Vortex (Charcoal Kettle Accessory) Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 มิ.ย. 2014
- Review of the new charcoal kettle accessory called the Vortex.
The Vortex is a 304 stainless steel kettle accessory that provides the following 4 cooking configurations:
1. Indirect
2. Direct
3. Indirect/Direct
4. Infrared
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Been using this thing 2x a week.. its bad ass for up too 4 people. Highly recommend
It is so simple but workable. I like it. That is a great idea!
Great review of the vortex. You provided a lot of great information.
Nice video. Liked and subscribed. Liked your laid back style and professional presentation. Thanks!
Thanks Steve...nice cook! If ya got a kettle or a ceramic cooker... you need one of these! - Rich- The Mad Hunky!
Great review Steve and looks like a nice system for the kettle grills.
I love my vorTex.. single best accessory for the kettle!
Great demo!!
Thanks Steve, I bought a Vortex with my last order of Mad Hunky order but have not used it yet. I need to try the Beer Can Chicken set up.
Wow, that looks awesome Steve. Very simple and versatile.
this thing works great. Had one for a few years.
I did the beer can chicken like this past weekend and it was amazing!!! Juicy and tender
Great video - does anyone know how much more heat the Vortex generates over the Weber crates that come with the Performer? Or is it superfluous if you have those already?
pretty cool little unit, versatile !
On the Weber Performer with the propane starter feature you don't need to use a chimney to start your coals. I just load the Vortex up and turn on the gas for about 3 minutes. Shut off the gas and after another 15 minutes the coals are ready. Works great.
Performer rocks
I like it! Just might order one tonight. Of course, my Weber's are both 22 inchers. Still, this looks like something I'd be happy with.
That’s all great, bit I want to know, in order to Kopf the coals from going out and controlling the burn, what do you set your vents at the bottom of the grill to ???
I like the Vortex! Also, where can I find the cast iron grates for the 26" Weber Kettle? I can only find it for the 22"?
Thanks!
Good video bud. And nice commentary 👍
which of them do you use on your 22" weber? The site you share has 3 sizes. I grew up using a Weber but haven't owned one in years but am sorely tempted to go out and get another really soon! I love the long term smoking method you use with the ring of coals and all...
So what's preventing the coals from burning in both directions? Di you end up creating a gap once you put the lit coals on?
Great new toy!
What is the best size for a kettle 22 inch I see in the website they have a small medium or large do you know actual measurements by any chance
Looks great! How far open did you have the bottom and top vents?
Is there any info out there about the Large Vortex for the Weber Ranch? Videos?? Or dose it work well in the Ranch! And how many chimneys of of charcoal fit in the large Vortex?
Where did you get those grates? I want some!
Will this work for a 22.5" Weber Kettle ?
great video!
I'm curious, was it 30 more minutes? Usually they stall at that temp and take forever. That's why they do the Texas crutch! Just curious!
Where’d you get the cast iron rack from
Where can I get the Vortex and those heavy duty cooking grates??? Also when you barbequed your Boston Butt do you barbeque with the lid on or off??? Lastly could you use the Vortex to cook a Turkey with an indirect cooking and would it speed up the cooking using the Vortex oppose to the conventional cooking with having the charcoal piled to 2 sides??? Sorry about the stupid questions I'm just starting barbecuing with a kettle gril and got rid of my gas grill...
cool trick bro peace from norway
love my vortex... how long would a beer an chicken normally take??
good video im not so great with the grill but i steal do it live and learn thats the fun in it beer too
You can buy a Stainless Steel Bowl according to the size of your Grill, then just cut out the center and flip the bowl over and Viola, you have yourself a nice Stainless Steel Vortex for under $8.
Your welcome :o)
I actually like the small one better (22") giving me more smoking space as well as wastes less charcoals. one vortex basket full of charcoal is more then enough for smoking/flame kissed 10lb chicken leg qt for about 2-3 hrs depending on temp, I first smoke on high temp then finish cooking them on direct heat till I see the skin start to bubble/sizzle up...
26.75 inch Weber only? Good to know thanks!
very cool
Will the VORTEX work in a VERTICAL SMOKER
pretty new to smoking meat, but is that alot of coals/briquettes used to smoke a chicken in method 3?
I have a Slow n Sear, which leaves a large indirect cooking space, like for ribs or even a brisket, plus it is super easy to reload if needed and keeps hot coals from damaging the sides of my Weber. Your video was well done and informative, but I just don’t understand the advantage of the Vortex at this time. I see a lot people love theirs so I will keep an open mind and keep watching videos to understand its advantages.
For that particular cook, the Vortex was used as a heat deflector to protect the meat. There are a million hacks out there that produce the same results. Where the vortex shines is using it in the first two setups he talked about. Look for videos re: chicken on the weber kettle using the vortex. I made a “homemade” version to see some results on my own and was so pleasantly surprised with chicken wings and the sear that I got grilling steaks that I bought one.
Garlic chicken
Thanks for the video - it was informative. I wonder if you could accomplish much the same with a Lodge Dutch oven. Maybe you could try that and let us know.
Thanks again!
+Carlos Rodriguez Thanks for the support! I actually just picked up a Lodge Dutch over the other day so I'll try and do this sometime. Thanks for the idea.
Good show my man....
When setup for slow cooking. How easy is it to maintain a constant temperature whne using the vortex?
Its very easy Marshall
looking for advice on what you set your vents in order to maintain 250 degree cook temp
barely open at the bottom and about 1/8th inch open on top. that's usually what I have mine give or take some at the top.
Great videos. What is the purpose of 2 probes mounted on the grill?
That is to help maintain the temp inside the kettle.
Weird, why didn't the fire go in both directions and meet in the middle? Did you break the ring of charcoal of cam?
I see that multiple sizes are available for this item. I am considering purchasing this for a 22in Weber Kettle. I am hoping to use this when smoking a turkey for Thanksgiving. When using this in the indirect method (as you did in the video), is the Vortex large enough to accommodate an 18lb turkey?
Anthony Wheeler Go to vortexbbq.com and click on "Which size?" And it'll give you a nice chart that will fit perfectly for your grill. You're welcome
i just use a disposable aluminum pan I usely get several uses out of one and doubles as a drip pan
What kept the lit charcoal from burning both ways instead of one way around the Vortex? Thanks
The coals should not form a completed circle. Leave about a 6-12 inch gap and put heated coals only on one end and it will slowly travel the length of the coals. And make sure there is no break in the coals, otherwise the fire will end there. All coals in the ring must be touching other coals so they will continue to lite as the fire ring travels.
That's a pretty cool accessory for the weber, And it is priced right too!
Looks like a nice accessory.
get a stainless steel bowl from a thrift store for less than $5 and cut the bottom out. Works just as well and much cheaper. They are way overpriced for 25cts of steel and a couple welds.
@@pcbman1st what welds?? I guess you have no clue.
you must not know what a "tack weld" is.
What's the thickness/gauge of the thing? Looks a bit thin
Nice video BTW
Hi, Why do you use two thermometer on the grill grate? Thanks in advance.
Daniel Silye he's using one as a meat probe the other is measuring the temperature near the meat. What I've gathered is that those built in thermometers are not very accurate and measure the temperature near the top of the grill not near the meat.
Steve This was Great! Yeah, I'm just a Regular Dude Who Likes to keep it simple without all the "Fancy Do-Dads" lol Can you do a Back To Basics on Grilling Lean Chicken Breast (No Skin or Bone) & (NO Fancy Accessories for Beginners.). My Weber Grill will arrive shortly and I want that to be my First Project Thanks.
Regarding the direct method, I can see how it excels with high heat
Can it give me low to medium direct heat as well?
Depending on your airflow in you have some latitude in direct heat.
That’s exactly what you can achieve without the vortex. Why would you use it for that application?
Sorry if this is a silly question, how do you prevent coals burning in both directions when using minion/snake method?
haha..LOL...not a stupid question at all! in fact, I've been waiting to see if anyone noticed that! there should be a gap in your minion bank so they can't burn both ways, i was just rushing when i was setting it up, but fixed it in between segments. good eye though!
StokedOnSmoke How do you manage the heat as more and more coals are burning? Seems like your heat could get up there pretty quick by the midpoint.
Do you know if this would be too tall for the 22 inch kettle grill? Thank you and great video.
The Med or Small are for ANY kettle. 22 can use either.
Vortex has a diagram on their website of all the grills it will fit. All different sizes
I used a stainless steel bowl with the bottom cut out. $2 from Goodwill.
YOU, sir, are a genius.
Thank you for the idea.
I have this same size grill and have been wanting a cast iron grate. Where can I get one from as well as the vortex?
look at stores that sells Weber grills they may have stuff like that
ginmyree look up craycort cast iron grates. I have a set and love them
And yes it works on the 22...that's what I have :{)
Hi, nice video,
which brand is your cooking grill ? it ain't a weber eh ?
www.cast-iron-grate.com/cast-iron-grate-for-26-75-kettle-grills.html
Picked up one of these a few weeks ago, really a good item for the kettle.
Have yet to do a long cook like this so it will be interesting to see how long a burn I can get on a 22.5 as opposed to your 26.
Nice review Steve.
I think with a thick bank, you'll get a LONG burn on your 22.5. In reality, my 26 is a little overkill for most cooks...
StokedOnSmoke Yeah, that 26 is a monster, but the extra real estate on the grill has to come in handy for a party!
Doesn't the unburned coal affect that taste of the meat when it starts burning(fumes)? I was always lead to believe you don't start cooking until all the black of the coal has been burned to grey?
ryanhenry21 no, it imparts no flavour difference adding unburnt coals to lit coals, which is surprising, because I thought it would too.
As long as you don’t use the easy light crap that has chemicals on it to light faster. Classic Kingsford Blue is the only way to go. Unless you wanna use lump which burns hotter and leaves less ash. But unlit or lit doesn’t matter when it’s added.
"I was always lead to believe you don't start cooking until all the black of the coal has been burned to grey?"
That's good advice for beginners who are just doing direct grilling, but for low and slow cooking it wouldn't work. The way to avoid off flavors is to use only natural lump charcoal or good briquettes that don't contain accelerants. (For example, DO use Kingsford Blue Bag but do NOT use Kingsford Matchlight.) And do NOT use lighter fluid on your charcoal.
@@seikibrian8641 would you believe that I bought 5, 11 pound bags of the the blue Kingsford at $1.90 a piece at Home Depot today? Not sure what that was all about but that's day time robbery and I took advantage of that. I'm gonna stop by tomorrow and get some more bags of they got any left. I BBQ almost every day.
@@Disastrousmedia I was at Home Depot yesterday, and they had two pallets of 18-pound two-packs (36 pounds total) marked "Closeout," which struck me as odd considering that grilling season hasn't even started yet. I'm going back today to load up.
It looks to me it's not the vortex but the arrangement of the coals. With that snake method, why need the vortex piece ?
The Vortex shape acts as a deflector for the direct heat. Reduce burn edges on the meat.
Steve Swardson???
Nick* Swardson
Haha... I see it!
doesn't the unlit coals give the meat a funk taste...since the coals haven't burn out all the additives the coals contain?
i've never experienced that...but some people say they can. here's a good article that talks about it a little: amazingribs.com/tips_and_technique/zen_of_charcoal.html
I was told the same thing but since realised the rumour might have come from the fire lighters not the beads
"doesn't the unlit coals give the meat a funk taste.."
If you use "quick lighting" briquettes (like Kingsford Matchlight) that may be an issue, but if you use good briquettes (like Kingsford Blue Bag) they don't contain petroleum-based starters. The good stuff takes more know-how to get going, but it's not really that difficult.
i notice there is different sizes the website doesn give the direct size only s m l
Dougie Doug Go to vortexbbq.com and click on "Which size?" And it'll give you a nice chart that will fit perfectly for your grill. You're welcome
What is the metal thickness of the Vortex.
16 Ga 304 stainless
Thanks Kyle Busch
Excuse the ignorance but, how come the coals do not burn both left and right of themselves? How come the only went clockwise? Like the tutorial by the way :)
No ignorance at all! I set it up without a gap, but then fixed it off camera...I was in a rush and not paying attention... Good eye though! :)
Where do I buy one of these
madhunkymeats.com/product/vortex-thunderdome/
how much open is the bottom vent and the top vent for that piece ur cooking? thanks
Genius!
It's a great idea.
I can make this from a Stainless Steel Bowl from a 99¢ Store and just cut a hole in the bottom, Viola a Vortex for about $5 :o)
Humm. Makes sense...
@@capitandan100 Sure Does.
I don't mean to be critical, but why the dark glasses?
S N S FTW Baby!
Am I able to purchase a vortex? If so, where can get one?
They can be purchased at www.madhunkymeats.com
Looks good, plus it doubles up as a hat.
Some people who wear hats with a hole in the top are golfers, and you would look silly wearing it on the course...…….unless you were carrying a beer or two or three or case, or maybe a keg.
Steve, how tall is the Vortex? Will it fit in the Jumbo Joe??
Who makes this?
It's made by a stainless outdoor kitchen MFG in the US. It's design/patent belong to Bill Scott/thunderdome BBQ. I am the distributor. And yes, it will.
David, no, I placed it in my JJ and it's too tall. It comes up at least an inch or so past the grate...
StokedOnSmoke Hmm.. well, I will refund your cost. I have no idea what a "jumbo Joe" is. It can't be very "jumbo" tho :D I will send you a shipping label and want it back. Please send me your info at Rich@Madhunkymeats.com.
Thanks, Steve! It probably fits the 18.5 and 22.5 kettles great. Looks very cool.
I appreciate you checking!
Rich,
The Jumbo Joe is Weber's 18.5 inch portable charcoal grill. The distance between the charcoal grate and grill grate is smaller than on the full size kettles.
I believe the term Jumbo is in reference to how big it is in comparison to the Smokey Joe grills.
I got a Vortex and love it! I have cooked chicken, pork steaks, and beef ribs on it. I am going to try a pork butt after watching this video. Thanks!
You had me at Boston Butt......
You had me at B...…...
just use a couple bricks!
Wrong
I think this is just a tad to big for my Jumbo Joe. Interesting concept though for indirect cooking.
so you don't have to wrap the butt in aluminum foil once it reaches 165 degrees internally?
Totally up to you. A lot of guys, a lot don't. Sometimes it helps if you're short on time...but other guys swear wrapping produces a finer product. I do it both ways...but normally do NOT wrap if I have enough time.
Its a venturi!
what about all the chemicals that are released from the coals that have not become ignited?
You got the one I Want, It Looks BIGGER than the MEDIUM SIZE? i have a The Weber Kettle 22 premium (Copper Model) and The Medium doesn't Fit or Look like that. I Want the Larger size,.. Crying,..Boo Hoo Hoo,..I'm Sad now :(
Anyone have a cigarette? I believe I just finished.
He never used the vortex. The coals were placed around the vortex and not inside of it as it’s intended use for high heat.
only 30 bucks thats way to much ill make something like it for way less maybe 19.99 lol
Not outta stainless...LOL
Too priced easy to make with aluminum tray
Z@
go to a metal shop....$10
$30 when you could just use a couple of bricks. Derrrrrrr
I watched this just to learn how it works with the idea in mind to see if it's something I should stimulate or not with materials more readily available; such as using bricks
Completely unnecessary
What is the best size for a kettle 22 inch I see in the website they have a small medium or large do you know actual measurements by any chance
+Erik Flores Yeah, it doesn't look they have specifications on their website. I'd just shoot them an email b/c I'm not sure. Sorry.
Go to vortexbbq.com and click on "Which size?" And it'll give you a nice chart that will fit perfectly for your grill. You're welcome