Using a chimney starter

Big Hoser · June 2006

Okay, I got large egg earlier and am watching the DVD. Looks easy to assemble, but I'm not going to take any chances and will assemble it with a buddy tomorrow, after which we'll christen the egg with a couple of ribeyes and corn on the cob. One question that I haven't seen much detail on: using a chimney starter. I got a Grill Mate chimney, BGE coal, so how full should I fill it and when do I dump it into the egg? And do I add these lit coals to unlit coals in the egg? Thanks all, and might I add it was weeks of peeking at this website that sold me on the egg, so I would think BGE owes all of you "eggsperts" royalty checks as I'm sure I'm not the first to be swayed this way!

Unknown · June 2006

Big Hoser,[p]well i just put a couple of layer of charcoal in the starter. crumple up enough newspaper to fill up the bottom and sit it on the charcoal in the egg. then i light the newspaper through the holes. leave it for about 5 minutes or so. by then the coals in the starter should be red hot. dump them on the unlit charcoal. you'll find the charcoal directly beneath the starter is also red hot. be careful when you're emptying the starter into the egg. i have found that some little bits can get stuck and fall out the bottom when you're not expecting it. [p]

Cornfed · June 2006

Big Hoser,[p]I never use a chimney when using lump in the Egg. I usually just figure the Egg is chimney-like enough to take care of that function for me. I just dump in the charcoal and light with starter cubes or, more often, just pieces broken off from those starter log things which cost about a pennie per fire if you average it out (that may be a slight exaggeration, but it's pretty bleeping cheap).[p]I love chimney starters for briquettes when cooking on other cookers, though. Just don't think they're that necessary for the Egg.[p]Later,
Cornfed

Unknown · June 2006

Big Hoser,[p]Take it from a guy who is legally blind when I say the BGE is easy to use, and safe too. I used to use a gas grill until it "died" on me about seven years ago which turned out to be a wonderful thing. Heck, the BGE should advertise, "The BGE is so simple and safe that a blind person can use it with plenty of success!"[p]As far as the chimney starter, it is simple too. I used to use the BGE (and other) electic starters, but after they burned out, I realized they weren't very "Sporting!" I fill the chimney full and light one of those starter cubes (burns cleaner) and put the cube in bottom of my Egg and set the chimney on it (of course). You can crumple up newspaper but I find it makes a big mess on my patio with lots of ashes. It usually takes 10 - 15 minutes to get a roaring fire. I wear two heavy duty mits and CAREFULLY lift and dump and gently shake any loose coal which may stick. [p]Chimneys are great if you have to add more lump for times when you may have mis-calculated your amount of lump needed. Plus, I prefer dumping hot lump rather than "not" hot lump into a dying fire.[p]I may think about getting one of those Duraflame Logs and slice chips of it to start my fires as it would be quite cheap, I mnean, cost effective.[p]Now I hope nobody calls the fire department on me claiming that some blind guy likes to play with fire![p]Joey
Legally Blind Egghead

rex clingan · June 2006

I start my chimney maybe a third full over a 160,000 BTU/hr
gas wok burner. Takes a minute or two to get the lump well lit, dump on top of unlit lump in the firebox.

Popsicle · June 2006

Big Hoser,
I have used chimney starter in mine for 10 years . I put 2 sheets of paper in it and fill to the top with lump. Takes about 15 min. for the lump to catch. I find that that is enough lump to cook anything I am cooking. My chimney dumps out the bottom when you lift it so it works great in the Egg. Zefrin

Clay Q · June 2006

Big Hoser,
Welcome to the club! Your gonna have fun eating the best BBQ in the world now that you got the egg.[p]Yep, the chimney works great. I use a pinch of waxed wood chips to start the fire on top of the cold lump in the firebox then set my loaded chimney on top of that. About 4 minutes later the lump in the chimney is burning good and I dump it into the firebox, spread out the coals a little with my ash tool and the egg is ready to heat up. I know the chimney is low tech but it's good tech, been using them for 20 years.
Have fun!
Clay

Big Hoser · June 2006

Thanks everyone! I got a few methods here to try. Can't wait 'til tonight for my first cook (woke up 2 hours early and couldn't get back to sleep, that's how "eggcited" I am! I think I'll be a total egghead nerd in no time).

Tony · June 2006

Big Hoser,
I can't offer you any advice on using a chimney starter, because I've never used anything but an electric starter.
Electric starters are inexpensive, simple to use and they work great. The lump lights in 5-8 minutes everytime, I have no reason to try another method. I recommend using an electric starter.[p][p]

AZRP · June 2006

Big Hoser,
I use a MAAP torch directly on the lump in four spots 10 seconds each. 40 seconds and done, what could be easier? -RP

Using a chimney starter

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