anyone grill without the fire ring??

smokesniffer · February 2014

I was wondering if anyone has done this, or if it would be harmful to the egg itself. My idea was that the grill would rest on the firebox ring, lowering it down and then being able to place another grill on top of the one on the firebox. Does the fire ring help as an insulator against the ceramics of the egg itself. Was thinking that if this was do-able , you could put more butts or brisket on and still use the PS.

Fred19Flintstone · February 2014

I don't, but I made an exception here. Here's a thread from last year about doing a chicken vertically in my mini. The fire ring must be removed to make space for it.

http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1148441/mini-chicken-a-la-the-smoking-guitar-player-a-spatched-chickie-on-the-small-plenty-o-pix#latest

smokesniffer · February 2014

@Fred, cool that is what I was thinking, getting the grill down lower, no ill affects on the egg without the upper ring??

SGH · February 2014

smokesniffer Im no eggspert but im going to chime in any way. Something I have noticed about different year eggs is that the taper on the body is different. That being said you can get away with it on some eggs but not others. Look and see how close your grate is to the walls with the fire ring out. If there is not a pretty good gap i would not chance it. I have a friend who was doing the very thing that you are considering and the cast iron grate expanded and busted the wall of his egg. I am speaking of large eggs only as they are the only ones im familar with. Maybe others can give you more info but my advice is to look very close at the distance from your grate to you wall before you chance it. You have been warned my friend. Proceed at your own risk my friend.

SGH · February 2014

This is just my opinion but if you are trying to get closer to the lump for searing i would recommend a spider over removing the fire ring. Always better to be safe than sorry. Hope this helps.

Fred19Flintstone · February 2014

smokesniffer said:

@Fred, cool that is what I was thinking, getting the grill down lower, no ill affects on the egg without the upper ring??

No ill effects on the mini. That is the only time I've cooked without the fire ring in any of my eggs so I'm no expert. If your goal is to get the grill lower, check into the spider from www.ceramicgrillstore.com. If you want your grid closer to the lump, the simple solution would be to load more lump (bringing the lump closer to the grid). Just a thought. Good luck!

smokesniffer · February 2014

Thanks for the info and caution in considering this. Sounds like this could be a dangerous idea. Think I will reconsider my options and take a look at the spider.

JEC23 · February 2014

I'm fairly certain that will void your warranty if something went wrong, not sure how they would tell but not worth the risk for me, go for the spider or maybe the reduced height fire ring if you have a large (judging by the regret thread you should be able to pick one up cheap from another member

cookingdude555 · February 2014

Yes, I've done it on the mini and the small.

Mattman3969 · February 2014

I have done it on the small to gain height to cook a ham with no issues

bettysnephew · February 2014

It would not work on my XL when the Great Turkey Fiasco happened last Thanksgiving. The grid is too large to fit down upon the lower rim and I figured expansion might break the wall of the Egg so did not proceed. Your Egg depending on when it was made may fit differently, but make sure there is room for the grid to expand as noted above.

smokesniffer · February 2014

Thanks everyone.

Mickey · February 2014

Lots do for hot and fast steak.

MaskedMarvel · February 2014

JEC23 said:

I'm fairly certain that will void your warranty if something went wrong, not sure how they would tell but not worth the risk for me, go for the spider or maybe the reduced height fire ring if you have a large (judging by the regret thread you should be able to pick one up cheap from another member

Voids the warranty? I don't think so. Are you putting lump above the firebox against the wall of the egg?

smokesniffer · February 2014

MaskedMarvel said:

JEC23 said:

I'm fairly certain that will void your warranty if something went wrong, not sure how they would tell but not worth the risk for me, go for the spider or maybe the reduced height fire ring if you have a large (judging by the regret thread you should be able to pick one up cheap from another member

Voids the warranty? I don't think so. Are you putting lump above the firebox against the wall of the egg?

I would not be putting lump above the fire box, just taking out the fire ring so that I would end up with more depth in the egg, due to the fire ring being taken out. My rational was gaining some depth for say more pork butts or briskets. Layers if you will. Was thinking about taking the ring out of either my small or large egg and then using a second grill. Biggest concern is: am I taking to much of a risk of cracking my egg.

smokesniffer · February 2014

Mickey said:

Lots do for hot and fast steak.

with this being said, I really shouldn't have any trouble with a low and slow cook huh. Just not as much capacity for lump. I don't that would be an issue with the large, not sure with the small on a longer cook.

SGH · February 2014

smokesniffer Dont chance it brother. I will send you my spider if you are desperate but please dont risk busting your egg.

smokesniffer · February 2014

SGH said:

smokesniffer Dont chance it brother. I will send you my spider if you are desperate but please dont risk busting your egg.

@SGH, Ok you win

. I won't do it. I promise.. Let this thread die

MaskedMarvel · February 2014

Nah - go for it. If the lump isn't up against the wall of the Egg you're not pressing anything up against it, you're fine. Honestly, I don't even think having lump over the firebox against the wall would hurt it, either. It's kiln ceramic. High heat is what it does... You're under warranty right?

I just don't know if I could get enough lump in the firebox for a low and slow..

MaskedMarvel · February 2014

You should get a spider, regardless. One of what I consider the essentials for good Egging.

SGH · February 2014

Its dead brother!

smokesniffer · February 2014

@SGH Amen Brother!

jaydub58 · February 2014

Fred19Flintstone said:

I don't, but I made an exception here. Here's a thread from last year about doing a chicken vertically in my mini. The fire ring must be removed to make space for it.
http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1148441/mini-chicken-a-la-the-smoking-guitar-player-a-spatched-chickie-on-the-small-plenty-o-pix#latest

Very good post, @Fred, thanks. I couldn't tell, did you use thek old beer can trick to sit the bird up in the mini?
I'd llke to try that.
TIA

laserdoc85 · February 2014

I allways remove my fire ring and drop my grate down on top of the fire box when I'm cooking steaks. No bad effects on my 14 year old medium egg.

Fred19Flintstone · February 2014

jaydub58 said:

Fred19Flintstone said:

I don't, but I made an exception here. Here's a thread from last year about doing a chicken vertically in my mini. The fire ring must be removed to make space for it.
http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1148441/mini-chicken-a-la-the-smoking-guitar-player-a-spatched-chickie-on-the-small-plenty-o-pix#latest

Very good post, @Fred, thanks. I couldn't tell, did you use thek old beer can trick to sit the bird up in the mini?
I'd llke to try that.
TIA

When I did that, I used a beer butt chicken holder, but no beer. I cooked that at my Mom's house and she likes her beverages from a bottle. Not a beer can in sight. I wasn't bright enough to pick up a six pack when I went there, but I was bright enough to drink her free beer while I was cooking.

anyone grill without the fire ring??

Comments

Categories