Basting Bullets

[Jack K]

Friends,

What is the purpose of "basting bullets"?

Thanks!

Jack

[Doug D.]

You'll need to explain further what you mean. That's not a common CI cooking term.

[Jack K]

I may have sorted it out; they're found on some self basting lids; when steam condenses, they help focus the water to form and drip in in focused patterns rather than trust radom chance - or something like that.

[Doug D.]

Basting elements, drippers, basting rings are more common terms. BSR used dimples for the same purpose, touting them as more sanitary. Wagner patented zig-zag concentric rings; Vollrath used its name embossed on the underside of the lid. But yes, all to the same end: condensation on the lid dripping more evenly over the cooking food and not all running to the sides or seeping out the lid joint.

[D_Madden]

I'm assuming that's an old lodge DO lid (high dome)... I'd kind of like to see the top side of that one... is it marked 'lodge' and have a raised size on top?

[Jack K]

With apologies, I don't know - I found these pics online when I googled "basting bullets", and there were no photographs of the top of the lids.