Welcome to the EGGhead Forum - a great place to visit and packed with tips and EGGspert advice! You can also join the conversation and get more information and amazing kamado recipes by following Big Green Egg to Experience our World of Flavor™ at:
Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  Pinterest  |  Youtube  |  Vimeo
Share your photos by tagging us and using the hashtag #BigGreenEgg.

Want to see how the EGG is made? Click to Watch

The reverse sear is the redneck version of sous vide...

Options
24

Comments

  • HogHeaven
    HogHeaven Posts: 326
    edited April 2013
    Options
    Cazzy... I'm curious what the diameter is of that cast iron grid in the picture. Do you know?
  • Little Steven
    Little Steven Posts: 28,817
    Options
    There are a few similarities between sous vide and Xert (slow and then sear) but not many that I can see

    Steve 

    Caledon, ON

     

  • HogHeaven
    HogHeaven Posts: 326
    edited April 2013
    Options
    There are a few similarities between sous vide and Xert (slow and then sear) but not many that I can see

    Yes... I agree and so does the guy that wrote that statement originally. Had you clicked on the link I left you, you would have seen that his original intent was to get the benefits of the sous vide method... Without buying the equipment. He is a Master Chef and would know how to experiment like that. If you read his article you will find he takes no credit for inventing the reverse sear or even being the first to do it. He does however get the most and warranted recognitions for popularizing it. Sous vide was his motivation for studying it.
  • The Cen-Tex Smoker
    Options
    cazzy said:

    I didn't read ll that yet but I assume you are just talking for grilling steaks or something like that. It's similar but definitely not the same as SV. with SV you cook a steak at like 125 for a few hours then reverse sear. BUT, you can also cook a roast or ribs for 5 days and it will still be med rare and fork tender. Pretty crazy textures and flavors. The big difference to me comes in the more delicate, non fatty cuts like chicken breast and fish. You can safely cook them a far lower temps (like 147 for chicken breast) and it makes the texture and flavor sublime. Juice pours out of a fully cooked chicken breast and they are far more tender. None of this can be achieved without hours under pressure at lower temps. I Highly recommend SV cooking for many things.I don't do steaks that way much anymore but I wouldn't grill a chicken breast for anything. It's a game changer on certain foods that a reverse sear couldn't accomplish.

    Cen, what's your favorite finishing method after SV? Torch, grill, or pan sear?
    If I had to pick one: cast iron.
    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
  • Chubbs
    Chubbs Posts: 6,929
    edited April 2013
    Options
    HogHeaven said:

    Cazzy... I'm curious what the diameter is of that cast iron grid in the picture. Do you know?

    Been using this setup for a long time. It is 13" cast iron grid for small egg put it on spider from CGS. Used the grid extender like you do for a year before this setup and the cast iron in spider works way better. Grid extender is still the worst eggsessory out there IMO. Hell... Just throw the steaks right on the coals if you want a sear that bad.
    Columbia, SC --- LBGE 2011 -- MINI BGE 2013
  • HogHeaven
    HogHeaven Posts: 326
    edited April 2013
    Options
    Thanks Chubbs... If they made that CI grate 1/2 inch wider you wouldn't need a spider. I'm not a big fan of grill marks so I like my cheap GX grill extender. I prefer to have my steaks that dark brown mahogany color all over instead of just on the dark lines. Throwing the steaks right on the coals huh... Some people have done that but it seems barbaric to me. No thanks on that.
  • The Cen-Tex Smoker
    Options
    HogHeaven said:
    Thanks Chubbs... If they made that CI grate 1/2 inch wider you wouldn't need a spider. I'm not a big fan of grill marks so I like my cheap GX grill extender. I prefer to have my steaks that dark brown mahogany color all over instead of just on the dark lines. Throwing the steaks right on the coals huh... Some people have done that but it seems barbaric to me. No thanks on that.

    works great to throw them right on the coals. I use the same setup as Chubbs but i used to throw my grid extender right on the lump. It rusted out after a month or so so i stopped using it. Nothing sears like a cast iron skillet. 100% delicious caramelized goodness
    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
  • cazzy
    cazzy Posts: 9,136
    Options
    HogHeaven said:

    Cazzy... Thanks for the picture. I like your set up. You are cooking with hot intense heat for the whole cook. I prefer to go low and slow for the first part of the cook until the interior temp is 110 degrees. Then I drop it down to about 2" from the red hot lump to finish the cook. Your method obviously works very well too. It really is nice to come on here and see how everyone does their cooks. Happy Egging and dine well...

    No, not at all. After I sear, I pull off the spider and throw on my adjustable rig. At that point, I'll roast my steaks above the felt at 400 until I reach my desired temp. The Spider/CI gridis purely for searing...
    Just a hack that makes some $hitty BBQ....
  • The Cen-Tex Smoker
    Options
    cazzy said:
    Cazzy... Thanks for the picture. I like your set up. You are cooking with hot intense heat for the whole cook. I prefer to go low and slow for the first part of the cook until the interior temp is 110 degrees. Then I drop it down to about 2" from the red hot lump to finish the cook. Your method obviously works very well too. It really is nice to come on here and see how everyone does their cooks. Happy Egging and dine well...
    No, not at all. After I sear, I pull off the spider and throw on my adjustable rig. At that point, I'll roast my steaks above the felt at 400 until I reach my desired temp. The Spider/CI gridis purely for searing...

    Why do you pull your spider? rig fits right over it. My spider never leaves the egg
    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
  • cazzy
    cazzy Posts: 9,136
    Options
    Haha. I loved that thread! Great cook!
    Just a hack that makes some $hitty BBQ....
  • Little Steven
    Little Steven Posts: 28,817
    Options

    Cazzy,

    The spider fits in the indents on the fire ring. I don't bother taking it out...just throw the rig on.

    Steve 

    Caledon, ON

     

  • cazzy
    cazzy Posts: 9,136
    Options

    Cazzy,

    The spider fits in the indents on the fire ring. I don't bother taking it out...just throw the rig on.

    Good point! I'll do that from now on as its not like the grid is going to block heat. Lol
    Just a hack that makes some $hitty BBQ....
  • cazzy
    cazzy Posts: 9,136
    Options


    cazzy said:

    HogHeaven said:

    Cazzy... Thanks for the picture. I like your set up. You are cooking with hot intense heat for the whole cook. I prefer to go low and slow for the first part of the cook until the interior temp is 110 degrees. Then I drop it down to about 2" from the red hot lump to finish the cook. Your method obviously works very well too. It really is nice to come on here and see how everyone does their cooks. Happy Egging and dine well...

    No, not at all. After I sear, I pull off the spider and throw on my adjustable rig. At that point, I'll roast my steaks above the felt at 400 until I reach my desired temp. The Spider/CI gridis purely for searing...




    Why do you pull your spider? rig fits right over it. My spider never leaves the egg

    Don't know, cause I guess cause I over think and didn't want the cast iron grid to deflect heat. Sounds really dumb the more I think about it. Lol. Good looking out guys!

    Just a hack that makes some $hitty BBQ....
  • HogHeaven
    HogHeaven Posts: 326
    Options
    Got a picture of the AR rig?
  • cazzy
    cazzy Posts: 9,136
    edited April 2013
    Options
    HogHeaven said:

    Got a picture of the AR rig?

    Tons of info here:

    http://www.ceramicgrillstore.com/big-green-egg-large-adjustable-rig.html

    Best accessory I own!
    Just a hack that makes some $hitty BBQ....
  • HogHeaven
    HogHeaven Posts: 326
    Options
    cazzy said:
    cazzy said:
    Cazzy... Thanks for the picture. I like your set up. You are cooking with hot intense heat for the whole cook. I prefer to go low and slow for the first part of the cook until the interior temp is 110 degrees. Then I drop it down to about 2" from the red hot lump to finish the cook. Your method obviously works very well too. It really is nice to come on here and see how everyone does their cooks. Happy Egging and dine well...
    No, not at all. After I sear, I pull off the spider and throw on my adjustable rig. At that point, I'll roast my steaks above the felt at 400 until I reach my desired temp. The Spider/CI gridis purely for searing...

    Why do you pull your spider? rig fits right over it. My spider never leaves the egg
    Don't know, cause I guess cause I over think and didn't want the cast iron grid to deflect heat. Sounds really dumb the more I think about it. Lol. Good looking out guys!

    So... You both prefer the T-Rex method. What if there was scientific facts that proved that low and slow at the start of the cook and then seared at the end produced a superior end result. Would you change your technic?
  • The Cen-Tex Smoker
    Options
    HogHeaven said:
    cazzy said:
    cazzy said:
    Cazzy... Thanks for the picture. I like your set up. You are cooking with hot intense heat for the whole cook. I prefer to go low and slow for the first part of the cook until the interior temp is 110 degrees. Then I drop it down to about 2" from the red hot lump to finish the cook. Your method obviously works very well too. It really is nice to come on here and see how everyone does their cooks. Happy Egging and dine well...
    No, not at all. After I sear, I pull off the spider and throw on my adjustable rig. At that point, I'll roast my steaks above the felt at 400 until I reach my desired temp. The Spider/CI gridis purely for searing...

    Why do you pull your spider? rig fits right over it. My spider never leaves the egg
    Don't know, cause I guess cause I over think and didn't want the cast iron grid to deflect heat. Sounds really dumb the more I think about it. Lol. Good looking out guys!

    So... You both prefer the T-Rex method. What if there was scientific facts that proved that low and slow at the start of the cook and then seared at the end produced a superior end result. Would you change your technic?

    me? no i'm all reverse sear. I just sous vide first. If i don't SV first, I just drink a bunch of beer and grill it at normal level really hot.
    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
  • cazzy
    cazzy Posts: 9,136
    edited April 2013
    Options
    HogHeaven said:


    cazzy said:


    cazzy said:

    HogHeaven said:

    Cazzy... Thanks for the picture. I like your set up. You are cooking with hot intense heat for the whole cook. I prefer to go low and slow for the first part of the cook until the interior temp is 110 degrees. Then I drop it down to about 2" from the red hot lump to finish the cook. Your method obviously works very well too. It really is nice to come on here and see how everyone does their cooks. Happy Egging and dine well...

    No, not at all. After I sear, I pull off the spider and throw on my adjustable rig. At that point, I'll roast my steaks above the felt at 400 until I reach my desired temp. The Spider/CI gridis purely for searing...




    Why do you pull your spider? rig fits right over it. My spider never leaves the egg
    Don't know, cause I guess cause I over think and didn't want the cast iron grid to deflect heat. Sounds really dumb the more I think about it. Lol. Good looking out guys!





    So... You both prefer the T-Rex method. What if there was scientific facts that proved that low and slow at the start of the cook and then seared at the end produced a superior end result. Would you change your technic?

    As I say again, I will try it eventually. If I'm going by scientific facts, I'll go with SV which is next on my list to do.

    I can't even call what I do TREX, sure It has similarities but my process is completely different. I also use alot less lump, avoid flashbacks, and spend a lot less time. I read TREX method on the whiz and never looked at it again....seemed like too much work. After I saw the spider/cast iron combo, I knew what road I was headed to.

    I'm like my momma, I cook by feel in most regards outside of checking finishing temps. Usually when a steak looks done, I check temp and I'm very close.
    Just a hack that makes some $hitty BBQ....
  • HogHeaven
    HogHeaven Posts: 326
    Options
    @The Cen-Tex Smoker... If you do sous vide first, that is your only option. Weather you do it on the grill or the stove top. How about you Cazzy... Use the same exact setup as you are using now, just put it on top first, then lower it down to your spider and CI grate at the end of the cook... If, and only if, you got a superior finished product?
  • The Cen-Tex Smoker
    Options
    cazzy said:

    HogHeaven said:


    cazzy said:


    cazzy said:

    HogHeaven said:

    Cazzy... Thanks for the picture. I like your set up. You are cooking with hot intense heat for the whole cook. I prefer to go low and slow for the first part of the cook until the interior temp is 110 degrees. Then I drop it down to about 2" from the red hot lump to finish the cook. Your method obviously works very well too. It really is nice to come on here and see how everyone does their cooks. Happy Egging and dine well...

    No, not at all. After I sear, I pull off the spider and throw on my adjustable rig. At that point, I'll roast my steaks above the felt at 400 until I reach my desired temp. The Spider/CI gridis purely for searing...




    Why do you pull your spider? rig fits right over it. My spider never leaves the egg
    Don't know, cause I guess cause I over think and didn't want the cast iron grid to deflect heat. Sounds really dumb the more I think about it. Lol. Good looking out guys!





    So... You both prefer the T-Rex method. What if there was scientific facts that proved that low and slow at the start of the cook and then seared at the end produced a superior end result. Would you change your technic?

    As I say again, I will try it eventually. If I'm going by scientific facts, I'll go with SV which is next on my list to do.

    I can't even call what I do TREX, sure It has similarities but my process is completely different. I also use alot less lump, avoid flashbacks, and spend a lot less time. I read TREX method on the whiz and never looked at it again....seemed like too much work. After I saw the spider/cast iron combo, I knew what road I was headed to.

    I'm like my momma, I cook by feel in most regards outside of checking finishing temps. Usually when a steak looks done, I check temp and I'm very close.


    No matter which method i use, I rarely check temp when I go hot/fast. All by feel and look. Screwed up plenty over the years but not so much anymore.
    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
  • cazzy
    cazzy Posts: 9,136
    Options
    HogHeaven said:

    @The Cen-Tex Smoker... If you do sous vide first, that is your only option. Weather you do it on the grill or the stove top. How about you Cazzy... Use the same exact setup as you are using now, just put it on top first, then lower it down to your spider and CI grate at the end of the cook... If, and only if, you got a superior finished product?

    Having a lil trouble following, so I'm guessing you're asking how would I set up my egg to finish a steak after sous vide. Well, I would set up my egg with the spider and CI grid. After seasoning the meat, I would sear and then throw em on the dinner plates to rest with garlic butter balls on top.
    Just a hack that makes some $hitty BBQ....
  • The Cen-Tex Smoker
    The Cen-Tex Smoker Posts: 22,961
    edited April 2013
    Options
    HogHeaven said:

    @The Cen-Tex Smoker... If you do sous vide first, that is your only option. Weather you do it on the grill or the stove top. How about you Cazzy... Use the same exact setup as you are using now, just put it on top first, then lower it down to your spider and CI grate at the end of the cook... If, and only if, you got a superior finished product?

    There are many ways to finish off SV Cooks. Not just searing.
    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
  • HogHeaven
    HogHeaven Posts: 326
    Options
    cazzy said:
    cazzy said:
    Cazzy... Thanks for the picture. I like your set up. You are cooking with hot intense heat for the whole cook. I prefer to go low and slow for the first part of the cook until the interior temp is 110 degrees. Then I drop it down to about 2" from the red hot lump to finish the cook. Your method obviously works very well too. It really is nice to come on here and see how everyone does their cooks. Happy Egging and dine well...
    No, not at all. After I sear, I pull off the spider and throw on my adjustable rig. At that point, I'll roast my steaks above the felt at 400 until I reach my desired temp. The Spider/CI gridis purely for searing...

    Why do you pull your spider? rig fits right over it. My spider never leaves the egg
    Don't know, cause I guess cause I over think and didn't want the cast iron grid to deflect heat. Sounds really dumb the more I think about it. Lol. Good looking out guys!

    So... You both prefer the T-Rex method. What if there was scientific facts that proved that low and slow at the start of the cook and then seared at the end produced a superior end result. Would you change your technic?
    As I say again, I will try it eventually. If I'm going by scientific facts, I'll go with SV which is next on my list to do. I can't even call what I do TREX, sure It has similarities but my process is completely different. I also use alot less lump, avoid flashbacks, and spend a lot less time. I read TREX method on the whiz and never looked at it again....seemed like too much work. After I saw the spider/cast iron combo, I knew what road I was headed to. I'm like my momma, I cook by feel in most regards outside of checking finishing temps. Usually when a steak looks done, I check temp and I'm very close.
    No matter which method i use, I rarely check temp when I go hot/fast. All by feel and look. Screwed up plenty over the years but not so much anymore.

    Cooking is science, physics and feel, an art form... A combination of all of the above. People spend a lifetime studying it. Someone figured out what the miallard reaction is and what the science of carmelization is. They know how high heat effects the interior of the the meat and the exterior of the meat. They have studied how the water in meat assist in the cooking process and how that effect the salt in and on the meat... And these people that have devoted their entire career's to understanding this stuff you and I have no time for - through trial and error and expensive tests have published reports that if you cook a steak low and slow, at the start of the cook and drop it down at the end to carmelize the crust at the end you will have a more tender and balanced interior color of pink, bumper to bumper.
  • HogHeaven
    HogHeaven Posts: 326
    edited April 2013
    Options
    All of that science is here for the taking... This is from Master Chef's and scientist's. It is not opinion. Check it out. It's 1 page of information that's meaningful. http://amazingribs.com/tips_and_technique/cooking_temperatures_and_reverese_sear.html
  • cazzy
    cazzy Posts: 9,136
    Options
    All right sir...I'll check it out.

    Since you're about science, you need to get a immersion circulator. Sous Vide is the most accurate way to cook a cut of meat. The non redneck approach will win every time...
    Just a hack that makes some $hitty BBQ....
  • HogHeaven
    HogHeaven Posts: 326
    Options
    cazzy said:
    All right sir...I'll check it out. Since you're about science, you need to get a immersion circulator. Sous Vide is the most accurate way to cook a cut of meat. The non redneck approach will win every time...

    I know huh... It's on my list. Since getting my BGE and being newly retired, and finding Amazingribs.com, I've discovered how little I knew about grilling and BBQ and smoking. Even though I've done both for the better part of 45 years. And... Because the ownser's Manual of my BGE says I can cook bread, I've taken take up too. I have my own sourdough starter that I'm learning to maintain and use. I can only do so much at a time. I have the Modernist Cuisine 6 book set that is probably the best format of learning about Sous Vide there is... I just like to operate a little at a time. I will work on that eventually.
  • cazzy
    cazzy Posts: 9,136
    edited April 2013
    Options
    Awesome! Congrats on the retirement sir! I have the home issue of modernist cuisine...love it!

    If you don't mind me asking, what did you retire from?
    Just a hack that makes some $hitty BBQ....
  • HogHeaven
    HogHeaven Posts: 326
    edited April 2013
    Options
    cazzy said:
    Awesome! Congrats on the retirement sir! I have the home issue of modernist cuisine...love it! If you don't mind me asking, what did you retire from?

    I was in the furniture manufacturing industry for 40 years... And made a few good investment's along the way. Obamacare was going to increase my cost of labor so much I had a willing buyer and sold out!
  • cazzy
    cazzy Posts: 9,136
    Options
    Good for you!! :)
    Just a hack that makes some $hitty BBQ....