Cobb cooker

[calamaridog]

Heard about these and have been looking for feedback. Anyone used one before?

This is the US supplier. I guess the design concept originated in Africa and the company making this cooker is from Australia. I read a good amount of positive feedback on an AU forum regarding these cookers.

http://www.cobbq.com/cobbstore.asp

Anyways, I think this would work well for a lazy evening in camp. Your thoughts?:chowtime:

[zimm]

that looks cool. i've been looking for a compact for this season. i may have to give that one a whirl.

[elcoyote]

I saw the Cobb in action for 3 days as they had a booth next to mine at the PHX ISE a few years back. Pretty nice little unit for not a lot of bucks. They we're cooking corn and burgers on it all day long making my mouth water. Like a lot of inexensive BBQs though, I think it may have a limitied life span as heat gets the better of the lighter gauges of metal.

I was at the Fred Hall show yesterday and picked up this little item http://www.pit2go.com
I liked the quality of it (14 gauge) and it solves the hassle of toting around a washtub for making a fire. :campfire: It folds flat and fits in a carry bag, can be used as a fire pit or BBQ. I'll bring it along on the Black Mtn run.

[Desertdude]

I was also looking at the cobb and thought about the lifespan as well...


Thanks for that link EL - cool deal - more compact than the wash tub


In January, 1994, we sat enjoying a campfire at Seacliff Beach located near Santa Cruz, California, and the idea of the PIT-2-GO® Campfire/Firepit and Bar-B-Que was "born"

I have been on that beach- maybe I know those folks ?

[elcoyote]

Unfortunately their website does not do the product justice in images. It actually has a decent heft to it that doesn't say "WalMart".

...hey was that you running around on the beach with the flaming marshmallows chanting something unintelligible?:jump:

[gjackson]

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with these:

http://www.cobbglobal.com/

Seems pretty nice, if a bit bulky. Kinda spendy too! But it might make a nice oven solution.

cheers

[calamaridog]

The Cobb is a bit expensive, but I've been wanting to try one out:chowtime:

[ZooJunkie]

This Cobb grill is on my Amazon wish list. I, too, am interested in real experiences with this grill. It's a bit pricey though.

[BlueFly]

I have a Big Green Egg at home and bought the Cobb in hopes that it might serve as a portable version of the BGE. Throw some ribs on, go fishing, come back in a few hours to a feast. It still might work like that but so far I haven't experimented with it enough to know.

It did save the day once in a downpour with two hungry kids and no dry wood- cooked a chicken in an hour under a tarp- nice crispy skin- and potatoes cut small in the moat wrapped in foil came out well.

If you buy, get the stainless steel version- the plastic sided one will melt if you overload the charcoal. Good customer service- they replaced mine when I discovered this.

It won’t do everything. Perhaps the steel version is more versatile and allows hotter temps (?) - but think low and slow cooking or baking, not grilling. Chicken great, marinated beef/pork strips OK but took a frustratingly long time, definitely will disappoint if you try steaks. It's a bit awkward to put stuff in the moat, and fat will run into it. I'd say there's a learning curve, but YMMV.

gjackson, I think you're right on with the oven comparison, and I've been meaning to try baking bread in it.

Once in a while they come up cheaper on E-bay and that might be a better way to see if it will work for you. There's one there now:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190091478008&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190091478008&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1)

[DesertRose]

I remember about 8 or so years ago bookmarking (can't find it now) a story on an oven that I think is this one - it was first developed to be marketed to relief and international aid agencies for people in the third world. A cheap, super-efficient stove. As it turned out they couldn't sell them to the agencies or make them cheap enough - and so they went 'high-end' and marketed them to the west! Ironic that even we find them expensive now!

[DesertRose]

You could make your own, Graham -

Check out the Darfur Cookstoves site (http://darfurstoves.lbl.gov/updates2007.html)

and

All the great ideas at Answers.com (http://www.answers.com/topic/cook-stove)

I'd like to try one some time, too

[ZooJunkie]

Wow, that's great! What wonderful links. I had no idea what a fuel efficient stove would do for people who lack fuel. Very enlightening. Thank you.

-Matt

[spressomon]

I saw a propane equivelent to the Cobb Cooker on a TV infomercial a couple months ago for about $80...but damn I can't remember or find the name of it now! It came with a pizza/bread stone, easy clean, lid, etc.

[CanuckMariner]

I have had a COBB for about a year and it is great...you can find them on line occasionally (eBay, etc.) for the whole thing (cooker, grill, grate, skillet, wok) for around $100 give or take $50. They can bake, grill, fry, smoke, BBQ, roast, etc. they are about the right size for 2-3 people cooking. can accommodate 2 smallish or one medium chicken, baked spuds are great, pizza works as well, roasts (pork/beef) are phenomenal, Chinese food in the wok is like at home. Works on 3-8 BBQ briquettes, I use Kingsford with self starting and they are ready in less than 10 minutes for about 2 hours of cooking. Base stays cool as unit gets up to 500F.

Check 'em out here...http://www.cobbcanada.ca/

[asteele]

I was set on getting a Cobb when I ran across the Safari Chef Grill (propane) at Camping World. Now I don't know which one to buy???http://www.safarichefgrill.com/safari_chef_grills.html

[CanuckMariner]

I was set on getting a Cobb when I ran across the Safari Chef Grill (propane) at Camping World. Now I don't know which one to buy???http://www.safarichefgrill.com/safari_chef_grills.html

I find the main advantages of the COBB over others is that you do not have to carry combustible fuel in your vehicle. Finding the containers of fuel can be hard after a while, they always seem to stop selling them and most are not refillable on your own if at all. It also has the advantage of being able to cook in so many different ways, bake, fry, roast, BBQ, etc. It is also self contained, light and relatively small for what it does (12" x12").

[calamaridog]

I find the main advantages of the COBB over others is that you do not have to carry combustible fuel in your vehicle. Finding the containers of fuel can be hard after a while, they always seem to stop selling them and most are not refillable on your own if at all. It also has the advantage of being able to cook in so many different ways, bake, fry, roast, BBQ, etc. It is also self contained, light and relatively small for what it does (12" x12").

Great points about the fuel. I haven't gotten a COBB yet but I still want one.

[CanuckMariner]

Great points about the fuel. I haven't gotten a COBB yet but I still want one.

You will love it, very versatile. Another suggestion I have is I buy Kingsford Match Light easy starting briquettes and they come in various size bags as well. I get the one that is a couple of pounds say 5 or so, so don't have to carry so much extra weight and bulk. As for cooking for one, I use 3-4 briquettes each time, ready in about 10 minutes, time enough to open your RTT, put out a chez-lounge, and open that first cool one, while everyone else is still looking for a level place, or where to park for sun, or chatting, etc. I still have part of the first bag I bought and have been on several camping trips..s.say at least 20 meals so far.

Check around, now that they are known about a bit more, lots of places have them on sale. I have seen them for just the cooker for $69-99, others come with all the accessories for up to $139. Try eBay, Amazon, etc.

[James86004]

My father-in-law bought a Cobb cooker and brought it along on our last trip. It was amazing how much it could cook with a dozen pieces of charcoal. We cooked enough beef tenderloin and potatoes and corn to feed 4 adults and 2 kids on one batch of charcoal.

[spressomon]

My father-in-law bought a Cobb cooker and brought it along on our last trip. It was amazing how much it could cook with a dozen pieces of charcoal. We cooked enough beef tenderloin and potatoes and corn to feed 4 adults and 2 kids on one batch of charcoal.


I saw a propane version on an infomercial last year and I didn't write the phone/contact info down and couldn't ever find it again. Not that charcoal isn't good...propane would be even better for me.

[Chris]

Just now saw this post Heh! kinda strange, we are leaving For DV in the morning and spent last knight testing our cobb to see how it works as an oven.

We have been using it for over a year now, took some getting use to. We like it when we are on the move and need some quick bbq action without allot of set up..... yep just throw in 8 coals lite wait....wait some more and cook. the cooking time seems to take a bit longer then normal, however once its on you dont touch it.

The results of our oven test were pretty good....did mini chocolate chip cookies, mixed berry muffins...normal size and minis, also learned some about doing croissants and I think next time they wont burn. with some testing I think anyone could use it as an oven. they are kind of small, I dont think I could get by with it cooking for more then two, seems like it would be very limiting on what you could make on it for more people unless you dont mind eating in shifts. it is however great for a whole chicken, or a couple racks of ribs, I also made a full size pizza on it....pre made of course and next time I will remember to remove the cardboard from the bottom of it LOL.

good luck!!

:chowtime:

PS I do have a full size Q as well. I like good food.

[jcbrandon]

I got a Cobb cooker as a gift recently. Just tried it tonight for the first time. Best grilled chicken I've ever had. Tender, moist, no burned skin. Had some life left in the charcoal so I put few bits of apple on to grill for dessert.

[targa88]

I have had one for about a year. Very versatile with the various accessories (wok, grill, roasting rack, fry pan, etc).
Amazing what such a small unit can cook up.
Put some liquid in the moat and add some more flavour.
Compact, ideal for expeditions.
Great quality - not concerned about durability at this point.

[CanuckMariner]

Just now saw this post Heh! kinda strange, we are leaving For DV in the morning and spent last knight testing our cobb to see how it works as an oven.

We have been using it for over a year now, took some getting use to. We like it when we are on the move and need some quick bbq action without allot of set up..... yep just throw in 8 coals lite wait....wait some more and cook. the cooking time seems to take a bit longer then normal, however once its on you dont touch it.

The results of our oven test were pretty good....did mini chocolate chip cookies, mixed berry muffins...normal size and minis, also learned some about doing croissants and I think next time they wont burn. with some testing I think anyone could use it as an oven. they are kind of small, I dont think I could get by with it cooking for more then two, seems like it would be very limiting on what you could make on it for more people unless you dont mind eating in shifts. it is however great for a whole chicken, or a couple racks of ribs, I also made a full size pizza on it....pre made of course and next time I will remember to remove the cardboard from the bottom of it LOL.

good luck!!

:chowtime:

PS I do have a full size Q as well. I like good food.

Depending on what is meant by coals and charcoal and what heat value they have, you might want to try the briquettes. As they have been compacted considerably, they last longer and have a greater heat value than charcoal. I have cooked for 2-4 people using 3-6 briquettes (Kingsford Match Lite) and the briquettes are ready in about 10 minutes and last for up to 2 hours or more.

Cooking for larger groups is greatly dependent on the menu you have chosen, as you point out it is great for a whole chicken, or a roast, ribs etc. With a grill size of 12" diameter it is limited to how many steaks or fish, etc. you can BBQ at a time. For it's size, fuel, ease of use, and diversity of cooking (Grill, bake, roast, etc.) it can't be beat!

Checked out the Dafur, but no one seems to know who is the manufacturer as yet, how much it costs and where pone can get it retail. But it looks like a worthy adversary to the Cobb.

[cactusjk]

Any recommendations on what accessories to get? I am thinking the griddle and roasting rack.

[roamingaz]

I was recently at Cabelas in Glendale, they had 3 Cobb grills in the bargin barn marked down to $59, I have thought about getting one but they seem kinda bulky.

[cactusjk]

If it's the premier I would get one at that price!



I was recently at Cabelas in Glendale, they had 3 Cobb grills in the bargin barn marked down to $59, I have thought about getting one but they seem kinda bulky.

[CanuckMariner]

Hunt around (Amazon, eBay, etc.), I have seen the premier with all accessories for around $99. Which is an excellent deal. Check out the CobbAmerica or USA or Cobbglobal.com sites to find out everything about them and then research price before you buy.