|
 Topic: Do you use your Cobb in the winter?
|
  |
04/10/2009 at 7:53pm
Location: Wirral
Outfit: Rimor New Polaris 530-6 & Volvo V70
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 14/7/2004 Gold Member 
Forum Posts: 376
| Site Reviews Total: | 20 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
I'm wondering if anyone uses their Cobb outside in the Winter. I have been using my new Cobb outside a few times this past week and am not getting good results from it. Today I roasted a 1.6kg chicken using 9 heat beads and the legs were still raw after 2 hours and 40 minutes. And my potatoes which I had parboiled were still hard after being in the moat for that time as well.
It is breezy here today and I am wondering if the wind chill has made it cook less efficiently. But it is by no means cold and I was hoping to use the Cobb throughout the winter in the garden to cook roasts and the like.
Has anyone used their Cobb in the winter? Can anyone suggest anything else I might be doing wrong? Any opinions gratefully received!!
|
04/10/2009 at 9:26pm
Location: Letchworth Garden City
Outfit: Conway Cruiser
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 30/3/2005 Diamond Member 
Forum Posts: 1625
Tent Reviews: 1
| Site Reviews Total: | 16 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
we have used ours in the winter, and even brought it inside when the weather wasn't so good - once we had lit it, and it was ready for cooking on that is! dont recall any noticable differences in cooking times etc
-------------
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional
|
04/10/2009 at 9:35pm
Location: Derbyshire
Outfit: Camplet Concorde Bailey Phoenix+ 420
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 25/5/2004 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 4062
Tent Reviews: 5
| Site Reviews Total: | 78 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 9 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 6 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 6 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 3 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 1 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 4 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 32 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 33 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 24 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 20 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 5 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 18 |
|
When you've lit it are you leaving it for the heatbeads to go grey and oven warm up before putting food on to cook? Then once it's cooking are you leaving the dome on for the whole cooking time? Don't make the mistake of opening it up to have a look at how it's cooking as it seriously reduces oven temperature. If you think it's to do with the outdoor temperature you could try it inside and see if it makes a difference. I have put mine on top of the hob with the extractor running just in case once it's stopped smoking before I start cooking.
-------------
Kate
Trailer tent, caravan and too many tents!
|
04/10/2009 at 9:38pm
Location: Derbyshire
Outfit: Camplet Concorde Bailey Phoenix+ 420
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 25/5/2004 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 4062
Tent Reviews: 5
| Site Reviews Total: | 78 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 9 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 6 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 6 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 3 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 1 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 4 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 32 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 33 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 24 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 20 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 5 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 18 |
|
If you're still having problems try some cobblestones. They are expensive but pretty foolproof, you can cook on them literally 5 minutes after lighting and I've never had any problems, may be once you've got the hang of cooking on it you could then revert back to heat beads.
-------------
Kate
Trailer tent, caravan and too many tents!
|
04/10/2009 at 9:53pm
Location: Wirral
Outfit: Rimor New Polaris 530-6 & Volvo V70
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 14/7/2004 Gold Member
Forum Posts: 376
| Site Reviews Total: | 20 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Thanks for your replies. I left the heatbeads for 20 minutes until they were mostly grey before I put the food on. I didn't open the lid at all for the first 1 3/4 hours. The chicken hadn't browned at all and was still raw on the legs. I have got some cobblestones and I used 1 to cook a rack of lamb which worked well. I was hoping to be able to use heat beads though as the cobblestones do work out much more expensive. I'll try it again inside and see if it makes a difference.
|
04/10/2009 at 10:03pm
Location: Derbyshire
Outfit: Camplet Concorde Bailey Phoenix+ 420
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 25/5/2004 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 4062
Tent Reviews: 5
| Site Reviews Total: | 78 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 9 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 6 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 6 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 3 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 1 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 4 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 32 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 33 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 24 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 20 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 5 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 18 |
|
Hmmm, don't know then, perhaps a duff bag of heat beads if there is such a thing? I've only used heat beads a couple of times but didnt' have any problems once I'd got them lit, must have another go with them as the rest of the bag needs using.
I use cobblestones with mine as they're easy to transport, can fit 5 or 6 inside the cobb without any extra bags so know where they are when we load up and unload the car, they're easy to light and there's no mess.
-------------
Kate
Trailer tent, caravan and too many tents!
|
05/10/2009 at 11:38am
Location: Wolverhampton
Outfit: Bailey Orion 2 Tents Honda Accord
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 02/8/2003 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 1980
Tent Reviews: 1
| Site Reviews Total: | 11 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 1 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 2 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 15 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 22 |
|
I usually put a small windshield around mine if it's breezy and have never had a problem !!
-------------
Steve
|
05/10/2009 at 12:39pm
Location: Lancashire
Outfit: Nissan X-Trail & Bailey Ranger
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 23/3/2007 Platinum Member 
Forum Posts: 1303
| Site Reviews Total: | 15 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
I barely got to use mine in the summer! Rotten weather...
-------------
* You never know where you're going 'til you get there...
|
05/10/2009 at 1:22pm
Location: Kent
Outfit: Motorhome
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 15/1/2004 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 11553
Tent Reviews: 1
| Site Reviews Total: | 20 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 1 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 1 |
|
Use ours all year round, never noticed much difference
Prefer Heat Beads to Cobblestones
|
05/10/2009 at 1:46pm
Location: Middlesex
Outfit: Iveco Motorhome + lotsa tents
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 14/7/2004 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 5899
| Site Reviews Total: | 0 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
We use ours all year round. We used it this weekend too, it was a little windy but we didn't have any loss of heat problems. Use good quality charcoal briquets and you won't go far wrong. Heat beads and charcoal briquets are the same product its all just charcoal. you pay more for the name of heat beads mind. The cobblestones are quick to use after lighting them but i prefer the charcoal briquets myself.
-------------
DELTA..
aka Paul
“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions.”
|
05/10/2009 at 2:46pm
Location: South Gloucestershire
Outfit: Avondale Kingfisher Super 1979
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 16/4/2002 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 8693
Tent Reviews: 2
| Site Reviews Total: | 12 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
We made a jacket for our cobb, it's a piece of leftover canvas, 4.5 inches wide with velcro on each end, it simply wraps around the stainless gauze and keeps a lot of the heat in.
|
05/10/2009 at 5:57pm
Location: Worksop
Outfit: Pennine Aztec T T Cabanon Gaudeloupe
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 30/5/2004 Silver Member 
Forum Posts: 158
Tent Reviews: 1
| Site Reviews Total: | 0 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Quote: Originally posted by Paul + Wendy on 05/10/2009
We made a jacket for our cobb, it's a piece of leftover canvas, 4.5 inches wide with velcro on each end, it simply wraps around the stainless gauze and keeps a lot of the heat in.
A simple fix that I think we're going to have to do too. Used ours this weekend, and although we protected the Cobb from the wind by having it in the tent awning, all the veg we had put in the moat was still pretty much raw after 2 hours, apart from the edges that were directly against the fire basket, which were burnt. That's with a Cobblestone and lifting the lid just once to turn the beef joint. The meat was cooked perfectly though. That suggests to me that the mesh sides allow far too much heat loss from the main bowl when then there's even a slight cool breeze. Not an uncommon problem it seems from searching the web - there was one place that even sold a Cobb 'bra" for just this reason, and it would appear that this only happens on the mesh version, not the older models with solid metal base. Other people have just put foil around the inside of the mesh with good results. You probably need to leave a small gap around the bottom to maintain airflow for the charcoal.
|
05/10/2009 at 6:19pm
Location: Worcestershire
Outfit: Autotrail Tracker
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 24/5/2005 Gold Member
Forum Posts: 407
Tent Reviews: 2
| Site Reviews Total: | 21 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 2 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 1 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 1 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 3 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 2 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 2 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
We've used cobblestones, heat beads and normal briquettes and definitely prefer the cobblestones although the heat beads were ok but the cheaper briquettes seemed the least successful. The only time the cobb did not cook brilliantly was when it was really windy and the veg in the moat did not cook. I think I'll have a go at making a cobb 'bra' for mine!
|
05/10/2009 at 8:55pm
Location: Wirral
Outfit: Rimor New Polaris 530-6 & Volvo V70
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 14/7/2004 Gold Member
Forum Posts: 376
| Site Reviews Total: | 20 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
I'm wondering if I maybe didn't use enough heat beads. I used 8 - should that be enough to cook a roast or should I be using more?
|
05/10/2009 at 8:57pm
Location: South Gloucestershire
Outfit: Avondale Kingfisher Super 1979
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 16/4/2002 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 8693
Tent Reviews: 2
| Site Reviews Total: | 12 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
8 should be plenty but I stick to a maximum of10 as a few people have split the moat by overloading it
|
06/10/2009 at 1:36pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: None Entered
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 14/8/2003 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 4595
| Site Reviews Total: | 13 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 1 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 1 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 3 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 3 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Quote: Originally posted by Paul + Wendy on 05/10/2009
We made a jacket for our cobb, it's a piece of leftover canvas, 4.5 inches wide with velcro on each end, it simply wraps around the stainless gauze and keeps a lot of the heat in.
Do you know i had the old Cobb black base and the base plate broke out of it.I got the new wire mesh one and i didnt use it for ages after trying it i managed with the old one. I was wondering if they co;d be lined with foil??
|
|
