Re: [CH] OT grils (was smoking chipotles)
AndyB (barnhart@mfire.com)
Thu, 14 Aug 2003 18:25:13 -0400
I'm in a single, detached home.
I used to use a charcoal grill. When I read the ingredients of locally
available briquettes, it read like a Dow Chemical list.
Several years ago I switched to a gas, and was terribly disappointed in
the flavor and finally gave it away.
For a couple of years now I've been using a natural wood pellet fired
smoker/roaster. With respect to safety, it has an internal heavy burn
chamber that itself is protected by heavy steel baffles. The pellets
completely burn leaving only a small fine, white ash.
I consider this completely safe on my wooden deck. In some areas, fire
marshals have approved these particular models for use in condos where
gas and charcoal are illegal.
With regard to cooking it has smoke (low), medium, and high settings. It
works on the principles of a smoker and a convection oven. On the smoke
setting, the temperature is about 185° and food can be left in for hours
with minimal attendance, without drying out (I presume the water of
combustion contributes to this). Among many purposes, this setting is
great for turning Jalapeņos into Chipotles. (On-topic tokenism <G>).
For less smoke flavor and faster cooking, use the medium or high
settings. For barbecue, slow smoke for hours, then set to high to
lightly char the outside. Medium is great for lightly smoking-poaching
salmon.
For further info, contact me offline.
AndyB
barnhart@mfire.com
jim@wildpepper.com wrote:
> RE: gas or coal grills are legal in multi-story apartment buildings.
>
> Sorry to jump in late here. The banning of grills in apartment
> buildings has NOTHING to do with politics and everything to do with the
> fire code. This is a ban that has been around quite awhile. Too many
> idiots try to store their 'cold' ashes in paper bags, plastic bins, etc
> and end up burning down the house. Not so bad if you only manage to
> take out yourself, as in a single family dwelling; very bad when it also
> displaces several other families. Propane cylinders have LONG been
> illegal in apartment buildings in much of the country. They have the
> serious potential to level a good chunk of the building with little or
> no chance of escape. Just in my career, I'll bet I've been on no less
> than 4 multi-alarm apartment fires caused by grills.
>
> -Jim C
> Mild to Wild(R)
>
> Lieutenant, Engine 113
> Local 416, Indianapolis
>
> .
>