How To Start A Big Green Egg – 3 Ways

BGE
by Chef Jason from 5280 Culinary

Establishing a solid fire is the key to running your Big Green Egg flawlessly.  Today, we walk you through three ways to get up and running with a well-established fire using some great options from Big Green Egg.

How To Start A Big Green Egg – 3 Ways

Chef Jason K. Morse, CEC  |  Ace Hardware Grill Expert  |  Owner, 5280 Culinary

 Step # 1

*Be sure your Big Green Egg is extinguished and cold for this step*

  • Stir the existing charcoal and let the ash settle into the fire pit
  • Remove the ash as needed using the ash tool and ash pan/shovel
  • Discard Ash into a metal bin

Step # 2

  • Add new BGE lump charcoal over the top of the burned charcoal
  • Add as much new charcoal as you need for your cooking project
  • Level out the lump charcoal
  • Open the Top and Bottom Vents prior to lighting

Step # 3

SpeediLight Cubes

  • Depending on size of Big Green Egg –
  • Add your SpeediLights Cubes to the charcoal
  • I push my cubes down into the lump before lighting
  • Light the Cubes and allow them to burn into the lump and establish the fire
  • Once a well burning ember pile is establish (8-10 minutes)​
  • Close the top and bottom vents and adjust to your desired cooking

Electric EGGniter

  • Make a small well in the center of the lump charcoal
  • Touch the end of the EGGniter to the lump charcoal
  • Push the trigger to HEAT and start to ignite the charcoal
  • Once you see sparks or popping sparks of charcoal, pull the EGGniter back about 2 inches
  • Push the EGGniter button to Fan and use the fan setting to start the fire and push the fire down into the charcoal
  • Listen for the jet sound, that’s the cue that you have ignited the charcoal and are driving the fire
  • Once a well burning ember pile is establish (4-5minutes)​
  • Close the top and bottom vents and adjust to your desired cooking

Butane EGGniter

  • Make a small well in the center of the lump charcoal
  • Turn over the EGGniter and fill with butane
  • When it’s full you will see some back spray come out of the filling port
  • Slide the Safety button and push forward on the red main button to ignite
  • One flame is started, place the EGGniter about 1” away from the charcoal
  • Once you see sparks or popping sparks of charcoal, pull the EGGniter back about 2 inches
  • Push backward on the EGGniter button to Fan and use the fan setting to start the fire and push the fire down into the charcoal
  • Listen for the jet sound, that’s the cue that you have ignited the charcoal and are driving the fire
  • Once a well burning ember pile is establish (4-5 minutes)​
  • Close the top and bottom vents and adjust to your desired cooking

Grills / Grill Gear Used

For more tips and advice, go to Tips.acehardware.com

Published: 5/5/2020