Baking With The Q

Nomad
Nomad Member Posts: 7,209
edited November 2015 in Products and Accessories
Grills and outdoor cooking - Everything finally came to a head with all the wind across Wyoming, Utah, and northern Arizona where I couldn't keep anything outdoors lit. Wind would constantly blow out the flame no matter how I positioned things - don't know how you folks without the indoor kitchen manage. Anyway, I needed to find something that worked and the most popular gas grill I've seen in campgrounds over the last year has been the Weber-Q so went out, checked them out, bought one. Great little grill and stays lit no matter the wind.

The one thing I've missed being out on the road is having an oven. There's been discussions of various ways to do it from little fold-down Coleman ovens you use atop a cook stove to dutch ovens. Turns out the Weber-Q works great as long as you figure out some way to deflect the direct heat. Started out just trying it straight up to see how bad it would be...Not good, burnt cornbread muffins...pretty crusty...



So, roamed Walmart and found a straight cookie sheet, a cookie sheet with holes in it (grill area, meant for veggies), some clips - Total = Less than $5.00...



Works great...no more crusty, singed muffins...



Did a big turkey breast (cooking bag) on it for thanksgiving and it turned out just right - Set the bag atop a piece of tin foil on top of the deflector sheets.

So, one turkey down, one batch of corn muffins down, wonder what I should try next - maybe an old fashioned hotdish.
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Comments

  • Nomad
    Nomad Member Posts: 7,209
    Side Note: Back in the midwest you find thanksgiving goodies in all the grocery stores and delis. Just need a big old turkey breast, no problem, all the grocery stores have them. Don't want to cook a big batch of dressing, no problem, just hit the deli. Same with cranberry relish. Drove 20 miles, hit two big chain grocery stores here in AZ and nothing - no breasts, no dressing, no cranberry relish. Looked like I was SOL - Stopped at Walmart, no dressing but turkey breasts galore. Saved the day. Wo'd have thunk.
  • Nomad
    Nomad Member Posts: 7,209
    Side Note: There's a BBQ chain in the midwest called Famouse Dave's - Great corn bread muffins. Low and behold while searching out muffin mix -Walmart again - what did I find...



    Life is good :-)
  • Verna
    Verna Member Posts: 6,876
    Grest innovation--I'll have to remrmber this if my Coleman oven doesn't work.  Except I replaced my larger Coleman for a smaller one. 

    Walmart is my last choice. I liked Fry's in AZ last winter because it is part of the Kroger chain. Stores are set up very similar and brands are same or close. 
    Verna, Columbus, IN
    2021 T@B 320S  Boondock “The T@B”
    Towed by a white 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 Supercab, 3.5L V6 Ecoboost “The Truck”
  • Nomad
    Nomad Member Posts: 7,209
    Verna - Walmart's usually my last choice for groceries also but both Smiths and Safeway let me down.
  • Verna
    Verna Member Posts: 6,876
    Safeway is expensive, limited inventory of "normal" items, hard to find inventory. I've not tried Smiths. Ralph's in California is part of the Kroger brand, also. 
    Verna, Columbus, IN
    2021 T@B 320S  Boondock “The T@B”
    Towed by a white 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 Supercab, 3.5L V6 Ecoboost “The Truck”
  • Nomad
    Nomad Member Posts: 7,209
    In a lot of areas I've been, Safeway's the only choice - Other than Walmart
  • Wanderoo
    Wanderoo Member Posts: 553

    PXLATED - I have the Weber Q grill -- this is a great idea to put a cookie sheet with an inverted holed baking sheet on top!!!!  I will try this.  I love to experiment with cooking when I camp.  I love good food and hate to eat out.  Thanks!

    Beth, 2015 Toyota Tacoma (Ramblin' Rose), 2014 T@B S M@xx (ClemenT@B)
  • Nomad
    Nomad Member Posts: 7,209
    Wanderoo - Takes longer to get the gauge up to desired temp but remains pretty stable once there and adjusted. Using the little Colman canisters gives you roughly four hours bake time (425 degrees) as far as I can tell. Might get an adapter to run off my big propane tank when baking.
  • ScottG
    ScottG Administrator Posts: 5,674
    Great post--we also experimented a bit this summer baking scones on the Q. Our current setup is an "air bake" cookie sheet propped up above the grate on four stones--in principle, a similar approach to the one you came up with, though I think yours may be a bit more effective at controlling the heat. We might have to upgrade next season! 
    2015 T@B Max S (320)
    2015 Nissan Frontier SV V6 4x4
  • Nomad
    Nomad Member Posts: 7,209
    edited November 2015
    ScottG - I experimented first with foil balls - similar to your stones :-)
    In the pics, I have the two sheets clipped together. One could try with just the sheet with holes on there with the holes up and see what difference it makes.
    Solid sheet was $0.88 - Sheet with holes was $2.88 <- Guess it costs a lot to punch holes
  • ScottG
    ScottG Administrator Posts: 5,674
    PXLated said:
    ScottG - I experimented first with foil balls - similar to your stones :-)
    In the pics, I have the two sheets clipped together. One could try with just the sheet with holes on there with the holes up and see what difference it makes.
    Solid sheet was $0.88 - Sheet with holes was $2.88 <- Guess it costs a lot to punch holes

    The temp in the Q only goes so low, so I'm guessing that your solid lower sheet probably goes a long way toward deflecting the heat from the flame/cast iron. Won't know for sure until we do some more testing, though. That's too bad, 'cause I sure hate having fresh baked goods in camp!  :-)

    On a related note, do you preheat the sheets or not?
    2015 T@B Max S (320)
    2015 Nissan Frontier SV V6 4x4
  • Photomom
    Photomom Member Posts: 2,217
    We have used an Outback Oven for baking for many years. It fits onto one burner of a camping or backpacking stove and could certainly be used on the propane stove in a T@B. It works well but doesn't brown the baked goods on top. I have mostly used it for quick breads. http://www.ems.com/backpackers-pantry-outback-oven/19847200012.html?emssrcid=PPC:gooPLAs:149599207965custom3normal&custom0&amp;adpos=1o1&amp;creative=78638080365&amp;device=c&amp;matchtype=&amp;network=g&amp;gclid=CM3ly4jWtskCFYIaHwoduZcEug

    The best thing is it requires very little fuel. We have a Coleman propane stove and I turn the burner down just about as low as it will go when using the Outback Oven.

    Pxlated's solution does look interesting though!
    John and Henrietta, Late 2016 T@B S Max in Western New York
  • Nomad
    Nomad Member Posts: 7,209
    Photomom - My method  with the Q does brown things.
    ScottG - Ya, the Q diesn't do real low temps. Most of my baking is 300-425. Seems to work fine in that range. Have to monitor for the low temps. Yes, I put the sheets in, fire the grill, bring it to temp and then put the food in.

    Baked Apples with brown sugar came out great last night.
  • Nomad
    Nomad Member Posts: 7,209
    Baked a casserole last night - Came out just like mom used to make. And since It was already pre-heated, thru on a couple of apples with brown sugar and carmel - Yummy.
    Takes awhile to get it up to temp - gonna try it with just the pan with the holes next time - but holds steady once there. The medium setting gave me a nice steady 375 degrees.
  • ScottG
    ScottG Administrator Posts: 5,674
    PKLated, how/where are you monitering the temp in your Q? I've used a digital stick thermometer stuck balanced on the side and hovering just above the baking sheet. Depending on conditions, the temp usually exceeds 400F even on low (though it can take a while to get there). I've considered installing a permanent thermometer in the lid, like larger grills have. Experience suggests that thermomenter position can make quite a difference in the reading.
    2015 T@B Max S (320)
    2015 Nissan Frontier SV V6 4x4
  • Nomad
    Nomad Member Posts: 7,209
    edited December 2015
    My Q has a thermometer built into the lid.


  • ScottG
    ScottG Administrator Posts: 5,674
    Ahh, you must have the bigger version. Mine is the Q100/Baby Q. No thermometer, but I think a modification is in order.
    2015 T@B Max S (320)
    2015 Nissan Frontier SV V6 4x4
  • Nomad
    Nomad Member Posts: 7,209
    edited December 2015
    Didn't know there were two sizes - Evidently I'd just seen the bigger ones in campgrounds & that's what the stores I visited had.
  • Nomad
    Nomad Member Posts: 7,209
    Tried baking cornbread muffins with just one sheet tonight - nope, need both to divert the heat. Little crusty on the bottoms :-(
  • ScottG
    ScottG Administrator Posts: 5,674
    Good to know--thanks for the update.

    Thermometer for the lid is on order. I'll have to measure for the pans, though; if you do have the larger Q that size may not quite fit on mine.
    2015 T@B Max S (320)
    2015 Nissan Frontier SV V6 4x4
  • Mr_Mrs_Gnome
    Mr_Mrs_Gnome Member Posts: 241
    Does anyone have a T on their T@B propane bottle and run a propane line to their outdoor gas grills?
    '17 Outback S - TV 2016 Chevy Colorado in "Colorful Colorado"
  • Nomad
    Nomad Member Posts: 7,209
    Don't have a T but am thinking of getting an adapter hose for my spare propane tank. See alot of them hooked up to 10lb tanks. Was in an Ace Hardware yesterday and they had one specifically for the Q.
    You can go through a lot of little Colman tanks when baking.
  • Verna
    Verna Member Posts: 6,876
    edited December 2015
    Looks good!  Now what site will you be at Lake Pleasant????
    Verna, Columbus, IN
    2021 T@B 320S  Boondock “The T@B”
    Towed by a white 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 Supercab, 3.5L V6 Ecoboost “The Truck”
  • Nomad
    Nomad Member Posts: 7,209
    Verna - Was asked (last summer) to give a photo seminar in Palo Alto. Told them to schedule it for Jan or Feb as I'd be relatively close, or a lot closer then I was then. Haven't heard which yet so my whereabouts has yet to be determined.
  • Ratkity
    Ratkity Member Posts: 3,770
    Dang PXL!! You are da Q chef! Those muffins look perfect, and meatloaf... well, I'm a sucker for meatloaf (it ranks right next to bacon).
    2017 820R Retro Toy Hauler from 2015 Tabitha T@B from 2009 Reverse LG Teardrop (but a T@Bluver at heart)
  • ScottG
    ScottG Administrator Posts: 5,674
    Oh la la! Nicely done!
    2015 T@B Max S (320)
    2015 Nissan Frontier SV V6 4x4
  • Nomad
    Nomad Member Posts: 7,209
    It's working out well :-)
    As I've mentioned, the only thing I've missed on the road has been an oven.
  • RollingLagrima
    RollingLagrima Member Posts: 435
    PXLated, how are you heating your leftovers? In the Q as well?
    Sally, "PlaT@Bus" 2016 T@B Sofitel Maxx-S (plata=silver; SP), previously Little Guy 2014 Silver Shadow LE, TV -- 2013 Chevy Avalanche + two hounds.
  • Nomad
    Nomad Member Posts: 7,209
    No - Pots or pans - Warmed up some meatloaf and rice hotdish tonight. Everything in the pan with just a dab of water for moisture and low heat. With the deflectors in the Q it takes some time to get up to temp so just use it for the original baking.

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