BGE ques....

[AFLCAPT]

How can I get those high temps I've heard about? I use a full chimney of lump glowing in a small Egg w/vents wide open & I can't seem to break 550ish. Thanks.

[MilitantSquatter]

I don't have a small but with my mediums I've gotten it well over 550 when making pizza or steak. have not pushed the XL that hot yet.

possible things to consider

1) check thermometer
2) try a different lump charcoal
3) don't prelite.. arrange larger pieces on lump on the bottom and smaller on top then light.. may allow for better airflow bottom to top
4) if also using a plate setter for pizza..are you letting the plate setter get hot ? that will slow things down it you put it on in the cold chamber with pre-lit. chimney many not be enough to get both as hot as you want

-take the top damper completely off. the result is more laminar airflow out the dome and a stronger draft.

- use large and medium lump pieces. no small and dust.

- calibrate your thermometer.

- i never use a chimney, i start the lump in the egg.

- sometime the top of the lump pile will form a "crust" as the fire burns down into the pile towards the oxygen source below. just stir the top with an ash tool or whatever to let the flames out.

- high temps will be seen when the fire is raging and flames are on the top of the lump.

that's how i do it. what temps are you looking for? and what do you plan on cooking at these high temps? the temp on the grate in a direct configuration will be higher than the dome thermometer temp. sometime, you just have to give it more time to get to 700 at the dome thermometer. given enough time with the top damper completely off and the bottom vent completely open and you will have blue flames shooting out of the dome. this is not the time to look down into the dome unless you want a haircut.

Originally Posted by MilitantSquatter

I don't have a small but with my mediums I've gotten it well over 550 when making pizza or steak. have not pushed the XL that hot yet.

possible things to consider

1) check thermometer
2) try a different lump charcoal
3) don't prelite.. arrange larger pieces on lump on the bottom and smaller on top then light.. may allow for better airflow bottom to top
4) if also using a plate setter for pizza..are you letting the plate setter get hot ? that will slow things down it you put it on in the cold chamber with pre-lit. chimney many not be enough to get both as hot as you want

[AFLCAPT]

Originally Posted by MilitantSquatter

I don't have a small but with my mediums I've gotten it well over 550 when making pizza or steak. have not pushed the XL that hot yet.

possible things to consider

1) check thermometer
2) try a different lump charcoal
3) don't prelite.. arrange larger pieces on lump on the bottom and smaller on top then light.. may allow for better airflow bottom to top
4) if also using a plate setter for pizza..are you letting the plate setter get hot ? that will slow things down it you put it on in the cold chamber with pre-lit. chimney many not be enough to get both as hot as you want

1) check thermometer- It's brand new should I still calibrate it?
3) don't prelite.. arrange larger pieces on lump on the bottom and smaller on top then light.. may allow for better airflow bottom to top- I'll try this next time.
4) are you letting the plate setter get hot ? that will slow things down it you put it on in the cold chamber with pre-lit. chimney many not be enough to get both as hot as you want- no plate setter....Thanks!

i will warn you that most gasket troubles are caused by the high temps you want to see.

[thirdeye]

I know this sounds weird, but all small Eggs are not equal in the high heat department. Years ago there were a lot of questions about this in the Green Room. Some folks can get the nuclear temps in theirs and some have a heck of a time breaking 500°. Mine is the latter.

With the old expression "When in doubt, bore it out" in mind, some of the earlier solutions were to replace the charcoal grate with something that would allow more airflow. Personally I don't see much use in cooking with high temps, so I've never really fooled with mine.

[FatDaddy]

Ive gotten my Large over 600+ on accident a few times. I never see a reason to cook that high. I did try steaks at 500 or so and burned all the damn hair off my arms with the backdraft. (twice) I try not to go over 450 for pizzas or steaks and they turn out great.

Originally Posted by AFLCAPT

1) check thermometer- It's brand new should I still calibrate it?

yes, what could it hurt to check the calibration?