Lump reducing ring in a xl

Btbeam · August 2013

Does anyone use a reducing ring to save on lump for the xl. If so did you diy one?

Doc_Eggerton · August 2013

Want mine, it is a complete waste. Just load the lump you want, you don't need a ring.

tjv · August 2013

Ya I did, DIY. Sorry man could not resist......Lol. T

dlk7 · August 2013

I agree with doc, either load what you need or only light under what you are cooking.

travisstrick · August 2013

Doc is a top chef and you can trust what he says. I do.

That being said, I got a ring about 8 months ago and haven't taken it out since. It is superior in evey way.

At a min, I'd say its worth a try.

Black_Badger · August 2013

Hey @Doc_Eggerton, have you ever used your ring for a wok cook? I was thinking about having one made up for the wok so I could limit the singed forearms. If it's not helpful I don't bother.

Cheers

B_B

stevesails · August 2013

I bought one. Don't bother. You can have mine for $20 plus shipping

Doc_Eggerton · August 2013

Black_Badger said:

Hey @Doc_Eggerton, have you ever used your ring for a wok cook? I was thinking about having one made up for the wok so I could limit the singed forearms. If it's not helpful I don't bother.

Cheers
B_B

I use a Woo. This is the best thing the Ceramic Grill Store sells. Possibly my most important accessory.

stlcharcoal · August 2013

I doesn't matter if you only use half the fire box, or the whole fire box.......you still need to heat the same amount of space on the inside of the XL.

The ones I've seen before are the same diameter of the fire grate in the XL.....18". The grate is 22". So you reduce by 2" on each side??? Is that really going to do anything?

The only time I can see reducing the area is if you JUST want to sear something. Then you could just get a ripping fire in a corner without lighting up the whole thing. But if you still have lump in the egg, are you going to remove it, put the ring or fire bricks in, then load it again? That's a good excuse to buy a second Egg!

The Big Joe and the Primo both have ceramic dividers that slide in the firebox. Kind of cool......

R2Egg2Q · August 2013

The CGS ring is about 14" in diameter. It pairs up well with a larger wok on a spider or Woo2. Same for a paella pan about the same size diameter. In my experience with mine, I believe it helps in reducing the "cooked forearm" that can occur in a wok or paella cook. That said, you can also pile your lump in a smaller diameter and get a similar effect.

mimauler · August 2013

I don't...I could see where it would work but I also could see where almost every accessory would work..when do you stop???

Btbeam · August 2013

Seems like something I may wait for thanks for the input. This is all new to me soi appreciate the help

tjv · August 2013

The lump rings are an aid to help manage small cooks in the xl egg. The CGS ring is approx. 14 inches in diameter and holds about as much lump as the large bge firebox. It's sized to work with BGE's medium cast iron grid, woks on rings or bayou classic's blackening skillets. Handy to sear right above the lump.

It takes less than two minutes to set and fill. With latex gloves on (same gloves one wears to prep the meat) wiggle it down into the lump, grab the lump outside the ring and put inside, add new lump if needed and light in multiple spots. Toss gloves and keep moving.

The biggest comment I hear from prospective xl owners is: The xl cooker is to big for our normal size cooks but we want the extra room for parties or Q cooks. Normal being a couple steaks/burgers or a chicken. The rings are a simple way to provide a constant grilling/lump area for these smaller cooks. Since the rings coral the lump, you can have a constant level burn, no mounding affect, so more consistent temperatures across the entire 14" cooking area. This is a plus on searing. Having the lump in the middle of the cooker, provides a more normal cooking experience within the cooker and aids in air flow for the lump. It can save on lump. For some, these are important features when grilling small in an xl size cooker.

I don't think I've ever used it and wondered how hot the ceramic dome or base is. It's not so much about heating up the cooker or air inside the cooker, it's about what's going on right at the grid.

The biggest hurdle in using it taking the extra second or two and actually use it. I just keep mine in the egg, as almost all my grilling cooks are small. There are only 3 in the family. Having a consistent grilling area from cook to cook is a big plus for me.

t

Goatsegg · August 2013

I got a lump reducing ring from CGS and really like it. I use it for smaller cooks and like that it constrains the radius of the heat source. I had my egg for a while before I got the ring and agree that you can just make a smaller fire. Since I got the ring, I have kept it in the grill unless I'm doing a low and slow or cooking a for a crowd. XL rig and Woo kicks ass, too. Great stuff at CGS.

stlcharcoal · August 2013

I'm not a big fan of the XL......I don't use mine very much. When doing 4 butts, 2 packer briskets, or 2 turkeys.....that's when I use it. But otherwise, if I had it to do over again, I would have two Larges in place of the XL.

As my children are eating more and more now, I'm using the medium even less--that used to be the most used one.

Three Larges--that's how I would do it in hindsight. But the M, L, and XL, (and Rebel23), will work for now.

Ragtop99 · August 2013

Small cooks I'lll just use the left over lump and burn that. I just pile up the lump in the front of my cooker when that's all I need. I could see it being handy for wokking, since the ring would keep the fire centered below the wok.

Lump reducing ring in a xl

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