How to Get Big Green Egg to 650 (and ABOVE)

How to Get Big Green Egg to 650 (and ABOVE)

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It isn’t enjoyable when you try to cook something, but your Big Green Egg (BGE) is not heating up. Especially if you’re trying to make pizzas or preparing steaks, you need a cooking temperature of over 600℃.

So, how to get big green egg to 650?

You can raise your big green egg temperature by cleaning it properly before cooking. There are other options as well. For example, keeping the lid open, removing the daisy wheel, etc. Opening the draft door or lower vent can also help. Apply one of the tricks or all of them if you need to do so.

6 Ways to Get Big Green Egg to 650 or More

Whether cooking brisket or grilling other stuff, your Big Green Egg should reach the proper temperature. Now we have six tricks and tips to help you do that. Let’s get to know that one by one. 

Ways to Get Big Green Egg to 650 or More
Source: gearpatrol.com

1. Cleaning the Big Green Egg

It’s recommended to clean your Big Green Egg (BGE) before cooking something at a high temperature. The residual ash from the previous cooking can resist BGE from reaching a high temperature when you need to cook over 500℃. So the first thing to do is to clean.

A fresh, clean BGE eliminates the chance of improper airflow and allows it to work correctly. To properly clean your BGE, you can follow the steps below.

  • Displace the fire ring from the BGE and keep it in a safe place. Otherwise, it can break or get damaged.
  • Use a rubber glove to remove the residual ash and other substances. You can also do that with bare hands, but it will make your hands dirty. Also, there can be any remaining coal that you can use later. You can store them in a plastic bag temporarily.
  • Take the coal-holding metal grate and put it aside. Ensure you don’t break it by keeping it in an unsafe place.
  • Displace the firebox. For this, open the lower vent draft door and pull out the firebox carefully. Keep the firebox aside.
  • Finally, you’ll have some leftover ash at the bottom. For cleaning the ash, you can use a vacuum cleaner. Small, portable vacuum cleaners are recommended to use for your convenience. However, regular ones will do the work as well if operated carefully.
  • Put all the components back in place. Be careful to set the firebox properly. By doing everything correctly, you can ensure that there is proper airflow to your BGE.

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2. Using Fresh Lump Charcoal

Using proper fuel can be a critical factor in raising the temperature. Always use natural lump charcoal and light it with an electric lighter.

But keep in mind that you shouldn’t use lighter fluid. Using lighter fluid can bring unexpected situations.

3. Keeping the Lid Open

Understandably, you’ll have to close the lid to start the cooking in your BGE. But closing it too soon can also be a reason for your BGE not reaching the required temperature.

To overcome this, you can use a trick. Keep the lid open for around 10-15 minutes after you start cooking. By this time, small-sized coals will start to burn before you close the lid, which will help to increase the temperature.

Big Green Egg With Lid Open
Source: horeca.com

4. Daisy Wheel Removal

The daisy wheel acts as a secondary temperature vent in the Big Green Egg. Cooking at a high temperature may not require this secondary vent. The daisy wheel is partially used to bring small temperature changes.

So, consider removing the daisy wheel if you want to reach a high temperature. Removing the daisy wheel can significantly change the heating cycle and increase the temperature. 

Again, you can use temperature controllers like Green Egg Genius to control the temperature.

5. Completely Opening the Lower Vent

The lower vent works as the primary temperature controller. A significant temperature change can be brought about by modifying the lower vent placement of your BGE.

When you require a high temperature for cooking, opening the lower vent can help. If you keep the lower vent open, the temperature will rise rapidly. Thus you can achieve the desired high temperature.

6. Aligning the Fire Box Correctly

We all know the importance of ensuring proper ventilation in the BGEs. Maximum airflow will only be ensured if the firebox is aligned with the lower vent. As a result, reaching a high temperature won’t be possible.

So, always keep the firebox aligned with the draft door (lower vent) and see the difference. And remember to use a good quality thermometer to measure the temperature of BGE.

These were the six ways to get big green egg to 650 or more. Following these ways, you can increase the temperature of your Big Green Egg.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much time is needed for BGE to reach 600℃?

If everything is done correctly, it will take 15-20 minutes to reach 600℃. But in winter, it may take longer due to cold weather.

Big Green Egg or Traeger – which one’s better?

Traeger is suitable for beginners. Big Green Egg is for the experienced ones who like customization. It allows them to reach higher temperatures easily.

Does the inside temperature of BGE affect the outer surface?

No, the outer surface is insulated well. So, even if the inside temperature of the BGE is high, it doesn’t affect the outer surface.

Conclusion

That’s our discussion on getting the big green egg to 650 or more.  

Here is one bonus tip for you. Although the outer surface doesn’t get heated that much, keep something under the grill. This will help keep the heat off your table or the lower surface.

That’s all from us. Have a good day, and enjoy your cooking.

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