Fred’s Tips for using your Big Green Egg

Dual Function Metal Top – used to adjust the amount of air leaving the egg – use more for fine tuning.

Grid – cast iron – sits on bottom of egg to hold charcoal – keep holes clear – check its condition occasionally.

Temp Gauge –  this is what is referred to as “dome temp”  inside the egg. Be sure to check calibration of your thermometer occasionally and adjust if necessary. Note temp “at the grate” will be aproximately 25deg. lower than dome temperature.

Fire Ring – Goes inside the egg on top of the firebox. Ceramic – fill with charcoal to bottom edge for most cooks.

Fire Box – Goes inside egg on the bottom. Fill with charcoal to the top edge of this for most cooking. Before cooking, always check to make sure air holes are clear and open..

Draft Door – Used to adjust the temp inside the egg by controlling the amount of air coming into the egg for combustion.  Wide open to light – then always keep screen closed to avoid sparks escaping – you will learn the settings your egg will need for various temperatures.

Gasket – this is the part that is the felt between the top and bottom of the egg. It is  NOT referenced on the above diagram. Very important as it seals your egg.

EGG RULES
1. On your brand new egg, DO NOT do high heat cooking for the first few cooks ... max temperature on the egg’s Thermometer should be  350degrees or  so. Cook  ribs, chicken or fish of something that requires this lower temp. This is to “seat” your eggs felt gasket and help prevent premature gasket burnout / etc.  Also, before cooking test the “seal” of the gasket by inserting a paper sliver or a one-dollar bill at various spots around the egg, closing the egg and see if there is resistance all around the egg, especially in the rear near the springs. If there is a gap anywhere, loosen spring band on top and adjust or return to FRED for adjustment.

2. To move your egg in it's nest, NEVER push the egg, ALWAYS PULL the egg and it's best to actually grab the nest/legs instead of the egg itself. By pushing you will have a tendency to tip over the egg and you will not be able to stop it's fall and it WILL crack which is not covered by warranty.

3. When you buy your egg, do yourself a favor and get a platesetter, ashtool, grill gripper, extended rack, BGE charcoal, BGE charcoal starters, meat thermometer - RIGHT AWAY as you will be coming right back to buy them within your first week of cooking!

4. Never leave the egg with vents wide open, unattended as temp will rise to nuke levels and could burn your gasket or worse.

5. When aiming for a low temp, don't allow the egg temp to rise above the desired temp as it is hard to "cool down".

6. When "setting up" for a cooking session, always check air vent holes in the fire box to make sure they are not clogged.

7. If you really want to learn everything about your egg, visit  www.nakedwhiz.com and www.eggheadforum.com

8. Ignore BGE’s manual and advertising where they say a “bag of charcoal could last you for months”. You will be using WAY more than that. The egg really does conserve charcoal but you will be cooking more than you ever thought you would.

9. NEVER use a chemical fire starter in your Egg. Use BGE’s (or other brands) starter “cubes” or electric starter.

10. ALWAYS “burp” your Egg before opening it fully (when its in use). To “burp” , open the lit an inch or so first, then allow some of the heat to escape, then close, then repeat and open – the higher the temp inside, the more important this is. Fred also recommends that you always wear an oven mitt when opening the egg because the hot gasses can/may/will fry all the hair off your knuckles and more if you’re not careful. Get into the habit of always wearing a mitt when opening your egg, and always “burp” it!

11. Beware of using the dust and very fine pieces of lump charcoal. They will CLOG the ventilation holes ...best to toss the stuff at the bottom of the bag if it has dust and very fine pieces.

12. Check the tightness of the metal bands periodically. The “tension” screws should be bent if it’s tight enough. Also check tightness of wheels on your nest if you have one.

13. Treat your plate setter with kid gloves…it is more fragile than you think. AND it gets really hot so always wear welder gloves or a mitt when removing it from the egg. If you place a hot platesetter on cold concrete it will break. If you stand it on end and it falls over it will break. Most egg users break these so if you do don’t feel like a fool just come in and buy another one and try to be more careful the next time.