DIY Table Plans for Your Big Green Egg These are plans for building your own table to hold your Big Green Egg! Please read the following instructions and cautions before planning your build. DO NOT PLACE AN EGG DIRECTLY ON A WOOD SURFACE or near any combustible surface. The bottom of the ceramic vessel does generate significant heat when in use, and may cause combustion if placed directly on - or in proximity to- any combustible material. The EGG is designed to be used in a Metal Rolling Nest or with a Metal Table Nest, providing an air gap below the EGG.

• Big Green Egg Operating Manual

Alternately, a convrete paver block may be used to support the EGG when used in a table.

Apr 17, 2008 - Egg-Shelves, Assembly Manual. This product was designed and manufactured in the U.S.A. Exclusively for Big Green Egg. Thank you for. Select an EGG size to access assembly and instructions: 2XL Egg; XL Egg; Large Egg; Medium; MiniMax. 2XL EGG – Assembly Instructions – EGG. You can examine Big Green Egg Large Manuals and User Guides in PDF. View online or download 1 Manuals for Big Green Egg Large. Besides, it’s possible to examine each page of the guide singly by using the scroll bar.

The Big Green Egg is one of my newest smokers slash cookers slash grills and while I am not hung up on the brand name like some folks, it does exactly what it was designed to do and it does it well. I have a feeling that all of the ceramic cookers do a pretty good job regardless of the brand name. The folks at the store tried hard but were not able to talk me into the absolutely necessary stand or cart since I knew that it would sit just perfectly on some blocks until I had time to build a table for it and I have to tell you that it is very solid and has no chance of falling over or being blown away by the Oklahoma winds. The fact that it's an XL or extra large makes it even more solid. I unloaded this off of a flatbed truck and moved it about 100 feet to where it is now with absolutely no help and if you are wondering why that's such a big deal then you probably do not realize that it's huge and weighs in at over 250 lbs. So why lump charcoal instead of briquettes?

I thought you'd never ask! Lump charcoal is real hardwood that has been burned or charred in a low oxygen environment. The product that results burns cleaner than charcoal briquettes, is all natural and does not contain any additives.

It also tends to burn hotter than briquettes. The BGE uses very little charcoal and you will find that once you fill it up, you'll be able to use that same charcoal multiple times before having to add more especially if you keep it at normal smoking temperatures. It is very fuel efficient and the amount you save in charcoal, will offset the high cost of these units. They are not cheap but they are lifetime purchases. If you take care of it, it should last you a very long time. To start the charcoal, I simply place a piece of firestarter down in the center of the coals and light it. Place a little charcoal over the top of the flames and let it burn for about 7 minutes.

This is me experimenting with creating the right amount of smoke. I sprinkled around the charcoal like the instructions said but that was just not enough for me.

I purchased a stainless steel woodchip box, filled it with and set it just off center to hopefully create the extra smoke that I wanted. Put the plate setter in place to create the indirect cooking environment required for smoking. I do recommend purchasing one of these.

They are not cheap but they are worth it. I tried it without it and it was just not right. The plate setter is the ceramic piece that goes into the egg over the charcoal and forces the heat from the coals to be directed to the sides of the smoker. The heat then travels up to the dome and down creating the indirect cooking method perfectly for smoking meat. The grate fits over the plate setter as shown in the picture While the egg is still coming up to temperature leave the top vent open all the way. Bottom sliding vent is also all the way open until it comes up to temperature Once the thermometer gets within about 10-15 degrees of your target temperature, I recommend closing the top and bottom vents to a “just barely open” configuration. You will have to practice to find out what works for you but this is the setting that works for me.

I placed the probe from my at grate level and it seemed to be very close to what the dome guage is measuring. Using a Temperature Controller – The FLAME BOSS The Big Green Egg as well as most ceramic cookers are pretty good at holding a steady temperature but even at that, I would never leave for several hours or even go to bed and sleep all night without feeling like I needed to check on it every hour or two. This is where the comes in. The company sent me one to try out and it worked perfectly right out of the box with almost no setup at all. Easy is what I am all about! It's basically a module or brain connected to a blower which blows air onto the coals (via the intake vent at the bottom) as needed. It knows what is needed due to a temperature probe that is connected to the grate with an alligator clip.

You set the temperature that you want it to maintain via the easy buttons just below the screen and it does just exactly that. As you can see, I have it set for 225 and it is maintaining that very well. I don't recommend taking too much stock in the smoker gauge since it is so far above the grate, it often is not accurate to what is going on at the grate level. With this setup, I can walk away from the BGE and go to town, go to work, go to bed, whatever, knowing that it will maintain the temperature of the smoker for as long as it has coals to burn.

In the BGE and most other ceramic cookers, that is easily in excess of 12-14 hours if you need it to be. No more staying up all night to cook briskets, pork shoulders, etc. Set it up, go to bed and get up in the morning to find the meat cooking away just like you. The is the way to go, if you want to absolutely put your ceramic cooker on auto pilot. I have been using this cooker for a while now and I really like it.

It is fun to use, allows me to walk away from it for several hours knowing that it will maintain the temperature and cook the food without much adieu. These are a little on the pricey side but I do believe that they are a lifetime purchase. Perhaps something that will get passed down to the kids one day.

In my opinion, they are worth the money. I have seen several of these on craigslist and in the local classifieds so if you are in the market to buy but don't mind buying something already broke in, then you should be able to find something a lot less expensive. I will continue to add to this page as I learn more about the Big Green Egg ceramic cooker. Right now the testing is in progress, I have a lot to learn and I promise to share my findings.

I obtained my BGE around 2002, at the time I had a very well made gas grill. I never ever re-lit the gas grill after that day, it took me 8 years to figure out I should throw out the old gas grill because it had rusted and fallen into disrepair. Since I got the BGE in 2002, I have replaced a grand total of $50 in parts, the first to go was the coal screen which simply wore out due to almost constant grilling and smoking. The spark screen developed a small hole and I replaced that as well, also I bought a roll of gasket material.

$50 over 15 years: Try to beat that with a gas grill or the other brands of ceramic cookers! I also own a smoker, it’s the equal of the BGE in cooking but the is NOT as well made, and it has some infuriating design aspects. But I do use it! The BGE is simply the best grill or smoker you can buy if you are looking for a low-maintence cooker that will last forever Easy to start, great to cook with. Best cooker ever? Hi, first clean out all old charcoal & start with a fresh batch, use only lump charcoal I like Royal oak in the red bag or Big Green eggs brand is good also.

Put the on top of the coals after you heat them up to turn white in color. Turn down to temp for smoking I use around 320 depending what I am smoking. Do not soak the in water than add them on top of the coals.

I don’t use a heat plate above the coals in mine, never have seemed to need one. One thing I like also is grilling salmon than a few mins before done add a few chips for a light smoke flavor. Best to smoke birds about 8 pounds max & always check temp of bird for at least 165 degrees min. I like cherry for chicken or turkey. Have fun grilling always start coals with a electric starter never use lighter fluid. Rob, Normally I will put a pan on the place setter with liquid in it; water, apple juice, wine, etc.

That way it will catch the drippings and keep them off the place setter. When I don’t do that I clean the place setter with a 5″ or 6″ wide putty knife / scraper. Just make sure you don’t get a flimsy putty knife, get a heavy rigid one. I picked up a grill scraper at a restaurant supply. Once drippings are burnt they will scrape right off. I scrape it with it still in my Egg and let the scrapings go back into the charcoal.

I respectfully have to disagree with Steve about wrapping the plate setter in aluminum foil. I’ve tried it and I am convinced that it fundamentally changes the way heat is radiated to whatever you’re cooking on the grill rack. Aluminum is a poor conductor of heat and therefore interferes with the heat being radiated up by the plate setter. My suggestion is to use a paint scrapper on the plate setter at he end of a cook while it is still hot (or warm) to get rid of any burned-on crud. The plate setter won’t look beautiful, but so what?

It will be clean and ready for your next cook. Hi, sorry but I have never used a heat setter as I have not seemed the need for one. If I used one I may like it who knows. Getting the heat right with good airflow for heating up I changed the bottom plate out for a grill grate for a small Weber grill. Now I can control my heat much better also using a remote temp gauge on the grilling grate itself helps for knowing the real temp you are grilling or smoking. Myself I always let my charcoal turn white in large flames before closing lid to control temp.

Big Green Egg Operating Manual

A friend just gave me a wireless remote temp gauge for meat, will be fun to see if it works right or not. If it works right that will save time from checking temp of foods while cooking. Scarri3r, I use several of Myron’s recipes on my BGE. I have been to two of his classes and love his flavor profiles. I use but follow Myron’s cooking instructions and do use a water pan though I may try without after reading some comments here. One important thing though Myron’s book, at least early editions, instruct to place the meat in a pan at the beginning of your cook.

This is incorrect! I asked Myron about this and he said it was a mistake in the book. Do not pan until the internal temp is 155-160 so as to allow smoke penetration around the entire meat. Had a bge for many years now i just got the black egg from Sams also. First of all the shock on the front was keeping the kid open a little so i took it off, you can drill bigger holes & adjust it fit right. Next the lid was leaking air use a dollar bill close the lid on it & see if it is sealed if not i had to adjust the mounting bracket bolts to get it to seal. Most of all it would not heat up very good so i went to Ace & bought a small grill grate to replace the steel plate that holds the coals now i can control the heat better also it will get as hot as i want now.

Jeff, One thing you have to be careful about when buying a used BGE is that no one has used charcoal briquettes. I had a friend buy a used BGE after I had bought my new one a couple years ago. The food tasted like pine and lighter fluid!

The guy that sold it had used briquettes and the ceramic absorbed the chemical and that must have been why he sold it. The BGE my friend bought was useless for other than a fire pit. If buying a used one be sure to see or ask what they cooked with. Start a fire with lump charcoal (you can bring a few pieces with you for this) and check to see how it smells. The seller should be more than willing to allow this. Just my two cents! I don’t have the and may never buy one.

If you look at Jeff’s picture, the vent openings are almost dead on. I watch it for the first couple of hours to make sure my temps are steady. (do this while sharing a few beers with friends that will be over the next day for food) Then I can go to bed without any worries. Next morning my temp is always still sitting at 225. As far as wood is concerned for smoke, I have never been dissatisfied with my results. Use the larger chunks is my only advice.

BGE owner for about 4 years now. Kevin, with the BGE, I usually add 1-2 sticks of split wood (3″ x 10″ or so) right on top of the coals and it will produce smoke for 2-3 hours or better.

You can also mix or large in with the lump charcoal at about a 1:5 ratio and it will produce plenty of ongoing smoke so that you really won’t need to add more wood during the entire cook. With the controlling the temperature, you could theoretically, set up a 4-6 hour cook or even longer and never have to touch the Egg again until the food is finished cooking. I have had my large BGE for about two years. Our friends think I am a genius when cooking out.

It’s not me, it is the egg!! I have prepared some great meals. Now, it is a whole new game. So far I have used the rub on everything from chicken, brisket, pork ribs, boston butt and recently mahi mahi. So far, I tell all my friends that I came up with a secret rub.It is actually Jeff’s and I make it exactly as he describes. I really enjoy the egg!!

I saw an article recently on cleaning the egg with a bag of cheap of lump do a long burn at 700 degrees plus. Take out all the plate setters and grills and let her cook.

Turns out as white as when new!! The reason most of the el-cheapo bullet style smokers require a water pan is that they are not insulated and therefor require much more fuel and air to maintain the smoking temps. The steam coming off the water pan helps counteract the moisture loss from all that air flow. Kamado style smokers, whether they be ceramic or metal (double wall insulated BSK) require about 1/10th the amount of fuel and air flow to maintain the same temps. I have used both and can attest to the fact that the kamado style produces moister meat.

Jeff, have you noticed the moisture accumulating around the bottom air intake door while cooking low and slow? Proof that no water pan is needed! Ken, That can happen if you put meat on before the BGE has heated up enough to drive off all the volitiles from fresh charcoal. Normally, you can tell when it's ready when there is no more white smoke and what comes out of the top smells good. If it's not ready, the smoke will smell acrid and your meat will taste like it was cooked in a house fire. I suggest you smell the smoke to see if it's sweet or acrid. I say this because if you have mixed in before you start the fire, you could still have white smoke from the instead of TBS even though the nasty stuff is burned off.

Hope this helps. I try and position the thermometer near the meat, chicken or fish I'm cooking. If that's to the side, so be it, ditto the center. I've also tried clipping it to the part of the dome thermometer that is inside the BGE but surprisingly the two never agree. I use a DigiQ 2 or a Maverick 732 probe, depending on what I'm doing and I've learned that a 10º swing one way or the other isn't really a big deal.

Pork butt is very forgiving, and ribs will cook beautifully in the BGE anywhere from 225º all the way to 250º. The thermometer position is less important than learning to control the temperature in the BGE and not let it get away from you. If you're doing it without a DigiQ, which automates temperature maintenance, then you just have to figure out the right flue settings to maintain the temps you're looking for. Just keep experimenting with your probe placement and remember that most home ovens have a normal fluctuation of at least 10º to 20º. For what it's worth, I'm convinced that putting aluminum foil on the plate setter also affects temperature by absorbing or deflecting some of the heat generated by the ceramic material.

I still do it since it makes clean-up easier, but I've noticed that the few times I don't do it, the temperature is much easier to maintain. Anyway, hope some of this helps you. Welcome to the BGE community!!

I just bought a BGE. I have not used it yet. I also bought the book 'Smoking Meat' by Jeff Phillips. I will do my homework first and then try it.

I have bbq' ed for years but this is very new to me. I am a home chef and would like to try some new 'hogies and wraps Asian style. Thankyou for writting the book it is very informative. I have the whole summer to experience this smokin thing before I go back down to Mexico for a winter of serching and trying mexican flavors with a chef friend of mine. I think I would still like to use a water bath in with the meat as i am not experienced at this and i don't want the meat to be dry due to my inexperience. Do I set it to the side for indirect moisture or on the place setter inside the egg? Can I use beer or juice in this water pan?

Happy smokin everyone! Brenda, Congrats on your purchase. I've owned a BGE for 20 years and still use it at least twice a week. You're in for a real treat if you like smoked food.

I know your question was to Jeff, but I'm going to throw in my 2¢ here regarding moisture. Use the plate setter for everything you cook, unless you're grilling something like a steak or hamburger. The plate setter allows the heat to radiate up rather than the protein being exposed directly to the fire, where it's much harder to control, especially over a long cook. There is no need to add a water pan for moisture if you control the temperature. Here are couple of hints I'd offer for your cooking success.

First and foremost, use a good brand of charcoal. Natural lump charcoal is by far the best. BGE makes their own brand or you can use other brands like Royal Oak and Cowboy Charcoal. BGE makes a Fire Starter to light their charcoal which works like a charm, or use an electric starter.

Just don't use any liquid starters that are oil based. They leave a terrible taste in the coals. Leave the top and the damper wide open to let the fire start. You'll have a basic fire in about 10 minutes. Put the place setter on top of the firebox (with the feet up if you're using the grill grate), close the top and let the BGE get to temperature.

Here's the only tricky part. I don't add the wood for smoking until I've got my BGE up to temperature as I don't want to waste the wood generating smoke until I add the meat, chicken or fish. Using a BBQ mitt or an old rag, move the plate setter out of the way by tilting it, or just removing it for a minute. It'll be hot, but if you're heating your BGE to, say, 250˚, the plate setter is still very easy to handle and won't be difficult to handle. Add your wood for smoking in a pile in the middle of the coals, put the plate setter back in place, put the grill in place, add the meat you're cooking, close the top and let the temperature come back up. Close the adjustable flue on top from being wide open to just having the holes wide open.

Once the BGE is up to temperature, adjust the lower dampler and upper draft to keep it steady. The lower damper really only has to be open a half inch or less. The top flue should also only be about a quarter open. That'll keep the temp stable. With some practice you'll get the hang of it! Some other quick hints.

Do NOT soak your wood in water. It's an old wives tale and all you do is keep the wood from releasing smoke. Use a thermometer like a Maverick 732, available on Amazon. It monitors both the temperature at the grill level as well as the interior temp of the protein you're cooking. It makes the BGE much easier to monitor.

If you really like cooking on your BGE, make an investment in an electronic thermostat like the DigiQ DX2 from BBQ Guru. I bought one a year ago and it's a life changer!

It will maintain the termperature in your BGE without any fuss, as well as monitor the protein temperature. Whether you're smoking fish at 170˚ for two hours or pork at 250˚ for ten or more hours, the thing is magic!

Good luck with your BGE! Welcome to those of us who use it to make some of the most delicious smoked food you can eat! If you need some advice or hints on usage, this forum is a good place to come! You should also check out amazingribs.com, a cornocopia of grilling and smoking information! BTW, enjoy your trip to Mexico! Scarri3r, I own Myron Mixon's book but have yet to try his recipes. I make as little use as I can of foil or foil pans as I'm convinced they play havoc with the heat distribution in my medium BGE. I think the recipes that have worked the best are from.

He cooks at at 250º. 4 hours for St. Louis cut ribs and about 3 hours for baby backs. Occasionally I wrap for the last hour with a glaze of brown sugar and margarine, then cook an additional 30 minutes unwrapped with a coat of BBQ sauce. Either way they come out perfectly tender. For Boston butt, I use 225-230º and cook it as long as it takes to get the meat to 195-200º.

I don't wrap although many people do. After I bring the pork butt off my BGE, I wrap it in heavy duty aluminum foil, place it in an Igloo (or Styrofoam cooler), wrapped in a towel.

I leave it there for 2-3 hours. Then I unwrap it and pull the meat for the best pulled pork you'll ever eat! One last suggestion.

You MUST use a thermometer. Either use a or a DigiQ DX2. I use a DigiQ and can't imagine cooking without it, especially on long cooks. Hope this helps! I have a medium BGE that I've owned for close to 20 years.

While I've had to replace the seals and the grate, the rest of the cooker is very durable. I've cooked hundreds of meals in it. My 'words of wisdom' would be that if you're doing a long cook, say brisket or a Boston butt, don't use leftover coals.

Clean out the entire firebox and start with 100% new coals. The only problems I've encountered with my BGE have come from long cooks when I added new coals on top of old, and the fire started to go out, or couldn't be controlled. Secondly, I'm not a fan of using a metal box to hold the wood, at least in the medium size BGE. It plays havoc with the temperature and doesn't give out enough smoke for my tastes. Instead, after the fire is started, sprinkle the wood directly on top of the coals in a pile, with additional wood as needed outside of the center.

It should resemble the same pattern as if you took a salt shaker and emptied it on a table: a pile in the middle and lighter as you move out towards the edge. I use chuncks on a long cook for Boston butt, brisket or ribs and chips for a short cook, with fish or chicken wings.

Once you get the hang of controlling temperature, the BGE is easy to use. Just remember that for a lo-o-ng cook, use all new charcoal.

And as Jeff says, use hardwood lump charcoal for the BGE. I agree that the water pan is a great thing in smokers but when you use a ceramic cooker, you will notice that there are quite a number of things about this smoker that make a water pan not so important. There is very little radiant heat coming from the coals due to the small number of lit coals required to maintain smoking temperatures. The walls of the smoker are very thick and hold heat really well and this is what actually radiates heat to cook the food. It is a tight unit and while there is plenty of airflow for the smoke, it seems to do a great job of naturally reducing the drying effect of the heat. As far as the weber vs. The egg, I love both of them and the biggest difference between the two is $$$.

The Egg is what I call a lifetime purchase and if you take care of it, you will pass it on to your children one day. The Weber is a lot less money and while it probably won’t outlast a normal person, it is a blast to use, easy to maintain heat and can produce some of the best smoked food you ever tasted. Final thoughts: If you can afford it, go with the egg and you will love using it. Otherwise, go with the Weber and it will serve you very well. Had a Kamodo comped to me. I know, lucky guy!

Tipped it over with my mower, then they don't work so well. Lucky day #2, bought a BGE in a divorce fire damage. I can't even tell you what a gem this is. I wake up thinking of what to make next. Invite yourself over and i'll make you dinner. But.must have Jeff's rub, i put it in a big shaker to use all of the time. I do put a caserole pan with water on the diffuser.

Love the remote thermometer, only wish there was an iphone version. Other than something with digital controls or a pull behind version, this is the only grill I feel comfortable walking away and going to church (after temp is stable). This is now the only site I use for smokin advice, just makes life easier and tastier!