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stir the coals
Say, does anyone stir their coals before doing a direct cook to even out the fire. I usually light in the middle of the pile and wouldn't you know it - it is always the hottest spot. Would stirring even things out or do you find it doesn't really matter.
PS - I'm a new egger and glad to be here.
Comments
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I do sometimes. But I also light in a few places for a direct cook.
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I try and stir them up using my ash tool for the same reason you mention.Clarendon Hills, IL
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First-welcome to the cult. Lots of people willing to help with any questions you may have. Now, for hot&fast-I light in two places, around 3 and 9 o'clok looking down into the BGE. Then let the lump get going and it becomes fairly even across the grid.
You will see that there are about as many ways to light the BGE as there are posters here. Experiment and go with what works for you.
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. -
Depends on how much I'm cooking. I light enough places to cover the cooking area that I want to use, let it heat up for 10 to 12 minutes, stir a bit, and then put on the grate.
Two XL BGEs - So Happy!!!!
Waunakee, WI
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Right now I light at 3 and 9 also. Let it burn for about 30 minutes, but it still seems to like to head to the center. Maybe it is an air flow thing.
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I don't stir. I try and take advantage of hotter spots and less hotter spots when I cook directly.LBGE, Weber OTG w/ Rotisserie, Weber Genesis S-330, Chargriller Duo, AR-15, AK-47
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+1 to Buckeye Bob
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like alebrewer says, light in more than one spot for a high heat direct cook. no sense standing around waiting for the fire to spread.
ed egli avea del cul fatto trombetta -Dante -
I am in the "stirring" category - I want to spread the fire to as many places as I can, as quickly as I can, so that's why I do it.
Don't get set into one form, adapt it and build your own, and let it grow, be like water. Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless — like water. Now you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup... Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend. - Bruce Lee -
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For direct I've had good luck lighting with a chimney and then spreading that around to get the Egg going evenly.
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If I need a lot of surface area and I'm searing, like when cooking 6 T-bone steaks, I'll stir them around to ensure all the steaks are exposed to glowing coals. If it is a single spatched chicken being cooked raised direct, probably not since there won't be enough air flow to keep a big area glowing real hot.
Cooking on an XL and Medium in Bethesda, MD. -
Not that it's easy, but am I the only one who prefers my coals shaken?Bx - > NJ ->TX!!!All to get cheaper brisket!
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Not that it's easy, but am I the only one who prefers my coals shaken?
Like Earthquake shaken? Cause that would be bad.
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Can someone help me. I have tried cooking a pork butt three times overnite and the fire goes out. Has plenty of fuel left. Last night I cleaned and loaded the Egg with hardwood and made sure was cooking well after four hours. Then went to bed at 1 am and reading 255 degrees. Has bottom damper open about 3/4 inch and top about 1/8. Sometime between 1am and 9 am fire went out with a lot of charcoal still available. I made sure all air holes clear before starting. I am close to giving up overnite cooking unless hopefully someone can help me out. Thanks
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Can someone help me. I have tried cooking a pork butt three times overnite and the fire goes out. Has plenty of fuel left. Last night I cleaned and loaded the Egg with hardwood and made sure was cooking well after four hours. Then went to bed at 1 am and reading 255 degrees. Has bottom damper open about 3/4 inch and top about 1/8. Sometime between 1am and 9 am fire went out with a lot of charcoal still available. I made sure all air holes clear before starting. I am close to giving up overnite cooking unless hopefully someone can help me out. Thanks
My 1st guess would be the little holes that are all around the perimeter of the fire box are filled w/ ash. My 2nd guess would be the larger hole at the bottom of the fire box isn't lined up properly (this should be lined up w/ the bottom vent).
Don't get set into one form, adapt it and build your own, and let it grow, be like water. Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless — like water. Now you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup... Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend. - Bruce Lee -
@KYSEMINOLE
Take a look at part 1 here:
http://www.nakedwhiz.com/elder.htm
I've done several and only had one go out during the night before I found this link but, I started doing this and I think it works.
OKC area XL - Medium Eggs -
Thanks, Logger !
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Not that it's easy, but am I the only one who prefers my coals shaken?
Just you and James Bond. I hear he also prefers his coals shaken, not stirred.XL BGE -
I always light in the middle and stir. After a few coals are burning I stir them in the rest of the lump and leave the lid open for a couple of minutes.
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I always light the middle, never stir. Maybe my next direct cook I'll go with the 3 and 9 method and then stir. Thanks for the different opinions, they're all good ideas. I just love the egg. Had it since fathers day and have cooked every weekend except one. I still have yet to do steaks and pizza. Not at the same time! LOL
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I may stir it up before I light to knock any obstructions from the hi-Q grate. I make a pyramid-ishy pile and light the top for lo-n-slows. I'm burying my chips/lumps in the center like Stike so aptly illustrated. Hot stuff, I light in a few spots and let it rip.
______________________________________________I love lamp..
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