I'm thinking about building a cajun microwave as an alternative to smoking/grilling and for Buckeye tailgates next season. Has anyone here every used or built one?
If you're not familiar here's a fancy one. Basically the outside is a cedar (typically) box with the inside lined in aluminum or stainless steel. The top features a steel tray where you put the coal/wood. The heat raidiates into the box where it slow roasts anything from whole hogs (on the bigger units) to basically anything you cook in an oven. I'd build one about this size for things like pork shoulders, turkeys, briskets, etc. It will cook much faster than a smoker (eg a whole hog can be done in 4-6 hours because the heat reflects from all sides). The skin will be crisper and the inside generally more moist.
You can also add a grill grate above the coals for cooking on direct heat like any other type of grill.
Here's one that's more of a home made version:
If you're not familiar here's a fancy one. Basically the outside is a cedar (typically) box with the inside lined in aluminum or stainless steel. The top features a steel tray where you put the coal/wood. The heat raidiates into the box where it slow roasts anything from whole hogs (on the bigger units) to basically anything you cook in an oven. I'd build one about this size for things like pork shoulders, turkeys, briskets, etc. It will cook much faster than a smoker (eg a whole hog can be done in 4-6 hours because the heat reflects from all sides). The skin will be crisper and the inside generally more moist.
You can also add a grill grate above the coals for cooking on direct heat like any other type of grill.
Here's one that's more of a home made version:
