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Egg Grease

I know this has been an issue that's been discussed, but I just wanted some confirmation. 

Is this pic of the grease on the base of the egg normal?

Based on my limited research, I'm finding that it is normal and that it's just from the moisture in the air (we have had a bit of rain in the DFW area.) To remove it, do I just use some Simple Green and a paper towel (Scott Shop, the blue kind)?

In addition, since the grease has made its way into the bottom vent - should I remove the vent altogether and hand wash it? 

Recap:
1) Is the grease is normal?
2) How do I remove it?
3) Cleaning the gunk off the vent?

Thanks in advance

Comments

  • Wolfpack
    Wolfpack Posts: 3,551
    I would start with a clean burn- pull the thermo, load the egg with charcoal and open the bottom vent all the way and remove the daisy wheel. The inside will turn white again and the grease will all be burnt away. Then wipe the grease off the outside- I would not remove the vent. Some degreaser and a toothbrush should work. 
    Greensboro, NC
  • ajridge35
    ajridge35 Posts: 71
    Wolfpack said:
    I would start with a clean burn- pull the thermo, load the egg with charcoal and open the bottom vent all the way and remove the daisy wheel. The inside will turn white again and the grease will all be burnt away. Then wipe the grease off the outside- I would not remove the vent. Some degreaser and a toothbrush should work. 
    How can I safely do a clean burn without destroying my gasket? 500 degrees for a few hours? 
  • Carolina Q
    Carolina Q Posts: 14,831
    Wait for rain. Seriously. Or use a hose.

    I hate it when I go to the kitchen for food and all I find are ingredients!                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

    Michael 
    Central Connecticut 

  • JethroBodeen
    JethroBodeen Posts: 523
    edited May 2020
    If it didnt get spilled down the side. You may need to check for a crack in the base. Some Bar Keepers Friend should work on it just fine. Simple Green would work too. I would clean it up just to make sure there is no crack.

    HTTR!

  • alaskanassasin
    alaskanassasin Posts: 7,597
    Wipe it off on your next cook. @Wolfpack is correct that will get it cleaned out but you risk damaging your internals, base or gasket.
    South of Columbus, Ohio.


  • buzd504
    buzd504 Posts: 3,824
    I thought that part of the official BGE contract states that there is no cleaning involved.
    NOLA
  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 25,880
    That "grease" comes down your BGE from either a REALLY lousy fitting dome, or REALLY lousy sealing gasket and/or both! 
    Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
  • bigeggdan
    bigeggdan Posts: 19
    edited May 2020
    My old base did that during hot cooks.  One morning before a cook I noticed about an inch of water in the bottom of the base, which was very mysterious considering i leave my egg closed up and covered.  Freaked me out!  After i got the water cleaned out I discovered the base had a hairline crack across the bottom.  My theory is my base became cracked after a few cold weather cooks, which caused the base to retain moisture and "ooze" the grease to the outside.  To this day no clue how an inch of water ended up in the base.  That seems a bit much to seep through a hairline crack.  Would definitelty check your Egg for cracks though.  And my base was replaced with no issues, btw.  BGE did great.
  • jtcBoynton
    jtcBoynton Posts: 2,814
    ajridge35 said:
    Wolfpack said:
    I would start with a clean burn- pull the thermo, load the egg with charcoal and open the bottom vent all the way and remove the daisy wheel. The inside will turn white again and the grease will all be burnt away. Then wipe the grease off the outside- I would not remove the vent. Some degreaser and a toothbrush should work. 
    How can I safely do a clean burn without destroying my gasket? 500 degrees for a few hours? 
    Clean burn has different meanings to different people.  550-600º will burn up all the organic material (the purpose of a clean burn) without the stress of the extreme temps that some like to use.  It just takes longer at those temps than say 900º.
    Southeast Florida - LBGE
    In cooking, often we implement steps for which we have no explanations other than ‘that’s what everybody else does’ or ‘that’s what I have been told.’  Dare to think for yourself.
     
  • brentm
    brentm Posts: 422
    I do primarily low and slow in my egg.  So every high temp burn with some moisture in the air results in the "egg sweat".

    It's no worry.  Just wipe it off and move on. 

    Eventually, my egg "seasoning" was giving my food a bad taste, and I gave it a couple clean burns, some wire brush (shhh dont tell the mothership), and a new gasket. 
  • 1voyager
    1voyager Posts: 1,157
    edited May 2020
    My Egg used to get some grease on the exterior from time-to-time but nothing nearly as much as in your picture. I wiped the grease off using warm soapy water.

    Since I started baking pizzas @ 550 degrees and reverse sear @ 650 degrees there has been no more grease on the exterior.

    Good luck!
    Large Egg, PGS A40 gasser.
  • brentm
    brentm Posts: 422
    1voyager said:
    My Egg used to get some grease on the exterior from time-to-time but nothing nearly as much as in your picture. 
    Nah, that's nothing.... If you want to see some sweaty egg porn, here you go.

    https://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1202419/post-pics-of-your-sweaty-egg