Ecoque / Pyromid Cooker

[mojofilter]

Following on from this thread, I promised to post up some thoughts on the Ecoque cooker, which is effectively a rebirth of the long unavailable Pyromid. Not so much a review as more just a series of pix showing how it works, so here goes.

Firstly, the component parts.




Start off by extending the legs on the base, this ensures it is safe to use on a any surface without any danger of heat damage, then slot in the bottom pyramid section.




Then sit on the upper pyramid.




Next you sit in the lower fire grate. There are 3 heat setting options, for the lowest setting, you would place the charcoal briquettes on this grate, for the two higher settings this acts simply as a platform for the fire lighters.




Next you slot in the upper grate, this is quite cleverly slotted to hold the charcoal in a couple of different configurations to give more or less heat out. Only 9 briquettes are required for operation, for the middle heat option, you simply lay the briquettes on their side in 3 rows of 3, but cleverly, the slots allow you to stand the coal on end in a diamond shape to yield maximum heat.




Here is the grate loaded up for max heat.




A few small chunks of firelighter are all that's needed.







Then place the charcoal on top.




Followed by the lid section, but keeping the flaps opened to encourage maximum chimney effect to get the fire burning.




After about ten to fifteen minutes, the charcoal is almost ready to cook on, on this occasion I wasn't cooking anything as I'd already had a curry, just out cutting the grass. I neglected to get a picture with the cooking grill in place, but it doesn't take much imagination to imagine how it looks, I'll sort that tomorrow.




At this stage the heat is really strong, and would be ideal for steaks or decent burgers or similar, but probably a bit much for the likes of chicken breasts or drummers etc.

I left the Ecoque with the lid flaps opened and went about my business for a while, and went back to check on it an hour after lighting. It was still burning well and the coals had a good thick coating of ash, still plenty of cooking heat, although the viciousness of earlier was gone.




A couple of sharp taps on the side of the bbq displaced the ash residue and although the size of the coals were diminished, the heat picked back up some more.




I again got about what I was doing and checked back in another hour, by now the coals were still burning, but I'd say that the heat was now only enough to keep food warm rather than cook, but that surely isn't bad for 9 bricks after 2 hours?

[pippyd]

Never seen one before.. That looks really useful.

The slots for charcoal bricks is really clever, especially being able to run with them on their sides. How much longer do you think it would have run in the other configuration?

I guess that tool on the bench is to lift the lid? Does the lid increase the chimney effect a lot?
What does it look like packed down and are the widely available?

Cheers. Phil

[Mr Happymoose]

I know it appears to be designed for charcoal briquettes, but any reason why you couldn't burn wood in this if you were worried about having a fire damage the ground?

[fishman307]

As you say very subtle difference in Pyromid, Yours has a folded edge on super heat grill and food grill, Otherwise near as dam same, Funnily enough i have never used the super heat grate in mine, I have always found the bottom grate (if it had not gone awol) to be spot on for whatever food i cook, I used it with briquets on their edge, if i remember rightly it takes twelve,

[mojofilter]

Never seen one before.. That looks really useful.

The slots for charcoal bricks is really clever, especially being able to run with them on their sides. How much longer do you think it would have run in the other configuration?

I guess that tool on the bench is to lift the lid? Does the lid increase the chimney effect a lot?
What does it look like packed down and are the widely available?

Cheers. Phil

I honestly don't know if the runtime would be much better, although I would expect it would be a bit, I'll test it that way next time.

The tool lifts the lid and the grill section, I think the lid with the flaps open does seem to increase the draw by a bit, hard to say as that's only the second time I've lit it. It packs down into a bag a foot square by about an inch and a half deep, or it did when it arrived, I've not worked out how to get it packed that thin again yet, should have paid more attention when ripping it open in my excitement!

http://www.bushgear.co.uk/index.php?...hk=1&Itemid=64

[mojofilter]

I know it appears to be designed for charcoal briquettes, but any reason why you couldn't burn wood in this if you were worried about having a fire damage the ground?

No reason that I can see at all.

[fishman307]

Right i will try my best here, Generation game springs to mind, Fold the bottom barby bit flat, fold the top barby bit flat, (not the food cover top) These two fit into the storage tray/leg base, with the narrow ends facing each other, The two small grates then fit in here side by side, The barby lid/food cover then folds flat and sits on top of the lot, The food grill then slides into the tray covering then all up and fastening them in, Forgot but handle goes in the middle somewhere, Hope this makes sense.

[fishman307]

Just a Quick addition to this is that I had no liners left for my Pyromid and was missing a handle, After contacting Gavin http://www.bushgear.co.uk/ Not only was he super helpfull he also supplied me a new handle and a pack of liners, He also stocks the new EcoQue complete cooker in either 15" or 12" so anyone thinking about it just get buying! Brilliant Cooker, Brilliant company, Highly recommended. Dont think you will find them anywhere else, So THANKS to all for your help!