Possible new egger?? but very confused

twovkay

I'm looking to buy a BGE, but I'm confused about the size I might need and the extras I should get. I've read a lot of the posting from newbies and am confused about the accessories. Should I get a platesetter and pizza stone or get an adjustable rig and pizza stone? The only request from my spouse is that we can make pizza. So...pizza stone is a must. Now the question is AR or platesetter and what other items? My plan is to have the ability to sear and smoke.

Also starting the charcoal: Read many posting about using the wax matches or squares, I've also read about the log starter? I have a box of log starter for the fireplace and could break them down. Am I in the right ballpark, or they not good for food? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

sharhamm

Most of the log starters for fireplaces say "not for use with food consumption" as they have chemicals in them. Would not use one in my eggs.

Crimsongator

Buy the largest that you can afford comfortably. The large would be an excellent choice. The platesetter is a must for indirect cooking, everything else can be argued.

twovkay

Thanks, will not use the log starters. What do you use?

Isolated01

I would also get the platesetter. I use the wax starters sold by BGE or the isopropyl alcohol method.

Ross in Ventura

I use a platesetter pizza stone separated with egg feet,if you want to cook higher in the dome you can build a extended grid with 4-SS 4 1/5 in bolts3/8,12 washers, 12 nuts, a weber 17 1/2 in. grid
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Extended grid
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You well save yourself some money

Ross

Ross in Ventura

I also use a MAPPS torch to light my lg Egg

Ross

Zinger

For pizza I tried the Ar w/ spider and stone for heat deflection. Put pizza stone on grid at highest level.

I prefer the plate setter with legs turned down, and spacers between the top of the plate setter and the stone. This is my personal prefreance .

Please understand that this takes nothing away from the uses that the AR will provide you. It is a wonderful way to cook more meat in a single cook .

That being said.... I use a wet and sticky dough, and cook at high temps (750 to 800). The combo I use just seems to cook my pies a bit better. If you cook at these temps you will fry your felt gasket. There are other options out there (BGE Nomex, or Rutland are a couple). I have two eggs. One for high heat, one for low. The gasket on my high heat egg has been gone for some time.

When i'm cooking low and slow, and making 3 pork butts or, less, a brisket or 1 or 2 racks of ribs. I use the plate setter, legs up with drip pan. If I need to cook more than that I use the Ar with spider and 13 inch stone.

Hope this helps
Mike

lowercasebill

for the price of an xl you can get a large and a small ,, i have a large and a mini and want them all but the large mini combo works for me , i cook for 2-3. how many are you cooking for??? you canget a lot off food on a large ,, , for pizza i would go with the plate setter and the stone and 3 extra feet [about $9] to separate them ,, i realy wish i had the adjustable rig with spider and stone that is much more versitile. i cooked for 2 years direct or with food on a rack above a 1/2 steam tray and still do it.. works great for chicken,,
your first accessory is a thermopen, period,, it will make you a better cook ..period.
zippylips pizza recipe is a great start search his posts,
i use a weed burner or mapp torch to start.
and....... you can sear, smoke, roast, bake anything that you can cook can be cooked on the egg ,,

Mr. & Mrs Potatohead

You will surely get an ear full and all sort of opinion here!!!
I do slow cooks with ribs, roasts, turkey and ham. We love doing pizza pie, chicken, burgers and steaks. I have also do soups, stews, gumbo and casseroles. I’m sure I’m forgetting something….BUT!!
As for size: I’m very happy with the Lg. but I do feel I need another. An Ex. Lg. wouldn’t do the trick for me here, as I want different temps. not necessarily more space.
I have a plate setter, two stones and an extended rig / grid. At this point I don’t see the need for anything else except maybe a third hand.
Hope that helps some.

AUPr8Hd

I'm a newbie and can tell you what I have purchased initially.

- Platesetter
- Cast iron grate

I already had a pizza stone that I intend to use.

As far as lighting, I am starting by using the paper towel and vegetable oil method. You can check out the following link for some helpful tips from Grandpas Grub

http://www.eggheadforum.com/index.php?option=com_simpleboard&func=view&id=817979&catid=1

twovkay

Mike,

Thanks for the info and the felt gasket. Would never know about it until the first high heat grill. Where do you purchase BGE Nomex, or Rutland? Online or at the BGE dealers?

Grillsandmore

Hi I'm gonna tell you what I have and you can go from there. A large BGE, plate setter, pizza stone, cast iron grill, grill extender, cover, and most important electric fire starter. I would highly recommend these items. I know you were asking about starting the fire. With the fire starter I can get my grill to about 450*F within about ten minutes of starting. They run about 25 dollars and in my opinion well worth it! Hope this helps and good luck.

pattikake

Welcome newbie, I have a platesetter and the AR I use both. Pizza stone is a must


Patti
Wichita, KS

Florida Grillin Girl

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Don't go all crazy. I owned my 1st large egg for 13 years with no accessories at all, just used some ingenuity. There are all kinds of ways to cook indirectly.

You will need the BGE pizza stone for pizza - don't use the Pampered Chef one in the egg.

Faith

thebtls

You need to do a few cooks before you go cranking the egg up to 600 for pizza...or you will be posting your melted gasket story.

Large seems to do the trick for most. As for accessories, the Platesettter and Pizza stone are plenty to start with.

Everything else will come to you as you determine what YOU want to cook and how YOU want to do it. You could spend hundreds on cookware alone, and a lot of people leave that out initially, but you'll figure it out one cook at a time.

Keep On Eggin' (After you get started that is!)

Hungry in Lilburn

I am a MAPP GAS convert. I turn on the tank, press the trigger, 60 seconds in three different places and WHAMO PRESTO big honking fire in 10 to 15 mintues!

70chevelle

I bought a large with a platesetter when I got my egg. I already had a pizza stone or two and when I made pizza, I used the platesetter, feet up then the grate and then put my stone right on the grate. It worked fine. (until I built a wood fired pizza oven! ) I think the large is a great first step, as it's not too big and not too small and can do large or small cooks efficiently. Some of the things I've read about the XL are that it's a bit harder to hold temps and it uses a bit more lump, but again, just what I've read.

Oh, and I've been using Rutland Safelite Firestarters for a year or so. Cheap and easy. (around $10 for 144 1" squares)

twovkay

Thanks everyone for your advice and based on the information gathered, I'll be a new BGE owner soon. Will look into getting a large with money set aside for a possible small after I get use to it. And will look forward to trying all the great recipes listed here!