Your Big Green Egg is likely a staple product in your cooking routine. It is a great appliance that makes for precise cooking and restaurant-quality food from home.
One of the main benefits of using a Big Green Egg for cooking is the adjustable heat setting that gives you exactly what you need for almost any meal. BGE products are famous for being durable and long-lasting.
A trick to keeping up with regular maintenance on your Big Green Egg is understanding exactly how it works. Often, people wonder when they need to replace the gasket and how to do it.
With a better understanding, you will be able to keep your BGE working as efficiently as possible. This will keep your food tasting amazing and will give you the most longevity.
Understanding the Components
The gasket is used as a form of support that places a cushion between the lid of the dome and the bottom half of the Big Green Egg. You might not realize its importance at first, but it is still a good component to keep an eye on while you are cooking with it.
A lot of people see the gasket as a pointless accessory that just keeps the Big Green Egg from making a clunking sound when you close it. This is one of the functions of the gasket, but it is also used to keep your device in great condition.
After some time, the gasket is going to experience normal wear and tear. It is going to wear thin as you continue to close the lid.
Without this protective barrier, you are going to experience something in addition to loud sounds when you close the lid. You are going to start losing the airtight seal that the gasket creates.
When you do not have a good seal, air can enter and escape from the Big Green Egg. This is going to affect your temperature regulation, which is really important for precise cooking.
Even if you do not realize that air is entering the Big Green Egg when you are cooking, you will notice that your coals are probably not lasting as long as they should. This is going to cost you money and impact the precision you expect.
Replacing your gasket is not very difficult, so it is important to stay on top of this maintenance. Knowing what to look for will help you determine if it is time to change it.
How to Change it
Big Green Egg actually sells gasket replacement kits, which makes it easy for you to keep up with this maintenance. It is recommended you use these when it is time to change the gasket because the parts are actually made for the product you have.
Luckily, you only need to change your gasket around every three to four years. There are some cases when you might need to replace it sooner, but this all depends on how quickly the gasket wears now.
Keep an eye on how thin it is getting, and notice if you start to hear the clunking sound when you close the lid. This is an indication that your gasket is probably becoming worn thin.
Even with extra wear, you should only need to change the gasket annually. It is noted that the gasket is a patented product made by Big Green Egg, so any duplicates you might purchase elsewhere are not going to be equivalent.
Once you purchase your kit, make sure that your Egg is cooled down completely before you begin. This is going to ensure your safety when you start the replacement.
It is also recommended to use gloves and even protective eyewear if necessary. Make sure that you have all of the parts on hand for a smooth replacement.
You will want to moisten the old gasket to loosen it from your Big Green Egg. You can use acetone or rubbing alcohol for this.
Once you do this, you should be able to use a scraper tool to remove the original gasket from the device. After it has been removed, you can use acetone or rubbing alcohol to make sure that all additional is removed.
Let the ceramic dry for at least 30 minutes before you place the new gasket on your Big Green Egg. All you need to do is remove the backing from the adhesive side.
Make sure that you do not touch the adhesive or get it dirty before placing it on your Big Green Egg. Any contaminants will end up getting locked underneath the gasket if you do.
There is no need to bend or stretch your gasket because it is pre-measured to fit your device. Firmly press the gasket into place, and trim any excess from the edges if necessary.
Before you begin cooking again, let the gasket sit for at least 24 hours. This will ensure that it is in place and ready.
Final Thoughts
Because your Big Green Egg requires minimal maintenance on its gasket, you will not need to worry about buying a replacement kit frequently. It is still important to know what you are doing when the time comes.
Give it three to four years unless you notice faster wear and tear happening. Since Big Green Egg makes the replacement kits, you should have no trouble finding the right one for your product.
Your Big Green Egg is designed for longevity. If you make sure to take great care of it, you will have no problems with it in the future.
Its minimal maintenance makes for a great experience when using the Big Green Egg. Your meals will continue to cook to perfection.
If you are ever unsure when it comes to the replacement process, Big Green Egg provides plenty of literature that you can refer to on their website. With these step-by-step instructions, the process will be easy and efficient every single time you need to replace the gasket.
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, you can find him at home with wife and two daughters. Outside of family, He loves grilling and barbequing on his Big Green Egg and Blackstone Griddle, as well as working on projects around the house.
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