Backyard Imu - Tiki Drinks and Food

LL Limbo Lizard Tiki Socialite Aboard the 'Leaky Tiki', Dallas Joined: Aug 24, 2006 Posts: 788	LL Limbo Lizard Posted posted on Sat, Jun 21, 2008 9:03 AM On 2008-06-21 00:30, bigbrotiki wrote: "Inside has a set of information on HOT ROCK CUISINE" Hot Rock Cuisine Step 1) Carefully wash 25 lbs. of choice rocks. Step 2) Boil rocks until tender, with salt and spices. Step 3) Serve over bed of steamed rice. Top with pineapple slices. Seriously, though... I believe the Hawaiian imu does typically have a bunch of dense stones under the fire, to hold and re-radiate the heat. MadDogMike, if you had a third basket, you could fill it with some appropriate type of rocks, and lower it on top of the fire, as soon as it burns down enough. After a while, lift out the hot rock basket, then the fire basket. Put the rocks back in, and the meat on top. I know, too much unnecessary trouble, 1500° embers, etc. The concrete pipe does the job of holding heat, but you can't (or, shouldn't) heat it too hot, or it will pop and chip and flake, or just crack. That's because water is part of the structure of concrete; it's trapped in an almost crystalline structure with the cement. High heat drives it out, causing some decomposition of the concrete - sometimes almost explosively. The concrete pipe, with those baskets, is so nifty a method, though, that it's worth it, even if it "burns out" after several years. But you wouldn't want concrete over the fire, where it would get the full intensity. Now, if you wanted to build one that could get extremely hot: Build the structure with firebrick (like in a fireplace), backed by 8 inches of regular brick, on a concrete-slab floor. Cover the floor with loose firebrick, close together, with sand filling the gaps. Put a 4" clay pipe leading from the bottom of the pit to the surface, to draw air in under the fire. Now, if you used forced air, like from the output of a big shop-vac, you'd have one fiery furnace, indeed (point your hairdryer at charcoal grill or chiminea fire for a minute, and you'll get the picture). Ahh, just imagining it thrills my pyromaniac heart! It'd be like a roaring blacksmith's forge - you'd have the walls glowing a dull orange. You could work on wrought iron tiki art, while waiting for it to be ready for the meat. [ Edited by: Limbo Lizard 2008-06-21 09:18 ]

On 2008-06-21 00:30, bigbrotiki wrote:
"Inside has a set of information on HOT ROCK CUISINE"

Hot Rock Cuisine
Step 1) Carefully wash 25 lbs. of choice rocks.
Step 2) Boil rocks until tender, with salt and spices.
Step 3) Serve over bed of steamed rice. Top with pineapple slices.

Seriously, though...
I believe the Hawaiian imu does typically have a bunch of dense stones under the fire, to hold and re-radiate the heat.
MadDogMike, if you had a third basket, you could fill it with some appropriate type of rocks, and lower it on top of the fire, as soon as it burns down enough. After a while, lift out the hot rock basket, then the fire basket. Put the rocks back in, and the meat on top. I know, too much unnecessary trouble, 1500° embers, etc.

The concrete pipe does the job of holding heat, but you can't (or, shouldn't) heat it too hot, or it will pop and chip and flake, or just crack. That's because water is part of the structure of concrete; it's trapped in an almost crystalline structure with the cement. High heat drives it out, causing some decomposition of the concrete - sometimes almost explosively. The concrete pipe, with those baskets, is so nifty a method, though, that it's worth it, even if it "burns out" after several years. But you wouldn't want concrete over the fire, where it would get the full intensity.

Now, if you wanted to build one that could get extremely hot:
Build the structure with firebrick (like in a fireplace), backed by 8 inches of regular brick, on a concrete-slab floor. Cover the floor with loose firebrick, close together, with sand filling the gaps. Put a 4" clay pipe leading from the bottom of the pit to the surface, to draw air in under the fire. Now, if you used forced air, like from the output of a big shop-vac, you'd have one fiery furnace, indeed (point your hairdryer at charcoal grill or chiminea fire for a minute, and you'll get the picture). Ahh, just imagining it thrills my pyromaniac heart! It'd be like a roaring blacksmith's forge - you'd have the walls glowing a dull orange. You could work on wrought iron tiki art, while waiting for it to be ready for the meat.

[ Edited by: Limbo Lizard 2008-06-21 09:18 ]

Post #388516 by Limbo Lizard on Sat, Jun 21, 2008 9:03 AM