Indirect cooking
Indirect cooking on the Big Green Egg? It’s a piece of cake! With the convEGGtor you can turn the versatile EGG into a genuine convection oven. This allows you to cook dishes for a long time at a low or high temperature without this adversely affecting their flavour. Watch our instruction video to find out how indirect cooking in the EGG works!
Use the convEGGtor
The convEGGtor is basically a ceramic heat shield. It protects your dish against the direct heat from the glowing charcoal and at the same time ensures that the heat can circulate throughout the EGG, allowing your dish to cook evenly.
To prepare a dish using the convEGGtor, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Fill the EGG with charcoal and starters and ignite the starters. N.B. With your convEGGtor you can prepare delicious slow-cooking recipes in which the EGG burns for hours on end. If you plan to do this, make sure there is sufficient charcoal in the EGG, as you don’t want to keep adding charcoal during cooking.
Step 2: Position the convEGGtor with the feet facing upwards and place the Stainless Steel Grid on top of that.
Step 3: Heat the EGG to the desired temperature. If you want to prepare a succulent crispy chicken, for example, the temperature of the EGG should be between 180 and 200 degrees Celsius.
Step 4: Once the EGG reaches the desired temperature, place your dish in the EGG and start cooking.
Step 5: Check whether the dish is cooked properly. There are two ways to do this. You can either time the cooking process (for this chicken recipe that would be approximately 1 hour) or you can measure the core temperature (for this chicken recipe it would have to be 77°C). On the page Temperature control you will find a useful table containing preparations, weights, temperatures and timings. In order to measure the core temperature of a dish, you could use the Digital Pocket Thermometer, the Dual Probe Remote Thermometer or the Instant Read Digital Thermometer.
Step 6: Once your dish is ready, serve it up and enjoy!
When cooking indirectly, always keep the ceramic lid of the EGG closed as much as possible. If you have to open the lid, do this carefully in 2 steps, in order to prevent a backdraft.
And when you’ve finished EGGing, don’t forget to clean your grid (and any other accessories) and to extinguish the EGG.
Do you want to try another cooking technique? Read more on the pages Direct Grilling, Smoking or Baking.
Safety tips
A Big Green Egg is very safe to use provided the EGG is used for its intended purpose and certain guidelines are followed. You must always be very careful when working with fire or heat. The same applies to working with a Big Green Egg! While using your EGG, heed the safety tips below and be careful when igniting the charcoal and working with the glowing coals and hot surfaces and materials. That way you can enjoy using your Big Green Egg and savour the mouth-watering flavours of all the tasty dishes.
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Do not use the EGG indoors
Do not ignite the EGG indoors or in a space with insufficient ventilation. Although some professionals may use the EGG in their kitchens, this is always in accordance with the building regulations and requires the presence of professional ventilation and a fire fighting system.
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Take local regulations into account when EGGing outdoors
Cooking on an open fire is not permitted everywhere. If you are on a campsite or having a picnic, you must comply with the local regulations, temporary or otherwise. It is possible that cooking on an open fire is allowed but that special rules apply – for example, in relation to the distance between the cooking appliance and certain objects.
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Do not use lighter fluid or other combustible fluids to ignite the EGG
The Premium Organic Lump Charcoal of Big Green Egg ignites very quickly when using natural starters or an electric lighter. Do not use briquettes, lighter fluid or other combustible fluids. This could cause the warranty to lapse and it could also impair the flavour of the products to be cooked.
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Keep the mesh of the draft door closed
By keeping the mesh closed, you prevent any sparks escaping from the EGG and avoid the risk of burning charcoal falling out of the EGG, however small this risk may be. You only need to slide the mesh open when removing cold ashes.
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Never remove or move the fire box if it is hot or contains hot charcoal
The ceramic material of the fire box retains heat for a long time. Wait before removing or moving the fire box and/or the charcoal in the fire box until you are sure that both the charcoal and the fire box have cooled down fully.
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After igniting the EGG, place the dual function rEGGulator on the chimney
Without the cast iron dual function rEGGulator, the temperature in the EGG will rise substantially without you being able to control it.
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Never look into the chimney when the EGG is in use
The chimney is not a viewing window. Never look into it when the EGG is in use or when the charcoal is burning because the hot air rising from the chimney could cause serious injuries.
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Be careful when touching the outside of the EGG
Although a Big Green Egg will not become as hot on the outside as a steel barbecue, for example, it will still feel hot when in use or before it has cooled down. Always keeps children, pets and combustible materials away from the EGG.
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Use the proper accessories to lift the grids
When the EGG is in use, the grids in the EGG (the Stainless Steel Grid and the Cast Iron Grid) become hot. That is why you should use the specially designed Grid Gripper or the Cast Iron Grid Lifter to grasp and lift the hot grids.
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Be careful when removing used accessories
Always apply extreme caution when removing hot components and accessories from the EGG, such as the convEGGtor or the Flat Baking Stone. You should always use heat-resistant gloves such as the EGGmitt or the Silicone Grilling Mitt, as well as the right tools, in order to prevent burns. Stainless steel, cast iron and ceramics can become extremely hot. Place used accessories on a non-combustible surface where they will not be touched accidentally and cause burns.
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Always be aware of a fire hazard!
Never leave a working EGG with an open lid unattended. When the EGG is being used, beware of any dry leaves, wooden floors and other combustible materials in the direct vicinity. They could present a fire hazard if they come into contact with sparks or hot charcoal. Also keep a close eye on your surroundings when using the EGG. Fire can be hazardous to people, animals, property and nature.
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Preventing a backdraft during or after use
Once the charcoal in the EGG is burning, you must first open the lid carefully about 5 centimetres a few times before opening it fully. This allows air to flow into the EGG slowly, preventing a backdraft from occurring. Be very careful when you open a hot EGG with a closed dual function metal top and draft door, as the sudden inflow of air could cause dangerously high flames. If this does happen, close the lid immediately to extinguish the flames, then carefully open the lid a few centimetres several times before opening it fully. We recommend that you always wear heat-resistant gloves and that you ensure adequate personal protection.
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Never extinguish the charcoal using water
If you close the draft door after use and cover the chimney with the ceramic snuffer cap, the charcoal will die down in about 20 minutes. This means that you never have to use water or any other extinguishing agent.
Big Green Egg has done everything possible to ensure the safety of the appliance when in use. However, the users themselves are responsible for their own safety and that of their environment. Users must always act prudently and handle the EGG and the accessories with caution.
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