I have a couple 22" kettles that get used a lot, but sometimes it's just the two of us and that 22" grate is huge for just a wee bit of food. So enter the Jumbo, fits the smaller package, ton of stuff you can do with it and a heck of a lot more efficient on fuel. Home brewed a poor man's vortex, added expanded metal to the charcoal grate like I did to both performers. Couple of heat handles and off to the food races I went. Did a burn in for about an hour, shut it down to see what it consumed for fuel. The coals went out FAST, barely anything used up. Fired it back and made some steak tips quick. VERY happy with this little guy. Mods worked out nice. Debating on adding a temp gauge at grill level. I use the temp gauge that came on the kettles, as more a quick guide rather than the temp reading being gospel,. Just not sure it worth it? Thoughts?
by Nervous_Dark_8068
1 Comment
Good move. I love mine. It’s a nice break from my WSK or 22″ (or Smokey Joe, or Genesis II, or Q2200, or…). It is extremely fuel efficient as you have discovered, but has significantly more grate room than a Smokey Joe. Two zone cooking is feasible. It’s an awesome grill.
I have been meaning to do the handle mods like you did. And also have been considering throwing a thermometer gauge on it to just have a reference point when cooking on it. I think it will be worth it.