Everything about The Big Green Egg totally explained
The Big Green Egg is the brand name of a
kamado-style ceramic charcoal cooker which is manufactured in a variety of sizes.
History
The Big Green Egg is commonly referred to as a
kamado barbecue because of the origins of the basic design that lie in southern
Japan.
The word "mushikamado" means "steam cooker" (from "mushi" meaning "to steam", and "kamado" meaning "cooker, oven, or kiln") The mushikamado was a device designed to
steam rice and used by Japanese families for ceremonial occasions and took the shape of a round
clay pot with a removable
domed clay lid. It was also distinctive in that it featured a top
damper and bottom draft door for superior temperature control.. The mushikamado first came to the attention of the Americans after World War II when
US Air Force servicemen would bring them back from Japan in empty transport planes. It wasn’t until the late
1960s that manufacturing started in the Americas. The Big Green Egg Company was founded in
1974 and is based in
Tucker, Georgia in the
USA. Production of the Big Green Egg takes place in
Mexico.
Technology
The shape of the Egg reflects ancient technology in that it's designed to contain the heat with only a small
vent at the top to create a
draft to keep the fire going. Today’s Egg is manufactured from high fiber
ceramics developed for the
space shuttle program specifically designed to reflect heat and this allows temperatures of up to 1200 degrees
Fahrenheit to be reached. The external surface has a high gloss ceramic glaze applied to provide crack and weather resistance.
Fuel
The Big Green Egg is a
charcoal barbecue - the manufacturers recommend lump wood charcoal because alternatives such as charcoal briquettes contain many additives that can contaminate the flavour of the food. The sealed design of the grill results in a slow burn that uses small amounts of charcoal compared to a regular grill and lump wood charcoal also creates little ash.
Uses
Big Green Eggs can be used for smoking or
grilling and with the addition of accessories one can also bake
bread or cook a
pizza.
Grill parts
In addition to the outer
ceramic shell there's draft opening to provide air to the
ceramic firebox in the base of the unit. There’s a separate daisy wheel damper unit on the top to give air flow control and therefore temperature regulation. An accessory called a plate setter can be placed above the firebox - this will prevent direct cooking of the food when using the unit as a smoker. Between the base and the lid is a
felt gasket designed to maximise moisture retention during long cookouts.
Eggheads
Big Green Egg barbecues have quite an enthusiastic following of amateur chefs and the collective name given these enthusiasts is “Eggheads”
. Every year there's a global gathering of Eggheads called “Eggtoberfest” where recipes are swapped and experiences passed along.
Further Information
Get more info on 'The Big Green Egg'.
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