talk to me about cobb bbqs please

[mel2005]

ok now i really love the idea of the cobb bbq but we are a family of 6, do you think it will be big enough? my children are only 6y,5y and 2.5y twins so dont eat that much yet. also i have read some people pop a roast chicken on and then pop off to do something nearby and some back later, is this really ok? also has anyone boiled a kettle on one? i put my le creuset on the weber smokey joe so i dont think it would be that different would it? also do you leave it outside all night? we leave the weber out all night but that only cost £25. i suppose i could just take the fuel basket thing out and pop the rest of the cobb in the tent, would that work? sorry for all the questions, i had a big selling spree on e-bay to pay for one but want to make sure its the right thing for us.

No advice from me but I'm marking my place because I am coveting one of these too!

(respect on the 4 kids so close together - I have 2 and that drives me crazy enough!!! )

thanks, it is a bit mad here most of the time i thought the cobb might make dinner time a bit easier as i end up burning the bbq food on the weber, then the kids will not eat it. i was debating taking my cast iron big shallow casserole bottom or frying pan and making stir frys or paella on the weber if the cobb is too small for us.

I have a Cobb and am a bit disappointed with it. I was really excited about getting it and had wanted one for ages. It is good but not great, so I do like it but think it is overpriced and i don't think worth it. I can't deny the roast chicken is good and that the wok pan is good for stews, curry etc but most of the other things I've done on from the Cobb cookbook never quite turn out fantastically.

We've bought it so we'll use it but it's not one of my better purchases!

I have one and really like it (admittedly have only used it for 3 of us (+ toddler) and only been camping once so far - going again in a week). We made sausages, then the next night veg and potato and sausage hash thingy in wok pan. We used cobblestones which although cost more than charcoal are super convenient as they are ready to use within about 3 minutes I think, so no waiting around for charcoal. They are also individually wrapped. We then doused the cobblestone in water (if it hadn't cooled with lid off in time for bed) and tipped it into rubbish bag when cool, then stored cobb inside. It stays cool on the outside - not the lid but the body does so you can move it around when lit.

It isn't massive so would probably mean cooking in batches (ie meat then veg), although wok pan would hold enough for 2 adults, 4 kids I think!

Hi love our Cobb.
We cook roast dinnners, chicken, small joint and potatoes in Cobb, then when eating that meal, put a cake (cake mix, plus eggs and water, in metal camping tin thing, in cake liner) or fruit crumble in and hey presto super meal.
But we also take a one ring stove to boil kettle or do beans, rice etc.

thanks for your help, i have bought one from e-bay to try it, now deciding if i need to buy the griddle, wok and frying pan. i think the cobblestones look ideal, i know they cost more but they look much quicker. i really dont like the gas cookers so it looks a good alternative. its also much smaller than taking the weber bbq and coals etc and we need a bit more room as we now have a puppy as well so i think camping trips will be great fun next year.

Ressurecting this as just about to order one (DH is in US where they are the same price in dollars, so can't say no to that.) But wondering if I need to get the accessories. Would a regular cast iron skillit work in it's place / regular pan instead of wok, etc? or do I need to get their for them to fit? Is it not worth it if I don't get the accessories?

The accessories all fit snugly over the rim and therefore maximise on heat efficiency. A skillet would work fine but the Cobb ones are particularly pleasing when you put them on top of the oven bit, and pack away perfectly in the Cobb bag afterwards.