Tips for first time egg user

slowcooker

I am planning on buying the large next week at Ace for 699.00. This is the lowest price I could find. I have not decided on the nest or the cart at this time. Does the nest offer any advantages over the cart other than saving space? Also as I have never used a BGE I am looking for tips and suggestions so I avoid making mistakes. The grill looks simple and straight forward and I have many years of slow cooking and grilling experience but like I said I have never used a BGE.

Thanks

OttawaEgg

Hey, learning is all part of the fun!

I went with the large with the nest (so I could move it around my deck) as well as the "wings". I might have gotten the cart if it wasn't a gazzilon dollars (the egg is pricey enough).

Now I'm no eggspert, but I would do a couple things while assembling:

- make sure the top and bottom are aligned properly
- make sure your bottom vent is centered between the nest legs (if you get a nest)
- check the two "band bolts" after you've used it a couple of times, you cannot over tighten those.

My dealer put mine together, and those were the two things I did. Then I watched the DVD (and salivated).

fishlessman

my eggs sit on a paver directly on the ground, if you think you might make a table down the road, skip the nest. i would also say skip the platesetter and get a pizza stone or two, a spider, and an adjustable rack. it really gives you alot of cooking options. if you want to go cheap, all you really need is a second grill, a few firebrick splits, and a pizza stone, i cooked that way for years and there is nothing you cant do that anyone here is doing with all the expensive setups

Grand Oeuf Vert

Nest or table is just your preference. Table has wheels and will be more stable. On the nest, if you hit a bump, you have to remember your BGE is top heavy.
The important thing is the food taste the same!
Do forget your Eggcessories. Plate Setter, Ash Tool, etc.
You are in for an Eggcellent adventure!

gdenby

I've gotten by for several years with just nests. My Eggs are next to an old yard bench, which is (just) adequate for setting down tongs, trays, bottles of sauce, etc. You will most likely want close access to some flat surface.

The single thing that has been the greatest convenience has been the raised grate I made from and old Brinkman grate and some bolts and washers. It brings the cooking surface up to the top of the bottom section, and leaves plenty of room for drip pans, fire bricks, etc on the bottom grill.

You will probably find yourself buying all sorts of accessories as time goes by, and you begin to appreciate the versatility the Egg offers. However, you can get started with grilling and slow cooking with just a raised grid and some sort of heat deflector.

WessB

It should include a DVD that will answer MANY of your first time questions...you may also gain some insight from my website linked below...but if you've really got some time to kill, read around The Naked Whiz's website...a wealth of knowledge would be an understatement....Welcome....

Dude!

As an Egger celebrating my first week anniversary today (ribs are on as we speak), I can say that I agree with all of what's been said, and maybe I can add a couple of things:

Read up, on here, and on the naked whiz, but don't read *too* much. If you're a somewhat experienced cook, then get out there and cook. I approached the egg with a fair amount of trepidation, but still got out there and went after it, and I've found it to be very forgiving. You'll learn only so much reading, and after you have some cooks under your belt what's out there to be read will make that much more sense to you.

I chose what I thought were easy dishes for my first 5, though I guess some would disagree:

Spatchcocked Chicken (there's nothing easier, IMHO)
Salmon Filets
Boston Butt (had an overnight fire problem, hopefully solved with some more practice and the purchase of a remote thermometer)
Burgers
Baby Back Ribs

At the least, these dishes were at least as good as I've ever done them via any other method, and at best they were damned good, period.

Finally, welcome - we look forward to pictures!

Nicolas_Kershanko

Being a new egger this spring, my advice is
- Egg often!

Use any excuse you can get to fire up and feed the green monster.

Seriously, the more you 'practice' the better you will understand how the eggs behave under the various cooks.
Things like how to properly build the lump, control the air, shut down the fire, clean out the egg, cooking direct and indirect are all things I am still trying to learn.

I figure I will be learning for a couple of seasons to really get a true grasp on the egg.

Good luck