OK what's the probelm here....

Unknown

I am trying to cook a 3-4 pound botton roast. I poured in lots of charcoal...started it in three places with the starter blocks and let here go for a bit to 350. I want to be at 250-275. I cannot get it any lower than about 320. Have the slider just barely cracked and have had the top vent all ove the place. Yes I gave it time to settle each time I tried a different position! I suspect I started too big a fire in the first place. Probably should have only started the coals in one spot and let her build slowly?
Any advice from you guys on how to get and keep a 250 degree fire?
I'd appreciate any help here....so far I'm somehwat stumped!
BTW only had mine ( a large) for a week.

Unknown

Besides the fact that I can't type or spell!!![p]

Sigmore

steve s,
I think you hit the nail on the head with the too big of a fire idea. I have never used more than 1/2 to a whole cube depending on how large my lump dumped. (that don't sound right). Try about a half a cube next time and go from there. Nekkid Whizzer has a little story about that I'm sure.

GaDawg

steve s,
For low and slow I light from the top of the lump
with one fire starter. For high temps I light from
below the lump in 3 spots. Works every time.
Chuck

Unknown

steve s,
Well Steve, I did the oposite on Friday. As many times and different cook's I have done, I finially had the problem of the fire going out or just getting to low to pick up. The only thing that saved me was the chicken I was smoking, got to the temp before it went out. the last 30 minutes of the cook, I had both vents open all the way and it stayed at 300, but no more. The chicken still came out just fine. You never know when something is going to be wrong with the fire. I don't think it matters how careful you start the fire or prep the Egg for the startup. Things will happen. [p]Jerry

Mike in MN

steve s,
Once the temp is beyond your desired set point, the only thing you can do to drop it is to totally shut the vents. That includes putting the rain cap on. The daisey wheel leaks enough that it still allows some oxygen in.[p]I've tried "burping" the dome, pulling the daisey wheel off and on to help rid the egg of heat...most of the time it doesn't do any good....One time I "simulated" rain...That helped, but I wouldn't advise using that process...you're looking for trouble. By the way, the real rain happened to me last night, and my perfectly set 225° dropped to about 175° by the time I found it...4AM out in the rain with my robe on...NOT a pretty sight. [p]Oh, well, my pulled pork was just wrapped in foil and toweled up...so I'll give you 2 guess's what I'll be doing at noon...[p]Mike in MN

Wise One

steve s, forget the spelling problems - I just blame it on fat fingers. As for the fire, the Big Green Egg doesn't like to come down in temperature. Everything about it is designed to hold its temperature with a minumum of burning. So, start your fire (one place or three places - it doesn't really matter) and then watch the temp. When you get about 25 degrees BELOW your desired temp, start closing down the vents. If it stalls too early (below yoru desired temp) then open it up a bit. If it goes slightly above (less than 25 degrees) then close down the vents. If it goes more than 50 degrees above your desired temp, shut it down completely. When the temp reaches your desired temp (30 minutes to an hour later), then crack the vent slightly and try to get it stabilized.