Bread on Cobb BBQ
I bought a Cobb BBQ today and I'm really interested to know if others on here have ever tried baking bread in one?
The Cobb is a table-top BBQ, which uses a relatively small amount of charcoal or special briquettes and has a domed lid to retain heat. It isn't insulated in the way that a brick oven would be, and there isn't a baking stone in their range, but there is a heavy-duty pan which might hold and distribute a fair amount of heat.
I can't find much information about the temperatures the grill can achieve when it's lid is on, but it does have six vent holes which could take a thermometer probe. The "moat" which surrounds the charcoal can also be filled with up to 250ml water, which might create some useful steam in the early stages of a bake.
I can only find one post on TFL from 2013 which shows that bread baking is possible, at http://www.thefreshloaf.com/node/34783/charcoal-grill-bread [1]
While I bought the BBQ for outdoor cooking, the temptation to see what it could do is just too much to resist. I may have to make a yeasted dough this evening and retard it overnight, just to have a play with it when I get in from the office tomorrow.
Even if you haven't tried baking on a Cobb, but wanted to know more about them then try:
- US: http://www.cobbgrillamerica.com [2]
- UK: http://www.cobb-bbq.co.uk [3]
There are also quite a few You Tube videos demonstrating Cobbs in use for various cooking techniques.
Would be great to hear from anyone who has some experience give some pointers, tips or tricks.
Happy baking! Colin