AUSTRALIA'S ORIGINAL AND BEST CAMP OVEN AND OUTDOOR COOKING AND CAMPING FORUM

Oct 15^th, 2010 at 1:35pm

arrow83 Offline
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tried cooking a roast using normal heat beads eg (not the easy lite ones). I filled my heat beads bbq starter 2 the brim and lit them using firelighters underneath as per instructions. After about 35 mins all briquettes were ashed over. I put 14 on top and 10 underneath using a trivet in an old frying pan so the co was not directly on the beads. after preheating the oven i put my roast in. After about an hour all the heat beads had lost all heat and some on the bottom had gone out completely had too finish cooking on the bbq. I did not have this trouble with the easy lite beads they burned quicker but seam 2 produce more heat. Not sure what i am doing wrong Undecided

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Reply #1 - Oct 15^th, 2010 at 2:32pm

Robbo Offline
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This has been discussed before here Arrow.
Storage of your beads when not using is important. I use a sealed plastic tomato bucket to keep out any moisture.
As long as your using "Heat Bead" brand beads, it sounds like you are doing the right thing. The cheapies just don't last the distance.
I also generally light more than I need and leave some in the chimney and fill it up again to get another batch cranking in case of burnouts or to add more heat to the top to brown veges in later stages of cooking.
Don't give up, you'll work it out.

Robbo

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May the roof over your head be always strong.
And may you be in heaven
half an hour before the devil knows you're dead.

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Reply #2 - Oct 15^th, 2010 at 2:49pm

rat3het Offline
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One difference can be with the cheaper heat beads are that

they are smaller

and even though you add the same weight

they do not have the same heat and do not last as long

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Reply #3 - Oct 15^th, 2010 at 3:00pm

arrow83 Offline
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I only use the heatbeads brand have only used the easy lite ones before first time using the normal ones was really disaponted at heat output

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Reply #4 - Oct 15^th, 2010 at 8:48pm

Rufzgutz Offline
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I thought that I had lost my "heatbead mojo" a couple of weeks a go until I read this post.

I have been cooking over coals and flames lately, but
had a few to cater for, so went for the "Safety" of a choofer using heatbeads.

identical to what you have written arrow83. i used a fresh 4kg bag of "heatbeads" brand and was very surprised that I had to transfer the camp oven to my outdoor fire-place where my veggies and apple pie and scones were cooking.

I have used heatbeads succesfully many times before, but this batch was a dud ????

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Reply #5 - Oct 15^th, 2010 at 9:14pm

Saltbush Bill Offline
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.Robbo wrote on Oct 15^th, 2010 at 2:32pm:

I also generally light more than I need and leave some in the chimney and fill it up again to get another batch cranking in case of burnouts or to add more heat to the top to brown veges in later stages of cooking.
Don't give up, you'll work it out.

I think Robbo has covered some of what I was going to say with the above.
The more I use heat beads the more I wonder about them. 99 % of the time my results are good but on occassion I have had problems. Ive never noticed a difference in heat output between self lighting ones and the standard type. I have also wondered at times if humidity and or moisture play a part in how well and how long they burn, Ive had them go out well before things have cooked.......but usually only on the lid.....never the bottom. What made me think even more was something that happened the other day. I had a very damp bag of heat beads....been sitting on my verandah for a month...been raining here non stop for at least 3 weeks and was still pi88ing down. I wanted to cook silverside the PD way. My first thought was that the heat beads would definatly give me trouble...so I lit twice as many as normaly needed as back up. The wierd bit is.......those bloody heat beads never looked like going out.....the ones on the lid burnt down to the size of a green pea and were still going. Ive never had them burn that well. (I was so supprised I thought of taking a photo at the time Grin

)
Sorry if Ive shot your moisture theory down Robbo and I would have said the same thing as you until a few days ago. Im still scratching my head.
If someone has the answers Im happy to listen.
SBB

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Reply #6 - Oct 15^th, 2010 at 9:52pm

Robbo Offline
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Saltbush Bill wrote on Oct 15^th, 2010 at 9:14pm:

Sorry if Ive shot your moisture theory down Robbo

Yeah, buggered if I know Rory.
I've never had any dramas with heat beads except for the cheapo ones. I've never had them burn down as small as you're talking about though.......may have to start soaking them before using them. Wink

Robbo

May your glass be ever full.
May the roof over your head be always strong.
And may you be in heaven
half an hour before the devil knows you're dead.

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Reply #7 - Oct 15^th, 2010 at 9:53pm

Derek Offline
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This is an interesting subject. Never have had a problem myself but know others have.

I have taken it up with Heat Beads and they are perplexed as well.

Heat Beads are committed to giving us a quality product and are interested in finding a solution.

Would really appreciate it if those who have a problem could contact Heat Beads and let them know. You can do it on this page. http://www.heatbeads.com.au/contact.html ; Check out the right hand side. They will arrange to collect the dead batch of Heat Beads and test them to find the problem.

Cheers

Derek

Retired
Camp Oven Cook

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Reply #8 - Oct 15^th, 2010 at 10:06pm

Saltbush Bill Offline
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Derek if you can convince them to send me half a dozen free bags Ill conduct some tests Grin

SBB

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Reply #9 - Oct 15^th, 2010 at 10:46pm

Rufzgutz Offline
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I still have my bag of unused heatbeads Derek.

I will have another go with them tomorrow to see if I was dreaming.

will still have enough for analysis if same problem exists.

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