Category Archives: Gas Grill Tips

5 Things Big Green Egg Owners Should Know

If you are interested in a Big Green Egg, or if you are a proud, new owner of one, there are a few things you need to know. First, the Big Green Egg is not a gas grill. The Big Green Egg is in a class all its own, and has been featured as one of the best ways to grill and smoke on Alton Brown’s Good Eats on the Food Network and on Smoking Meat by Jeff Phillips.

The Big Green Egg is a Kamado-style cooker made out of high-quality ceramic designed to keep heat and moisture in. When cooking with the Big Green Egg, it’s all about temperature. It’s incredibly diverse and can hold even temperatures for grilling, smoking and even baking food like wood-fired pizza or hearth breads.

Tip #1: Use natural lump charcoal and good amount of smoking chips.

Unlike other charcoal grills, the EGG can consistently hold both low and high temperatures and can come up to temperature very quickly. Here is a video that shows how to use the Big Green Egg and how to easily control heat:

Tip #2: Keep Your EGG in a Safe Place (Like a Table)

It’s important to remember that the Big Green Egg is ceramic. It’s built to last a lifetime (or longer) and can withstand weather and high temperatures for decades. However, it should never be stored in a place where it cannot be knocked over. If you have an outdoor kitchen area, it is best practice to keep your Big Green Egg in a special place, like mounted in a table or counter. Remember, the bottom of the EGG can get extremely hot, so do not place your Big Green Egg directly onto a wood surface.

Tip #3: Leave the Charcoal Alone

If you’ve used a charcoal grill on a camping trip before, it may have taken some lighter fluid and hard work to get the charcoal lit. One of the best things about the Big Green Egg is that it is incredibly efficient. You should NOT use lighter fluid or stoke the coals. Leave the charcoal alone, close the lid, and sit back. It will come up to grilling temperature very quickly.

Tip #4: Use the Vents, Not the Lid

The Big Green Egg is designed for maximum heat control and can maintain high temperatures for long periods of time. Whether you’re smoking meat or grilling, use the vents at the top and the bottom of the EGG to allow air flow. Want to check on your meat? THINK TWICE! Remember to “burp” your egg before opening the lid, and always open the lid slowly.

Tip #5: Use High-Heat Resistant Gloves

The EGG can get extremely hot and you will need high-heat resistant gloves in order to place the grate and handle food. The old oven mitts will not do! There are many types of heat resistant gloves made especially for grilling. Protect your hands and invest in high-quality grilling gloves to go with your new Big Green Egg!

For the last and most important tip, enjoy grilling great food! The Big Green Egg is a new and incredible grilling experience. Enjoy the best food you’ve ever made – smoky, juicy barbecue ribs, grilled summer vegetables, wood-fired pizza or perfectly grilled seafood.

Fine’s Gas sells the EGG locally in the Chattanooga area. Come visit our store to see the Big Green Egg in all sizes.

Why Buy Expensive BBQ Grills?

Take a Look Inside

All gas and charcoal grills are going to have a nice curb appeal. While curb appeal goes a long way, opening the lid and taking a look at the actual operation and cooking equipment, like cooking grids and burners, is important. If you see an all stainless steel gas grill, the equipment inside the grill is not necessarily stainless steel. Many basic stainless models will have a porcelain-coated steel lining inside the grill and will rust quickly.

Compare Cooking Grids
Look for stainless steel or cast iron cooking grids, and avoid porcelain cooking grids because the porcelain coating will wear off and the grid will begin to rust. Cast iron grids require a little more maintenance like seasoning and oiling, but they hold their heat and sear meat better than any other grids. Stainless steel grids are the easiest to maintain and will still make nice sear marks.

Compare Burners
Burners are the most important part of a grill, so take a magnet with you to see if the burners are made of steel. If a magnet will stick to the burner, do not expect it to last more than one season because they will rust quickly due to the heat, salts and grease. Stainless steel tube-style burners are used in the majority of grills, and they will last from 5 to 7 years if they are made from high quality 304 stainless steel. Cast iron burners must be made from high quality iron, but remember to clean the burner ports regularly because cast iron will rust, causing the port to prevent proper gas flow.

The best burners are cast steel burners found in Fire Magic grills and a few other brands, which are long-lasting and often covered with a warranty.

Compare the Flavor Grid
Sometimes called a rock rack, lava coals, flamer tamer, flavor grid or heat diffuser, this device is found between the burner and the cooking grids. This piece will suffer from the most wear and tear because of the high heat from the burners below and the salt and grease dripping from the food above. If the Flavor Grid is made from porcelain-coated steel, do not expect it to last more than a year. Instead, look for high quality thick stainless steel with at least a 2 year warranty.

Look For Warranties & Signs of Quality

Great grills are worth the money you invest in them. Look for products with 10 year or lifetime warranties on the grilling equipment. Also, many quality gas grills are made in the United States, which means you will have better access to service and replacement parts. There is nothing worse than needing a simple replacement part and finding out that the manufacturer has discontinued that part or model.

Cost or Price?

Ultimately, a grill can be a great investment that can last decades with regular maintenance. At Fine’s Gas, some of our customers have been using the same grill for over 25 years! While the price of a quality grill may be surprising on first glance, the overall cost of parts and service is usually cheaper and your grill will last longer.

How to Clean Your Gas Grill for Summer

1. Remove spider webs from gas valve openings.

Spiders love propane. Especially in winter, spiders will spin webs inside gas valve openings because they are attracted to propane gas. These webs can create a potential hazard as well as impact the utility of your grill. Be sure to clean all around these areas to get rid of any webs to ensure smooth flow of gas to your burners.

Covering your gas grill after use and during off seasons can help deter spiders and other insects from nesting in your grill. If you need a grill cover, we sell covers for many of the leading brands, including AOG grills, Broilmaster, and more.

Steps to Remove Spider Webs:
• Take out cooking grates, briquette trays and burners.
• Inspect the venture opening and orifice for any signs or spiders or webbing.
• Use a small wire or straightened paper clip to clear out any other obstacles. If the blockage will not come out, you may have to remove the orifice with a ½ inch deep socket to clear the blockage.
• Check all burner ports for blockage from cooking debris and grease. Use the paper clip and poke through any ports that appear to be blocked or restricted. Do not do this step if you have ceramic ProSear burners or damage may occur.

2. Clean out the grill firebox.

Debris, grease and other substances can build up over time inside your grill and impact your gas grill’s cooking ability. To prep your grill for the season, remove the grates and check the inside of the grill to remove any build-up.

3. Check all hoses and fittings for wear and tear.

Your outdoor kitchen relies on your gas supply to light the burners and cook – ensuring that your gas hoses and fittings have no leaks or tears is integral to efficient and effective use. Make sure all gas fittings and hoses are tightly secured and free of any wear and tear.

Inspect closely for cracks and abrasions, and test your fittings for leaks by applying a solution of 1:3 dish soap and water to all connections. If bubbles form when the soapy solution is applied, it could indicate a gas leak. These must be repaired or replaced prior to using your grill. Contact your local gas grill retailer or the experts at Fine’s Gas for advice on repairing fittings and hoses.

4. Check all wiring connections for frayed or chewed areas.

Rodents love to chew on wiring, and they will often strip the plastic to use in their nests. Check where the wires are connected to the transformer. If you notice signs of chewing, you will need to order a new transformer for your grill. To avoid damage, you may want to store the transformer insider when your grill is sitting idle for some time.