Brand New XL Big Green Egg

Bamabackyardbbq

Just sold my Large BGE which I have loved for the past 3 years.  Bought the XL with the plate setter and was shocked that a drip pan would not fit in between the plate setter and the grate.  Did not have this problem  with the large BGE.  Looking for suggestions as I love to fill pan with water and other ingredients for long slow cooks.  

Help please !

WeberWho

Can you go with a smaller drip pan?  No need for water in a drip pan if it's for moisture.  I picked up a XL myself and have yet to use it. Thanks for the heads up.  Welcome!

Thatgrimguy

Are you going legs up or down? With the legs up, there is lots of room for a drip pan?  What drip pan are you using? 

Bamabackyardbbq

Using legs up. The drip pans i had used for the last 3 years on my Large BGE are to tall.  The grill grate sets on the pan on not on the legs of the plate setter on the XL.   

abpgwolf

I have an XL and use a shallow aluminum pan (pizza pan). I got it from CGS, but have seen them at my local restaurant supply store (very inexpensive). 

Thatgrimguy

abpgwolf said:

I have an XL and use a shallow aluminum pan (pizza pan). I got it from CGS, but have seen them at my local restaurant supply store (very inexpensive). 

That's what I use as well.

Bamabackyardbbq

Thanks for the advice... I will try to find those smaller pans....  Keep on egging !!

EagleIII

Can you not use those disposable aluminum trays you get at Costco or the grocery store....the aluminum is soft enough to squash till it fits.  At least, that is what I do on my LBGE!

theyolksonyou

If my grid happens to sit on the drip pan, I let it sit on the drip pan. As long as it stable enough to open the dome, who cares?  Not like you're pushing around the yard and it will spill over while you cook. 

Ladeback69

I either wrap my plate setter with foil or double up a large piece and make a tray out of it.  I have had my XL for a year and have never added a pan with water.  Doesn't need it.  @Bamabackyardbbq, make sure you keep an eye on the temp, if are using a water pan in the XL, and it gets dry your temp will jump up.  It acts as a heat sink and when the water is gone the temp rises.  If you want different flavors try marinades, injecting or brining the meat.  The foil pans I bought at Sam's are also too tall, but have smashed it down before to make it fit.

Begger

Photo of MY solution.
I purchased 3 small FIRE BRICKS and CUT them in 1/2 and prop UP the grate which gives plenty of space for a drip pan.

Begger

Bamabackyardbbq

Great advice guys !  Thanks for all the suggestions 

SMITTYtheSMOKER

We smoke on the XL and have found that if we use 2 full sheet pans (disposable) stacked inside each other you can rest the grid on top with liquid inside.  We typically do up to 25lbs of meat on one grid with this set up.

Fred19Flintstone

My advice?  Don't screw around.  Get the AR from CGS.  You can use your plate setter with it.  They sell a SS drip pan you wrap in foil.  It sits on top of the plate setter on something to elevate it a bit to prevent burning.  I use some 1/2 inch copper plumbing tees.  After the cook, toss the foil.  If you can't buy the AR right now, get the drip pan anyway.

bettysnephew

After 5 years of jerry rigging, I yesterday ordered a Woo2AR Combo for my XL. No more bits and pieces of bricks and bolts. My platesetter is cracked and after checking price of a replacement, the CGW setup made a lot of sense.

YukonRon

abpgwolf said:

I have an XL and use a shallow aluminum pan (pizza pan). I got it from CGS, but have seen them at my local restaurant supply store (very inexpensive). 

This is what I use, and it works awesome! 

Legume

I use a round one in my XL from CGS, it works very well.  I also use the large foil pans from time to time and I just mash them a bit.  I've used two of the smaller foil pans as well, they fit side by side and they're not as tall.

Grillin_beers

I always go legs up on my low and slow cooks.  Honestly I pretty much always go legs up with the platesetter.

Durangler

Platesetter legs up with 3 terra cotta pot feet placed where the legs turn up. Set grid on the pot feet. This brings the grid to felt level & is sturdy.

Tspud1

The XL is not as tall as the large so leaves less room under the cooking grate. Also messes up the dimension of lower shelf on tables from top shelf

WeberWho

 Tspud1 said:

The XL is not as tall as the large so leaves less room under the cooking grate. Also messes up the dimension of lower shelf on tables from top shelf

@Tspud1 I believe the older XL Big Green Eggs have the shorter domes as the newer XL eggs have the taller domes.  Here's a couple pics of the smaller dome and newer bigger dome

MO