BGE VS. ELECTRIC OVEN

BBQJIM

I know I am about to commit blasphemy, but I cannot help myself.  I have been experimenting with cooking southern style cornbread (no sugar just buttermilk, egg, baking soda, and salt in a cast iron skillet at 450F.  I'm adding onion, bacon fresh corn and occasionally ham.  I recently added a little serrano chile(just the peel and no rine or seeds)

I see no advantage to using the BGE to cook this cornbread.  

1. It's a side dish and a good thirty minutes to get up to cooking temp and then another few to get the CI skillet up to temperature and then the actual cook time on top of that.

2.  It's a waste to try and smoke the cornbread cause it is not in there more that 10 to 15 minutes

3.  I can cook it in my Breville toaster oven in one half the time with the same results and I don't have to shake the cinders out of the BGE or a add more hardwood charcoal to the BGE.

4.  I can fry a piece of bacon in my CI skillet on the gas stove and use the hot grease to pour the batter into.

I love my BGE with all my heart and stomach but I am just sayin......

logchief

Makes sense to me, looks pretty tasty too.  If you were doing it in conjunction with something else.  But if somebody else likes it on the BGE more power to them.

SkinnyV

I feel the same way about pizza

fishlessman

but i can sit in my old teak rocker on the lower patio enjoying a beverage and watch bikini clad latino girls swimming across the lake while cooking that cornbread, just saying
sure beats standing in my worn out tiny kitchen watching an oven door
)

Skiddymarker

IMHO, no blasphemy at all. The egg is a cooking tool and like any other tool it has its strengths and it has its weaknesses. Breads and cakes can be made on the egg with good results, they can also be made in the oven (even a toaster oven) with great results - every time. 

Many wok on their egg, I prefer a high output propane burner. It has great temp control, can get hotter and is much easier to use. It is also ready in seconds. 

Every now and then SWMBO asks for a chicken done on the gasser with the rotisserie. Not better than an egg spatched yard bird - just different. 

Nice looking corn bread - are you using a fine meal? 

theyolksonyou

I grew up on corn bread in the ci out of the oven. I've thought I might try it on the egg just for giggles, but I certainly wouldn't fire it up just for corn bread.

itsmce

Corn bread on the egg is great.  I can't say that I'd ever go to the trouble to fire it up JUST to bake corn bread, but as a side with other egged items, it's hard to beat.

RRP

There's no law saying ONCE YOU BUY A BGE YOU CAN NEVER USE YOUR OVEN. On the other hand...Using my egg to bake chocolate cakes for instance may sound silly to some people, but the reason I do boils down to one simple fact...because I can! I always get a kick out of the look people have when I tell them I baked this on my egg!  

Terrebandit

Glad you've figured this out. One doesn't need to use the egg for everything. I do think that most things cooked on the egg do taste better but maybe not worth the hassle. Also, there are the intangibles like not firing up an oven on a hot day in the south, or impressing your friends and family with your outdoor cooking skills, or, bragging on social media or this forum. LOL.

Lit

I look at cooking a different way. Firing up the egg means I get to go outside with a beer and cook. My eggs are in the garage and we live in a cul de sac so neighbors stop by and I have a tv I can see from the egg so why be inside? If it takes longer that means I just get to hang out longer. I have fired up the egg to cook a totinos before. We moved into our house in May and the oven still hasn't been turned on.

BBQJIM

Thanks everybody for your input and understanding

BBQJIM

Skiddymarker, Yes it is fine cornmeal.

ksmyrl

+1 on what @lit said. Use the tool you like that is best for the task. No hatin here. But...life is full of "crazy hurry up and move on to the next thing", every day. It's amazing how taking the time to light a fire, prepare the food, make a cocktail, and fiddle with the egg is so relaxing to me. Equally amazing is how much I learn about my kids' days as we stand outside waiting on the egg to come up to temp. I hope they consider it quality time, I sure do.

Zmokin

I use my Egg when I want to smoke something.  Even if it is grilling something but wanting smoke.
I use a variety of other cooking tools when I'm not interested in smoke flavor.

BBQJIM

What ever floats your boats or cranks your handles

WeberWho

Haven't had a fully functional oven in the 3 years I've owned the house. No need with the egg. Replacement oven part - $20. Still not interested. I'll fire up the egg

NPHuskerFL

Different cooking vessels for cooking is not blasphemous. Although the BGE is perfect for most cooks I agree that cooking in other vessels is not off the table. But, if doing a big meal and the egg's thermal mass is already at desired temps I like to use it for the simple fact it is efficient. Good looking Southern Style Cornbread :-bd

SmokeyPitt

I definitely understand and appreciate the egg doesn't always make the most sense, especially when time is a factor.  Heck lately our kids have us running around so much it is a rare occasion we really get to "cook" anything.  Tonight Publix is cooking us a rotisserie chicken...talk about blasphemy! 

Mickey

Jim I did the other day on the Egg because I had never cooked cornbread on the Egg. It was fine, but like you, why? And why no bacon in that cornbread?

BBQJIM

Yeah,  Several people do it on the egg just for being outside and talking to neighbors etc. That's is reason enough for them.  As to the bacon it is one of the staples of life.

4Runner

That and during the summer with highs in the 90s I always look for a reason not to heat up my house with the oven.

BYS1981

Personal preferences is what it comes down to, but I am in the same boat. I also cook lasagna, cookies, bread, etc in the oven, I'm crazy.

JRWhitee

@JRWHITEE VS MY WIFE!

SGH

fishlessman said:

but i can sit in my old teak rocker on the lower patio enjoying a beverage and watch bikini clad latino girls swimming across the lake while cooking that cornbread, just saying
sure beats standing in my worn out tiny kitchen watching an oven door
)

I would love to see these bikini clad Latin beauties my friend. They are one of my very favorites :>

bcsnave

@SGH

 

Ummmm...can I come over