Got me a ranch kettle, now what to do with it!


 
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DrAllan

New member
I was able to score a ranch of CL the other day and am quite excited to start using it. I already had a 22" Platinum, an 18" WSM and a 3 burner Genesis Gold but I have been eyeballing a 26" kettle or a 22" WSM for a while. The 18" WSM works great, but I often find myself wishing it was bigger. Space hasn't really been an issue on the WSM for butts as I can easily cram 4-5 in there which is more than enough food, but ribs are a tight squeeze. I don't really like to roll them, and sometimes have to cut down large racks just to fit them on. Same goes for the 22" kettle, I usually cook w/ a 2 zone banked setup and find myself often shuffling food around.

I've been scouring CL for a while hoping either one of those would pop up at a decent price, and had decided that if I didn't find one by Fathers Day I would just get one new. All that changed when I came across the ranch for $375. I figured I could easily smoke as much meat on it as I could a 22" WSM and it will easily grill more than a 26" kettle, and the ranch was in the same ballpark price wise as either of them.

Now the question is, how do I use it!!!! I've had it for about a week, but haven't really had a chance to use it. For those of you with ranchers, how do you smoke low-n-slow on it? Do you bank? Do you snake? I plan on doing some test runs w/ no meat and trying the variety of methods, but am looking for somewhere to start. I was thinking of taking the charcoal ring from the WSM and putting it in the center of the ranch and then fanning the meat around the grate. I have an Pitmaster IQ120, so temp control isn't an issue. The only problem I see with the center ring approach is that I won't be able to refuel. Damn those grates are heavy! But if I use it primarily for ribs, hopefully a full center ring will last the 4-6hrs I need it too. I like the snake approach, but it seems to take up a lot of real estate around the perimeter of the grill, and since I have an ATC temp control isn't really an issue. Banking seems to work well, but you don't always get an even heat across the entire surface. The idea of a nice center fire w/ even heat all around is very enticing, but we will see when I put her in action.

Any thoughts on where to start? Any suggestions on usage or maintenance in general? I'll try to get some picks up. She is in decent shape, no rust but there a a few spots on the stand that could use a shot of fresh BBQ paint. Maybe one day I'll wash her down real good, and put a fresh coat on all around.
 
Congrats!
When I had mine, now sold, I would start a full chimney for each side, and add as needed during the cook.
I never had to add much.

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I would butterfly me a 40lb pig on that thing. Plenty of room for snacks as the little piggy cooks. I want one. It's just one of those thing I would end up using a few times a year
 
I've actually got a pull behind 275 gal pig roasting trailer that I've done up to a pair of 120lb porkers on before. But it was hard to pass this one up. If I use it half a dozen times a year I'll figure I got my money's worth out of it. If I can fit 6-8 racks of ribs in one cook with comparable charcoal use age and consistency as a 22 wsm then I will figure I got my money's worth. Seeing as how these are somewhat rare at an affordable price I had to pick it up.
 
I had a Ranch - for some reason I sold it sure wish I had it back. I'd do briskets - coals on either side and 3-4 packers in the middle.
 
I would start small until you get a feel for it. With a ranch you can use a little charcoal for a little cook, and use more as you have more to cook.
For the first few cooks,you will learn, then go bigger as needed. Why take a chance on ruining a LOT of food before you have mastered the ranch?
It will cook a lot like a 22" kettle, just more real estate. Have fun with your ranch kettle!
 
There's a really nice cover for it on amazon Classic Accessories Veranda Large Round Fire Pit Cover get the large covers kettle perfect and only 20 bucks you will really enjoy this grill
 
Thanks for the replies. I've done a few small tests and am pleasantly surprised at the efficiency for the size. But no real food or big cooks, I'm kinda hiding it from the wife until we are a bit closer to Father's Day / my birthday (jun 20). It's been tough, just hoping she doesn't look under the back porch. Fortunately I have enough other grilling toys to keep me occupied, but it was hard over memorial day weekend not to bust it out. It actually came w/ a cover, owner/instruction manual, and an extra roller thing for the lid holder. Got it from a great guy. Wife has been asking what I want for father's day and I have been putting it off, so the plan is to break this to her in a "I found my father's day present, I'm gonna go pick it up this weekend" a week or so before the actual day. That will give me some time play with her (grill) out in the open and hopefully I can do a big rib cook off for the celebration weekend.

Am I the only one who has to hide, sneak or justify my grill obsession? I usually come across a couple of kettles and if I'm lucky a gasser throughout the summer for dirt cheap and bring em home like a stray dog. I end up giving them away as presents, donating to sports clubs for post game cookouts, taking them as tailgating cookers for sporting events or even on vacations. Nothing worse than getting to the beach house that has an advertised "grill" to find out it is a rusted POS or flimsy little $5 job from Kmart. The classic kettles (non one-touch) actually pack up pretty small once you remove legs and stuff everything in the body. I'm not sure if it is the thrill of the find or the excitement of "how am I going to sneak this one home".

Anyone else experience the same thing?
 
DrAllan said:
Thanks for the replies. I've done a few small tests and am pleasantly surprised at the efficiency for the size. But no real food or big cooks, I'm kinda hiding it from the wife until we are a bit closer to Father's Day / my birthday (jun 20). It's been tough, just hoping she doesn't look under the back porch. Fortunately I have enough other grilling toys to keep me occupied, but it was hard over memorial day weekend not to bust it out. It actually came w/ a cover, owner/instruction manual, and an extra roller thing for the lid holder. Got it from a great guy. Wife has been asking what I want for father's day and I have been putting it off, so the plan is to break this to her in a "I found my father's day present, I'm gonna go pick it up this weekend" a week or so before the actual day. That will give me some time play with her (grill) out in the open and hopefully I can do a big rib cook off for the celebration weekend.

Am I the only one who has to hide, sneak or justify my grill obsession? I usually come across a couple of kettles and if I'm lucky a gasser throughout the summer for dirt cheap and bring em home like a stray dog. I end up giving them away as presents, donating to sports clubs for post game cookouts, taking them as tailgating cookers for sporting events or even on vacations. Nothing worse than getting to the beach house that has an advertised "grill" to find out it is a rusted POS or flimsy little $5 job from Kmart. The classic kettles (non one-touch) actually pack up pretty small once you remove legs and stuff everything in the body. I'm not sure if it is the thrill of the find or the excitement of "how am I going to sneak this one home".

Anyone else experience the same thing?
Click to expand...

How do you know when you're bbqing hobby has become an out of control obsession?

When you have a secret Ranch kettle hidden under your front porch!

Seriously, that Ranch grill is a thing of beauty. Don't hide it away! Bring it out into the light of day and proclaim loud and proud - I'm a man and this is a man's grill! I claim the right to cook huge slabs of meat over fire - and drink whiskey and smoke cigars while I'm doing it!

And then when you get tired of sleeping on the couch give me a call and I'll give you $375 for it.
 
DrAllan said:
Thanks for the replies. I've done a few small tests and am pleasantly surprised at the efficiency for the size. But no real food or big cooks, I'm kinda hiding it from the wife until we are a bit closer to Father's Day / my birthday (jun 20). It's been tough, just hoping she doesn't look under the back porch. Fortunately I have enough other grilling toys to keep me occupied, but it was hard over memorial day weekend not to bust it out. It actually came w/ a cover, owner/instruction manual, and an extra roller thing for the lid holder. Got it from a great guy. Wife has been asking what I want for father's day and I have been putting it off, so the plan is to break this to her in a "I found my father's day present, I'm gonna go pick it up this weekend" a week or so before the actual day. That will give me some time play with her (grill) out in the open and hopefully I can do a big rib cook off for the celebration weekend.

Am I the only one who has to hide, sneak or justify my grill obsession? I usually come across a couple of kettles and if I'm lucky a gasser throughout the summer for dirt cheap and bring em home like a stray dog. I end up giving them away as presents, donating to sports clubs for post game cookouts, taking them as tailgating cookers for sporting events or even on vacations. Nothing worse than getting to the beach house that has an advertised "grill" to find out it is a rusted POS or flimsy little $5 job from Kmart. The classic kettles (non one-touch) actually pack up pretty small once you remove legs and stuff everything in the body. I'm not sure if it is the thrill of the find or the excitement of "how am I going to sneak this one home".

Anyone else experience the same thing?
Click to expand...

You fit right in!! lol :)
 
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