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Eggcessories that are a must have?

YEMTrey
YEMTrey Posts: 6,829
edited May 2012 in EggHead Forum
I pre-ordered a demo egg from the upcoming Porkopolis Eggfest here in Cincy.  Get to pick it up in July.  Are there any accessories that I should order ahead of time so that I have them when I pick up my egg. It's a Large BGE.  Here is what the demo comes with:

"The Eggs come with Nest, Platesetter, Charcoal, Starter Cubes, Dual
Function Metal Top, Ash Tool, and Lifetime Limited Warranty.
"

Was thinking of one of the rigs from the CGS.

I currently have a gas grill and a side by side smoker, so I'll be doing just as much smoking as grilling on the new egg.  Thanks for any advice/info!

Cheers!
Steve
Steve 
XL, Mini Max, and a 22" Blackstone in Cincinnati, Ohio

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Comments

  • lousubcap
    lousubcap Posts: 32,162
    Based on your list above about all I would initially recommend are a few fire bricks and another grid ( weber works fine) so you can do raised grid cooks.  With the platesetter you can go indirect.  With those I would cook with the BGE for a while before venturing deeply ( as in $$) into the aftermarket set-ups.  Since you alreay do lots of BBQ then you probably have a good instant thermo for the high heat cooks and something to monitor low& slows as you approach the finish-line.  Welcome and enjoy-BTW you will learn a good bit at the eggfest.
    Louisville; Rolling smoke in the neighbourhood. # 38 for the win.  Life is too short for light/lite beer!  Seems I'm livin in a transitional period.
  • xraypat23
    xraypat23 Posts: 421
    You've got all you need to start out well. I'd recommend a second level cooking grid, and a pizza stone. An adjustable rig with the spider and 13" stone is great, that's what I have. Recently got a platesetter and the adjustable rig does fit on top of the grate when at the felt line, haven't tried a cook like that thou.
  • Mickey
    Mickey Posts: 19,669
    edited May 2012

    A Thermapen is a MUST have, that and Tom's web-site : www.ceramicgrillstore.com

     

    Salado TX & 30A  FL: Egg Family: 3 Large and a very well used Mini, added a Mini Max when they came out (I'm good for now). Plus a couple Pit Boss Pellet Smokers.   

  • XLBalco
    XLBalco Posts: 607
    you should knock out about 20 cooks and decide from there what you think you need.
  • FxLynch
    FxLynch Posts: 433
    I'd say a Thermapen or similar quick read digital thermometer from a good manufacturer, and a remote thermometer like a Maverick Et-732 would be great starts.  Perhaps an electric starter if you have close electrical access to your egg.  Those thermometers are going to make a huge difference in both the quality of your food, and your enjoyment using the Egg.

    Then just do some cooks and decide what you want to cook but can't, and buy accessories then to do what YOU want, rather than buy stuff now that you may never really use.

    Welcome to Egging!
    Frank
  • ChokeOnSmoke
    ChokeOnSmoke Posts: 1,942
    edited May 2012

    A Thermapen is a MUST have

     

    Couldn't agree more.  Everything besides the Thermapen is just "nice to have".
    Packerland, Wisconsin

  • get ready to sell the horizontal cooker and use the gas grill for a drink holder...you are gonna love the egg...all you need now is a thermapen and something to drink while you cook : )

    Rockwall Texas, just east of Dallas where the humidity and heat meet! Life is too short to get caught in the fast lane behind somebody slow!

    XL, LG, Sm, Mini and Weber for drink holder

  • Some sort of raised grid is the only other thing I'd recommend.

    A muslim, a socialist and an illegal immigrant walk into a bar 

    Blogging: Never before have so many with so little to say said so much to so few.

  • Newportlocal
    Newportlocal Posts: 474
    Lawn ranger grid lifter. But alas... He is currently too busy to make any and may have time end of June at the earliest. One thing for sure he is a really nice guy. It's ok got to have a dream.
  • Down the road consider a Digi Q. Can't live without mine. Pizza stone, wok extended grate, map torch, thermapen are also in the starting lineup. The Thermapen is a must.
  • EggRacer
    EggRacer Posts: 400
    1. Thermapen
    2. Thermapen
    3. Thermapen
    4. You get the idea!
    XLBGE & LBGE
    North Richland Hills, TX
  • butwhymalemodels
    butwhymalemodels Posts: 267
    edited May 2012
    Go horned frogs! Class of 05

    A muslim, a socialist and an illegal immigrant walk into a bar 

    Blogging: Never before have so many with so little to say said so much to so few.

  • Mighty_Quinn
    Mighty_Quinn Posts: 1,878

    A Thermapen is a MUST have, that and Tom's web-site : www.ceramicgrillstore.com

     



    Yup...
  • fishlessman
    fishlessman Posts: 32,657
    i highly recommend buying a camp for your egg
    :D
    fukahwee maine

    you can lead a fish to water but you can not make him drink it
  • The Digi Q and a looftlighter are my two favorite additions.
  • cortguitarman
    cortguitarman Posts: 2,061
    Pizza stone, therma pen, and pizza peel. You can't get the pie off the egg without a peel. After making pizza on the egg, take out just doesn't do it anymore.
    Mark Annville, PA
  • Chubbs
    Chubbs Posts: 6,929
    I can't believe none of the eggsperts that answered this question before me mentioned the most important eggsessory. A camera to take pics so I can look at your cooks at work and dream about eggin.
    Columbia, SC --- LBGE 2011 -- MINI BGE 2013
  • Ragtop99
    Ragtop99 Posts: 1,570
    you should knock out about 20 cooks and decide from there what you think you need.
    I agree. 

    A meat thermometer on a cable or remote like the Maverick and an instant read thermometer are good if you don't have them already.  I find the ash tool handy, but plenty of people on here use a vacuum or other means to clean out their egg.
    Cooking on an XL and Medium in Bethesda, MD.
  • cortguitarman
    cortguitarman Posts: 2,061
    I use a shop vac, but the ash tool is still handy.
    Mark Annville, PA
  • Brownie
    Brownie Posts: 1,023
    1. Get some good thermometer
    2. Food saver or guests.
  • Mattlock
    Mattlock Posts: 64
    edited May 2012
    Why are so many people recommending the Thermapin (instant read) vs the Maverick 732 (remote\tracking)?  I know some of you said both, but many said One Thing...Thermapin.  I'm asking because I'm in the same boat as the original poster, picking up a Demo Egg at the Georgia Mountain Eggfest in less than 2 weeks and was leaning towards something like the Maverick, but I don't want to choose it over the Thermapin if there is something I'm missing.

    Thanks!
    Newbie Egghead - Just got a LBGE at the Georgia Eggfest! Life is Good!
  • XLBalco
    XLBalco Posts: 607

    maverick is great for sticking in for long cooks

    thermapen is going to give you an instant reading basically- i dont have one but that is the gist of it i assume

    i have a maverick and it is a pain to use imo to check a steak, etc

  • FxLynch
    FxLynch Posts: 433
    Why are so many people recommending the Thermapin (instant read) vs the Maverick 732 (remote\tracking)?  I know some of you said both, but many said One Thing...Thermapin.  I'm asking because I'm in the same boat as the original poster, picking up a Demo Egg at the Georgia Mountain Eggfest in less than 2 weeks and was leaning towards something like the Maverick, but I don't want to choose it over the Thermapin if there is something I'm missing.

    Thanks!
    When you are doing a low and slow the 732 is really nice, as it monitors meat temp and grill temp.  However, there is also a much wider window on those cooks than on quicker cooks.  Letting a brisket or pork shoulder go 30 minutes over is nothing, 30 minutes over doesn't even exist on those cooks in my opinion.

    However, letting a nice steak go 2 minutes over on a hot flame and it can be the difference between world class, and edible but disappointed.  So the thermapen is great for chicken, steak, fish, etc (anything you are cooking to temp quickly).  And yes, you could use it on the long cooks just as well, but it shines on the short cooks.  In fact, I use my 732 as a pit monitor and general guideline, and when it's where I think I want it, I use my instant read in various places on the chicken/brisket/loin/etc to verify.

    They are really two different tools for two different types of cooks.  And I'd like to add that many people feel that if you don't already use a good instant read thermometer to cook all meats to temp, getting one and starting to do that will make the single biggest improvement in the quality of your food.

    I don't own a thermapen, I use a much cheaper thermometer from the same company, but mine does a 6 second read, not a 3 second read.  I'm looking forward to upgrading in the future, but at the time the $20 price was more acceptable to me than the $90 price of the Thermapen. 
  • R2Egg2Q
    R2Egg2Q Posts: 2,136
    The most functional grate lifters (and hanger) I have are ThirdeyeBBQs ThirdHand and ThreeFinger tools.  Great quality and they allow you to hang a greasy grid.
    XL, Large, Small, Mini Eggs, Shirley Fabrication 24x36 Patio, Humphrey's Weekender, Karubecue C-60, MAK 1-Star General, Hasty Bake Gourmet, Santa Maria Grill, Webers: 14" WSM, 22.5" OTG, 22.5" Kettle Premium, WGA Charcoal, Summit S-620 NG

    Bay Area, CA
  • Griffin
    Griffin Posts: 8,200
    Meat. Lots of meat. And then some more meat after that. ;)

    Rowlett, Texas

    Griffin's Grub or you can find me on Facebook

    The Supreme Potentate, Sovereign Commander and Sultan of Wings

     

  • stevesails
    stevesails Posts: 990

    Thermapen for sure, It maynot be the most used item, but It is great to make sure the chicken breast is done enough for my wife.

    I have a maverick also. but the thermapen is easier, no switches, I dont have to take the back off ot turn it on and off. and it fits in my pocket.

     

     

    XL   Walled Lake, MI

  • Hi54putty
    Hi54putty Posts: 1,873
    You need a cap. You don't want to leave the daisy wheel on when not in use and you need to stop the airflow after a cook to put out the fire. Also, don't want to leave it uncapped and let moisture in when not in use.
    XL,L,S 
    Winston-Salem, NC 
  • cortguitarman
    cortguitarman Posts: 2,061
    The cap comes with the egg.
    Mark Annville, PA
  • Hi54putty
    Hi54putty Posts: 1,873
    Not according to the original post.
    XL,L,S 
    Winston-Salem, NC 
  • tazcrash
    tazcrash Posts: 1,852
    It's standard equipment.
    OP also doesn't mention charcoal grate, food grate, etc...
    Bx - > NJ ->TX!!! 
    All to get cheaper brisket!