bge logo secondary
This site has limited support for your browser. We recommend switching to Edge, Chrome, Safari, or Firefox.

Some ceramic accessory orders are taking longer than usual. Find what you need today at a local dealer.

Cart 0
No more products available for purchase

Products
Subtotal Free
View cart
Shipping, taxes, and discount codes are calculated at checkout
adding charcoal to egg

How to Load & Light Your Big Green Egg

1/2 - 2 Inches Below the Bottom of the Fire Ring

When adding charcoal to your Big Green Egg, the best rule of thumb is to stop when you're 1/2 - 2 inches below the bottom rim of the Fire Ring — for the right amount of clearance beneath your cooking surfaces, depending on cooking method.

webversion biggreeneggjmaanmaakblokjes xcad fe

Light Your Lump Charcoal

To get the fire going, choose a lighting method that suits your style. An electric charcoal starter works by slightly burying the heating element into the charcoal until it starts to glow. If you prefer a flame, use an Eggniter or butane lighter to ignite a concentrated spot, holding it in place until the charcoal catches. Alternatively, one lit Speedilight stick or tumbleweed will spread naturally when placed among the charcoal. Keep the dome open and let airflow do the work as the fire builds.

webversion kamado blog

Once Your Egg is Going

After about 5-10 minutes, there will be some serious smouldering in your charcoals. At this stage, close the lid of your Egg being mindful to keep both the Draft Door and the rEGGulator Cap fully open.

webversion igpostminimaxconveggtorsummerdeal

Put In Your Components

When your Egg's ceramics start to feel hot to the touch and the thermometer is 10° away from your recipe's target temperature, it's time to put in your chosen cooking surfaces.

Whether you're adding your ConvEGGtor and Stainless Steel Grid for indirect cooking or a Cast Iron Searing Grid for grilling, your temperature will drop slightly. Don't worry! Your Egg will self-regulate and the temperature will come back up. 

Once you've reached your target temperature, you can begin to adjust the Draft Door and rEGGulator in tandem. Make these adjustments in small increments for precision using our temperature guide. Once the temperature has stopped fluctuating, you're ready to cook! 

webversion kamado blog bcf

Close the Vents to Save Fuel

After a cook, you might notice some of your charcoal has a white hue while others are still black. Good news! That black coal is still full of potential and can be reused. To prevent any waste, simply close the rEGGulator Cap and Draft Door completely. This will extinguish the fire by cutting off oxygen, allowing any remaining charcoal to cool down and remain unburned.

Guides

How to Use the Rotisserie

How to Use the Rotisserie

Learn how to set up and use the Big Green Egg Rotisserie for hands-free roasting. Step-by-step instructions, pro tips, and care guidelines for juicy, fire-roasted results every time.

Read more
How to Use the Pizza Wedge

How to Use the Pizza Wedge

Learn how to use the Big Green Egg Pizza Wedge to transform your Egg into a high-performance, charcoal-fired pizza oven. Step-by-step setup, cooking tips, and care instructions included.

Read more
Unpacking and Assembling Your Egg - Image

Unpacking and Assembling Your Egg

Congratulations on purchasing a Big Green Egg! We exercise great care during the manufacturing and packing processes to facilitate trouble-free assembly. Always use extreme care when moving or loading/unloading an...

Read more
Big Green Egg Safety Tips - Image

Big Green Egg Safety Tips

The Big Green Egg offers a safe cooking experience when used correctly and following specific guidelines. It's crucial to handle fire and heat with utmost care. This caution extends to...

Read more