Load and light your Big Green Egg

Lighting a Big Green Egg is simple: natural lump charcoal, a fire starter, and five steps.

1. Pour the charcoal up to 5 cm below the edge of the fire ring. This keeps the necessary space under the cooking surfaces.

[PHOTO — charcoal level, 5 cm below the edge of the fire ring]

2. Light it. Dig a small well in the center. Light one corner of the fire starter, place it in the well, and cover it with a small teepee of charcoal.

[PHOTO — fire starter in the well, teepee of charcoal]

3. Let it catch. Dome open for 5 to 10 minutes, then closed for 10 minutes. Both vents remain wide open.

4. Install your cooking surfaces when the ceramic is hot and the thermometer reads 10 °C below your target. The temperature will drop slightly, then rise quickly.

5. Set the temperature. Adjust the Draft Door and the rEGGulator together, in small increments. Temperature stable? You're ready to cook.

[PHOTO — hand adjusting the rEGGulator, dome thermometer visible]