You’ve heard the rave reviews and finally broke down and purchased a Big Green Egg. Your local HOMEFIELD showroom delivered and installed your new grill, and you’re ready to fire it up. So, where to begin?… Here are a few tips from the EGG-heads at Big Green Egg for using your Big Green Egg grill for the very first time.
Start Off Low
Like a cast-iron skillet that needs to be seasoned properly before use, the gasket adhesive of your Big Green Egg needs to fully cure and adhere to the Egg. For your first few uses of the Big Green Egg, plan on grilling items that cook low and slow. Starting off at too high of a temperature can damage the gasket before it can properly seal itself, so keep in under 350-degrees to start.
Skip the Harsh Chemicals
Big Green Egg grills are made from high-tech ceramics that were originally developed by NASA. These ceramics are porous and can absorb the petrochemicals found in lighter fluid and charcoal briquettes. Not only can these chemicals corrupt the flavor of your food, but they can also damage your grill and may void your warranty.
Use Lump Charcoal
Big Green Egg offers organic lump charcoal made from a selection of 100% premium carbonized American oak and hickory. It contains no fillers, nitrates, chemicals, anthracite coal, limestone, treated wood or petroleum products. This material lights easily, burns cleanly, burns hotter and lasts for ages. Plus, Big Green Egg charcoal gives off less ash and can be reused many times before you need to top off your coals. Fill your Egg with charcoal level to the top of the fire box.
Light It Up
Big Green Egg charcoal can usually be lit and ready to grill in less than ten minutes. You can use a natural charcoal starter or an electric starter like the Looftlighter. Electric starters can be plugged into a nearby outlet and rested against the coals. Superheated air flows over the coals, catching them aflame in minutes.
Avoid Back Drafts
The design of the Big Green Egg allows heat to circulate like a convection oven. And just like you you may feel a blast of heat when opening an oven door, the Big Green Egg grill can give off an intense heat when opened. That’s why we recommend “burping” your Egg. Raise the lid an inch or two before raising the dome completely. This will allow the sudden rush of oxygen to burn safely inside the Egg without causing dangerous back drafts and flare ups.
Close It Up
Once your dish is complete and you’re ready to extinguish the flame, just close off the top and bottom vent openings and the fire will burn itself out from a lack of oxygen. Once your egg has cooled use your ash tool to rake the coals over the cast iron fire grate to knock off excess ash. Shovel the ash out of the Egg and add any additional charcoal you may need for next time.
Happy grilling!
