GWPJ MINIMAX BGE V1

Grilling with Papa J
14 May 202005:53

TLDRIn this episode, Papa J discusses the Minimax Big Green Egg, highlighting its portability and ease of travel. He emphasizes the importance of airflow control for temperature management, suggesting strategies for both low-and-slow cooking and high-temperature searing. Tips on maintaining proper vent alignment and using accessories like the ceramic grill store for indirect cooking are shared. Papa J also covers lighting techniques and the importance of letting the egg reach the desired temperature before cooking, ensuring optimal results.

Takeaways

  • 🏋️ The Minimax Big Green Egg is portable and has two handles for easy carrying.
  • 🔥 It's important to manage airflow for temperature control, which is crucial for cooking different dishes.
  • 🍖 For low and slow cooking, use more lump charcoal to reduce airflow, aiming for temperatures under 300 degrees.
  • 🥩 To sear a steak, use less lump charcoal for more airflow and higher temperatures.
  • 🧹 Regularly clean the vents to remove ash buildup, ensuring optimal airflow and temperature control.
  • ⚙️ Make sure the firebox is aligned correctly with the bottom vent for efficient air intake.
  • 🔄 Center the fire ring to avoid blocking airflow, which is key for maintaining cooking temperatures.
  • 🍢 The ceramic grill store (whoo) accessory raises the grate, allowing for more charcoal and indirect cooking setups.
  • 🔥 Use a heat gun for lighting the egg, and adjust the method based on the type of cook you're planning.
  • ⏱ Be patient when lighting and heating the egg, as it may take time to reach the desired temperature.
  • 🔄 After cooking, cover the egg and close the bottom vent to preserve the lump for future uses.

Q & A

  • What is the main feature of the Minimax Big Green Egg discussed in the video?

    -The main feature discussed is its portability, as it has two handles for easy carrying and can be transported in the back of a car.

  • How heavy is the Minimax Big Green Egg?

    -The Minimax Big Green Egg weighs about 90 pounds.

  • What is the importance of airflow when using the Minimax Big Green Egg?

    -Airflow is crucial for temperature control. The more air let in from the bottom and out the top, the higher the temperatures will rise.

  • How does the amount of lump charcoal in the Minimax affect the cooking temperature?

    -Filling the egg with more lump charcoal reduces airflow, making it more difficult to maintain high temperatures, which is suitable for low and slow cooking under 300 degrees.

  • What is the purpose of the daisy wheel on the Minimax Big Green Egg?

    -The daisy wheel is used to adjust the airflow, which in turn affects the cooking temperature.

  • Why is it important to keep the ash out of the vent holes in the Minimax Big Green Egg?

    -Ash buildup can prevent airflow and hinder temperature rise, so it's important to keep the vent holes clear.

  • How should the firebox be aligned for optimal airflow in the Minimax Big Green Egg?

    -The firebox should be aligned correctly with the bottom vent, ensuring the air intake slot is perfectly aligned with the bottom vent for maximum airflow.

  • What is the benefit of using a ceramic grill store with the Minimax Big Green Egg?

    -The ceramic grill store raises the grate above the felt line, allowing for more lump charcoal and preventing the meat from burning due to proximity to the coals. It also enables indirect cooking.

  • How does the method of lighting the Minimax Big Green Egg affect the cooking process?

    -Lighting one spot is recommended for low and slow cooking, allowing the egg to slowly heat up. Lighting in three places creates a hot, intense fire suitable for searing steaks.

  • What should you do after cooking with the Minimax Big Green Egg to preserve the lump charcoal for the next use?

    -After cooking, put the ceramic cap back on and close the bottom vent to save the lump charcoal. Stir it up, let the dust clear, and it can be relit for the next cook.

  • What is the recommended way to maintain temperature when the egg is close to the target temperature?

    -As the egg's temperature rises, adjust the vents about 50 degrees before the target temperature to achieve the desired cooking temperature for your protein.

Outlines

00:00

🍢 Introduction to Minimax Big Green Egg

The speaker introduces the Minimax Big Green Egg, emphasizing its portability and the convenience of its two handles for easy transport. Despite weighing approximately 90 pounds, it can be moved with two people and is often taken on trips. The setup of the Minimax is similar to larger models, featuring a bottom vent for airflow and a daisy wheel for adjusting air flow, which is crucial for temperature control. The speaker advises on managing airflow for different cooking methods, such as low and slow cooking under 300 degrees or searing steaks with more airflow for higher temperatures. They also discuss the importance of ash management and correct alignment of the firebox and fire ring for optimal airflow. The speaker shares their experience of maintaining temperatures over 600 degrees or lowering them under 300 degrees for extended periods. An accessory mentioned is the ceramic grill store whoo, which raises the grate for better heat distribution and allows for indirect cooking by adding a stone and a drip pan.

05:02

🔥 Lighting and Maintaining the Big Green Egg

The speaker discusses techniques for lighting the Big Green Egg, whether it's a Minimax or other sizes, with a preference for using a heat gun due to the availability of power. They suggest lighting strategies depending on the cooking method: a single spot for slow cooking to allow for a gradual temperature rise or multiple spots for a hotter, more intense fire suitable for searing steaks. The importance of allowing the egg to reach the desired temperature before cooking is highlighted, with adjustments to the vents as the temperature nears the target. After cooking, the speaker recommends placing the ceramic cap back on and closing the bottom vent to preserve the lump for future use. They conclude by inviting viewers to explore more videos, leave comments, and engage in learning new things.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Minimax Big Green Egg

The 'Minimax Big Green Egg' is a portable, smaller version of the traditional Big Green Egg ceramic grill. It is designed for those who want the versatility of a Big Green Egg but in a more compact and transportable size. In the video, the presenter discusses the Minimax's portability, mentioning that it has two handles for easy carrying and can be thrown in the back of a car for travel.

💡Portability

Portability refers to the ability of an object to be easily carried or moved from one place to another. In the context of the video, the Minimax Big Green Egg's portability is highlighted as one of its key features, allowing the presenter to transport it to different locations, such as campsites, for cooking.

💡Airflow

Airflow is the movement of air into and out of the Minimax, which is crucial for controlling the cooking temperature. The video emphasizes that the more air that can flow through the bottom and out the top vents, the higher the temperature will rise. The presenter explains how adjusting the airflow is key to achieving different cooking temperatures for various cooking styles.

💡Daisy Wheel

The 'Daisy Wheel' is a component of the Big Green Egg that allows users to adjust the airflow by controlling the amount of air that enters the bottom vent. This adjustment is essential for managing the cooking temperature, as mentioned in the video. The presenter uses the Daisy Wheel to fine-tune the airflow for different cooking scenarios, such as low and slow cooking or searing a steak.

💡Low and Slow Cook

A 'low and slow cook' refers to a cooking method where food is cooked at a low temperature for an extended period. The video describes how to achieve this by filling the Minimax with more lump charcoal, which reduces airflow and makes it harder to maintain high temperatures, ideal for cooking at under 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

💡Searing

Searing is a cooking technique that involves exposing food to high heat for a short period to create a browned, flavorful crust. In the video, the presenter discusses how to sear a steak by creating more airflow in the Minimax, which allows for higher temperatures necessary for searing.

💡Ceramic Grill Store Whoo

The 'Ceramic Grill Store Whoo' is an accessory for the Minimax that raises the cooking grate above the felt line. This allows for more charcoal to be added to the grill and ensures that the grate is not too close to the cold base, which can help prevent burning the meat. The video mentions that it also enables indirect cooking by placing a stone in between for a setup that doesn't require direct flame on the food.

💡Indirect Cooking

Indirect cooking is a method where food is cooked with heat reflecting off the sides of the grill rather than directly over the heat source. The video explains the importance of this method when direct flame is not desired, such as when cooking delicate proteins that could burn if exposed to direct heat.

💡Heat Gun

A 'heat gun' is a tool that produces a stream of hot air, often used for tasks like stripping paint or softening materials. In the video, the presenter uses a heat gun to light the Minimax, taking advantage of the power source nearby to quickly and efficiently start the cooking process.

💡Lump Charcoal

Lump charcoal is a type of charcoal made from hardwood that is often used for grilling due to its high heat and lack of additives. The video discusses the importance of managing lump charcoal in the Minimax to control the temperature, with more charcoal for low and slow cooking and less for high-temperature searing.

Highlights

The Minimax Big Green Egg is praised for its portability.

It features two handles for easy carrying.

The Minimax weighs approximately 90 pounds.

It's recommended to carry the Minimax with two people for easier transport.

The Minimax setup is similar to its larger counterparts with a bottom vent for airflow.

A daisy wheel is included for adjusting airflow.

Temperature control is primarily dependent on airflow.

For low and slow cooking, less lump is used to allow more airflow.

A steak sear requires less lump for higher temperatures.

Airflow is crucial for temperature control.

Ash buildup can hinder airflow and temperature rise.

The firebox should be aligned correctly for optimal airflow.

A centered fire ring is necessary for unobstructed airflow.

The speaker has maintained temperatures over 600 degrees and under 300 degrees for extended periods.

A ceramic grill store is recommended to raise the grate and allow for indirect cooking.

Using a heat gun is the speaker's preferred method for lighting the egg.

For low and slow cooking, light the egg in one spot to allow for a slow burn.

When searing steaks, light the egg in three places for a hot, intense fire.

Allow the egg time to reach the desired temperature before cooking.

Adjust the vents when the egg is 50 degrees below the target temperature.

After cooking, it's important to put the ceramic cap back on and close the bottom vent to save the lump for the next cook.

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