Egg temperature

Unknown

What do I need to do to get my egg to high heat(above 750 degrees)? I have the bottom vent open all the way. I have tried with the lid open, with the regulator on top open all the way and with it off. I want it HOT for cooking steaks.[p]Thanks, Richard

Flashback Bob

Richard,
Bottom door wide open and the top off.
Give it time but don't walk away from it, that's how I fried my gasket.[p]Also, when starting the fire, if you use the BGE firestarters, use two or three and it will get your fire hotter quicker.

Sandbagger

Richard, first --- you sober, cause drunk people should not attempt this for the first time. [p]1. check to make sure (a) firebox hole and lower vent are align, (b) holes in firebox are open, (c) firebox reasonably clean of ash.
2. load firebox to top with new lump preferably, no real order of small or big pieces
3. Light the lump in at least 6 places, middle and points of star pattern. close the dome
4, make sure lower vent is wide open and top slider is off
5. give it twenty minutes for the lump to begin firing
6. optional, steal your wife's hairdryer and after you get the lump going, hit it with air through the lower vent, lots of air
7. EACH TIME YOU OPEN THE EGG (BEFORE AND DURING THE COOK) BE CAREFUL, BURP THE EGG SEVERAL TIMES. IF YOU DON'T YOU WILL CREATE A FLASHBACK AND BURN YOURSELF. BURP BY LIFTING THE DOME AN INCH OR TWO, HOLD A SECOND AND CLOSE, REPEAT. BURP THAT BABY SEVERAL TIMES, PRIOR TO OPENING.
8. When you jump the 500 degree mark on the bge thermometer, you can put the slider back on and begin regulating the temp with slider and lower vent.
9. If you can and still control the temperature, let the lump get that gray color affect.
10. after the cook, you need to keep an eye on the egg as it cools down, anything above 350 degrees. Open it for a second as it cools down, remember to burp until the possibilty of a flashback has past. This will help prevent your gaskets from fusing together.
11. now you can have a beer.[p]T[p]tom

Unknown

Sandbagger,
Thanks for the info. The "Richard' asking is not the one you know in Florida or maybe you know both of us? How is the large scallop project progressing??

Sandbagger

there is a litle richard in all of us...what, ya, who...

Unknown

Richard,[p]First. light your charcoal from under the grate. Just crumple up a couple pieces of newspaper, stuff them under the fire grate, and light them.
Leave the lower damper fully open and place a chimney extension on the top.[p]Lighting the coals from the bottom rather than the top will get a much larger quantity of coal working for you in a much shorter time.
The chimney extension, e.g.. a 3 foot piece of duct that just fits over the exhaust, will greatly increase draft.[p]Lastly, Watch your dome temp carefully!
Once the coal gets started your temps are going to go very high very fast.[p]Mike