Ed Wort help with Big Green Egg Purchase

[Chriso]

As far as small amounts of food go, from what I've read so far on BGE operation, you just close the upper vent and the lower damper when you're done, and the coals neatly extinguish themselves, leaving the uncharred portions ready for use next time.

Sorry I can't answer the rest of the questions. I'm in the same boat as both of you. *eyes his refund dubiously*

 

[John Beere]

So JB, have you been using it much?? I think I'm going to get one with the tax rebate they are talking about. Spent 2 hrs this morning trying to get my smoker up to temp for some ribs about 19 degrees this morning when I first got started...I'm wanting one real bad...

Yeah, so far we've used it at least twice a week... did two boston butts overnight Friday night for dinner on Saturday - man, that was some good eats.

I can confirm that once you are done, all you have to do is shut the dampers and it quickly extinguishes itself. To use it again, just stir up the remaining charcoal to knock any ash below the fire grate and relight.

 

[jdoiv]

Hey John,
Can you post a pic with the DigiQ all mounted up?

I may run to a local shop that carries the BGE to investigate this further.

I use to manage a restaurant kitchen and we used charcoal/wood grills for our all our steaks and fish. I know how to manage a fire but don't really want to do that at home more than I have to.

 

[EdWort]

If you are looking for a deal on a large egg in Texas, wait till the Texas Eggfest where you will be able to save a couple hundred bucks on one. It gets assembled and we use it for the afternoon and you take it home, assembled and seasoned. It a great deal and you learn a lot from veteran eggers at the event.

 

[jdoiv]

When and where? Maybe I could talk the wife into making it a part of our vacation.

 

[John Beere]

Hey John,
Can you post a pic with the DigiQ all mounted up?

I may run to a local shop that carries the BGE to investigate this further.

I use to manage a restaurant kitchen and we used charcoal/wood grills for our all our steaks and fish. I know how to manage a fire but don't really want to do that at home more than I have to.

Here you go:

 

[Chriso]

When and where? Maybe I could talk the wife into making it a part of our vacation.

http://www.texas-eggfest.com/

Also, there is an Omaha Eggfest 08 in planning. Bookmarked! Can't wait.....

 

[jdoiv]

Thanks John,
I was sorta wanting to see where everything is hooked up at. Where does the fan hook up and what do you use to power it? Is it hooked up to the intake or outtake vent?

Thanks

 

[John Beere]

Thanks John,
I was sorta wanting to see where everything is hooked up at. Where does the fan hook up and what do you use to power it? Is it hooked up to the intake or outtake vent?

Thanks

Thats the fan the DigiQ is sitting on top of. It hooks directly into the intake damper which you can sort of make out in the picture - right next to the legs of the "nest". Compare it with this photo. It hooks in right at the bottom left of the damper.

 

[jdoiv]

Cool, thanks.
Does it run on batteries or do you plug it in? I've got to figure out placement on the deck as I only have one outlet and it's not in a convenient place. I may have to run another outlet, but it will be a major pain to do and would rather not.

 

[PeteOz77]

Yes, there is DEFINITELY one of these in my future. Would have bought one already, but decided to add a Pegola and outdoor kitchen on to the side of the house (pics to follow as soon as the benchtops and sink are completed) and spent a few grand on that. Maybe next month.!

 

[John Beere]

Cool, thanks.
Does it run on batteries or do you plug it in? I've got to figure out placement on the deck as I only have one outlet and it's not in a convenient place. I may have to run another outlet, but it will be a major pain to do and would rather not.

It comes with a wall wart to plug in but they also sell a 12v adapter. On their website, they have photos of it hooked up to portable car batteries for jumping cars: http://www.thebbqguru.com/bbqPhotoCategory.cfm

 

[jdoiv]

Cool. Looks like I may need to run an outdoor outlet to that part of the deck. I don't understand contractors/architects sometimes. Only one outlet for an entire deck? True, I doubled the size of the deck, but still. Well good news on that front is my FIL is coming to town and we already have plans to put an outlet into my fermentation closet, so with his help, we may be able to put an outlet out by the deck at the same time.

 

[Jonnio]

Glad to see some ceramic cookers here too --

For all you guys looking at automated temp control. I recommend people get their cookers, get used to em for a month or so, then decide if you need it and what exactly your looking for in one. In that timeframe you can try different types of charcoal, chunks of flavor wood, etc...

When I first started I was determined to buy a BBQ guru, then I decided I really liked the web connectivity of the Stoker and 6 months later I still haven't decided I really needed either one.

 

[rustang64]

Welp, the cheapo pizza stone lasted exactly 2 times... it just popped in half while heating the EGG up a few mins ago. It worked in a pinch - will have to order a real BGE pizza stone here shortly...

I use Kiln Shelves like these cordierite ones: http://aardvarkclay.com/catalog_pages/refractories.html#anchorR1 from my ceramic kiln when I smoke... they work just as well as they regularly go to 2400 degrees F. They may have funny chemicals that could give me cancer or something, never bothered to ask, but whatever.

 

[Yuri_Rage]

Yup, I did it. At EdWort's recommendation, I pre-ordered an Egg, and went the the Texas EggFest today to pick it up and get some cooking tips from the "pros." Ed was there, cooking up a storm, and providing some good advice for us n00bs. Ed, I can't thank you enough for the invite, hospitality, tips, handful of goodies from your personal stash, and the BEER! I can't wait to fire this thing up!

BTW, the accessory link on page one still works, but the Grid Lifter link is dead.

 

[John Beere]

I was at the Eggfest today in spirit... cooking up a storm here in South GA. All I'll say about the Egg is this - my wife at first was sceptical, now she's down with us buying a second one!

 

[EdWort]

Yup, I did it. At EdWort's recommendation, I pre-ordered an Egg, and went the the Texas EggFest today to pick it up and get some cooking tips from the "pros." Ed was there, cooking up a storm, and providing some good advice for us n00bs. Ed, I can't thank you enough for the invite, hospitality, tips, handful of goodies from your personal stash, and the BEER! I can't wait to fire this thing up!

BTW, the accessory link on page one still works, but the Grid Lifter link is dead.

Here's the place to get the extended grids and such. You want the Woo2 Ring

http://www.eggaccessories.com/

Here's the place for the grid lifter. He makes tap handles too.

http://www.lawnrangerbbq.com/products.htm

 

[EdWort]

I was at the Eggfest today in spirit... cooking up a storm here in South GA. All I'll say about the Egg is this - my wife at first was sceptical, now she's down with us buying a second one!

You need to go to the Eggtoberfest in October. You'll get the best deal of the year there. They hold it at the BGE HQ in Tucker, GA.

 

[Fingers]

There are no online dealers so you have to buy from a physical location. The nearest, and only, Canadian location is 2,323 kilometers away so it's not an option for me. I was trying to find a price tag for the XL unit. I imagine it must be pretty expensive because all the webpages I looked at were full of testimonials and value building and significantly lacking in pricing. That's usually not a good sign for cheap asses like me.

So, if I had enough money for a SS conical fermenter, would it be enough for a BGE?

 

[Yuri_Rage]

Large BGE from Amazon.

XL BGE from www.barbeques.com

The Amazon price is pretty steep, and they're charging $75 for stateside shipping. The XL price on the other website is about in line with what I've seen locally, and they advertise free stateside shipping. I have no idea if they'd work with you to ship to Canada.

The XL model is freakin' HUGE! I don't think I'd want to fire that monster up every time I had the urge for some grilled/smoked food. The large BGE is big enough to fit a turkey (or even two, if they're small and carefully placed), and that's enough for me. Of course, Ed can give you more and better specifics, but I shied away from the XL after doing some homework.

I paid far less for mine since I got a "demo" model (used once, at the EggFest). The full/retail price is quite off-putting, IMHO.

 

[Fingers]

Thanks for the links, Yuri. I find it strange that the main Egg website says no internet vendors when there clearly are. Way out of my price range anyway. A semi truck with a forklift piggybacking it stopped at my house on Friday to drop off my summer's building supplies. I'll have to stick with my conventional BBQ for a little while yet, but it's on the list for when I can drive the kids out of the house.

 

[John Beere]

While it wasn't exactly out of my price range, it was more than I wanted to drop on a new charcoal grill - or I would have had one years ago. But I can tell you without hesitation that I have not had ANY buyers remorse after purchasing it. I can't think of many other things I can say that about... We use it at least twice a week and I am still amazed at how efficient it is and how little charcoal it uses.

 

[Yuri_Rage]

I ordered the Woo2 with extender from www.eggaccessories.com yesterday at noon. It was here this morning at 9!!! It only had to make the trip from Ft Worth to San Antonio, but I'm still thoroughly impressed! I paid for regular ground shipping. Now that's service!

 

[EdWort]

I ordered the Woo2 with extender from www.eggaccessories.com yesterday at noon. It was here this morning at 9!!! It only had to make the trip from Ft Worth to San Antonio, but I'm still thoroughly impressed! I paid for regular ground shipping. Now that's service!

That's my buddy Tom. He makes good stuff! www.eggaccessories.com will hook you up!

 

[strangebrewer]

Wow, after reading all of the awesome testimonials on this site the SWMBO gave me the go ahead to buy one. I'm gonna go sometime this week to look at them before she changes her mind. Thanks guys.

 

[EdWort]

Wow, after reading all of the awesome testimonials on this site the SWMBO gave me the go ahead to buy one. I'm gonna go sometime this week to look at them before she changes her mind. Thanks guys.

Sweet! Waydago! Let me know if you need help!

 

[strangebrewer]

I ordered a large BGE at my local store today. I got the large egg, nest, eggmate, cover and 2 bags of BGE charcoal for 1036.47 after tax. I should receive it in about a week or so. I'm looking at the woo2 , should I get the large Woo2, extender combo with oval grid & pair crossbars package, or the large Woo2 with pair crossbars package? And what else should I buy for it? I'm so ready to cook on this bad boy!

 

[EdWort]

Get the Woo2 Extender Combo and the large Spyder. It works with a medium pizza stone for indirect cooking. Be sure to get the BGE pizza stone as all others will crack within the first couple of uses. Congrats and welcome to a new obsession!

 

[strangebrewer]

Thanks edwort, I have the woo2 combo, 2008 spider large, and a wok in my basket. I cannot find the pizza stone on the site, and I'm wondering if I need the drip tray.