BGE Must Have Accessories

dirty_denim86

Just bought my LBGE last week and have picked up a few accessories/tools. Latest purchase is the Maverick ET-733 Thermometer and I'm currently looking for the Kamado Joe Divide and Conquer system for the egg.

I was wondering what are some of the must have accessories that you guys use with your BGE?

bettysnephew

Thermapen or Thermopop for quick reads for steaks. They also keep the Mav honest

ChrisgrillsSTLMO

Greetings-

Congrats on the purchase. Here are my most used accessories in no particular order.

1. Platesetter
2. Ash tool & ash collector that hooks up to the bottom vent
3. Half moon plate for doing reverse sear

Hope this helps, enjoy!

Cheers,

SkinnyV

I'd get oval AR over divide and conquer.

dirty_denim86

SkinnyV said:

I'd get oval AR over divide and conquer.

Just took a look I'm liking a the adjustable rig shipping to Canada is about $80 so that kind of kills it for me.

SkinnyV

Yeah one thing his shipping is a bit high even in the states... X_X

dirty_denim86

Are there any big issues with going with the oval over the round ceramic stone?

I know the oval is definitely good for making ribs and brisket but how about smoking chicken where most of the indirect heat will come from the sides of the oval stone.

Tinyfish

@dirty_denim86 like you I'm in Canada too Toronto. I didn't want to pay the shipping either but there's no product like the AR. So I finally ordered it, the quality is number 1 and will last a lifetime. I've spent $ on worse things then that. I've now ordered two AR's, one to Toronto and the second one to a friends friend in Buffalo who then crossed the border to deliver it.

Hope this helps.

Carolina Q

A lot depends on what you plan to cook and how much of it. For example, I am perfectly fine without an AR. Can't think of a single time in my 5+ years of egging when I wished I had one. Others use them all the time. My platesetter is all I use for indirect cooks and a second grid plus some carriage bolts raises my grid just fine. Nothing against the AR, everyone seems to love 'em. I just have no need for one.

Also, you might want to wait awhile before you decide what is a must have. I thought a maverick and a DigiQ were must haves. I use the DigiQ occasionally, but would have been fine without it. Almost never bother with the Mav.

Oh yeah, some sort of lighting would be nice. I use a flashlight... not the best plan.

Chubbs

Lump meat fire

dirty_denim86

Tinyfish said:

@dirty_denim86 like you I'm in Canada too Toronto. I didn't want to pay the shipping either but there's no product like the AR. So I finally ordered it, the quality is number 1 and will last a lifetime. I've spent $ on worse things then that. I've now ordered two AR's, one to Toronto and the second one to a friends friend in Buffalo who then crossed the border to deliver it.

Hope this helps.

On your order did you have to pay any duty on your shipped order?

mahenryak

Tinyfish said:

@dirty_denim86 like you I'm in Canada too Toronto. I didn't want to pay the shipping either but there's no product like the AR. So I finally ordered it, the quality is number 1 and will last a lifetime. I've spent $ on worse things then that. I've now ordered two AR's, one to Toronto and the second one to a friends friend in Buffalo who then crossed the border to deliver it.

Hope this helps.

I second that.  I live in Alaska so, I, too, had to pay a premium for shipping.  I am extremely pleased with the product and have no regrets. 

LKNEgg

None of the accessories really matter, you have a BGE! The accessories are just icing on the cake!

SkinnyV

LKNEgg said:

None of the accessories really matter, you have a BGE! The accessories are just icing on the cake!

"disagree"

The egg to me is unusable with the stock grid placement so close to the lump. You need an indirect cooking vessel as well.

I must say I have not used one of my eggs stock....but that grid placement out the no baffles me.

TMay

Thermoworks Thermapen & Timestick, Ceramic grill store adjustable rig

Chubbs

Need a raised direct setup. This can be achieved with 3 bricks in fire ring or by hitting the ceramic grill store. There is a setup for everyone's budget, sometimes it just requires some ingenuity.

My "must haves" are thermopen, adjustable rig with stone for large woo with stone for mini, maverick for my overnights (so I can sleep) and a second fridge for booze.

dirty_denim86

Chubbs said:

Need a raised direct setup. This can be achieved with 3 bricks in fire ring or by hitting the ceramic grill store. There is a setup for everyone's budget, sometimes it just requires some ingenuity.

My "must haves" are thermopen, adjustable rig with stone for large woo with stone for mini, maverick for my overnights (so I can sleep) and a second fridge for booze.

Currently for my raise I am using 2 fire bricks it works. I also have a plate setter but will hold off using it until I can decide on the oval AR Combo or the round stone I'm just not a fan of the platesetter design with those heat zones.

Jeepster47

+1 for @Chubbs recommendations.  Especially "There is a setup for everyone's budget, sometimes it just requires some ingenuity."

Eggerty

I agree with @chubbs as well.  I think there are a lot of cool products out there but if you are on a budget then ingenuity comes into play.  For the longest time I used beer cans to raise my grid to felt line.  Worked well enough.  Stability was a downside.  There is always more than 1 way to skin a cat.  I would get to know the EGG first and what you like to cook and how you like to cook it.  From that point you can experiment with fire bricks and cans to create setups.

All that being said...

I do have an AR now with Extended rack.  I wouldn't trade anything for it.  Do I think it is a necessity?  No but it makes life SO MUCH Easier! Thermopen as others have said is a must as well.  I do have an igrill2 but that is more for convenience.  

So many great products out there... 

Terrebandit

@Chubbs nailed it. Extra fridge for booze.

4Runner

AR is a must. The poster that doesn't need one is because he has the platesetter and a homemade AR. Either way, the functionality is needed. Can't go wrong with the AR for sure.

Jeepster47

@4Runner ... your spelling auto correct must have kicked in ... I'm sure you were typing that the "AR is a nice option."

If the egg came with a plate setter, then a PSWoo, a cheap 13 inch Weber grill, and either bolts or bricks is an inexpensive alternative.  After cooking with that setup for awhile, you should be more knowledgeable about what you need in an AR setup ... or if you need it at all.

theyolksonyou

^^^^i keep shaking my phone, but the like button still doesn't show.

Jeepster47

theyolksonyou said:

^^^^i keep shaking my phone, but the like button still doesn't show.

It's all in the wrist ... just keep trying it'll come to you ... eventually.

4Runner

Jeepster47 said:

@4Runner ... your spelling auto correct must have kicked in ... I'm sure you were typing that the "AR is a nice option."

If the egg came with a plate setter, then a PSWoo, a cheap 13 inch Weber grill, and either bolts or bricks is an inexpensive alternative.  After cooking with that setup for awhile, you should be more knowledgeable about what you need in an AR setup ... or if you need it at all.

No auto correct...but your reading comprehension could stand improvement.

UrbanForestTurnings

I use fire bricks to raise a extra grill grate

Have fun shopping for all the new toys

Terrebandit

The AR is way easier to cook on multiple levels and raised direct. If you can afford it, I'd get it.

stompbox

Meat gloves. Revoving turkeys and large pieces of pork or beef has never been so easy.

dirty_denim86

Think I'm going to grab the adjustable rig after all.

Any reason why I would go with the round stone over the oval?

Chubbs

If you cook a lot if ribs and brisket, R&B combo. Better coverage for long meats so they are not over direct flame

Ballardbbq

SkinnyV said:

LKNEgg said:

None of the accessories really matter, you have a BGE! The accessories are just icing on the cake!

"disagree"

The egg to me is unusable with the stock grid placement so close to the lump. You need an indirect cooking vessel as well.

I must say I have not used one of my eggs stock....but that grid placement out the no baffles me.

I agree 100% with SkinnyV. If I had my Egg and not gotten accessories like the AR for the large and the Mini-Max woo from Ceramic Grill Store I would probably hardly use it. One time someone on the forum said they worked with someone who never uses their BGE, my thought was 'no accessories'.