to all egg experts!

annajack

husband is getting lg egg today. what accessories are essential to have with the egg. hook an uneducated wife up please-ha[p]annajack

Chuck

annajack,[p]Make sure you get a BGE pizza stone. There have been many cracked pampered chef, etc. stones posted about. A plate setter is a great accessory as well, also made by BGE. If you bought it from a local dealer they should have these as well as other stuff there.[p]Chuck

eggor

annajack,
must have:
deep freeze
4 cuts of every kind of meat you can think of
three bags of lump
recipes[p]the rest will come in time[p]have fun

GBZee

annajack,
I agree with Chuck, Plate Setter and BGE Pizza Stone. I bake bread and pizza in the egg also and the extra ceramic mass of the thicker BGE stone is nice.[p]I like to cook a lot direct but need to get the grate higher above the coals. Some use fire bricks but many went the same route as me....get an extra grate and four 5 1/2 (or 6"?) stainless steel bolts with large washers. Bolt these to the circumference of the grill so that they will sit on the top of the fire ring lifting the grill higher from the coals.[p]You asked about the MAPP torch. I already had a ptopoane torch and find it lights the lump easily. MAPP is basically the same except uses a different fuel and burns hotter. The fuel is also more expensive then propoane, so you can decide it it's worht it the extra. I tried a lot of different lighting methods and the torch is my favorite. You cna find them in the plumbing section of Lowes etc.[p]Good luck with you Egg....enjoy and welcome!
-gb[p]

Prof Dan

annajack,[p]I would say start slow. I use the pizza stone, etc., but it took me a while to work up to that stuff. To start, be sure you have some good lump charcoal, a good pair of welding gloves [for sparks and heat], a brass wire brush to clean the grill, and maybe some fire starter cubes. [I use a MAPP torch, but the cubes are easier for a new egger.][p]Later, maybe get a grill topper, one of those things with the small holes that you use for grilling shrimp and vegetables.[p]I also discovered that for chicken [one of the most commonly cooked items], it really helps if you can lift the cooking grid up to about even with the top lip of the bottom half of the Egg. It prevents flare-ups. Different folks have different ways of lifting the grid. I use a metal frame that rests on the fire ring.[p]And be sure to calibrate the thermometer -- sometimes they come from the factory and they are far off. Just take it out and poke the end into boiling water. If it does not read 212 degrees, adjust the nut on the back of the thermometer with a wrench or a pair of pliers.[p]Welcome to the Club!

Banker John

annajack,
Here is a good list of eggcessories. Some are more essential than others but all find use in & around my egg.[p]Plate setter
Dome thermometer
Polder Thermometer for low n slo cooks
Thermapen for quick temp readings
Ash tool (some use a Lawn Ranger grid lifter but I don't have one)
Second grid modified with 5-1/2" stainless bolts to make a "raised grid" (this is essential)
Daisy wheel top vent (I think these are standard now)
nest wings or preferably a table for your egg
a nice pair of welder gloves
cast iron dutch oven if you plan any chili or other casseroles using a dutch oven
5 each of 1/2" brass elbows found in the plumbing section. these are used to raise the dutch oven off of the inverted plate setter for even indirect cooking
pizza stone (spend the extra on BGE stone... it's thicker and won't crack like other brands)
pizza peel
pizza screen
a large supply of lump charcoal
different smoking wood chunks (hickory, oak, mesquite, apple, cherry, alder, and the list goes on & on)
ample heavy duty aluminum foil
a supply of aluminum pie plates (i use them for drip pans on indirect cooks)
Finally, MAPP gas torch for easy lighting[p]Some of the items on my wish list are:
digital camera
a second egg, probably a mini or small to supplement and also be used for camping trips
an umbrella for my table to keep me in the shade[p]Here are what I feel are some not so needed accessories:
V-Rack. This is great for indirect cooks but have found that by inverting the plate setter and placing the grid on top of the legs, I accomplish the same thing.
Chicken sitter. Spatch **** chicken is way better IMHO.
Ceramic baking dish. I was given one of these as a gift and have only seen it used once by BobinFla when he cooked a roasted pumpkin. I guess if you wanted to bake pies, this would be needed.
Electric Charcoal lighter - get a MAPP torch instead[p]I know this may not be an all encompassing list. Of course there are things like what to store lump in (5 gallon bucket, rubbermaid bins, etc), what to store the liquid grilling beverages in (ice chest or dorm size fridge, etc), what is necessary to open said beverages (bottle openers, corkscrews, etc.) and of course, the sound system that may need to be designed around your grilling experiences. Not all of the items in this list are absolutely needed (or wanted). The great thing about this is that YOU get to decide what is important for you.[p]Best of luck with the new toy! Visit often and share your new experiences. There are some great sites that helped me when I first got started. Check out NakedWhiz.com and be sure to read about flashback. I think (it has been a while) that TimM also has a site that showed some great tips & techniques. We all hope to read your posts and don't be afraid to ask questions here. You will find many new family members to help you.[p]Banker John[p]

J Appledog

Banker John, The grill/grate grabber tool came with my large & I find it invaluable. Julie

The Naked Whiz

Banker John,
Before I went out and bought a MAPP torch, I think I'd wait a bit and see if Shotgun Fred at BBQ Guru starts selling his MAPP lighting accessory. Unless you have a need for the torch that comes with the MAPP kit, Fred's accessory is a lot better (in my opinion) for lighting charcoal. No sparking. So, you could buy Fred's gizmo and just a tank of MAPP gas and not have to buy the torch.[p]TNW

tn slagamater

The Naked Whiz, uh oh, sounds like another eggcessory... what is it....