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Hi all

I am about to buy a cobb. The main use will be to cook single meals whilst working away ( so chicken legs as opposed to whole chickens)

Because of that i dont think I need cobblestones.

Is it generally accepted to use heat beads as oppsed to lumpwood charcoal?

Where is the best place to buy heat beads on the high st ( not homebas as ours has just burnt down!!!)

I know waitrose has got them but they seem very expensive.

I saw these in B&Q

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_oneslice=true&fh_view_size=10&fh_reffacet=specificationsProductType&fh_eds=%3f&fh_location=%2f%2fcatalog01%2fen_GB%2fcategories%3C{9372012}%2fcategories%3C{9372023}%2fcategories%3C{9372076}%2fspecificationsProductType%3dcharcoal___firelighters%2ffeaturesBrand%3dPenbeads&fh_refview=lister&fh_refpath=facet_159017090&fh_secondid=9846695&ts=1248425826510

Do these look any good and has anyone used them.

otherwise its another trawl of the internet- but dont really want to spend £30 at a time

thanks all

Never used heat beads or cobblestones, We just use the normal BBQ Briquettes although we have found the Webber Briquettes last a bit longer and give a better heat.

We have managed full sunday roasts with one loat of charcoal

Although the cobbstones are probably great for what i need, they are a bit expensive at £1.50 a go. so its really heat beads or good briquettes/lumpwood

whats the difference in heat and lasting times?between lumpwood and briquets

I think I read somewhere that there is a way to extinguish and reuse part used cobblestones or possibly one of the "cobblestone like" products.

I have used Aussie Heat beads in the past and found them to be very hot and last a lot longer then standard beads/briqettes.  You can pick them up in Tesco etc usually.

Generaly i think beads tend to be easier to use with quicker cooking times and less ash.  I think heat is better from good lumpwood though.  I think briquettes or beads are the choice for cobb

BTW I havent got a cobb yet as the wife wont let me buy another cooking method, but I want one, oh how I do..

I always keep some cobblestones ready to use when I am need to heat the Cobb quicker otherwise I use heat beads which do seem to burn for longer.

A few weeks ago I bought a pack of Lidl carcoal briquettes which were on offer and  they did produce good heat but the problem was the SMELL. Fortunately I was trying them at home but the neighbours must have thought I had lit a bonfire! They were ok after about 15 mins when they had turned white but I won't be using them on a camp site.

I managed to find a BBQ shop near Farnborough ( where i will be camping) that had heat beads but it was closed

so I went to brookside garden centre in Kent

that had the Aussie heat beads for £6 for a 4kg bag or a different style of bag (brown but still with the map of oz) 7kg for £10 so i got those.

Is there any difference?