Mold in my green egg.

Unknown

I am experiencing mold in my green egg. any suggestions on how to avoid and clean the mold.
Appreciate your feedback.
Stacey

Essex County

Stacey,

The standard advice is to burn it off prior to your next cook. The way to avoid it? Cook more often! I've got three eggs. Sometimes it will be several weeks before one of them gets used. I have never experienced mold. Maybe it's the climate? I'm in Massachusetts.
Paul

Unknown

Stacey Venker,
Yeah. Use it and mold can't grow. Build a nice hot fire to kill it.[p]Use the fire, Stacey, use the fire.[p]Obi

Unknown

I was having that problem as well if it sits for a while unused, I prop the lid open about an inch and don't have the problem anymore.

WileECoyote

Mold grows wherever spores, a food source, and moisture are present, thus the inside of your egg is a perfect incubator when left unused for any period of time. Some molds grow faster than others and most thrive in damp warm climates.

The ceramic egg walls trap the moisture and a few degrees of heat inside on a sunny day, and there are plenty of food sources on the interior surfaces including leftover bits of meat, glaze, fat, sugars, juices, unburnt wood, etc. The spores come from the outdoor air.

The spores are killed and the moisture/food bits are driven out by a hot cooking fire which is why the mold stays away during frequent use. If you are going to keep the egg in storage for any period of time then consider doing a hot burn and cleaning it well, then seal the top and vent areas off with plastic to keep the moisture out. Or just prop the lid open a bit which may allow the air to circulate inside enough to keep the moisture levels low, although this might make matters worse if the egg is exposed to rain or snow.