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Tried to use the Cobb yesterday to cook a chicken for Sunday dinner (As I have done many times on our Webber kettle BBQ).  I got it going nicely, put the bird in and put the lid on.  Took the lid off 1 1/2 hours later to find a very pale, partially cooked chicken (coals were still nice and hot).  We ended up having to carve it, cover the slices in gravy and microwave it.  I went veggie, as I usually have the legs .

Was it just that it was too cold outside?  I have never had this problem with the Webber, but I guess it is bigger and uses a lot more fuel, so may not be so badly affected by the ambient temerature.

Having heard so many good things about the Cobb, I can't believe that it can be anything other than an error on my part.  I would really appreciate any advice from seasoned Cobb users out there.

TIA

Iain 

Edited for spelling

I had a problem at new years eve with some bangers and breast. seemed to take longer than normal.

Cas54 will be along re the whole chicken. I can not comment as i have not tried the whole bird.

In the cold/wet/windy weather I fetch the cobb inside once the coals have gott going.

In the cold - The cobb will not stay as hot in the dome.

In the wet - The chef gets wet.

In the wind - I find the coals burn faster.

Here I am Sheards ........ we have now cooked many chickens on the Cobb

Usually use 3lb ish ........ 8 heat beads (as we know cooking time to be longer than normal bbq bits)

Once beads are ready - place chicken upside down, (if it leans to one side) for about 20/30 mins - lean it to the other side for another 20/30 mins - turn the right way up leave for an hour or so, test with skewer - - - ours have always been cooked to perfection

If you done all this ... can only come to the conclusion as you said ... maybe to cold outside

or if you used normal bbq briquettes, they was not the intense heat that you get from the heat beads

Hope thats of some help

Thanks all for responses.

I had used 'standard' briquettes as I haven't found any heat beads yet.  I also didn't turn the bird over (It was just over the 3lbs mark).

Having removed the legs form the bird during the carving, I popped them back onto the Cobb and put the lid back on and left them until I remebered taht I had to go and get the Cobb in to clean it.  They were well cooked and the will be in my sandwiches tomorrow!

I will try turning the bird next time and hope for the best.

Once again - Thanks for the help/advice.

Iain

Cas54,

I am in Milton Keynes, so not too far from Aylesbury - Is this the Cobb-BBQ.co.uk man?

Iain

Hi Sheards  .. yes it is ....... Graham ... 01296 681095 - about £5 if I remember right

Last year you could get a Homebase £4.49 ......... and Tesco £3.99

Happy Cobbing

Thanks again for the info

Iain

Think he's actually in Wingrave, so even closer to you Iain

A important factor for the use of the Cobb BBQ this time of year is the storage of your briquettes. I have stored my heat beads in the packet in the shed with the Cobb and have noticed that the beads take a lot longer to reach tempreture.  

This is due to the fuel absourbing moisture from the air, the other night I brought the fuel into the house and left it for a hour or so prior to using, this improved the performance. 

www.cccoutdoors.com also sell the heatbeads at £4 a bag.  The extreme cold will have an effect on the temp just like when the yorkshire puddings drop when the back door is left open on a cold day.