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Things I've learned on this forum

Tjcoley
Tjcoley Posts: 3,551
edited September 2012 in EggHead Forum
It is my one year anniversary with my LBGE, and I've been following this forum since. Some of what I've learned: 
\For pork butt, always fat side up 
For pork butt, always fat side down 
For pork butt, trim off the fat 

Wood chunks are better than chips 
Wood chips are better than chunks 
There's no difference between chips and chunks if you use the same amount of wood 
There is no need to soak the wood 

 For brisket, fat side up makes it moister 
For brisket, fat side down protects from heat 

 There is an amazing obsession with raised grates 
 You need a thermopen 

Rutland gaskets are best 
Nomex gaskets are great 
BGE gaskets fry easily 
Gasket? Don't need one 
Don't cook pizza if you want to save your gasket 

Use a drip pan and add liquid 
No need to add liquid to a drip pan. The Egg keeps everything moist 
Always raise a drip pan off the plate setter 
 No need for a drip pan, just burn the gunk off 

 FTC is the way to go. Better to finish early and keep it hot than to have everyone waiting to eat 

Cook to temp, not time 
"How long will it take to cook an 'x' pound 'x'? Until it is done 

If there are no pics, it didn't happen 
Be careful what's in the background of your pics, especially with Kentucky Jelly 
Do not throw your phone into the Egg while taking a pic. 

 Do Not Feed The Trolls 

If you want an impressive dessert, you can't beat Griffin's pineapple upside down cake (although apple pie cooked in an apple is pretty cool also) 

 Wicked Good is the best coal 
RO is the best
 BGE is great but expensive 
Wegman's is great 
Best of the West is best 
Cowboy is best 
Natures own is best
 Red bags are better 
Wicked Good is the best 

Best way to light a fire is with an electric starter 
Best way to light a fire is with parrafin squares 
Best way to light a fire is with a heat gun 
Best way to light a fire is with a paper towel soaked in oil 
Best way to light a fire is with lighter fluid (just kidding) 

 If you can't get your fire hot, you have an air flow problem. 
Make sure the holes are clear, open your vents and clean out your Egg 
If you build a good fire, you can cook forever. 
 Unless going past 24 hours, you should never need to add more lump. 

 Brisket is done when the probe goes in and out like buttah. 
Temp can vary between 190 and 205 

There are more folks here on the forum who want to help with good advice and great recipes than there are naysayers. Ignore the trolls and listen to the eggsperts. 

There is a lot to learn. There are many ways to skin a cat. They all work. Find one you like, experiment with variety, and enjoy the ride. In the end, it's just a grill/smoker, but it also can become an obsession. For me, I am hooked, and look forward to many more years of Egging.
__________________________________________
It's not a science, it's an art. And it's flawed.
- Camp Hill, PA
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Comments

  • berndcrisp
    berndcrisp Posts: 1,166
    Well put. Love the post and this forum!
    Hood Stars, Wrist Crowns and Obsession Dobs!


  • Thanks great post
  • berndcrisp
    berndcrisp Posts: 1,166
    Reminds me of the closing line to 'Soap' "confused, you won't be"
    Hood Stars, Wrist Crowns and Obsession Dobs!


  • Great words to live by, there is no confusion or different ways to do anything, there is only one correct way and it is the way you are doing at the moment.  
    Delta B.C. - Whiskey and steak, because no good story ever started with someone having a salad!
  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,102
    Nice summary, now if BGE turns it into an FAQ, we can shut down the forum....
    :))
    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
  • Good job, how long we're you keeping notes. I feel like you have been spying on us. Haha, just having fun.
  • Mickey
    Mickey Posts: 19,669
    edited September 2012
    Change coal to lump in " Wicked Good is the best coal" and it is ready to publish =D> Very good, that Sir is us all in the best form I have seen. You are going to be fun to have around unless you have been around.
    Salado TX & 30A  FL: Egg Family: 3 Large and a very well used Mini, added a Mini Max when they came out (I'm good for now). Plus a couple Pit Boss Pellet Smokers.   

  • Gezr
    Gezr Posts: 154
    That pretty much sums it up!
    If you don't think too good, don't think too much.

    Afton, VA
  • Great post.  How about "Flaxseed oil works best for seasoning CI."
    Flint, Michigan
  • Great post....just one thing, mustard or EVOO on bb's and butt???   :-/

    Opelika, Alabama
  • Fly your own flag and forget about it!

    Simple ingredients, amazing results!
  • Made me laugh this morning. Great way to start the day.
  • HDmstng
    HDmstng Posts: 192
    edited September 2012
    Good one, but thought I'd expand a little...

    Chicken/chicken wings are best cooked direct
    Chicken/chicken wings are best cooked indirect.
    Chicken/chicken wings are best cooked raised direct.

    Turbo butts are just as good, but soft bark
    Low and slow butts are great with hard bark
    Turbo ribs are just as good, but can get tough edges.
    Low and slow ribs are great, just use the bend test.

    3-2-1, nah, I prefer the 3.14 method

    Turbo briskets are just as good, but soft bark
    Low and slow briskets are best, but fill your lump up to and maybe past the firebox.

    Light the fire in the middle,
    Light the fire in the middle, but towards the back.
    Light the fire in the middle, but towards the front.
    Light the fire at 3 and 9 o'clock, but I want to start cooking at 5!

    ABT's are great, it stands for Atomic Buffalo Turds
    ABT's are jalapenos cut length wise, seeds removed filled with cheese/meat/sprinkled with rub and wrapped in bacon.
    ABT's are jalapenos cut cross wise, seeds removed filled with cheesse/meat/sprinkled with rub and wrapped in bacon.

    Dizzy Pig rub is best.
    Make your own rubs, they are best.

    Get a Maverick when you cook your Goose on the BGE.
    iGrill, hmmm....
    Can't go wrong with an Auber or DigiQ or CyberQ pit controller.
    Learn to control your temps manually before getting one of the above.  What's going to happen when the zombie apocalypse occurs and you have no power, a shed full of lump and want to do an overnight brisket and no CyberQ?  You'll be glad you learned!  Not to mention your non-zombie neighbors will appreciate it too!

  • bud812
    bud812 Posts: 1,869
    Wow, I gotta take a nap now as I don't what to believe any more. Do I light me Egg or do a cold smoke? Better have a cool-aide & think about it... :-@

    Not to get technical, but according to chemistry alcohol is a solution...

    Large & Small BGE

    Stockton Ca.

  • Griffin
    Griffin Posts: 8,200
    Nice summary, now if BGE turns it into an FAQ, we can shut down the forum....
    :))


    =))

    Well that gets rid of the majority of posts and questions asked here. I guess all that's left to do is share pictures of cooks and recipes.

    @Tjcoley - I couldn't have said it better. No....really, I couldn't have. I'd have left off a bunch of those. How long did you work on that? Thanks for the laughs.

    Rowlett, Texas

    Griffin's Grub or you can find me on Facebook

    The Supreme Potentate, Sovereign Commander and Sultan of Wings

     

  • Tjcoley
    Tjcoley Posts: 3,551
    Griffin said:
    Nice summary, now if BGE turns it into an FAQ, we can shut down the forum....
    :))


    =))

    Well that gets rid of the majority of posts and questions asked here. I guess all that's left to do is share pictures of cooks and recipes.

    @Tjcoley - I couldn't have said it better. No....really, I couldn't have. I'd have left off a bunch of those. How long did you work on that? Thanks for the laughs.

    Really didn't put a whole lot of time into it.  More of an alcohol induced rambling.
    __________________________________________
    It's not a science, it's an art. And it's flawed.
    - Camp Hill, PA
  • love it!
    LBGE, Smoke Hollow 4-in-1, Charbroil Big Easy, and Weber Smokey Joe.
  • I'm gonna print this out and hang it in the garage next to my egg!  Love it!
    Lovin' my Large Egg since May 2012 (Richmond, VA) ... and makin' cookbooks at https://FamilyCookbookProject.com
    Stoker II wifi, Thermapen, and a Fork for plating photo purposes
  • Great post, funny stuff.
    Packerland, Wisconsin

  • bigphil
    bigphil Posts: 1,390
    nicely done TJ was a good laugh after a long day thanks 
    Large Big Green Egg , XL Big Green Egg . BBQ Guru, Weber Kettle, Weber Q grill for road trips.
  • Well said...Eggsperiment, take notes on your cooking so you can repeat the good stuff and have fun
  • Yes, I made it in the list!! Whoo Hoo, feeling the love.
  • Sgt93
    Sgt93 Posts: 728
    :)) at the comments, great post. 
    XL BGE - Small BGE - A few Komodo Kamado Serious Big Bad 42s
    Follow me on Instagram: @SSgt93
  • Yes, I made it in the list!! Whoo Hoo, feeling the love.

    I've learned we are all better off with Lizzie. don't mind the clutter. boys wil be boys but all is better with funny girls in the mix.
    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
  • Tjcoley
    Tjcoley Posts: 3,551
    Yes, I made it in the list!! Whoo Hoo, feeling the love.

    While I wasn't participating in the group cook that night, I was up until the wee hours following it. One of my favorite threads. No way it wasn't going on the list.
    __________________________________________
    It's not a science, it's an art. And it's flawed.
    - Camp Hill, PA
  • having a good chuckle. Well done. =)) =D>
    Large, small, and a mini
  • You sir, are an eggspert! Thanks for the list and the laugh.
  • HDmstng said:

    Can't go wrong with an Auber or DigiQ or CyberQ pit controller.
    Learn to control your temps manually before getting one of the above.  What's going to happen when the zombie apocalypse occurs and you have no power, a shed full of lump and want to do an overnight brisket and no CyberQ?  You'll be glad you learned!  Not to mention your non-zombie neighbors will appreciate it too!

    Thought through this one.  When the Zombie Apocalypse comes (and it will), you can power your CyberQ with 12v, which can be a battery or a solar panel.  Go CyberQ!   ;)

    -----------
    I feel a whole lot more like I do now than I did when I got here.
  • lakewade said:
    HDmstng said:

    Can't go wrong with an Auber or DigiQ or CyberQ pit controller.
    Learn to control your temps manually before getting one of the above.  What's going to happen when the zombie apocalypse occurs and you have no power, a shed full of lump and want to do an overnight brisket and no CyberQ?  You'll be glad you learned!  Not to mention your non-zombie neighbors will appreciate it too!

    Thought through this one.  When the Zombie Apocalypse comes (and it will), you can power your CyberQ with 12v, which can be a battery or a solar panel.  Go CyberQ!   ;)
    I've learned that throwing watermelons on pool rafts for rum shots with @lakewade is a horrible idea
    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX