Northern Ireland UDS builder/smoker

[alister667]

Hi, just saying hello! A couple of years ago I built a UDS for myself, and it's been great. I've done plenty of pork shoulder, brisket and chicken, but I often wondered about where to get consumables in the UK. I made a post to the Reddit /r/bbq subreddit and was told to pop along here.

Right, I have to go and do some reading before annoying you all with stupid questions! Thanks in advance.

[Toby]

Welcome to the forum! What type of things are you after?

[robgunby]

Welcome from across the mini pond!

[ConorD]

Welcome dude. Ask away (and post pics of the results).

[Verminskti]

Bout'ye!

[alister667]

Welcome to the forum! What type of things are you after?

Thanks, it's great to find a place to talk about UK BBQ!

Well, charcoal I guess is the big one for me. Running the UDS for 8-12 hours takes about 4-6 Kg of charcoal. Currently I'm buying from a local coal supplier (Cappers at Tamnamore) at £5 for 3Kg. It's not great charcoal either. Basically I'd like to buy decent quality charcoal in 12 or 15Kg bags and cheaper!

Problem is P&P to NI is usually prohibitive, I was wondering are there any local suppliers or any big UK chains that have decent offers? I used to go to Tesco's at the end of the summer and they'd be doing a clearence, I'd be able to stock up on 5Kg bags for about £2 each. I haven't seen this type of offer for a while now. Just wondering where everyone else gets their charcoal.

On the meat side I'm just wondering why ribs seem so expensive. I usually see them for about £6 a Kg, whereas shoulder costs about £4 per Kg. They seem to be marketed in the UK as a luxury meat, I don't do them very often because of this. Are there any sources of cheap, decent ribs in the UK that might be available in NI too?

Are there other cuts of meat that are cheap in the UK that folks here use? I've done brisket, chicken, turkey crown, pork shoulder and ribs. Are there other meats/cuts I should be considering too?

[alister667]

I've gathered together a few phone pictures I took of the smoker and some of the stuff I've cooked on it and stuck them up on Imgur.

http://imgur.com/a/7Nyel#0

[robgunby]

I get my charcoal from a big distributor called Direct Charcoal and their restaurant grade stuff is dirt cheap but brilliant quality. Only trouble as you say is shipping but it might be worth calling to discuss it. They may be able to suggest an alternative supplier, or an onseller of theirs in NI.

I have trouble getting decent ribs at a decent price too. Only way I can get decent ones is by custom cut at the butchers, but they're not cheap.

As for other cuts, try a forerib of beef, aka prime rib / standing rib roast. A rib eye stake still on the bone, if you get a 2-3 rib roast it will take only 4-5 hours to do to rare. Tastes beautiful smoked, sliced thinly on sandwiches. Not cheap but once a year or so I get one

[Verminskti]

Asking cousins and they reckon nipping into Down to Kellys at Warrenpoint but sounds like you're fram Tyrone so it may be a ways away.

[alister667]

Thanks for the tip. I probably wouldn't go there especially for charcoal, the next time I'm down that direction I'll try to look up Kelly's. Cheers sir!