Introducing DavesStuff - Innovative Camping Gear That Works

[Plasnart]

hey Rohin, thought i documented the process a lot better than just photos, maybe i did it in another thread.

so one thing i do when getting my coals ready is i use my gas stove to get the coals going, they get red hot and i don't have to wait for ages while they all get burning. 5 mins on the big burner and 5 mins sitting out on the concrete and they are all pretty much glowing!

From memory, I got my coals roaring, then chucked a decent stack on top, but none on the bottom. monitored it every beer (i think it took about 3 beers (prob about 10 mins a beer)for the crackle to start looking good, although i jumped the gun a little having never done pork belly before and moved on to the next phase. in hindsight i would give it another 10 mins). one other thing i did wrong was i mistook burned herbs on the skin for burned skin! just double/triple check the crackle is looking good.

once the crackle was looking good, i took most of the coals off the top and threw in a stack down the bottom. now, depends how long you want to take to cook yours. i only took about 2 hours total to cook my pork belly, i was rushing though, and it was the first time i had used the oven, i think lol. next time i would take a little longer and the pork would be more tender, although my first attempt definitely wasn't anything to be upset with.

i know your after measured quantities with the amount of coals you need to use. just go with your gut mate, keep an eye on it, and modify as needed. if it looks like its cooking too quick or add more if its too slow. the ovens are pure awesomeness, they are very forgiving and as long as your on it, you really cant mess up your food. any more questions ill keep an eye on here and try to get back to you!

Great info thanks nicco! Will be a roller coaster ride for me i think!

[Plasnart]

OK guys had the pork belly cookup today.

Cut belly in half in case I stuff this up and froze the other portion. Dried the half belly in fridge overnight, then today just brushed with garlic oil and added salt.

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30 beads and redgum block on top, nothing underneath. 30 minutes until oven got to 200 degrees.

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Belly goes in and starts crackling at 10 minute mark. Down to 150 degrees.

Another 10 minutes and crackle nearly finished. 150 degrees.

5 minutes and removed redgum block, inserted smoker tray with 1 layer of chips and reduced top heat to 8 beads. 20 beads below. 150 degrees.

10 minutes and 120 degrees so added 5 more beads below.

15 minutes 150 degrees, crackle showing small areas of black so removed 4 beads off top.

10 minutes no further burning at 140 degrees.

20 minutes cooked but crackle has softened. Transferred beads from bottom to top, 30 beads on top.

20 minutes out of oven.

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So overall it was cooking for 1 hour 40 minutes. Skin was crackled but chewy underside. Middle fat line in belly not rendered down enough, but was tasty!

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Next time will be left longer for sure but happy camper today!

[rusty_nail]

looks beaut mate! as i said, its all about touch feel, pretty damm good ovens

[PeeBee]

Rohan, looks pretty good from where I am sitting, great job.

[PeeBee]

OK, I was down in the Buchan Area of East Gippsland recently and picked up 3 bags of wood chips from a butchers shop. These are imported from the USA, but obviously avail. I am yet to use them but would think they are going to deliver a much greater difference to the blended smoker chips we can get from Bunnings.

Further to this I did search on ebay, under 'smoker chips' and BCF list the same variety - different manufacturer, plus there are dozens of different smoker chip options and the prices are cheap, small bags up to 15kg's.(a few offer free shipping which will help for you Clunk being alDSC01922.JPGDSC01923.JPGmost on the other side of the planet) I will have these with me next weekend and @MB is welcome to use for his Lamb Rack Delight, so we will no doubt be able to validate the 'strength effect' after that. These bags are 750 gram and I think about $10 a bag from memory, so about 8-10 smoker trays - pretty good value i reckon.

[MB]

Pecan over Aussie Lamb sounds awesome Phil, heard of it, never seen it, let’s give that yellow bag a go for sure!


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[PeeBee]

Done, chucked it in the truck now so I don't forget!

[Plasnart]

Rohan, looks pretty good from where I am sitting, great job.

Whos Rohan?

[PeeBee]

Whos Rohan?

I am confused Plassy, you got me.

[Plasnart]

I am confused Plassy, you got me.

That's better!