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Product Reviews and Meathead's Hot Stuff Awards

Hot Stuff AwardThe award medallion at right is given to products that are highly recommended, that I have tested personally or that have been tested by reliable sources. Awards are based on features, quality, and value. Rest assured that when I recommend a product, it is really because I like it, not because someone has paid me to say so or because the company is an advertiser or sponsor. I purchase most products I review although occasionally suppliers send me samples.

Manufacturers: Click here for permission to use this award medallion in ads and on packaging and info on how to get a high resolution version.

Shopping tip

When a product is available on Amazon.com, I often provide a direct link. Amazon.com often has the best prices anywhere, even better than many manufacturers' websites. That's because manufacturers know that if they undercut retailers, these important resellers may drop their products. In addition to low prices, Amazon.com offers fast delivery (often free), no sales tax (in most states), gift wrapping (on many items), and painless refund policies. Amazon's Gift & Wish Registry is a great way to drop not so subtle hints about what you'd love to get for Christmas, Mother's Day, Dad's Day, your wedding, housewarming, graduation, birthday or other event.

Full disclosure. Amazon.com pays me a small referral fee when you purchase from them after clicking on a link on this site, so purchasing from them helps underwrite the cost of operating AmazingRibs.com. If you like all the info I give you for free and would like to help me buy charcoal, copy the link below bookmark it. It takes you to Amazon.com and tags anything you buy with my code so I get that small referral fee. It works on anything from grills to diapers and it has zero impact on the price you pay. http://tinyurl.com/yazmwlq

Buying Guide, Reviews, and Ratings for Whole Hog Pig Roasters

If you want to roast a whole hog, you can fit small animals onto an offset firebox smoker such as the ones on the Charcoal Smoker page of this Buyer's Guide.

Of course if you have a Commercial Smoker or Mobile Smoker, you can roast a pretty good sized pig. There are also several companies making specialized whole pig roasters. Below are links to a few. For a good article on pig roasting, click here. Click here for another.


Click the red links for current pricing and more info.

cajun microwave barbecue pig

Cajun Microwave

The Cajun Microwave is a very cool tool, and very versatile. It can anlso be used as a grill, so I have written more about it on the Charcoal Grill Reviews page. Lime the La Caja Chine below, it cooks the hog in an enclosed box with heat from above producing very moist meat and crispy skin, but no smoke.


uni que pig roaster

Hot Design Rotisserie

A clever open air design with the coals in a tray that can be moved up and down on a scissor lift for temperature control. Made of stainless steel and aluminum, the scissor lift allows you to collapse it easily into a compact unit. It is powered by a 12 volt car battery with an inverter.


La Caja China Pig Roaster

La Caja China

Shown above, this is a metal lined plywood box in which you place a small, splayed pig. On goes the lid and the coals go on top of the lid turning the box into a hot oven. Cooks fast and maked very crispy skin but the meat does not get smoky or a grilled flavor. Perfect for backyard parties and luaus.


mcreynolds pig roaster

McReynolds Farms Motorized Spits

Simply a spit and motor mounted on a metal pan. What could be easier?


spitjack pigroaster

Spitjack

A heavy duty freestanding spit and motor with two tripods that can cook a pretty large beast in open air. They sell some nifty accessories too.

This page was revised 6/4/2010

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2) Please read this article about thermometers. Chances are your thermometer is the problem! I cannot help you troubleshoot unless you tell me that you are using a digital oven thermometer at meat level (not in the lid), and/or a digital meat thermometer. You simply cannot believe your grill's built-in bi-metal dial thermometer. They are often off by as much as 50°F!

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Barbecue Accessories


Important Info About This Website

AmazingRibs.com is all about the Zen of barbecue, grilling, and outdoor cooking, with great BBQ recipes and techniques: Barbecue baby back ribs, spareribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, steak, burgers, chicken, smoked turkey, lamb, barbecue sauces, rubs, and side dishes, with the net's best buying guide to barbecue smokers and grills. It is written, photographed, illustrated, and coded solely by Meathead.

My philosophy about food is simple. First of all it must taste great. It must be easy to make and emphasize fresh seasonal products with a minimum of processed ingredients. I think that people need to know why as well as how, and that there are no rules in the bedroom or dining room.

Barbecue Hot Stuff AwardsAbout Product Reviews and Meathead's Hot Stuff Awards. Meathead's Hot Stuff Awards are highly recommended products that I have tested personally or that have been tested by reliable sources. Awards are based on features, quality, and value. Rest assured that when I recommend a product, it is really because I like it, not because someone has paid me to say so or because the company is an advertiser or sponsor. I purchase most products I review although occasionally suppliers send me samples.

About links on this site. Other than clearly marked ads, links and recommendations on this site are all products, services, and websites I truly admire, and are never paid endorsements. Your suggestions are always welcome. If you would like me to link to your website, click here to read my links policy first. Advertising policy. I do not accept ads from products that I review such as grills, charcoal, etc. Click here for more on my advertising policy.

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Disclaimer. The information on this website is for educational purposes only. All material within comes without warranties of any kind. I am human, and capable of mistakes, so I make no guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness, or safety of the information. Under no circumstances am I liable for any damages that result from use of the site (so you can't sue me if you burn your tongue on hot ribs, or get a tummy ache, OK?).

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Meathead's Faves

Hot Stuff Barbecue AwardHere are great products that have earned Meathead's Hot Stuff Awards. These are not ads.

GrillGrates Take You To The Infrared Zone

GrillGrates are the best new product I have tested in years and the best thing to happen to beef since salt and pepper. The base superheats, eliminates hot spots, smokes, and blocks flareups. This is the concept behind the expensive new infrared grills. Click here for more about GrillGrates.

barbecue grill grates

The Smokenator:
A Necessity For Weber Kettles

If you have a Weber Kettle, you need the amazing Smokenator and Hovergrill. The Smokenator turns your grill into a first class smoker, and the Hovergrill can add capacity or be used to create steakhouse steaks. Click here to read more.

Weber Barbecue Smokenator


ThermoWorks Pocket Thermometer - No More Guessing

A good thermometer is why I never serve overcooked or undercooked food. No more guesswork. This one has a very thin tip with a tiny thermocouple so it gives an accurate reading in just six seconds. I cannot recommend it more highly. It will improve your cooking overnight. And it is inexpensive. Click here for more about thermometers.

barbecue thermometer


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