Setting up my large egg for an overnight cook

2Fategghead

I'm getting ready to do an overnight cook tonight and decided to post pic's of the process of getting my egg ready for the cook.

I go out to my large egg.



I open the dome



I take out everything that is in there. I am using my third hand to remove my food grid.



Here is my third hand for my food grid and my third hand for my cast iron food grid and my wiggle rod.



My third hand for my cast iron food grid in use.




I need to remove the used lump so after I stir the ash off of it I put it in my other egg because I plan to use fresh lump for my overnight cook.



Now I will clean out the ashes and make sure the holes in the fire box are clear of ash and small pieces of lump or anything else.



Here is my ash bucket.



If you look close you can see the ash build up behind the holes. It's been a while since I cleaned out the bottom of the egg so I think it's time to take out the fire box as well. No need to pull the fire box every time some wait 2, 4, even 6 or 12 months.



I carefully remove the fire ring.



I rolled my other large egg over close and set the fire ring on top in my other egg.



I moved the fire box to the other egg as well.



Now I will clean out the ash build up from under the fire box.



Now I am ready to put the fire box back in.



Now that the fire box is back in I need to align the fire box with the bottom draft hole.







Now I am ready for the fire ring. Once the fire ring is in I will shift the fire box one more time to be sure it's sitting flat in the base.



Now the lump grate and the holes are beveled so beveled side down.



For the overnight cook I will add a little lump. I will use Royal Oak.



I will use some chunks of hickory. No need to soak them in water.



A small amount of lump then some hickory chunks.



A little more.



I fill it up to the top of the fire ring. Ready to light later tonight.



The plate setter goes in and the BGE feet. If you don't have extra feet you can use balls of foil or anything.



My drip pan from an old electric oven broiler. I have two notches in it to fit in the plate setter.



I foil the pan for easy clean up.



Now ready for some meat.

stevesails

EXCELLENT!
Save that link for the next time the quesion is asked!

ok.. how do you light it with all that stuff in it?

2Fategghead

Thanks Steve, I need to take out the plate setter, drip pan and grid. Then light the lump.

Le Oeuf Vert

Good man for taking the time to put together this post. All new Eggers should bookmark this post.

thechief96

Perfect Tim. I do believe you have done this a time or two. :P

2Fategghead

Thanks Mark.

2Fategghead

Thanks Dave, I know it's over done but, I hope it helps someone.

Carolina Q

Tim, GREAT POST!! I was gonna do that tonight too - now I don't have to! Awesome, bud - I owe you a beer!!! HAHAHAHA!

Actually, I wasn't gonna do ALL that, nor DID I do all that. I did take the old lump out (was down to some pretty small bits) and vac the ash, but I didn't bother removing the (now 2-piece) firebox. Looks like I might have filled with a bit more lump too, but not much. Gonna light it about 8 or 9 and put a 9 lb butt on about 10. Set the Guru for 225° grid and see what happens. First overnighter with the Guru (or without it for that matter). Supposed to already be snowing (but it's not), so I had to rig up something to keep the Guru dry.

Not sure how many pics I'll take, but I WILL take one of the drip pan full of grease, just for SmokinSoCal. Hey, a cooked butt looks like a cooked butt, no?

Good luck with your cook!

thechief96

I sure it will. It sure would have helped me when I first started out.

tcracing

2Fategghead

Michael, I have two butt going in about 8pm central myself. I bought a two pack that weights a little more than 20 pounds. I had a feeling you were going to post soon as well. Ha! Wish you well on your cook tonight.

tcracing

I want to know where you found Royal Oak Lump with pieces that big. All the bags I use usually have medium pieces at best. The Wal-Mart employees must handle them pretty ruff.

2Fategghead

Tim, I get it from the pallet before anyone else lays their hands on it.

Good name you have there, Tim Ha

2Fategghead

Ha you moved on me.

tcracing

I always try to hear and feel to make sure that there's not alot of small pieces. I sometimes get some real weird looks when I do it. :laugh:

tcracing

Tag, you're it.

stevesails

that reminds me, i am down to 2 and a half of those red bags.
This after 9 months of trying other brands. this is what I am going to stick with.
6.67 for 10 lbs. not too bad.

Carolina Q

Had the butt in my freezer for a while. When I ordered the Guru the other day, I moved the butt to the fridge to defrost. Haven't looked at it since. If it's defrosted, great. If it's not, that's great too - it'll just take a little longer.

I have no intention of getting up in the middle of the night to check on this thing. The only way I will ever see 3AM is if I just stay up!! That's why I've never done an all-nighter. Hope the Guru works!!

tcracing

Mine goes up during spring and summer, but at $8.67 it's still a pretty good deal. I'll stock up before it goes up this year.

tcracing

Even with the Guru, you will most likely check on it at least once during the night.

2Fategghead

As long as you have flames burning in your egg and your fan don't blow them out you'll be fine! :woohoo:

Gator Bait

 
Great post Tim, I hope that you are going to do a similar post for those of us that have medium Big Green Eggs. I'm having a hard time cross referencing. :huh:

Just kidding Tim, You did a great job. You might send a link to that to GG, he may want to add it to his helpful list.


Blair


 

Carolina Q

Hahaha. No I won't. If it's still cooking in the morning, great. If it's not... oh well. NOTHING will wake me up in the middle of the night.

tcracing

Well then, sweet dreams and let us know how it goes.

2Fategghead

Thanks Blair, Let me get a medium and I work it up.

I just sent it to Kent. Thanks, Tim

JLOCKHART29

More chunks!!! :woohoo:

2Fategghead

:woohoo:

Egger 4 6

Thanks for the detail!! Had my XL for about two weeks and loving it! I wasn't sure how to correctly clean ash. My EGG was delivered and set up before I could pick my tongue up off the patio and wipe the tears from my eyes.

2Fategghead

Egger 4 6, Remember you don't have to take the fire box out very often. Glad I could help. Tim

2Fategghead

Egger 4 6, I do want you to know I don't clean my egg like this every time. I usually use my ash tool and pull the ash out from the bottom. I demonstrated cleaning my egg out for an overnight cook. Tim

Grandpas Grub

 
Nice post Tim.

Kent