Bullseye Grilling Notes: Monday Afternoon Pork Chops (Seared) Bullseye Ver. - 23 November 2020

[Sscottfitz]

Note: This is essentially the SAME cook we did on Monday, (3 weeks ago) the 2nd of this month (Nov), BUT instead of doing the cook on the Trailblazer, this one is executed on the new Bullseye RT-B380) - Outside temps are a little cooler (about 10 deg)

• Grill Location: Hot Springs Village, AR.; 34 37 60.0N 92 54 55.4W - another beautiful late Monday Fall afternoon in the Ouachita Mountains…again - thank you Mom Nature!
• Weather at time of Grill: Mostly clear, with the sun setting with a little bit of a breeze coming in off the cove from the SouthWest. Temp 54F, Humidity 64%.
• Total Grill Time: ~20 Min (17:10- 17:30)
• Total Event Time: ~53 Min (Includes couple of min to plug in and uncover the Bullseye, roast veggies, etc.)
• Grill Plates: Yes x1 (positioned on right side’s of RT-B380)
• Temp Probes: Nope - just a timed cook, maybe will use a mobile temp probe
• Pellets Used: Rec Tec Ultimate Blend

• Meat & Meat Prep
  • Meat: 2 x Small Boneless Pork Chops (~4 oz each, ~.50” thick) - from Walmart…
  • Total Meat Prep Time: ~5 min, Light coating of olive oil and our go to for pork chops, “Ron’s Screamin Pig Rub” (we really like this rub!)
  • Meat on at ~17:24 CST
• Sides:
  • Roasted Veggies (Summer Squash & Onions with a French Fry Seasoning from Supreme Tradition)

Misc Grill Observations - all times are CST

• Grill Start to Target Temp FULL: 59F to Riot Mode ~725F ~ 13 min (17:10 - 17:23)
• On the grill ~17:24, Cooked on a Grill Plate x2.5 min per side (probably would have been OK at 2 min per side)
• Pork Chop Temps off Grill: Both ~165’ish F

General Comments:

• Pretty much confirmed (have had several communications via the forum and other social media observations) that the Bullseye is definitely much hotter than the Trailblazer, and we’ll probably need to make some auger feed and cooking adjustments, but still learning the grill so for now we’ll just do nothing….doesn’t make the grill better or worse, just different and may require some user influenced adjustments…..sort of like life…..<grin>
• This grill gets to “real freakin hot” in a VERY SHORT period of time…….NICE! (this was one of the critical decision points on going with the Bullseye).
• Mother nature was kind to us today, great late afternoon for grilling. Nice sunset skies with lots of jet contrails heading out for Thanksgiving travel no doubt……lots of that COVID-19 overhead tonight……
• Our hounds like it better when we grill in the backyard - lots more opportunity for “greyhound grab ass activities”…..sometimes they even screw with the “household alpha” - she of course is the “boss of ALL of us”….
• This evening’s is probably the last grill till EARLY Thanksgiving morning when both the Trailblazer (Turkey Breast), and Bullseye (Smoked Spiral Ham) will get a workout! Supposed to be “unsettled weather tomorrow”...
• Early thoughts are the cover for the RT-B380 seems to be of a pretty good quality, good fit - too early to see how well it wears compared to the exceptional cover on our BGE, we had it for over 5 years, and it is GREAT!
• Hope eveyone has a SAFE, HEALTHY, and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

 

[Mike]

Other than being hotter, what are your thoughts about the recteq bullseye @Sscottfitz? Are you happy with it?

 

[Sscottfitz]

Mike,

I think the "qualified" answer is yes (granted, I've only really executed 3 cooks on it, and most of those were in Grill Mode vice as a Smoker - I'm planning a Double Smoked Ham for Thanksgiving, and that will be a 4~5 hr lower temp smoke event). THAT SAID, yes, the role we see for the Bullseye are 1) more of a high temperature event grill - it seems to do that very well, 2) a 2nd pellet grill giving us the flexibility of having two grill sources - Thanksgiving is a great example - the Trailblazer will be working on Smoked Turkey Breasts, and the Bullseye on the aforementioned Spiral Ham. 3) is the "recteqs" are positioned at different locations, one is covered for adverse weather cooks, and the other (the Bullseye) is more of our fair-weather grill (it's under a pergola so it's not protected from rain (other than it's own storage cover). 4) I like how quickly it comes up to temp, I'm sure that has to do with the bowl design & size. Sorry for the long diatribe, I'll give you a better assessment next week after the Thanksgiving cooks. OBTW, hope you and your family have a safe, healthy, and happy Thanksgiving.