Question about high temperature cooking

Rezen73

Hi all!

First post!

I just got a BGE last weekend - and have cooked several meals on it - baby back ribs, filet mignons, pizza (twice), and today I cooked Tandoori Chicken.

So while I was cooking the tandoori chicken, I burned out the gaskets. The glue just melted away. And I can understand why, the temperature of the Egg was at least 800F. Dunno exactly how hot but it was HOT. lol

So I was just wondering (and I'm sorry if this has been asked before), but are there any "high temperature" options for gaskets? any way to protect them during cooking at really high temperatures? should I line them with foil or something?

A few pics of today's endeavor:



Bacon-wrapped stuffed jalapenos & roasted corn on the cob. Cooked this for about 1.5 hours @ 275 or so.



Then I cranked up the heat to around 800 or so (not quite sure exactly how hot it got...) and inserted the skewers of tandoori chicken!



Learning experience: I should have spaced the chicken out more. The middle piece on each skewer did not cook fully.



In just a few minutes the potatoes were completely charred on the bottom!



I love the smell of tandoori chicken in the morning!



Buying a BGE was worth it just to be able to do this at home.

So back to the original question: any ideas on preventing the gasket from burning out when cooking at really high temperatures?

Thanks!

SmokinParrotHead

My answer is this, and I am sure you will get others to say the same because I too asked this question before........my gaskets have been toast for a while........I have continued to cook with great results even so. I don't really have a plan to replace mine until I really start to see a lot of smoke leaking from between the lid and base, and that hasn't really happened yet.

Rezen73

Thanks for the reply.

Interestingly enough, it was only the "top" gasket (on the lid) that burned out. The glue melted, and it dropped down into the fire.

The gasket on the bottom appears to be just fine.

milesofsmiles

One popular theory is to do your first ten cooks under 400 d's. in order to cure the glue and gasket. It's always worked for my customers. Don't know if that wholes water or not. to you.

Rezen73

Interesting, wish I had of known that before I did the tandoori chicken! haha

Thanks for the reply.

Luvs to shoot clay

Just do a search forum for gasket replacement and you will get more hits than you can read or at least more than you want to read. Lots of different opinions on gaskets. I lean toward the side that the main reason for the gasket it to protect the egg from breaking or chipping if you let it close too hard. As long as I can hold temperatures and the fire will snuff out with out wasting all my lump, I am not going to spend much effort replacing gaskets.

boston_stoker

Nice chicken. Regarding high temp gaskets, there are two Rutland and nomex. Rutland is a bit controversial because it is fiberglass and that does not mix well with food. When you decide to replace, I would go with nomex. Just sEarch forum on how to install. There are lots of tips, like how to preshrink it.

2Fategghead

Rezen73, Here is what I did almost a year ago and all is good. High heat cooks not a problem.

Also, you will need to learn how to adjust you dome and do the dollar bill test after you put the egg back together. Tim

Watch these video's because it's all here.

BIG GREEN EGG NOMEX GASKET PART 1 OF 3 INSTALLATION SMOKINGUITARPLAYER VIDEO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQQdOvfLtrE&feature=related

BIG GREEN EGG NOMEX GASKET PT 2 / 3 - SMOKINGUITARPLAYER INSTALLATION VIDEO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYySn_1qc80&feature=related

BIG GREEN EGG NOMEX GASKET PT 3 - ON INSTALLATION VIDEO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-26iwhoJAA&feature=related

berrygood

I agree with 2fat, assuming the linked videos are the ones made by the Smoking Guitar Player. I just replaced my original with a nomex gasket, and it wasn't an overly difficult project if you follow Fred's instruction. One note: use 91% alcohol instead of acetone.

Good luck.