Weber Kettle Club Forums

Grill Talk => Weber Grill Forum (Grills, Accessories) => Topic started by: Grizzo on July 10, 2020, 05:39:47 PM

Title: Increasing Bottom Air Holes
Post by: Grizzo on July 10, 2020, 05:39:47 PM

H i everyone. I have just found and joined this forum. Looking forward to learning and sharing.

I have a 57cm Weber Kettle which I have attempted to cook pizza with. I don't have the pizza add on, but still the pizza's are coming out OK. The only major issue is there is not enough heat from just the coals. I've tried adding wood on top of the coals but it just smokes and doesn't catch alight.
I was wondering if anyone has tried to increase the size of the air holes at the bottom? As in cut them a little larger so more air can come in when fully open. Will this make the coal burn hotter?

Thanks.

Title: Re: Increasing Bottom Air Holes
Post by: ReanimatedRobot on July 10, 2020, 07:01:24 PM

Do not cut more holes in the bottom.  Open your bottom and top vents wide open.  Pile your coals in a C shape towards the back of the grill.  It helps to use a couple baskets to keep them in place.  Make sure your coals are lit really well before dumping them into the C shape.  After doing so you need to make sure you are using good quality wood chunks/chips to throw on the coals as you go.  If your coals are hot and the wood chunks are good then they will catch fire and raise your temps quite a bit, but you have to keep fueling the fire.  Ideally you want your baking stone over 600 degrees.  If you have a IR thermometer you can tell or if you are looking at your thermometer on your lid just make sure it exceeds this temp a fair amount.

My advice though is make sure it is a black kettle you are using because the high heat can be hard on the porcelain.  No sense in being hard on a looker.  Also, look into a KettlePizza or Pizzaque.  I have the KettlePizza ring,  Tombstone, and baking steel and it cooks pizzas in 3 to 5 minutes easy.  Back when you could actually have parties I have cooked well over a dozen in a single cook.  However, if you are going to go longer you might need to do more charcoal and keep it plenty hot.

Title: Re: Increasing Bottom Air Holes
Post by: michaelmilitello on July 10, 2020, 08:26:57 PM

Without a pizza attachment, use the vents wide open and crack the lid with a skewer.  This will get you some more heat.  Be sure to preheat your stone 20 or so minutes.  I just crack the lid my pizzas take 8-10 minutes instead of 4-5.  No big deal for my family. 


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk