Any purist out there?

I'm pretty happy with my results so far.I haven't tried any high tech gadgets yet.I need a good thermometer,but that's about it.If it ain't broke,don't fit it.

Hi Angie
It's not only fun to ditch all the gadgets once in a while, but you can sure learn a lot by poking at the meat, and looking at the signs....lettin the food talk to you. It is surprising how well those who try can cook by look and feel alone. But ya gotta work at it. You don't see great chefs whippin out their thermapens too often!

Anyways, I think it is like any technology. If you start using your speed dial on your phone all the time, you aint gonna remember the phone numbers any more. So then when the technology is gone (or the cell phone goes down in the porta potty) you got a problem. Many folks are relying only on their thermapens (etc) and when those tools are gone, they realize they weren't payin attention.

Interesting post, and it just shows how spoiled we can be sometimes.

Cheers
Chris

I am a purist. I don't use foil except on the polder wire.

(This is meant to be a joke, not to stir up the pot. Heck, you might as well asked about the DH)

I can certainly understand your thoughts on purity of cooking without electronics. I typically only use my "toys" for overnight cooks. That's not to say that I did it the purist way a couple hundred times(at least)first. But I have found that when I have guests coming over or I'm in a position that won't allow time to redo something, I then use my stoker. I'm glad to have my stoker as part of my arsenal. There are enough other complications that can go on. Haha.

Well I may be the biggest old fashion cheapest Egger on this forum. All I’ve had was a timer I got from the dollar store and it just broke. :( Of course my hubby took pity on me and bought me a maverick that takes temp with a probe thingy and is also a timer and I take the battery out of it when not in use so it doesn’t drain the battery. :S
That’s it for me so far. Maybe some day I will get other things I need/want.

AuntieEgger

I started out with nuttin but my medium egg....then a little while later the fuzzy little missus Stump done got me too of them electronic thermometers..i used them for every low and slow..but after a while they done broke like you read about..after that I don't use nuttin an i always go by feel..i know my eggs and my meat and when it should be done, yep i get up in the middle of the night to check on things and every wonce in a grate while i hafta bump open the vent or somethin...mose of the time i dont....now it aint like we done gave up all electronic stuff....my sista beulah has some kinda strange black banana shaped thing what takes somethin like sevin dee cell batteries in her dwar bye the bed....she done calls it her dubble ended cheeze whiz filled chocolate lectric man....but i'll tell you what i aint nevah seen it mow the lawn or chop some wood or nuttin....heck it don't evin have arms from what I can see..i dont know what kinda man that is...last week I done stole inna her room and drew too faces onnit..seein as how it was dubble ended an all....but when i tole poppa what i dun he thought maybe by the next mornin them faces would be rubbed off an whatnot..i tole poppa he may be write..i mean i spose if it was me an i hadda git up in the nite to pee or somethin....i'd be searchin in that draw of hers for some kinda candle to light the way to the owthowse.....an maybe if'n it took me a while to fine a candle..i'd prolly rub the face offa that banana man of hers..poppa laft until he stopt..i'm guessin he no's maybe beulah don't keep candles in that draw of hers an the joke was one me or somethin..tween you an me..i hope she duz have candles inna that draw..cuz i dont know what she'd do if'n she done made a mistake an lit her man banana on fire....that wood be rong for shore...


StumpBaby

I understand what you mean. I used the Egg 4 or 5 times a week for 4 months b4 I got the "Q". Like tonight when I am doing ribs opening and closing, adding vegs ect. its nice to let Q take care of everything so I can visit with friends and not fiddle however I like to go natural even on longer cooks from time to time just to remain "one with the charcoal" Like tomorrow I will do a lot of butt overnight for the guys at work. Doing graveyards Wends. night so need to get a good nights sleep tomorrow. Will sleep till 9 or 10 Wendsday morning. If not for the Q I would need to get up by 6 or 7 and then I would be toast that night. With the Q I can sleep in.

Ohh are you suppose to put some tin foil on that wire thingy? :huh:
Sheesh I didn’t know that!! :unsure:

Yeah, I guess I could be considered a purist since I haven't ordered any electronic auto drafters yet. That's because the SBGE ranked higher on my list than one of those devices. However, the overnighters have me losing sleep because I'm too paranoid to let the fire go out.

Yes, I'll be ordering a Q2 soon...

Angie,

You need to play around with your cooker as-is. I don't care if if it's an Egg or not. Learning how it works, and what works best for you is the most important part of out hobby. Smell the smoke, listen to the sizzle and watch the color of the meat develop. Then test the flavors and the texture, make notes and adjust where needed. Try to learn method and technique .... not just your own but ones other folks use too.

I come from at least two generations of barbequists and it's kind of funny, but the first pit I ever had with a thermometer on it was the first Egg I bought.

Electronic tools are wonderful. I own a Guru, some cable thermometers and a Thermapen. They are all wonderful and worth every dime, but all they really do is turn a good cook into a better one. (or one that gets a little more sleep at night)

I love 'bonding' with the egg and all it entails. There is nothing like watching a cook, smelling the lump and cook.

After some help from third eye I went back to watching more of what I was doing (being a purist).

At -3° to hell with all that. Give me any and everything non purist that I can find. I also like to sleep and not loose a cook.

Some point in time I want to go the fests back in the south and southeast but I sure am not going to walk or drive. Air travel is nice, In the cold using electronics is nice. For you young wippersnappers, go for it. This old fart is staying out of the cold as much as possible - but I ma not going to stop eggin.

GG

Yes I agree with you. I have enjoyed my Eggs for many years and I still don't have most of the new whiz bang things. Its not that I don't like them, its just that I don't want to buy them yet as I am satisfied with things as they are now. I control the temps manually and use home made indirect set ups. Works for me, but I'm not saying it is the right way for others.
So cook however you feel comfortable with as long as you get the results you like. Its all about your tastes, so enjoy it.
later,
Ron.

The electronics I use; timer and internal meat temp probe and I don't use them very often. I like to go natural, time by the angle of the sun, temp by the look and feel of the fire.

you have a stoker then? yes? your advice re: the bemohr was great. do you mind if i e-mail you later today [have to go pay the bill now] with a few stoker questions ?
bill