Quick tips for Egg owners

I know a lot of people have gotten a new BGE for Christmas and there might be some questions.  The DVD that comes with the Egg is helpful and can answer some of the questions you might have.  However, I would like to go over a couple basics with you.

Lighting your Big Green Egg

1-      The first time you use your Egg fill the entire firebox up with lump charcoal.  You want a nice large bed of lump all the way to the bottom of the fire ring. 

2-      Remove the Damper top and open the Draft door completely (Slide vent door in pic)

3-      Take a fire starter stick and break it in half. 

4-      On the top of your bed of charcoal create a small troth.  Light the ½ starter stick on both ends and place in troth.  Cover the fire starter stick with a couple pieces of lump coal.

5-      Close lid of Egg.

Setting the temperature of the BGE

This is where the lighting process varies from your traditional charcoal grills.  Watch the temperature gauge on the BGE.  When you are about 10 degrees away from your desired temperature put the Damper top back on top make sure the daisy wheel is open and close the bottom draft door partially down.  The more you close it the less air gets to the fire thus leaving you with a cooler temp.  On average if you wanted to cook at 350 you would close the draft door a little more than half way.  If the temp gauge starts to drop or the temp doesn’t go up to where you were trying to set it, open it a little more.  It is important to try to stop it from getting much hotter then you wanted originally because it can take a while to get it cooled back down.  Also it is not advised to get the whole bed of charcoal going and then damper it down because at that point you are going to be too hot and it is better to shut the Egg down and start over.  Plus this wastes a lot of Coal.

Shutting down the grill

This is the simple part.  Close the daisy wheel and shut the bottom draft door completely.  This starves the fire of oxygen and snuffs out the fire.  It takes about 30-45 minutes to cool the Egg down to a safe temp to put a cover on it.

Cleaning and relighting the grill

1-      Remove the cooking grid.

2-      Take the ash tool and stir the charcoal that was left from last use.  Stir until all ash has fallen through the bottom holes.  Make sure there are no little pieces of coal stuck in any of the holes.

3-      Add charcoal back to the bottom of the fire ring.

4-      Open bottom draft door.  Use ash tool and rake ashes out into a receptacle.

5-      Light as before

Important info & general care

1-      When cleaning cooking grid never use wire brush.  The wire brush will etch away the protective coating on cast iron or porcelain coated cooking grids.

2-      It is always easier to clean your cooking grid when it is hot.

3-      At least once a year get your egg up to 600 degrees and let it burn for at least 30 minutes.  This will burn out any grease and gunk that is built up on the inside of the egg

4-      At least once a year take all the internal pieces out of the egg (generally done after last tip) and clean out all ash that has fallen around the fire box.

5-      Always remember that the staff at Outdoor Home is here to help answer any other questions you might have.

Merry Christmas.

The Staff at Outdoor Home would like to wish all of our customers a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy new year.  We look forward to your continued business and look forward to serving you in the future.

                Remember we are a phone call away with for any questions that might arise about grilling, or for the perfect recipe for your hams, turkey, or whatever else you might plan on cooking.

MeRRY CHRISTMAS

Is it me, or is it getting cold outside?

Well it’s getting that time of year when the pretty fall colors have all gone away and all we are left with is hard cold winds, dead brown grass, and eventually ice and snow.  It’s this time of year that you will see people out winterizing their homes, covering or putting up their lawn furniture.  The saddest thing I see is people winterizing their grills.  Putting them up and letting them sit in the garage or under the covers for the next several months.  Why I ask would you even consider doing this?  Are you going to lock yourself in the house and eat pot roasts and meatloaf all winter?  While I admit I like both of the previously mentioned foods, why should I use the stove?  What flavor has it ever imparted my food that would make me choose it over the succulent flavors my grill provides me?  I dare say why when my heater does a fine job of keeping my house warm would I even burn the electricity to run that increasingly useless appliance.  Cooking on your grill in the winter can be just as pleasurable as it was during the warmer months. 

So I implore you my fellow grilling juggernauts when you see your neighbor neglecting the grill this winter opting for the oven instead.  Go to them and save their sole.  Teach them the ways of a true grill master.  Remember they are just lost and need your guidance.  Show them how wonderful a meatloaf on the grill can be, as opposed to the greasy often soggy version of that which is cooked in the oven.  Show them how that roast can have smoke imparted into the flavor in a way the stove could only hope to do. Go grillers, teach the world how to enjoy this desolate time of year with an open heart, open flame and some meat.

The Holliday season.

The holiday season is among us, and with that brings the added stress of buying the perfect gift.  Have no worries Outdoor Home has got you covered.  We have the perfect gift for the the griller in your life.  We have recently received 21 new items from Big Green Egg that is sure to make the Egghead in your house happy.   Outdoor Home also offers gift cards.  Come in and see all the new products and all the items we have on sale.   Merry Christmas.