Orion Cooker

[Geezer]

Last year, at the recommendation of a good friend, I bought an Orion cooker. He was telling me about cooking great ribs, chicken, and butts in record times. Well, he was telling the truth. It will cook a rack of baby back ribs to falling off the bone tenderness in one hour and fifteen minutes. Yes 1 hour 15 minutes! Also, you can cook a whole chicken in the same time. The thing is practically fool proof, it's that easy.
I only used it a few times as I prefer using my Weber kettle grills. I like to cook sides and desserts, too, while I'm grilling the main dish. I do plan on using it again pretty soon on a brisket. We've been wanting brisket and I've never done one on the grill. I think I'll use the Orion for that. Here's a photo or two of it's maiden voyage when I did a couple of racks of ribs. They turned out excellent. My buddy said to leave the skin on the back side of the rack to hold them together, otherwise, they would fall apart.
I put two potatoes in there also to see how they turned out. The skin was blackened from the smoke but they were done and had a good flavor.

 

[Mike Overlay]

I have been looking hard into one of these since your post about them. I believe after christmas, I will be getting one

 

[CZfool68]

They are about the best value in lazy man cooking. We have one at a family vacation spot up in NY. We'll throw something in there, go cruise the lake for an hour or two, and come back to good food. It is a nice option to have in your grilling arsenal.

 

[STA]

I just sold one of these a couple of months ago. I used it 4 or 5 times and was never thrilled with anything I cooked in it except sausage. Everything seemed to have a metallic taste and did not cook according to advertised times. There are too many people who rave about these things for it to not be a great cooker. I just could not master it for some reason. I hope you will post your future cooks and maybe I can see the error of my ways. I already had a 22" Weber Kettle and after I sold the Orion, I bought a 14" Weber WSM smoker.

Looking forward to seeing your results.

 

[Snal~]

Got one last year...absolutely love it! We have done boston butts mostly, but did a turkey for thanksgiving, and another turkey for a family Christmas thing last week. No fuss...set it and forget it!
Oh...did a 12# ham for my son last week...best ham I ever tasted!

 

[wolfpack65]

Never heard of this, but will check them out since I do like to grill...

 

[Snal~]

Geezer....is that all the charcoal that you ever use? We've always filled ours to the brim. Maybe it depends on the amount of (?) being cooked?

 

[Geezer]

Just doing ribs, I didn't load it up. For a longer cook, butts, I fill it up.

 

[Bull Durham]

Looking good there hillbilly!

 

[Geezer]

These things recommend that you use Match Light charcoal. I have never been a fan of the stuff but it was what they suggested, so I used it. Their cooking times are figured from the time you strike the match. I have a little over a bag of Match Light left and when it's gone I'm just going to use a couple of chimneys of regular charcoal and keep an eye on the cook. I think I can get by without using Match Light.