I see a lot of nice chicken thighs around the grill with nice crisp on top. Is that without flipping and the vortex doing its thing? Do you flip it or it radiates from top and bottom?
Also does anyone use a vortex without the removable center grill under the grate? One more how would the vortex be for a reverse sear steak as opposed to just ones side direct/indirect, does it cook the perimeter more than one side coal method? 🙏
by Weak-Post1835
9 Comments
I’ve been using my vortex without the removable center. It’s been fine. I did reverse sear a steak using the vortex. I set up a 2 zone fire and went indirect until like 115 and then pulled the steak and rested while I removed grate and put all the hot coals into the vortex and let it get hot then seared. Unfortunately, I got a little bit of scorch. I probably needed less coals and quicker on the flipping during the sear but it was good. No gray band, good crust just a little scorch
I do flip mine. I assume the cook will take 45-60 minutes, so I start the thighs with the top skin side down and flip about halfway (or what I think halfway is).
1. If you want the crispy skin for you vortex thighs, don’t flip.
2. A grate with a removable center isn’t necessary for the vortex.
3. You would probably struggle to reverse sear a steak using the vortex. When I do wings or thigh, the ambient temp in my kettle can get 500-600 degrees. But I will sous vide a steak and then sear it directly over the vortex for my crust.
1. Crisp without flipping, But I do rotate the lid every 10-15 mins a quarter turn.
2. I use the vortex without the removable center. Regular Weber grate.
3. For steaks I flip the Vortex with the big opening facing up and have it located on the the side. Similar to 2 zone cooking with a charcoal basket. Indirect cook the steak til desired temperature then sear.
I don’t flip and found adding corn flour to them helps crisp up skin
I just used a vortex for the first time ever last night, chicken thighs and drumsticks. Didn’t flip, rotated the lid every 8-9 mins, after a full revolution they were done and excellent. Almost feels like cheating.
I also crack the lid open just a little bit (and rotate 90 degrees) to further increase the temp
You can also pull the skin off scrape the back and remove any fat, lay the sking back on and wrap the thighs. No flip vortex.
I have the paired charcoal baskets, is the vortex really that much different than this? I was always curious about the vortex but thought it may be redundant.