Welcome to the EGGhead Forum - a great place to visit and packed with tips and EGGspert advice! You can also join the conversation and get more information and amazing kamado recipes by following Big Green Egg to Experience our World of Flavor™ at:
Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  Pinterest  |  Youtube  |  Vimeo
Share your photos by tagging us and using the hashtag #BigGreenEgg.

Want to see how the EGG is made? Click to Watch

What accessories to buy next?

ClemsonDV
ClemsonDV Posts: 5
in EggHead Forum

I preface this by saying I am temporarily living in Boston and don't have my BGE (graciously loaning to my brother in law).  I bought it about 8 months ago and loved it, but I will not be able to play with my BGE til likely next August when i do a permanent move.  So....

 

It's Christmas and I need more toys.  Debating on delaying getting anything for the BGE because it would just be a big tease.  But I want to be on the lookout.  So far I have the basic set up.  Nest (building a table when I can), platesetter, pizza stone, Maverick Wireless Dual Therm and starter lighting blocks.  I have read about a hundred different items you could use or want, but I don't know how much redundancy I will get with what I have.

So if anyone has ideas on what I need next, please give me some info.  I love slow cook BBQ, Ribs, and smoked tukery.  Plus throwing on steaks, burgers, chicken, and fish... and ESPECIALLY the pizzas.  Love making pizzas.  So what accessory will help me round out my BGE arsenal?

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • theyolksonyou
    theyolksonyou Posts: 18,459
    Welcome to the forum. Thermapen has been a game changer for me. Also, like lighting with MAPP torch because I get distracted easily and its fast.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • minniemoh
    minniemoh Posts: 2,145
    I would suggest the Thermapen too. You will find yourself using it for all kinds of things. Cooking food to the correct finish temp on any cooking device will give you a better result. 
    L x2, M, S, Mini and a Blackstone 36. She says I have enough now....
    eggAddict from MN!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jcaspary
    jcaspary Posts: 1,479
    edited December 2014
    The two things that helped me the most are the Thermapop (can also be the Thermapen) and the Woo from CGS.  I got the Woo because I like you have the plate setter.  Otherwise, I would have gotten the AR.

    XL BGE, LG BGE, and a hunger to grill everything in sight!!!
    Joe- Strongsville, OH
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lousubcap
    lousubcap Posts: 36,878
    Fist up-welcome aboard and enjoy the journey, even with this hiatus.  I would also endorse the thermapen especially since you can use it in Boston. 
    Louisville; Rolling smoke in the neighbourhood.  Life is too short for light/lite beer!  Seems I'm livin in a transitional period. CHEETO (aka Agent Orange) makes Nixon look like a saint.  
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • scruffee81
    scruffee81 Posts: 85

    I love my Thermapop...the cost difference in between the instant read Thermapen imho cant be justified.  I don't mind waiting a cpl of seconds for the temp to be displayed.

    for my xmas, I bought myself the CGS (ceramic grill store) Adjustable Rig w/ extender and several other accessories and love it!

     

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ClemsonDV
    ClemsonDV Posts: 5

    Thanks for the welcomes.

     

    Thermapen is high on my list (Dad actually got one last year for Christmas).  WIth my Platesetter already, what CGS equipment would I need?  Someone mentioned the Woo, but it looks to do the same thing as my placesetter. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jcaspary
    jcaspary Posts: 1,479
    The Woo gives you the option to raise the grate and use the plate setter or not.  It just slides in.
    XL BGE, LG BGE, and a hunger to grill everything in sight!!!
    Joe- Strongsville, OH
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • XC242
    XC242 Posts: 1,208
    Buy em all!!!
    LBGE (still waitin' for my free T-Shirt), DIgiQ DX2 (In Blue, cause it's the fastest), Heavy Duty Kick Ash Basket, Mc Farland, WI. :glasses:  B)
    If it wasn't for my BGE I'd have no use for my backyard...
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jeepster47
    Jeepster47 Posts: 3,827
    Welcome ClemsonDV.

    I bought a large egg with a plate setter this fall.  Wanting to build on that platform, I bought the PSWoo as the main addition.  Direct is grate on the fire ring, add the Woo for raised direct, and add the plate setter to the Woo for raised indirect.  You can achieve raised direct with fire bricks, beer cans, etc, but the Woo does it much cleaner and safer.  The main advantage to me is that with the Woo, you can remove everything during a cook ... to add more lump, wood chips, stir the lump, etc..

    My son is getting an XL egg for Christmas ... without the plate setter ... wow is the plate setter a big jump in price over the large.  He opted for the Woo with a ceramic stone. That gives him direct, raised direct and indirect with the ability to pull everything out during a cook.  Plus, he likes to cook with a Wok down close to the fire ... the XL Woo has a built in spider that allows him to do that.

    CGS has a reduced shipping special on until the 27th of December.  If you pick up a stone or two, it's a great deal.  I ended up adding a spider and a matching stone to the order just because the shipping was $0 for the addition.

    Washington, IL  >  Queen Creek, AZ ... Two large eggs and an adopted Mini Max

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ClemsonDV
    ClemsonDV Posts: 5

    Thanks.  CGS has a lot of stuff i want/need/must have.  The Woo sounds useful.  Would you guys suggest Looftlighter or cast iron grate?

     

    Looking at the pros and cons of looftlighter vs starters vs propane.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jcaspary
    jcaspary Posts: 1,479
    Cast iron grate.  I use the cubes...may not be the best but they work.
    XL BGE, LG BGE, and a hunger to grill everything in sight!!!
    Joe- Strongsville, OH
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • shtgunal3
    shtgunal3 Posts: 6,134
    I agree with the Woo . I have one in both my eggs and they never come out unless I'm searing steaks. You could also add a second smaller egg. :D

    ___________________________________

     

     LBGE,SBGE, and a Mini makes three......Sweet home Alabama........ Stay thirsty my friends .

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mtbguy
    mtbguy Posts: 299
    Waiting on the MM for accessory for the LBGE and a dutch oven, then I'm thinking a woo. 
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • stemc33
    stemc33 Posts: 3,567
    Another vote for a thermo from ThermoWorks. You don't need the BGE to use it and you'll use it frequently. I have the ThermoPop. Too cheap to buy the Thermapen at the time. I like the ThermoPops design better than the Thermapen. The rotating display, backlight, and the dimensions. Check out their website and see if something will work for you.
    Steven
    Mini Max with Woo stone combo, LBGE, iGrill 2, Plate Setter, 
    two cotton pot holders to handle PS
    Banner, Wyoming
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • anton
    anton Posts: 1,813
    edited December 2014
    For starting/lighting, I suggest Map gas or propane torch, fast, reliable, no cord, tank lasts six months or more. Plus you can also braze, and solder copper pipe with it. ;)
    All the CGS stuff is killer, I use a woo/ with stone.
    ThermoWorks makes a quality product,  I own their stuff too.
    :-bd
     Using a MBGE,woo/w stone,livin' in  Hayward California," The Heart Of The Bay "
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,109

    anton said:
    For starting/lighting, I suggest Map gas or propane torch, fast, reliable, no cord, tank lasts six months or more. Plus you can also braze, and solder copper pipe with it. ;)
    All the CGS stuff is killer, I use a woo/ with stone.
    ThermoWorks makes a quality product,  I own their stuff too.
    :-bd
    I could only get maybe two months out of one of those 14oz or 20, whatever they are propane cylinders.  Still great for technical fires for low n slows.

    Mostly I use my lastest badasstest toy the weed burner connected to a 20 pound propane tank.  It doubles as a crime fighting weapon and is coveted by arsenists worldwide.
    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tjosborne
    tjosborne Posts: 529
    Once again, thermopen. It's helped me out a lot.
    middle of nowhere- G.I. NE
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • snakedriver
    snakedriver Posts: 35
    jcaspary said:

    The Woo gives you the option to raise the grate and use the plate setter or not.  It just slides in.

    The woo also gives you the ability to easily access the fire (to add smoking chunks of Hickory or other wood or add more lump) by having handles with which you remove the food, platesetter, grate, drip pan, the whole mess. Without it, getting to the fire is as disagreeable as is a conference call.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ClemsonDV
    ClemsonDV Posts: 5

    Thanks all.  I think Woo and a thermometer might be Christmas to me from Me.

     

    Looking at ThermaPen vs ThermaPop.  For you guys who grill a bunch, is thermapen 4x the price better?  I know its quick, but a few more seconds for the ThermaPop.  Supposedly just as accurate too.  I am penny penching here I know, but I could always tack on a nice Stainless steel grate and wok for the ThermaPen/Pop difference.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jcaspary
    jcaspary Posts: 1,479
    I got the pop. I can deal with a couple extra seconds. As mentioned before
    I like that they are backlit, rotate display, and way cheaper. That's just me though.
    XL BGE, LG BGE, and a hunger to grill everything in sight!!!
    Joe- Strongsville, OH
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jeepster47
    Jeepster47 Posts: 3,827
    My son has both the pop and the pen.  His input is that for one steak, the pop is great.  For six steaks, you need the pen. 

    The point being that having the lid up for an extra few seconds on a steak or two isn't a big deal ... so saving money with the pop is a good choice.  But, leaving the lid up while checking several steaks screws with the cook enough that a pen is the a better choice.

    Washington, IL  >  Queen Creek, AZ ... Two large eggs and an adopted Mini Max

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TigerTony
    TigerTony Posts: 1,078
    If you're going to light your egg with a torch. Make certain it is Map gas (yellow cylinder) not propane (blue cylinder) Map burns much hotter and it's faster.
    It's a very good way to light your egg. Highly recommend.
    "I'm stupidest when I try to be funny" 
    New Orleans

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • theyolksonyou
    theyolksonyou Posts: 18,459
    For the price difference, I'd try the pop. If you're unhappy, you're not out much.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ClemsonDV
    ClemsonDV Posts: 5

    So Map vs Looftlighter?

     

    I plan to build a table (whenever I get a house) and hopefully can have an outlet nearby or build in a socket into the table.  So the looft wouldn't be a big hassle, but I have seen lots of people use the torch.  I just wonder about the capacity and price of the Map bottles compared to the one time price of Looft.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories