would be the bomb-diggity.
Also, did my first snake burn last Sunday for the Packer game. 20F and snowing when I started at 5:30 am, I smoked a 7.5lb pork shoulder on a 2x3 snake that ran 3/4 way around the grill and water pan. It was my first pulled pork that didn't need any additional sauce - delicious.
HoosierKettle - You might be too light on fuel and trying to burn what you have too hot to make up for it. Try a 2x3 and use about 10 ashy coals to get the snake lit. Let the whole system (w/o meat) hit 390F 'ish before putting the meat on, then run with your bottom vent 1/2 open and top vent 1/8 open. I like having the fuel there and control the oxygen.
michaelmilitello - It's the newer design. Just bought it a couple weeks ago. Can you suggest any good threads that discuss the benefits/issues of the new style? I want to learn more.
Thank you again to all,
wingnutt
Pic of the pork shoulder at about the 10-12 hr mark.
A friend of mine cooks exclusively on his 26. Uses the Vortex shoved to one side. Usually wide side up. plenty of heat/sear zone and lots of indirect cooking space.
Also he uses a pellet tube for cold smoking.
I wish I had one myself.
Quote from: SMOKE FREAK on January 28, 2021, 06:09:37 PM
A friend of mine cooks exclusively on his 26. Uses the Vortex shoved to one side. Usually wide side up. plenty of heat/sear zone and lots of indirect cooking space.
Also he uses a pellet tube for cold smoking.
I wish I had one myself.
Ive done that with the vortex and the 26. Works great. I kind of forgot about that method.
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Wouldn't you get the same effect if you used two weber baskets full of coals?
Quote from: wingnutt on January 29, 2021, 12:07:03 PM
Wouldn't you get the same effect if you used two weber baskets full of coals?
Pretty much. The vortex is taller and solid sided.
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A section dedicated to the 26 inch was what I was looking for when I first came here. My 22 inch was bought in 1977 and I finally upgraded to the 26 inch about a year ago. It was a fluke that I found this Weber forum. I was excited and looking for more to help. Found out this forum seems to be more pictures of cooking and misspelling of the word great. Everyone wants to compliment the pictures. Cooking on the 26 inch is different from the 22 inch. I'd like more how to information than pictures. If not a 26 inch section, how about a how to section?
Quote from: Zippo Guy on January 30, 2021, 09:44:01 AM
A section dedicated to the 26 inch was what I was looking for when I first came here. My 22 inch was bought in 1977 and I finally upgraded to the 26 inch about a year ago. It was a fluke that I found this Weber forum. I was excited and looking for more to help. Found out this forum seems to be more pictures of cooking and misspelling of the word great. Everyone wants to compliment the pictures. Cooking on the 26 inch is different from the 22 inch. I'd like more how to information than pictures. If not a 26 inch section, how about a how to section?
When you see something you like, then ask "how to". Folks here are more than willing to share when asked.
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Quote from: Foster Dahlet on January 30, 2021, 12:02:50 PM
Quote from: Zippo Guy on January 30, 2021, 09:44:01 AM
A section dedicated to the 26 inch was what I was looking for when I first came here. My 22 inch was bought in 1977 and I finally upgraded to the 26 inch about a year ago. It was a fluke that I found this Weber forum. I was excited and looking for more to help. Found out this forum seems to be more pictures of cooking and misspelling of the word great. Everyone wants to compliment the pictures. Cooking on the 26 inch is different from the 22 inch. I'd like more how to information than pictures. If not a 26 inch section, how about a how to section?
When you see something you like, then ask "how to". Folks here are more than willing to share when asked.
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What foster said. You could have already asked a question.
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What would you like know about 26 cooking? It does behave slightly different but not too much.
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Have noticed it is different direct cooking on 26 inch. I have been using the baskets, is this the best method for this type of cooking? The coals seem more far away than when using my 22 inch. Does that make sense?
For direct cooking, I'd put the baskets together to concentrate the heat. You can also bank the coals in one place. Other guys have modified their baskets as pictured to make a single basket for two zone cooks. If you want to spend some coin, a slow n sear XL is a great choice. The regular 22 slow n sear works well in the 26 too.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210201/099246a34c12e6bbdf583250d043b6da.jpg)
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Marty's bigger better basket is one of my favorite ways to cook on my 26
Reverse searing pork chops or steaks.
Smoking 2 to 4 racks of ribs.
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Quote from: Zippo Guy on January 31, 2021, 05:45:30 PM
Have noticed it is different direct cooking on 26 inch. I have been using the baskets, is this the best method for this type of cooking? The coals seem more far away than when using my 22 inch. Does that make sense?
The coals are further away because the distance between the charcoal grate and food grate is greater than in a 22" kettle. Making a larger basket will give you more coals in a concentrated area, but will not get the coals closer to the food grate. A slow n sear XL can take you up to the food grate, with the coals. I have a snsxl and it never leaves my 26'r. The down side is that it is expensive. However, it is very well built, and should last you a very, very long time.
*Note. I also included a picture of a sns for a 22 next to the snsxl to show size difference. The 22" version is slightly shorter and smaller, but many guys say it would also work just as well in a 26'r. Then if you still use a 22" it would work in your 22" and 26".
https://snsgrills.com/collections/slow-n-sear
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Quote from: Zippo Guy on January 31, 2021, 05:45:30 PM
Have noticed it is different direct cooking on 26 inch. I have been using the baskets, is this the best method for this type of cooking? The coals seem more far away than when using my 22 inch. Does that make sense?
I guess it depends on what your cooking and how much. If I'm cooking burgers for example, I don't use any baskets. I simply spread coals out over half of the charcoal grate and cook the burgers there. If I'm cooking a ton of burgers I will spread coals out over 3/4 of the charcoal grate.
The main difference between the 26 and the 22 is the 26" uses the same size lid vent and it really needs to be larger. You have to crack the lid at times to keep all of the coals going on a direct cook. I like to cook burgers fast and with high heat.
Sometimes I'll use baskets to do a quick sear on something that I cook indirect but normally I just pile the coals up on one side of the kettle with no basket.
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The SnS XL never leaves my 26er. I use it for every cook.
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I just modified my baskets to convert to Bro'n'Sear. I can change them right back if needed, but I really like the one, big hopper.
When doing direct cooks with lump on my 26", I lay an old 22" grate on the coal grate to Keep the smaller pieces from falling through.
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That works throughout the range. An SJ cooking grate fits an 18 charcoal grate, an 18 fits a 22, a 22 fits a 26,
Quote from: Darko on February 08, 2021, 02:40:43 PM
That works throughout the range. An SJ cooking grate fits an 18 charcoal grate, an 18 fits a 22, a 22 fits a 26,
I never knew. Does a 26" grate fit the ranch coal grate?
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Quote from: HoosierKettle on February 09, 2021, 04:23:07 AM
Quote from: Darko on February 08, 2021, 02:40:43 PM
That works throughout the range. An SJ cooking grate fits an 18 charcoal grate, an 18 fits a 22, a 22 fits a 26,
I never knew. Does a 26" grate fit the ranch coal grate? It's the killagrilla grate though not the Weber grate.
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I don't think it does. I used my 26 grate to transfer wings to the ranch.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210209/fa6579edc115b6c44e9b40587c4ad44d.jpg)
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Quote from: HoosierKettle on February 09, 2021, 04:23:07 AM
Quote from: Darko on February 08, 2021, 02:40:43 PM
That works throughout the range. An SJ cooking grate fits an 18 charcoal grate, an 18 fits a 22, a 22 fits a 26,
I never knew. Does a 26" grate fit the ranch coal grate?
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No, thats where it stops.
A section for 26 would be much appreciated
smcbee