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THE EVOLUTION OF PORTABLE OUTDOOR COOKING
To start, make sure both the gas cylinder and control knobs are in the off position. Take care there is enough
gas in the cylinder to run the barbecue on high for at least 8 minutes (if the cylinder is getting low, the reduced
pressure will cause the flames to be of a reduced size, which will adversely effect the charcoal ignition – change
the gas cylinder before starting). Remove the open grill and check that the charcoal support rack is in its correct
position (just above the gas burner, with the loading zone biased towards the left hand side). With the appliance
still cold, place the charcoal briquettes (or other solid fuel) neatly within the loading zone. The optimum method
is to place the charcoal briquettes in four rows of 6 or 7 briquettes. This places each briquette over one of the
rows of burner ports (and in turn the gas flames) for the fastest possible ignition time. Once the solid fuel is in
position, replace the open grill and follow the procedure for gas lighting the barbecue (see the gas lighting
procedure section). Do not overfill the loading zone by layering solid fuel up over the first layer. This smothers
the flames and reduces the effectiveness of the gas burner in lighting the solid fuel, as well as creates more
carbon monoxide.
Once the gas has ignited, start a timer for 8 minutes. Do not leave the barbecue unattended during this time.
After 8 minutes has elapsed, turn off the control knob and turn off the gas at the cylinder. The charcoal
briquettes would have started to smoulder or burn on the bottom edges. Leave the charcoal to smoulder (ash)
for another 7-10 minutes, at which point the barbecue will be hot enough to cook on. Depending on the solid
fuel used, cooking before the solid fuel has completely ignited can add a slightly burned flavour to the food. Do
not be tempted to try and hurry this process along at any point by reigniting the gas. After the solid has reached
a certain point in its ignition process, the flames need oxygen to work efficiently – running the gas burner at the
same time starves the flames you want to propagate on the solid fuel, slowing the ignition process, as well as
creating more carbon monoxide. Let the charcoal burning progress naturally, and use the time to prepare the
food for cooking.
NOTE: Full ignition and cooking times will vary with the types of solid fuels used and the ambient temperature
and weather conditions at the time of cooking.
MANUAL IGNITION
A match holder is attached to the barbecue at the rear of the left hand size. Take out the charcoal briquette
from the rear left hand corner of the loading zone of the charcoal support bracket. Turn on the gas, lift up the
left hand side of the open grill and light the rear left hand corner of the burner with a lit match in the match
holder.
For more detailed information on the operation of your appliance, log onto www.everdure.com.
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