USING THE BGE IN FREEZING TEMP?

NIGHTBREED

I just want to make sure that i can use the BGE in the freezing cold.
Don't want my baby to crack.[p]Any feedback would be greatly appreciated because i want to use it tonight for some steaks...god i'm hungry now...[p]Thanks

Nature Boy

NIGHTBREED,
Cook away. A tad nippy here today too!
Enjoy the steaks. Cheers!
Chris

Tim M

<p />NIGHTBREED,[p]Yes you can. It's 46° and 17-25 kt winds![p]Tim

Marvin

NIGHTBREED,
It was 20 deg when we roasted our turkey this year - no problems. If you bring everything up to temp at the same time, no cracking. We cook all winter long; brushing the snow away - today, it's a foot - is sometimes a pain. But the food from the egg is worth it. Have fun.

BlueSmoke

NIGHTBREED,
Two problems with cold-weather cooking: it's harder to admire the Egg while you're shivering, and, beer turns to slush.
Seriously, like the folks below, I cook year-round out here in Colorado.
Look close at TimM's picture - if I'm not mistaken the dome is frozen shut (see the icicles?) and he's heating it with a starter cube placed below the grate.
Ken

Fairalbion

NIGHTBREED,
Your steaks will be fine - cook away. [p]The only time you'd notice a meaningful difference would be during an extended slow cook when you'd probably need to add rather more lump than normal to compensate for the increased thermal loss. Even with the egg's excellent insulation properties, you are going to use more fuel to maintain dome temp when the ambient temp is in the low 20s than would be the case if in were in, say, the 40s or 50s. This is especially marked during lengthy cooking sessions in cold AND windy conditions.[p]I bet we'd save fuel by building a fiberglass-filled cold weather dome blanket to cover the egg lid. I imagine something shaped like a large half-spherical orange peel with a hole in the center for the vent. :-)

StumpBaby

Fairalbion,[p]Regarding that dome blanket. Call me lucky..but I've been able to use one of mommas old hats. It's a perfect fit for my medium egg. Sometimes it pays to have a momma with a giant head. [p]StumpBaby

Berky

NIGHTBREED,
I live in Northern Ontario and I egg 12 months a year. I just did a turkey yesterday and it was -18 celcius which is about 10 degrees in the US. No problems!
One of the tricks I learned is to slide a piece of wax paper under the lid so it doesn't freeze shut.
Have Fun,
Kevin Berkenbosch

Earl

berky,
Where about's in the north? Just got back from Kirkland Lake moose hunting not to long ago.[p]Earl

Carl T

<p />NIGHTBREED,[p]Cooking in the cold is rather enjoyable. I am always impressed the way the egg hold temp thru the night no matter what the weather conditions.[p]Carl T

Berky

Earl,
Hey Earl,
I am in Sudbury. I was in Kirkland Lake myself back in August for a little golf tournament. Nice country over there.
Did you get a moose?
Kevin Berkenbosch

BBQfan1

Berky,
Don't know about moose, but Earl manages to dish up a lot of bull each year! LOL
I'm in the balmy armpit of Ontario, down in London, and am able to get together with Earl and several other Ontario bbq'ers on a semi-regular basis! Let us know when you get down to our neck of the woods......
Qfan

Earl

Berky,
Good Morning:[p] We got some unbelievable video of a bull moose walking right under our tree stand. We didn't have a tag so we just watch it move around. Keeping with the form rules, i took 2 large eggs & cooked up a batch of ribs, fish & other great stuff. Like Mike mentioned, if you plan on a trip to Toronto, give us an e-mail first & we can get together for a bit. By the way, Mike mentioned London was the armpit of Canada, i would go a little lower on the anatomy to discribe it.Haa Haa[p]Earl