Much as I love my trusted Weber Go Anywhere BBQ (GA), I find it cumbersome and awkward to be lifted in and out of the under-bench storage cupboard as it is just a tad too large for the opening and quite heavy.
OK, it is heavy as I keep 2 bricks and a thick piece of wood with it, so that I do not have to go and look for them on a campsite so as to minimise the risk of burning the grass underneath.
So I bought a Cobb with an optional BBQ kit, thinking it would make life easier, being able to use on top of a table and big enough to cook just for one person. In addition to function as a BBQ, I could make other dishes with it and to enable to cook without electricity, etc., etc...
I used it for the first time with the BBQ kit as a BBQ, and it worked very well with good results.
Cooking the veggies first while the briquettes reached the desired temperature:
Once the briquettes turned ash-white, I put the veggies into an enamel dish and placed it on the edge to keep warm when I cooked the meats:
Some of the veggies got burned as I did not turn them, DOH!
The food had good flavours just like those cooked on the GA.
The bottom of the Cobb stayed cool to touch with no risk of burning the table top - the additional cardboard I placed until it as a precaution was not necessary.
I used one of their pre-formed aluminium inner sleeve in the bowl to minimise cleaning. They are intended for single use due to risk of flare ups of the oil residue; however, they are not cheap. Hence I intend to re-use it, and shall check to make sure the amount of oil residue is kept to a minimum - most of it was burnt off towards the end of the cooking process anyway.
The Cobb is not stored in the under-bench storage area as the opening is not big enough, and it is too tall for it. However, I found a way to strap it securely in front of the TV.
The opening for the under-bench storage area will be made bigger when the van goes back to Young Conversions to have the reverse camera replaced due to water ingress. This means I can store the GA in it as well as to take the Cobb with me at the same time which will be great for future group trips.
Now the not so good issue - cleaning of the BBQ grill without a metal scouring pad and full size sink was a ! I tried cleaning it with a piece of scrunched up aluminium foil, and gave up after a while, and took it home to clean in the sink before bunging it into the dishwasher on a long cycle. Some carbon residues remained, however, it is not greasy to touch anymore.
Everything, including the additional BBQ grill and basket, stacked up neatly inside the bag.
I am tempted to get the Cobb kettle, however it is out of stock at the moment in UK. I may get a small Ghillie kettle with an additional Cobb base if I can't get hold of a Cobb kettle.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
The Cobb kettle is the best toy I have ever purchased for camping and caravanning. Use it the get the charcoal hot and get over 1 litre of boiling water in the process which is perfect for a brew while getting the food cooking. The roasting rack is great if you want to cook things a bit slower. I often cook a medium chicken with veggies. I also use it to smoke fish on.
------------- 'A sure cure for sea-sickness is to sit under a tree'
Being on my own, I am unlikely to roast a chicken when camping. However, the frying dish may be more suited to my style of cooking which is pan or stir-frying.
Not getting a griddle for certain, as they are a nightmare to clean!
In addition to the Pink Stuff, I have heard Fairy Power Spray is also very good, and shall hunt for those when I go shopping next.
Fingers crossed that the Cobb Kettle will be in stock again soon!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Love our Cobb. We use the non stick griddle for cooking meat, cleans up pretty well while away and then a proper clean when home. We use the liners and have reused them about 3 times before replacing with no issues. We do marshmallows over it at the end for the kids once we’ve finished cooking. It gets used at home as our BBQ too as it just always makes the juiciest unburnt burgers 😀
We've had a couple of Cobbs over the years (pre-liner days) and used to take a big trug bucket to soak then wash the various bits.
Loved it, back in the day, especially when not on EHU, but then the cleaning got a bit much and having to soak the griddle plate overnight was a bit of a pain.
We now use the easy/lazy route of Remoska and griddle pan on single induction hob.
Those liners sound like a brilliant idea! Are Cobblestones now widely available (they were always going out of stock when we needed them)? We found some other, cheaper brand (I think on Ebay) but they weren't as good as the originals.
The Cobblestones appear to be in stock, however, I would not use them as I believe they are too expensive for what they are worth IMHO.
Ordinary briquettes and firelighters are good enough for me.
DK
Post last edited on 09/08/2021 18:04:50
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
The Cobblestones appear to be in stock, however, I would not use them as I believe they are too expensive for what they are worth IMHO.
Ordinary briquettes and firelighters are good enough for me.
DK
Post last edited on 09/08/2021 18:04:50
I abandoned Cobblestones many years ago in favour of Australian Heat Beads. The beauty of heat beads is that you can douse them when you have finished cooking and re-use them.
I had to search to see how old my Cobb was on this forum, 2006.OH found one on a car boot, the Goutdoors type and paid £3 for it. Iv just had to replace my grommets and rings on the original and bought spare for the boot find. The BBQ kits is fairly new about 2 years i think.I love my Cobb it coming out for Chill and jackets in a while. I also use Aussi heat beads or Webber briquettes.
We've had our Cobb 6 years, not used it much the last 2 years due to me having a stroke.
I used our flat, wide based stove top kettle on the cobb, worked well.
I've got the BBQ and love it, got it when I was made redundant in 2018. must get the stainless griddle, having wrecked 2 in non stick ones! I use the liners and reuse them several times saves washing the base. We've got Webber briquettes at the moment, they give a good cooking time, the cob stones are great when you want to in a hurry.
We always do a roast dinner on the cobb when awaay, gammon, beef or chicken. gets the neighbour talking!!
Another one in favour of Cobb, had ours 4 yrs and LOVE it, bought the BBQ kit from Go Outdoors, use Webber briquettes because they are sold locally. Use the Cobb for home use, cooks ham,pork etc to perfection. Discovered the liners which can be cleaned and used several times.
Enjoy!
The Cobb kettle has been discontinued, and I was not quick enough to get one of the last 2 available in UK, hey ho!
I shall look at getting a small Ghillie kettle with a Cobb adaptor instead.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets