For this years UKBBQWEEK I decided yet again to try out another affordable BBQ.
I had a look in several stores and online and decided to purchase a Jumbuck Rondo Rotisserie from Homebase. They are usually on sale at £65.00 but I fell lucky and picked one up for the bargain price of £50.00 !!! I swiftly returned home and opened the box, nice easy to understand instructions, really easy to build.
So the hardware.
- Easy to build.
- Nice and solid when built.
- Very workable grilling area.
- Rotisserie motor is really quiet and powerful, with the added bonus of a balance weight.
- Could easily be popped in the boot of a car and taken on a picnic or camping trip, all you would require is a battery rotisserie motor.
- Superb value for money.
Right, all looking good,so how does it perform?
The first cook,
I marinaded overnight some boneless, skinless chicken thighs using the Tandoori Chicken recipe by Dan Toomes (@thecurryguy)
Amelia lit two Heat Beads firelighters and a chimney starter was placed on top filled with half a chimney of Heat Beads. Whilst the Heat Beads charcoal briquettes was coming up to temperature I threaded the chicken on to the rotisserie. I then placed the rotisserie on the Rondo without the motor and span it so it ran freely and let it settle, then place the weight on the opposite side and spin until balanced. I then dumped the coals on to the heat deflector and I used a foil tray to creat a two zone set up.
The skewer was placed on to the rotisserie and engaged into the motor, switched on the rotisserie and let it do its thing.
After 30 mins I realised that I didnt need the two zone set wasnt necessary, because it doesn’t have a lid the direct method works a treat. I tested the temperature using a thermapen until it read 74c in several locations, switched off the rotisserie and removed the chicken. I removed the skewer and the holding forks and placed on a plate and covered loosely and let rest.
Popped a flatbread on the Jumbucks grill and warmed through, popped on some of the chicken and voila.
Conclusion
The Jumbuck Rondo is and amazing priced piece of BBQ equipment, and the price point is a bargain I’d happily give it 8 out of 10, but if Jumbuck gave this little grill a lid it would be a 10 out of 10.
Just for clarity I purchased all of the equipment and the views are my own.