What To Know Before You Buy A Big Green Egg

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by The Helpful Hardware Folks

It's known as the ultimate cooking experience, a kamado style grill called The Big Green Egg. But what can you do with this grill? What makes it different then the rest? Watch as Chef Jason, Ace's Grilling Expert, tells you everything you need to know before buying a Big Green Egg.

Size Options

When it comes to the Big Green Egg, the question is what is the perfect size for me. Think about how many people you cook for now, and how many people you cook for when entertaining. I tend to get the grill that fits the amount I want when I'm entertaining, so a size up from what would feed my family.
  • The Extra Large is great for entertaining and you won't run out of room to do the entire meal on one grill
  • The Large is the most popular grill. It has enough room to grow and cook for the family
  • The Mini Max is perfect for on the go or camping and is a great addition to your Big Green Egg collection
  • There is also Mini, Medium, XX Large, to fit any kind of lifestyle

Grilling Gear

When it comes to Big Green Egg gear, this is what sets them apart. There are tons of options to cook almost anything on your grill, such as:
  • Wok
  • Skillets
  • Roasting pans
  • Pizza pans and peels
  • Chicken stands
Cooking tools go beyond pots and pans. There is smaller gear to help with the details, like:
  • Thermometers
  • Injectors
  • Table cloth weights
  • Ash shovels
  • And so much more!

Lighting The Egg

  • The best way to light the big green egg is with the EGGniter. There is a low speed with heat and a turbo fan to help get the fire going. It takes maybe 20 minutes form zero to 500 degrees with the EGGniter.
  • There are also SpeediLight charcoal starters that work great, taking about 30-35 minutes to go from 0 to 500.
  • Lump charcoal is great. big green egg has natural oak and hickory, adding great flavor. You can add in wood chips for an extra touch

EGGspander

The must have accessory is the EGGspander kit. This allows direct and indirect cooking and comes in multiple sizes for which ever egg you have. the shelf can slide for easy access and cooking on multiple levels.

Heat Control

  • Tons of opportunity for adjustment.
  • Air comes in through the bottom vent which is great for controlling larger adjustments in temperature
  • The top vent is where air leaves the egg and is perfect for making smaller temperature adjustments

Cook Temps

You can bake, braise, BBQ, grill, smoke and so much more with the big green egg, Follow these temperature suggestions for whatever grilling style you want:
  • 200 degree range is perfect for BBQing
  • 300-400 degree range, now you're starting to grill
  • 500-600 degree range, for getting a true steakhouse sear, hot and fast
  • 600-700 degree range is for all things pizza

First Cooks

  • Start with something easy like a whole roasted chicken
  • as you learn more about your grill, start getting into burgers and steaks.
  • start simple and then get into and let it become the bbq machine once you've gotten the hang of it

Stopping The Fire

  • Shut the top daisy wheel (the top vent) completely
  • Shut the bottom vent completely
  • This snuffs the fire, stopping air flow and oxygen that feeds the fire
  • Give the egg a long time to cool down, they are extremely insulated and take a while
For more helpful advice, visit a Neighborhood Ace or Ace Hardware's Tips & Advice online
Published on 3/16/2023

Always follow manufacturer's instructions before using any product.
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