Grilling and Barbecue John Hayes Grilling and Barbecue John Hayes

Big Green Egg vs. Natural Gas Grill

Your Big Green Egg / Kamado-style grill is not just for low and slow cooking. Take advantage of your investment to grill. I can tell you it is almost as fast as a natural gas grill (and I think it tastes better).  

I Grilled up bratwurst for my son and me on the BGE and ran a little test. I started our natural gas built-in grill while I started the coals to compare start-up times. (Pics)

My wife typically cooks on the natural gas grill and adds the food when the dome temperature is in the High range. The Gas grill and the BGE were at temperature for adding food at approximately 18 minutes. 

The total cook time for the bratwurst from Grill blazer to hot off the grill was 33:03:82. With the outside temps at 28 degrees, a bit of wind, but thankfully sunny.  

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Grilling and Barbecue John Hayes Grilling and Barbecue John Hayes

Bratwurst on the Big Green Egg

 I started with fresh coals and filled the Big Green Egg basket up to the middle of the fire ring. Then, using the Grill Gun from Grillblazer, fired the coals for approximately 60 seconds.

 

I also added my ThermPro thermometer probe on the grate to measure the cooking temperature. 

You may or may not know that the temperature between the dome thermometer and the cooking/grate level will vary. This is because the temperature can vary as much as 30 degrees. 

I like to measure and track both. 

 Within 18 min the grill was up to temperature for the frozen brats. Added four frozen brauts, set my timer for 7 minutes for the turn, and closed the dome.  

 I flipped brauts at 7 minutes, which turned out to be too long. A bit dark on the first turn.

 Set the timer for 6 minutes for the final cook. I added the buns to the grill to get toasted buns with one minute to go. Unfortunately, I only left them on for a minute with the grill closed; I learned that they should have been on a bit longer – probably 2 minutes to toast and get some grill marks.

 Removed brauts, added them to the bun, and added XXX cheese and barbeque sauce. They tasted great with some popcorners chips.

Lessons Learned:

  •  Cooking time is about the same for the big green egg and the natural gas grill.

  •  I need to watch the first flip time and not rely on the Natural gas cooking times.

  • I need to grill the buns a bit longer – maybe 1:30 to 2:00 vs. the 1:00. 

  • I was a bit gun shy based on the dark first turn of the brauts.

After the Cook:

I open the bottom vent entirely, remove the top cap and let the grill go inferno mode for 10 – 15 min to self-clean. I set a timer so I don’t forget and then shut it completely off after 15 min. 

It does an excellent job of getting most of the cooking residue off, and I’m ready for my next cook.  

Let us know in the comments below what your secrets are for awesome bratwurst on the big green egg.

 

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Grilling and Barbecue John Hayes Grilling and Barbecue John Hayes

Mastering Backyard Grilling and Barbecue

2022 is the year I improve my grilling and barbecue skills.  I have a good bit of money invested in a natural gas and Kamado-style grill.  Now is the time I fully maximize these investments. 

You have trusted jdhayes.com as your source for music, the RC Hobby, Book Reviews, and general lifestyle thoughts; now, you can add grilling and barbeque to the content.

Here in 2022, JDHayes.com will focus on my journey to mastering my grilling and barbeque skills.  I will share content on:

  •  BBQ Skills, definitions, and explanations to get you started

  • BBQ Accessories

  • How to BBQ Right

  • BBQ Tips

  • BBQ Supplies

  • Backyard Grill

  • Backyard BBQ

 I hope you join me on this journey and let’s work together to improve and master our backyard grilling and barbeque skills.

 

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