BGE not getting high temps? Charcoal?

Charcoal cookers (such as Weber Kettles)
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L2obin
Posts: 52
Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2012 12:07 pm

BGE not getting high temps? Charcoal?

Post by L2obin »

Hi Guys,

I bought a second hand BGE and am getting to terms with how to best use it. I am currently sitting in front of if trying to grill some pork neck steaks. I have filled the basked with lump wood charcoal (bought from a continental shop-white plastic tarp like bags-2 bags for 45aud) and tried to get it to high temp but am having trouble sustains even a burn after I close the lid on the BGE. The top of the BGE is removed and the bottom vent is fully open. I lit the coals with several fire starters directly in basket with lid open and bottom vent fully open. Waited till the charcoal glows and tried putting lid down. Unfortunately I can't seem to sustain the heat when lid goes down. I mixed the coals and when everything was red dropped the meat on and tried again. But still no luck. I am not grilling with lid up which works but I want that high heat pizza oven like grill. I wonder whether the charcoal is the problem?

Any tips/suggestions?
12x7
Posts: 772
Joined: Tue Jul 09, 2013 5:32 pm

Re: BGE not getting high temps? Charcoal?

Post by 12x7 »

BGE are great Kamados. Buying one secondhand is a good way to get one.

What sort of charcoal did you buy? Mangrove root, gidgee, red gum. The type of charcoal you bought is important as each has a different characteristics.

Don't use chemical firelighters as the chemicals get absorbed in the ceramics. Buy the Samba natural firelighters from Bunnings. You can make homemade firelighters by soaking a few paper towels in vegetable oil and make them into a ball and light them.

Make sure you don't block up the holds in the fire grate at the bottom. In the centre I put larger chunks so there is air flow. You can put one or two fire lighters in the centre and light them.

What really helps is if you have a kick ash basket. Look at my post here. viewtopic.php?f=2&t=17246

Here's the one for the large BGE. https://american-bbq.com.au/index.php?r ... uct_id=565

Open top and bottom vents wide open.

The air should flow like this up through the centre.

Image

Note you should start the charcoal slightly closer to the front vent as the fire will move towards as the back due to the front vent airflow and that it is hotter at the back of the Kamado.

Something to watch out for is wet charcoal. If it gets moist it is really hard to use and doesn't get hot even if you do all the right things such as stacking, lighting etc. Buy a cover for your BGE. It helps keep things dry.
L2obin
Posts: 52
Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2012 12:07 pm

Re: BGE not getting high temps? Charcoal?

Post by L2obin »

Hi there. Thank you for your reply!

The kickash grill basket seems like a good idea. 95usd + shipping seems to be a bit expensive though. Does anyone know if there is a cheaper alternative? Or where is the cheapest place to buy one if it's to be delivered in AUS?

So does one need to totally clean the BGE after every fire? Does a clean mean totally removing all the ashes? Should I be removing the fire bowl as well as getting the ashes from the bottom vent is a bit tricky...?

In terms of the charcoal, I have no idea what type it was. It was in a white plastic tarp like bag - no writing. My brother mentioned once it might be mangrove from Asia. Which charcoal should I be buying? How much should be in the fire basket?

I also noticed that the temp dial seems to have died. Any recommendations on a good dial? Ideally would like it to be suitable for smoking as well as high temp grilling.
12x7
Posts: 772
Joined: Tue Jul 09, 2013 5:32 pm

Re: BGE not getting high temps? Charcoal?

Post by 12x7 »

The link is to an Australian site so it is $95 Aussie dollars and about $15 courier for the Kick Ash Basket.

Big Green Egg is back in Australia now. Give one of their dealers a call for the thermometer. http://www.thebarbequestore.com.au/bran ... ralia.html

One of the good things about the Kamado is that you can reuse the charcoal. After each cook just leave it there. For the next cook move the charcoal around so the small stuff and ash falls through the fire grate. Move the old charcoal out of the centre. Put some new charcoal in the centre and light from the centre.

I'm taking a guess the charcoal is mangrove. If you are in Sydney it might be from Emberpak. http://emberpak.com/ Emberpak mangrove is excellent.

Have a look at my Kamado 101 thread for lots of helpful hints http://www.aussiebbq.info/forum/viewtop ... =2&t=11471

Here's a few videos to help you get started.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q572WcA9cAE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKAmDIn17OQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ify5IFkdZA
Last edited by Lovey on Thu Mar 07, 2019 3:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Edited youtube links
L2obin
Posts: 52
Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2012 12:07 pm

Re: BGE not getting high temps? Charcoal?

Post by L2obin »

Just ordered a kickash basket. Looking forward to receiving it. Thank you very much for the awesome info! Looking forward to learning more about the bge!
L2obin
Posts: 52
Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2012 12:07 pm

Re: BGE not getting high temps? Charcoal?

Post by L2obin »

Ok. I decided I need to try thoroughly clean the egg, and found a whole heap of ash! No wonder it was not burning. After a thorough vacuum of ash, I placed a smaller amount of charcoal and cooked up a butterflied duck. YUM! Cooked at ~170c for ~1.5hrs.

A thorough clean revealed there is also s large character in the firebox. The wire patch job seems like the way to go before the whole thing cracks, but I wonder whether I should even bother trying to repair? It's still in one piece...
12x7
Posts: 772
Joined: Tue Jul 09, 2013 5:32 pm

Re: BGE not getting high temps? Charcoal?

Post by 12x7 »

Don't worry about a cracked firebox as it is pretty common. The Kamado will cook fine.
Lovey
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Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2012 7:15 pm
Location: South Coast NSW

Re: BGE not getting high temps? Charcoal?

Post by Lovey »

G'day L2obin,
check out the video's that 12x7 has put up, they're very informative. Kamado's are very sensitive to air flow as you've found out. Large leaks will let too much air in or choked air flow will starve the fire of air, and you'll end up well outside of your desired target temps either way.
Keep going with it, they're a great unit and you'll get years of great food out of them.
All the best,
Steve
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