If you own a Big Green Egg, then you should give yourself a pat on the back. This compact home outdoor appliance is here to change your BBQ weekends forever. The Egg is one of the most versatile ceramic kamado-style charcoal cookers available today. It works like an oven, a traditional grill, or a smoker, and you can use it with nearly all cooking techniques, ranging from grilling to roasting to slow-cooking.
To take advantage of all these offerings and extend the lifespan of your cooker, you must clean and maintain your Big Green Egg regularly. Unfortunately, many people don’t know how to clean a Big Green Egg, and that’s why we are here to help.
In this post, we are going to show you simple ways to clean and maintain your ceramic kamado-style charcoal cooker so that you can relish your cooker for longer and enjoy tastier meals.
But first, let’s look at how a Big Green Egg works and why it is important to clean it regularly.
1. How Does a Big Green Egg Work?
The Big Green Egg works using 100% natural lump charcoal instead of gas or electricity. It features an air-tight ceramic cooking chamber designed to retain heat, moisture, and flavor within the grill perfectly throughout the entire cooking process.
It also has a patented airflow system that consists of a draft door and a dual function metal top. The draft door at the bottom of the Egg regulates air entering the firebox and its dual function metal top controls air throughout the cooking chamber. These features come in handy in regulating temperature and smoke quantity when cooking your favorite meals.
2. What Makes a Big Green Egg Grill So Special?
The Big Green Egg is no ordinary charcoal grill. It offers so many unique features not available anywhere else. For starters, it is lightweight and compact yet sturdy and stable, making it easy to carry around on your outdoor trips.
Moreover, the Big Green Egg is very simple and easy to use. Even though it comes equipped with advanced features, its innovative design allows for stress-free operation.
And unlike other charcoal grills, lighting it up is quick and easy, and it takes only a few seconds to fire up the grill to the desired temperature.
The grill also features a precise temperature control system that consists of an airtight chamber coupled with a patented airflow mechanism that gives grillers total control over the entire cooking process.
3. Why It Is Important to Clean Your Big Green Egg
As you continue to use your Big Green Egg more often, it is important to keep it clean regularly. Failure to do so will result in all manner of problems.
Excess grease and residue from your last meal could accumulate on the grates and later cause flare-ups the next time you use the Egg. Troublesome fat might also char and burn, leaving a nasty, burnt taste on your food.
It is equally important to clean your Big Green Egg regularly to extend its lifespan. Even though this charcoal grill is designed to withstand frequent use and harsh elements, lack of proper maintenance and failure to clean it often can only reduce its lifespan.
4. Steps to Clean Your Big Green Egg
Cleaning your Big Green Egg is much easier than you think. It only requires a quick wipe and a little brushing before and after use. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to clean a Big Green Egg.
STEP 1 – Remove the Ash
The Big Green Egg features an ash chamber in the ceramic base. Using an ash tool or ash poker and an ash removal pan, remove any old ashes from previous grilling sessions. You can shake the grill a bit to force any remaining ash to fall to the bottom of the Egg.
STEP 2 – Light Up the Egg
Fill your grill with lump charcoal to half and then light it up to 570°F (300°C). Attaining this temperature will approximately take 40-60 minutes. The reason for firing the grill up is to clear any food residue, loosen any grease or stubborn oils, and destroy bacteria. Besides, it will be easier to scrape melted food particles off.
STEP 3 – Let It Cool Off
Shut off the grill and let it cool down. Once the grill is cool enough, scrub it using a grill cleaner, scrubber, or grill brush. You can also use a scouring pad or a special ceramic grill scrapper to scrub the grid.
STEP 4 – Clear Food Remains
One of the main benefits of a Big Green Egg is that it is somewhat self-cleaning. The grill uses residual heat to burn off any remaining grease and troublesome fat. However, you have to scrub the inside to clear any food remains that you didn’t manage to catch in STEP 3.
STEP 5 – Wipe the Outside
Never wash the exterior of the grill if you want to preserve its good looks. It only requires a wipe down to keep it clean. Moreover, in order to prevent corrosion, you are advised not to use chemical cleaners.
STEP 6 – Drab the Grid and Metal Top with Oil
Most components of the Big Green Egg, including the exterior, the searing grid, metal top and regulator are made out of cast iron. This means they are susceptible to rust and corrosion. It is therefore important to brush these parts with oil after cleaning to prevent rust.
Doug Stephen
FINAL THOUGHTS
As you can see, the Big Green Egg does not require thorough cleaning as compared to other grills. You only need to brush it down, wipe it clean, and season with oil to preserve it and extend its life.
READ MORE: Big Green Egg compared to Weber Grills.