The Joy of Grilling with the Big Green Egg

There’s nothing quite like outdoor cooking on a nice summer evening, but if your yard or patio has limited space, it can be hard to accommodate a typical grill. The Big Green Egg is a compact, versatile ceramic grill, available in a range of sizes to fit any outdoor cooking area. Based on the Japanese mushikamado, a traditional ceramic cooker, the Big Green Egg is a great way to enjoy the many health benefits of grilling.

Big Green Egg Features

What sets the Big Green Egg apart from other charcoal grills is its impressive versatility. In one convenient package, it serves as a grill, an oven, and a smoker. As a grill, the Big Green Egg is capable of reaching high temperatures, up to 750 degrees Fahrenheit, letting you achieve that “steak house” flavor. You can also use it for baking by adding the official “convEGGtor” accessory, which allows for indirect cooking. Due to the insulating properties of the ceramics used in its construction, your Big Green Egg can also be used as a smoker. It allows for very precise temperature control, making it ideal for low-temperature slow cooking.

Grill Accessories

Grill accessories can help you get the most out of your new outdoor cooker. There’s an impressive range of accessories created especially for the Big Green Egg, available through All Florida Pool & Spa Center’s  website. It’s simple and convenient to order all the basic tools you’ll need, including ash tools, the EGGniter charcoal starter, thermometers, and cast iron cooking grids. There are also some unique options that add extra functions and features to your Egg. The convEGGtor add-on allows for indirect convection cooking, turning your Big Green Egg into an oven for pizza, breads, and other baked goods. The company also offers a dutch oven accessory, great for soups and stews.

Benefits of Grilling

Not only does grilling provide a unique flavor profile to meats and vegetables, but it’s also one of the healthiest methods of food preparation. Because excess fat contained in raw meat drips off the grate while it cooks, grilled meat tends to have a very low fat content. The Big Green Egg itself does a great job of locking in moisture, letting you enjoy tender, juicy meats and vegetables while using minimal butter or oil. Interestingly, grilling over an open flame actually preserves certain micro-nutrients in meats and vegetables that are destroyed or denatured during other forms of cooking. The riboflavin and thiamine in meat, two essential B vitamins, remain structurally intact after grilling.

Ceramic Grills vs. Gas Grills

Why opt for a ceramic grill like the Big Green Egg over a conventional gas grill? Ceramic charcoal grills are unparalleled for smoking and roasting. The materials used in their construction provide maximum heat insulation, reducing the need for charcoal and minimizing water loss that could dry out the meat. They also offer excellent temperature control, giving you a wide range of cooking options. The Big Green Egg isn’t just a grill: it’s a pizza oven, a tandoor, a smoker, and a roaster. Plus, there’s the unique, smoky flavor and aroma that charcoal and wood create in vegetables and meats.

At All Florida Pool & Spa Center, we’re big fans of the Big Green Egg. It’s stylish design, versatility, and energy efficiency make it a great choice for outdoor cooking. We carry Big Green Eggs in several sizes, from extra large grills that fit two whole turkeys, to the Small size that’s perfect for limited spaces.