Tips

Tips & Techniques

One thing to check out is our Thermometer information, especially how to set the thermometer when cooking high in the dome.  It can be found here.  This will insure accurate temperature readings during a cook.

It happens every now and then, we fail to hit the target grilling temperature at the grid.  If you are new to ceramic cooking, a couple of reasons for failing to hit the temperature can be:

• miss the settings on the lower slider or upper daisy wheel; 
• forgot to mix old and new lump; 
• let the temperature run up; or 
• try to stretch the backend of a long low & slow with a quick grilling cook.  

So, if you find that you missed the target cooking temperature at your initial grid height, simply move the grid up or down to another Level for a quick fix.  Remember this, it will come in handy!

One of the cool features of the Adjustable Rig is how fast it and its contents can be removed from the Big Green Egg® or Kamado Joe®.  When feasible, we recommend setting all the pieces (grids, stones, pans) directly on the Rig.  The first step in removing the Rig is to have your landing area ready and close by.  The second step is to wear adequate personal protection.  

To remove the Adjustable Rig, grab under the Rig's upper ring and lift the Rig up and out.  Keep the Rig level.  Remember, these items are hot, so it is worth repeating, have the landing area close by and take the necessary safety precautions to protect yourself and other equipment.  You may wonder how fast is the move!  There is a good chance it took you longer to read this one paragraph than it will take you to lift out the Rig.

Again, have the landing area next to your cooker.  When foiling ribs, best is bone end up to minimize your chances of tearing the foil.  A 20" pizza pan makes for easy clean up with accidental spills in your landing area.  As a note, our 18" Stainless Round Drip Pan is too small, 20" is recommended.

The Oval grid is 12.75" wide by 17.5" long.  So, it is possible to drop wood chunks past the grid at all three Levels.  The picture sequence, right to left, is Level 4.5, 3.0 and 1.5.  The wood chunk is 1-1/2 inches thick.

Sometimes with direct grilling, the lump burn can create hot spots across the grid.  You can minimize the effects from the hot spot by spinning the round grid(s).  To spin the grid, just set the tongs at grid center and turn.

If you need to slow the cook down, changing from a direct to an indirect set-up with a stone can reduce temperatures at the grid. If you think you may change over during a cook, we recommend setting the Crossbars before starting the cook.  The chicken leg cook, pictured below, started direct with grid temperatures over 375 degrees.  After rendering the fat for a short time and charring the skin, the 16" Stone was added (Level 3.0) which changed the cook from a direct set-up to an indirect set-up.  This change took the direct heat off the legs and allowed them to "roast" till done.  Similar cooks can be done with our other stones, including the 8x16 Half Stone for a half direct & half indirect set-up.

If you are one who constantly worries about running out of lump or lives in a very cold climate, you can overfill the Large Big Green Egg® fire ring to fuel a low & slow cook.  The photo, bottom left, shows the indirect set-up on Level 3.0.  Guess if you need more lump, you could set the stone on Level 4.5.  DO NOT use this much lump for grilling or high temperature cooks.

If you are a fan of jerky, it is feasible to load a grid on each Level.  The set-up requires 3 Crossbar pairs and 3 - 16.5 Round or Oval grids.  Pictured above right is the set-up with 3 oval grids.  The Large grid sits atop the Rig for additional space.  Spacing between grids is approximately 1.5 inches.

If you are not using a Crossbar during a cook or have an extra set, one can be used as a wiggle rod to shake the ash from the Big Green Egg® lump grate during a cook.  Slip the Crossbar through the lower slider opening, hook into one of the open grate holes and lightly push/pull.  The motion will shake the ash from the grate openings, improving airflow.