Half Stone
Half Stone Set-Ups on the Large Adjustable Rig
8"x16" Half Ceramic Stone
Our 8"x16" Ceramic Half Stone creates two cooking zones. The first zone is direct where the heat comes directly from the lump. The second zone is over the Half Stone, so the heat is indirect, coming from above or the side. Let's look at four possible set-ups.
The first set-up positions the 8"x16" Half Stone at Level 4.5 along the backside of the Rig. With the Rig Half Stone, we include an extra long Crossbar and two hooks. The long Crossbar & hooks hang from the Rig's upper ring. The hooks fit between the grid's crosswires. All you need to add is a Rig Crossbar on the back brackets at Level 4.5 and, then set the stone on the two Crossbars. You can use a full or half grid above the Half Stone. Pictured below is the 9"x18" Stainless Half Grid over the hanging 8"x16" Half Stone.
The second set-up, pictured below left, uses both Rig Crossbars to hold the Half Stone. Simply, set the Crossbars at the desired Rig Level and place the Half Stone on the Crossbars. The only restriction to this set-up is the Half Stone must set front to back on the Crossbars. The third set-up, pictured below right, adds a grid to the Rig Crossbar set up. Having a grid under the Half Stone provides 360° stone placement and depending on placement a second grilling level.
The fourth set-up is a combination of the hanging hooks and two grids. With this set-up, the Half Stone hangs from Level 4.5 and the second grid is below the Stone, on Level 1.5 or 3.0. You'll need to order a second set of Crossbars or Slide Guide to complete this set-up. Like option three, the set-up provides two half grid cooking surfaces. This is the set-up pictured below, brat and chicken cook.
The best thing to recognize with the Half Stone is you have options. We played with the spatchcock chicken and brat cook pictured below to show some of the flexibility. The 8"x16" stone size is a perfect fit inside the Rig.
The left picture below shows the full 18" grid over the hanging Half Stone. The brats are grilling direct and the chicken is 1/2 direct & 1/2 indirect: white meat is over the stone. In the picture below right, we switched to two grids: 9"x18" Half grid atop the Rig and Oval Grid on Level 3.0. Here the brats are closer to the lump for higher direct heat and the entire chicken is now indirect on the upper Half Grid.
Below left we switched the brats and chicken positions and flipped the chicken to render and crisp the skin. Below right, we went back to the full 18" grid with the chicken's breast end cooking directly over the lump. The breast needed a couple more minutes to finish to 160° F internal while the rest of the food was done. The foil pouch has onions for the brats. We foiled the Half Stone just to keep the drippings off it.
During the chicken and brat cook, the only equipment we changed was the top grid: 18" large or 9"x18' Half grid. The balance of the equipment, Rig, Half Stone and lower grid were set-up prior to starting the cook. With the food, all we did was move it around to get the desired results.
The best thing to remember about the Half Stone & Half Grid combo is with an extra set of Crossbars or Slide Guide; you have plenty of options on how to configure the pieces.