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Do you need a gasket

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highpress
highpress Posts: 694
edited November -1 in EggHead Forum
How many of you guys are cooking w/out a gasket? I've read a few posts where some guys don't use them at all. Is there a notacable difference in cooking w/out one? Do you think the egg is more air-tight with a gasket as opposed to without? Allthough i guess the gasket must be doing something if people take the time ti replace a gasket instead of cooking without one.... :S just curious.
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Comments

  • Crimsongator
    Crimsongator Posts: 5,797
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    My gaskets are so flat and crusty after a few years of use. I have considered replacing, but they don't leak and I don't mind the looks.
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  • loco_engr
    loco_engr Posts: 5,765
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    I like the idea of having a gasket if for no other reason than for the cushion it provides.
    aka marysvilleksegghead
    Lrg 2008
    mini 2009
    XL 2021 (sold 8/24/23)
    Henny Youngman:
    I said to my wife, 'Where do you want to go for our anniversary?' She said, 'I want to go somewhere I've never been before.' I said, 'Try the kitchen.'
    Bob Hope: When I wake up in the morning, I don’t feel anything until noon, and then it’s time for my nap
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  • fishlessman
    fishlessman Posts: 32,759
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    gaskets are not needed, its a myth. well actually if you have a tendency to drop the dome they may help. mine leaks all over the place, not even a hint of gasket on there. there are people that wont get the temps up when needed because they are protecting the gasket, but i say if i want to cook my pizza at 1200 because thats what i want today, i cook at 1200 and dont worry, even with it leaking i can hold 145 degrees for several hours cooking jerky.
    fukahwee maine

    you can lead a fish to water but you can not make him drink it
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  • NoVA Bill
    NoVA Bill Posts: 3,005
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    From Dec thru Apr I went thru a couple of felt gaskets on my medium and in between I cooked without them - no noticable difference in eggin', albeit, I personally like the cushion provided given my heavy handedness.
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  • Mickey
    Mickey Posts: 19,674
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    Now cooking with a Large and Small - NO GASKET.
    Not finding any problems w/o gasket.
    My large lasted about 45 days from new and my small lasted about a 1 1/2 years.
    Not going to replace
    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.   

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  • Little Steven
    Little Steven Posts: 28,817
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    fishlessman,

    Can't burn em if y'aint got em. Peace of mind :P

    Steve

    Steve 

    Caledon, ON

     

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  • fishlessman
    fishlessman Posts: 32,759
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    and you really aint cooking if you cant get it hot hot hot. :laugh: scary opening a 1200 degree egg. never seen fire proof clothing listed as an accessory :laugh:
    fukahwee maine

    you can lead a fish to water but you can not make him drink it
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  • Davekatz
    Davekatz Posts: 763
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    I think it probably depends on how leaky your Egg is without them. Mine where black and crusty for about 2 years and I didn't have a problem. Then I got just enough of a leak to start throwing off my temps on low 'n' slow cooks.
    When I replaced them a couple weeks ago with Nomax, I noticed 2 places where the gasket was pretty much gone - one spot top left, one spot bottom right. With where my Egg sits on our deck, those 2 spots line right up with the direction of the prevailing winds. Might be coincidence, but I think that once the the wind started to blow it blew right through those gaps and messed up the temps.
    Food & Fire - The carnivorous ramblings of a gluten-free grill geek.
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  • Little Steven
    Little Steven Posts: 28,817
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    The best use of nomex.

    Steve

    Steve 

    Caledon, ON

     

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  • Grandpas Grub
    Grandpas Grub Posts: 14,226
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    Sounds like you need to do a dollar bill test and align the dome.

    If you have a Wavy Surface on the gasket surface, top or bottom that is another issue and needs to be addressed with BGE.

    GG
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  • Grandpas Grub
    Grandpas Grub Posts: 14,226
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    Reading some of the responses it seems like there needs to be some clarification. Gasket failure can actually be adhesive failure, most common

    medgasket3.jpg

    Actual gasket failure - top right (felt in this case)
    gasket_bge.jpg

    There is some felt gasket & gasket burn on the small pieces at the 9 o'clock position.

    gasket2.jpg

    My large has had several gasket replacements and for the most part I am cooking with not much if any gasket at all. Higher temperatures are not much of a problem. I can hold 200° dome with some fluctuation. Holding 275° dome is not much of a problem.

    The problem I have is the longer time it takes for the lump to go out.

    I have lost several gaskets on the medium, dome alignment is the biggest problem with that egg.

    No, the egg is not more air tight without a gasket.

    If the gasket was not needed I am sure BGE would want to save the non necessary cost and labor, let alone the aggravation of the 'bad batch' of adhesive that has prevailed over the last 5 or 6 months.

    GG
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  • Dr. Strangelove
    Dr. Strangelove Posts: 261
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    Haven't used one in years!
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