Enhance Your Big Green Egg Cooking!

If you have a Big Green Egg, you already know it is the best grill on the market today! However, it can do much more than help you grill the perfect steak; because it is so versatile, the Big Green Egg can be used to cook almost anything! The following tips can enhance your Big Green Egg cooking and help you create delicious dishes for your friends and family to devour!

Starting the fire

1. Start with a full load of charcoal. Five pounds of natural lump charcoal fits perfectly inside the big green egg and can be easily lit using a lighter or paraffin fire starter. No chimney is needed when using charcoal in the Big Green Egg; the unique shape takes away the need for a chimney.
2. Open the lid and vents. While a chimney is not needed to light charcoal, it is important to open the vents as well as keep the lid open for the first 10 minutes while the charcoal first ignites. After 10 minutes, close the lid and wait for the Big Green Egg to reach the cooking temperature for your dish; this typically takes 15-20 minutes, but may take longer during the winter.
3. Avoid “back flash”. Because the inside of the Big Green Egg can reach such high temperatures, it is recommended to “burp” the egg before opening it. To do this, simply open the lid several inches before closing it again, repeating 2-3 times. Doing this reduces the initial “back flash” that occurs when opening the lid completely.

Grilling times and temperatures

1. Direct grilling: Hamburgers, steaks, pork chops, and chicken breasts are all examples of food that are direct grilled in the Big Green Egg. To cook these foods, heat the Egg to between 600 and 700 degrees with the top and bottom vents opened wide. For the best steak ever, sear the meat on the grate for two minutes per side, then close the lid. As the juices from the steak drip onto the coals, it creates a fragrant smoke; the smoke is trapped and recirculated in the Egg, which helps speed up the cooking time and results in a flavorful, juicy, and perfectly cooked steak.
2. Indirect grilling: Expand your cooking choices by installing a plate setter, better known as the convEGGtor. This Big Green Egg accessory allows you to smoke meats, cook pizzas, and create foods you never thought possible with a grill. These three-legged, heavy ceramic plates fit perfectly into the bottom section of the Egg’s firebox. Using the plate setter can also reduce the risk of flare ups charring your meal.
3. Smoking: To use your Big Green Egg as a smoker, simply add your favorite hardwood chips into the charcoal. Using the temperature controls, lower the Egg’s heat to between 200 and 250 degrees; the cooking time will vary depending on the type, cut, and size of the meat being smoked.

While the Big Green Egg is marketed as a grill, it can do so much more than just cook hamburgers, chicken, and steak. By using your Big Green Egg as a versatile cooking appliance, you can create delicious appetizers, main courses, and desserts using just your grill. For more information on how to get the most out of your Big Green Egg, contact the staff at The Cozy Flame today or visit our Facebook page for more ideas and recipes!