Baking With The Q

Nomad

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.

Nomad

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

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

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. 

Nomad

Verna - Walmart's usually my last choice for groceries also but both Smiths and Safeway let me down.

Verna

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. 

Nomad

In a lot of areas I've been, Safeway's the only choice - Other than Walmart

Wanderoo

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!

Nomad

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

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! 

Nomad

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

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?

Photomom

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!

Nomad

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

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

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.

Nomad

My Q has a thermometer built into the lid.

ScottG

Ahh, you must have the bigger version. Mine is the Q100/Baby Q. No thermometer, but I think a modification is in order.

Nomad

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

Tried baking cornbread muffins with just one sheet tonight - nope, need both to divert the heat. Little crusty on the bottoms :-(

ScottG

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.

Mr_Mrs_Gnome

Does anyone have a T on their T@B propane bottle and run a propane line to their outdoor gas grills?

Nomad

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.

Nomad

Got the adapter so decided to make it a baking day...Hotdishes, Meatloaf, Muffins...






Burp!

Verna

Looks good!  Now what site will you be at Lake Pleasant????

Nomad

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

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).

ScottG

Oh la la! Nicely done!

Nomad

It's working out well :-)
As I've mentioned, the only thing I've missed on the road has been an oven.

RollingLagrima

PXLated, how are you heating your leftovers? In the Q as well?

Nomad

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.