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Cooking Height

designsbyjf
designsbyjf Posts: 5
in EggHead Forum
I recently have acquired a Large BGE. Since then I have lived on this site. I notice a lot of you talking about cooking at gasket level. With that being said, I have a couple questions regarding this.

A) Is there a reason for elevating the grate? Is there a sweet spot that I am unaware of there?
B) What are the best products to use to raise the grate? I am using the plate setter on most of my cooks so far so it would have to fit that.

Any input on this would be great as I am slowly trying to soak it all in. Thanks in advance!
Space Coastal of Florida
LBGE

"Good barbecue comes from experience, and experience, well, that comes from poor barbecue. – Cousin Woodman"
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Comments

  • Skiddymarker
    Skiddymarker Posts: 8,528
    edited February 2017
    Lots of ways to vary the grid height above the lump. The reason is to get the food a little further or maybe closer to the heat, much like heating a marshmallow over a campfire. Golden brown or maybe a bit of char. Ajustible Rig is very popular as the woo, check out Ceramic Grill store. Some folks use nuts and bolts or beer cans to raise the grid to the felt line. Pizza is done best just above the felt line so adjusting the grid height is important. 

    PS - Welcome to the insanity!
    Delta B.C. - Whiskey and steak, because no good story ever started with someone having a salad!
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  • HendersonTRKing
    HendersonTRKing Posts: 1,803
    I like my direct cooks raised high in the dome -- particularly chicken and wings for sure, as being up there prevents scorching and aids crisping up the skin due to the heat rebound off the top of the dome.

    BUT, rather than $$$pring for the a/r, woo set up, I home-brewed a raised grid.  18 inch grate, stainless steel carriage bolts, hex nuts and washers using a strategic 3-point stance.  Easy, practical and cheap -- cost me about 10 bucks.
    It's a 302 thing . . .
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  • chuckytheegghead
    chuckytheegghead Posts: 1,201
    Pswoo from ceramic grill store is what you need to get to the sweet spot. 
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  • designsbyjf
    designsbyjf Posts: 5
    Thanks all for the great info. Is it safe to say that I can cook everything from that raised position?
    Space Coastal of Florida
    LBGE

    "Good barbecue comes from experience, and experience, well, that comes from poor barbecue. – Cousin Woodman"
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  • HendersonTRKing
    HendersonTRKing Posts: 1,803
    designsbyjf said:
    Thanks all for the great info. Is it safe to say that I can cook everything from that raised position?
    Yep.  And you can cook on the lower grid below it as well, with or without the platesetter.  You just nearly doubled your surface area!
    It's a 302 thing . . .
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  • Biggreenpharmacist
    Biggreenpharmacist Posts: 4,343
    chuckytheegghead said:
    Pswoo from ceramic grill store is what you need to get to the sweet spot. 
    This right here is your answer. 

    Little Rock, AR

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  • SGH
    SGH Posts: 28,989
    Woo with platesetter and grid at gasket level. 
    designsbyjf said:
    A) Is there a reason for elevating the grate? 

    There are a few advantages to raising the grid to gasket level. First and foremost, it makes it much easier to handle food when grilling direct. You no longer have to reach down into the hot BGE to turn or remove food. This may seem insignificant at first, but after reaching down into a 500+ BGE a few times it suddenly becomes crystal clear. Grid level just makes access so much easier. 

    B) What are the best products to use to raise the grate? I am using the plate setter on most of my cooks so far so it would have to fit that.

    If you already have a platesetter, the Woo works perfect with it. The Woo was actually designed to work with the platesetter. Install the setter into the Woo and you have an indirect setup at grid level. Remove the platesetter and you have a direct setup at grid level. 



    Location- Just "this side" of Biloxi, Ms.

    Status- Standing by.

    The greatest barrier against all wisdom, the stronghold against knowledge itself, is the single thought, in ones mind, that they already have it all figured out. 

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