Caja China Style vs. Open Fire Pit Cooking
When talking about a spit, most people are talking about rotisserie style cooking. Cooking a whole hog rotisserie style is something that can take between 8-10 hours or more. A pig rotisserie also usually requires someone to turn the spit regularly to make sure that the whole pig is cooking evenly. Neither of these is true when using a caja china style roasting box (or cajun microwave for our friends in Louisiana.) One of the biggest advantages of using La Caja Asadora pig roasters is that you will save 25-40% of the time you would spend cooking a hog rotisserie style. For example, a 50 lb. whole pig roast will take about 4 hours rather than 6-8. Cooking in a La Caja Asadora or La Caja China box is also more efficient, using just 2-3 bags of charcoal rather than ½ chord of wood for in-ground rotisserie spit methods. Also, caja chinas (Cajun microwaves) are compact, self-contained units that can be used in the city, the suburbs, or out in the country just like any other barbecue pit. There is no need to dig a hole, buy bricks, or anything else required for a whole pig rotisserie.
One of the most underrated advantages of the caja china style la caja asadora roasters that there is no need to worry about bad weather! Caja china grills come with wheels and long handles for easy portability, and can easily be moved into a covered area. Now as important as all those things are, here’s the one that matters the most…the taste. Because these pig roasters function in many respects like a huge pressure cooker, the pork (or other meat) comes out incredibly moist, juicy, and savory. The open spit rotisserie method often leaves the meat dry and tough.
In addition to the flavor of the meat inside the box, a Caja China pig roaster also has accessories that will allow you to grill on top of the box while roasting inside it. The top grill accessory can be used to prepare burgers, hot dogs, chicken, skewers, or just about any other item you can fit on the grill. In my experience, the china box itself is a guaranteed conversation piece at every party and event. A group will inevitably gather around the hog cooker, usually marveling at the smell of what’s coming out of the box!
Sure seems like a lot of work for the same result. If you like diggin’ holes, okay…if you love slow roast pig, go with a Caja China!
– Perry
Perry P. Perkins
Author
La Caja China Cooking
La Caja China World
Perry P Perkins said this on June 15, 2011 at 3:41 am |
There’s a man who knows what he’s talkin’ about! Great work on the Cookbook by the way! You keep printing ’em, we’ll keep ordering ’em!
mmasters305 said this on June 15, 2011 at 4:27 pm |
There’s just no comparison in our book. And I know I’m preaching to the choir on that! Congratulations on the new book, “La Caja China World” by the way. We look forward to digging into it, and are sure we’ll have plenty of customers asking for it as well!
mmasters305 said this on July 28, 2011 at 4:27 pm |