Never used heat beads or cobblestones, We just use the normal BBQ Briquettes although we have found the Webber Briquettes last a bit longer and give a better heat.
We have managed full sunday roasts with one loat of charcoal
i've bought those from B&Q...but soz not used them yet.....
i use the 'cobblestone' type things from home bargains £1.99 for 5....(some people say they are not as hot as true cobblestones) i find they do the job perfectly well but i too mostly cook jacket spuds and portions of chicken etc not entire birds/joints of meat...
i will get round to testing the B&Q stuff at some point..
Have used beads and cobblestones on ours, the only advantage I see with the cobblestones is they are easier to light (no firelighters needed) and are ready quicker. With the beads we used the heat lasted longer than a cobblestone.
Although the cobbstones are probably great for what i need, they are a bit expensive at £1.50 a go. so its really heat beads or good briquettes/lumpwood
whats the difference in heat and lasting times?between lumpwood and briquets
I think I read somewhere that there is a way to extinguish and reuse part used cobblestones or possibly one of the "cobblestone like" products.
I have used Aussie Heat beads in the past and found them to be very hot and last a lot longer then standard beads/briqettes. You can pick them up in Tesco etc usually.
Generaly i think beads tend to be easier to use with quicker cooking times and less ash. I think heat is better from good lumpwood though. I think briquettes or beads are the choice for cobb
BTW I havent got a cobb yet as the wife wont let me buy another cooking method, but I want one, oh how I do..
I always keep some cobblestones ready to use when I am need to heat the Cobb quicker otherwise I use heat beads which do seem to burn for longer.
A few weeks ago I bought a pack of Lidl carcoal briquettes which were on offer and they did produce good heat but the problem was the SMELL. Fortunately I was trying them at home but the neighbours must have thought I had lit a bonfire! They were ok after about 15 mins when they had turned white but I won't be using them on a camp site.
Heat beads are different to all other briquettes that I know of in that they are made from compressed Anthracite not charcoal, hence they last very much longer and give a steadier heat.
I find with "ordinary" briquettes and more so with lump charcoal the heat is more intense but dies back faster. This is fine for fast hot cooking but not for slower cooking.
There are two types available the normal untreated ones and pretreated ones with a lighting agent already absorbed in them. Being "careful" with our funds we have only used the normal ones as they are cheaper. They bags are now only 3kg not the original 4 kg and no cheaper but despite this we find them so good that they are our preferred choice. At one time they were also sold re-branded as "Webber". As to availability I have to admit we wait till they are out of season, in a sale, and buy up a years plus stock wherever the price is right, John Lewis, Homebase, and in the past Tesco.
Can the Cobb's Cobblestones be used in a conventional BBQ we have the small rectangular Webber we take caravanning with us. If we can use them, would I need to use two or will one be hot enough?
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Topic: The great heat bead debate
. Fortunately I was trying them at home but the neighbours must have thought I had lit a bonfire! They were ok after about 15 mins when they had turned white but I won't be using them on a camp site.
