DIY concrete barbecue
One of the simplest and best ways to cook meat is to use B-B-Q. You don't have to go to the store to buy a stove. You can make it yourself from concrete. You need to make sure you have the necessary materials and carefully study the instructions.
The content of the article
Features of the design of the barbecue roaster
One of the key differences between a barbecue and another outdoor cooking structure, a barbecue, is the lower temperature. In addition, the processing of products with smoke varies in the duration of the process. The temperature in the barbecue does not exceed 95 degrees. And cooking takes at least 3 hours.
The design ensures constant circulation of smoke. Thanks to these features, products are subjected to complex chemical processes that contribute to the formation of a specific taste and smell, which is why a crust appears on the meat, as well as a smoke ring.
The latter is associated with carbon monoxide formed due to incomplete oxidation of carbon. A reaction occurs with meat proteins, which gives the product a characteristic, rich red hue. It can be observed on the surface and at a depth of 10 mm.
From the features of the grill it follows that a standard roaster cannot provide the necessary conditions for obtaining such meat. It will not be possible to remake the design.It is recommended to build a barbecue from scratch.
Choosing a location for installation
To successfully complete the work, it is necessary to prepare the materials that will be required in the process of creating the structure and make a plan indicating all the dimensions and features of the furnace. But this is not where the construction of a barbecue begins - It is important to choose a suitable location for its installation.
It is necessary to remember safety rules when choosing a location. If the desired area does not meet fire conditions, it is carefully prepared or another one is selected.
There should be no wooden or household buildings near the barbecue. It is recommended to place the structure further from the garden and playground. The desired distance from the house is about 5–6 m. This is due to the fact that a lot of smoke is generated during cooking.
The chosen location should be comfortable. The prevailing direction of the wind should be taken into account so that the smoke is not directed towards residential buildings. The building should be combined with the overall landscape, and not stand out from it. Since people will constantly approach the structure, it is better to cover this area with paving slabs.
You should also not place a barbecue close to a wall or fence. The surface will quickly become covered with soot, which will be almost impossible to get rid of.
Choosing BBQ Material
When a suitable location has been selected, they begin to develop the building itself. You need to decide on the size and features. Based on the data obtained, a drawing is made of what the barbecue will approximately look like, indicating its dimensions.
It is recommended to take into account the specific method of constructing a concrete structure. The pouring method is costly.It is distinguished by a large volume of work and impressive technological endurance.
A common method is to use cinder blocks to build a prefabricated structure. The work is quite fast. It only takes a few hours to build a barbecue. The main thing is to correctly calculate the number of cinder blocks.
What is needed to make a barbecue
The next stage of work is to prepare everything that is needed for the construction. In addition to cinder blocks, you need sand, gravel and brick. Cement, red clay and reinforcement are also prepared. In addition to materials, you will need tools to complete the work. Among them are screws and nails, a hammer, and a grinder. To make the structure level, use a level. Additionally, prepare a construction mixer.
Don't forget about safety. Therefore, various protective elements are used, including glasses and gloves. When the design is ready, it is supplemented with several oven racks.
Standard cinder blocks are suitable; their hollowness should be 40%. This will prevent the building from overheating. Purchased reinforcement is pre-cut into 1 meter pieces. If you plan to build a roof, then double sheet steel is suitable for it.
Sequence of work
The construction of a concrete barbecue consists of the following steps:
- A hole no deeper than 15 cm is dug in the selected area. A mixture of sand and gravel is placed into the resulting depression, leveled, and compacted. Then everything is covered with several bags of clay. The result is a flat area.
- Start assembling the structure. 5 cinder blocks are installed on the long side, and half as many on the short side, that is, 2.5 pieces. It is convenient to use a grinder for cutting.One of the blocks in the bottom row must be placed so that there is sufficient air passage through the holes. During operation, voids can be closed if necessary.
- The second tier is laid in a similar way, but offset by half the block. When this row is ready, reinforcement is placed on it. Mentally, the structure is divided into 2 unequal zones, where a third will go to the combustion part of the barbecue, and the rest will be the main building. Reinforcement in the amount of 5 rods is laid maintaining a distance of 25 cm.
- Collect subsequent rows. There will be 4 of them in total.
- When all tiers are installed, it is necessary to cover the firebox with clay. An additional block row is constructed between the compartments.
- Above the firewood compartment, 2 reinforcement rods are installed. This will add some barbecue functions to the barbecue.
The work is quite simple. It is only important to choose the right place wisely. If all the nuances are taken into account, then literally after a few hours it will be possible to obtain a simple and strong structure from concrete blocks for cooking.
For an option on how to build a stove from concrete blocks, see the video.
