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RE: PORTABLE movie projectors. Using a white sheet works almost as well as a screen. —Margie Scott, via Facebook EDITOR’S NOTE Absolutely! The key to using a sheet is to pull it tight. But it also helps if you iron it first with heavy starch. Then, if you’re attaching the sheet to a wall, try using heavy doublestick tape around the edges to get it as flat as possible. Or, if you’re handy, you can DIY your own makeshift screen frame for the sheet: CR technology editor James Willcox built a frame, then stapled the sheet to the frame with an industrial-grade stapler, stretching the sheet as tight as possible. Then he clamped the frame to a deck railing and was ready for showtime.
FOR MANY YEARS, I would make my own pizza crust on a charcoal grill (can be done easily on gas, too). Lay it down on a heated charcoal grill grate, browning slightly on one side, turn it over and grill a slight bit darker on the other side. Bring inside and place olive oil, sauce, toppings, plus cheese(s) on the slightly darker side. (Prepare your toppings beforehand.) Then slide the crust with toppings onto the hot grill, lower the hood, and watch closely until nicely browned ... Voila! Perfect grilled pizza while camping and no need for other
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CR.ORG AUGUST 2021
costly equipment. I’ve done this on a little 12-inch kettle-type grill and our 22-inch charcoal grills! Tastes just perfect. —Darlene Raunio, via Facebook THE BEST WAY to cook veggies is not on a charcoal grill but on an electric one, if you must. But I prefer steamed or wokked veggies—good for you and delicious! —Bejot Cat, via Facebook WE LOVE our combo gas/ charcoal Weber grill. No fluid needed, real charcoal taste, super-easy to start. —William Roman, via Facebook HOW DO YOU add coals easily to the Kamado Joe grill? —Russell Toon, via Facebook
EDITOR’S NOTE If you need to add charcoal coals to your Kamado Joe while you’re already cooking, it is indeed tricky— because you’ll need to remove hot racks. In our tests of the Kamado Joe, which has two halfgrates, we added charcoal by moving our food to one half, then removing the other half of the grate with mitts to add the coal. We then replaced the grate and moved the food back to continue cooking. We took this process into account in our convenience score—though it was still easier than adding coals on some other kamado-style grills we’ve tested. To avoid adding coals while cooking, fill your Kamado Joe to capacity—it should hold enough charcoal to cook for 12 hours or so without needing more.
TIRE REPAIRS
YOUR JUNE 2021 ARTICLE “Can Tire Sealants Really Fix a Flat?” raised a question. My 2010 Toyota Prius is not unusual in having a tire-pressure warning in the dash display. This suggests that there are pressure sensors in the wheels. Will sealants damage those sensors, or require they receive special treatment while the tire is off for permanent repair or replacement to ensure accuracy and reliability for future use? —Norman Birnbaum, Indianapolis EDITOR’S NOTE Most tire sealant products, including those we reviewed, are claimed to be safe for tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS). That said, sealants work by coating the inside of the tire and wheel with a messy residue that can potentially gum up the TPMS, risking erroneous readings. So
ICONS: ELIAS STEIN
Our June cover story, “CR’s Great Outdoors Guide,” offered smart ideas and products for making the most of your summer. Here, readers discuss the best grilling techniques and DIY backyard movie night setups. To add your voice to the discussion, go to CR.org/outside0821.
