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The perfect outdoor kitchen for your Big Green Egg
Existing furniture or DIY
Every Big Green Egg deserves the best casing. You need it to protect your EGG, move it safely and use it in the best possible way. Will you go for an existing table, a modular solution or a DIY solution? Read all about the many existing possibilities and the DIY do’s and don’ts in this blog.
MAKE OPTIMAL USE OF YOUR EGG
The radiant centrepiece and indispensable element of your outdoor kitchen is of course the Big Green Egg. Once you have chosen the model that suits you, you can start building. The simplest casing consists of a Nest, possibly with side tables for extra workspace. But if you have the space, you will steal the show with a complete outdoor kitchen. And what is a stove without a sink and kitchen cabinets? Or in terms of outdoor cooking, without a large worktop and space to store your accessories? Because that extra space really allows you to cook outside and you have all your materials at your fingertips.
EXISTING OPTIONS
Are you better at cooking outdoors than at DIY? In that case, you should go for convenience. The ready-made Acacia Table is an attractive option. This handmade Big Green Egg table, made of solid acacia wood planks, provides a solid base for your EGG, including workspace and storage space. If you’re going to put it together yourself, then the Modular EGG Workspace is perfect for you. This is a complete system for putting together a customised weatherproof outdoor kitchen that fully meets your personal requirements.
The Modular EGG Workspace consists of various elements that you can combine endlessly, so you can effortlessly create your dream kitchen. The basis is the EGG Frame, where your EGG is placed on crossbeams for sufficient air circulation. The frame can be complemented by two different, connectable modules to create additional workspace and storage space, the Expansion Frame and the Expansion Cabinet. Four different inserts are available for these modules. This way, you can make the outdoor kitchen as extensive as you want, in the style and arrangement you like.
MODULAR EXPANSION
The Expansion Frame is an open module with three levels. The insert on the top level is your worktop. The inserts on the lower two levels can be used to store your materials or ingredients to keep your worktop neat and tidy. The Expansion Cabinet is a closed module. This waterproof cabinet is ideal for storing your charcoal, smaller materials, long-lasting ingredients or crockery. The stainless steel shelf in the closet allows you to store a lot of stuff. So is it going to be a straight kitchen based on the EGG Frame and one or two modules, or a corner kitchen with maybe four extra modules in addition to the EGG Frame? You might even find it more convenient not to connect modules or add wheels to them, so you can rearrange and move the kitchen at any time. Or start with the EGG Frame and one of the Expansion modules to decide later on whether you want to expand further. All this is possible!
WHICH INSERTS SUIT YOU?
Thanks to the various Expansion Frame Inserts you can style your outdoor kitchen entirely to your own taste. Do you like modern? Then the stainless steel inserts are a great match. And with the acacia wood variants you can easily create a rural look. In total there are four different inserts: the Stainless Steel Grid Insert, the Stainless Steel Insert, the Acacia Wood Insert and, for a vintage look, the Distressed Acacia Wood Insert. When choosing your inserts, consider what is practical for you. For example, the smooth stainless steel insert as a worktop is very convenient when rolling out dough and the stainless steel grid is very practical to put hot accessories on when you take them out of your EGG.
THE MATERIALS USED
Of course, you can expect superior quality and the use of the best materials from a ceramic BBQ like the Big Green Egg. The EGG Frame and Expansion modules are made of a combination of powder-coated steel and aluminium. The steel at the bottom of the frame guarantees extra strength and sturdiness where necessary, while the aluminium top and legs will not rust if scratched. This makes the modules highly weatherproof. The stainless steel inserts consist of 304 stainless steel and the solid acacia wood used for the Big Green Egg accessories is a product of sustainable forestry, of course. In short, you won’t have to worry about the sustainability and quality of your new outdoor kitchen!
MAKING YOUR OWN OUTDOOR KITCHEN
But if you’re a good handyman or handywoman, you can also customize your outdoor kitchen. A number of factors have to be taken into account, such as creating sufficient working and storage space, a good working height and, for example, space-saving hooks for hanging various tools. And does the kitchen get a permanent spot in your garden or will you make it mobile? In the latter case, keep in mind that the larger the wheels, the easier it is to move the outdoor kitchen.
DESIGNING & BUILDING AN OUTDOOR KITCHEN
The choice of materials is also an important part of designing and building an outdoor kitchen for your EGG. The base is usually a sturdy frame, preferably made of stainless steel or durable hardwood. Metal can be welded or handy couplers are available when using scaffolding tubes. If you choose hardwood, it is wise to pre-drill it with a hardwood drill bit that is slightly thinner than the screws you use. This way the chance of your stainless steel or galvanized screws breaking off during fastening is minimized. Also consider in advance what material you want the worktop to be. Will you go for hard stone or a stainless steel plate so you can easily clean it, or will you opt for hardwood? Hardwood looks beautiful, but requires a little more maintenance and cleaning it is not as easy as cleaning a smooth surface.
INSTALLING YOUR EGG
All Big Green Egg models are suitable to be installed in your outdoor kitchen. ALWAYS place your EGG on a Table Nest (Medium to 2XL) or in an EGG Carrier (Mini & MiniMax). This ensures sufficient space between the bottom of your ceramic base and the surface. This protects the material of your outdoor kitchen against the heat of the ceramics and thanks to the air circulation between the base and the surface, the base can easily dissipate its heat. If you place the EGG directly on a closed surface, there is a small risk that the base will tear. A large, flat stone under your kamado is therefore not a good alternative.
DISTANCES AND SIZES
Any circle in which the EGG is placed should provide sufficient space. Ceramics have the ability to expand slightly at high temperatures. Your EGG should not get stuck, of course. In the case of a hard stone or stainless steel worktop, a distance of half a centimetre is sufficient. In the case of wood, we recommend a distance of at least one centimetre so that it will not discolour due to the radiant heat. In addition, always keep in mind that the base should be well above the opening of your worktop. Then you can fully open the lid without the hinge touching the worktop. When installing the Mini and MiniMax models, consider not placing your EGG in a closed opening, but keeping the front side free. Due to space required to open your lid in combination with the compact size of the base, the air regulator would be right under your worktop. Removing the cooled ash would therefore be difficult.
COOKING OUTSIDE UNDER A CANOPY
If your new homemade or customised outdoor kitchen is under a canopy, you may wonder whether it is necessary to install a good extractor fan. In principle, this is not necessary. When there is sufficient fresh air, thanks to the open sides, the short-lived, minimal smoke that is released during the ignition is quickly dissipated. Smoke develops during cooking when fat drips onto the charcoal, which is something you should avoid as much as possible. With the technique of smoking, the smoke comes out of your EGG so gradually that this is no problem at all. Just make sure your canopy is high enough to avoid danger if unexpected flames appear during outdoor cooking sessions.
ALMOST READY TO COOK
And then your outdoor kitchen is ready and it’s almost time to start cooking. But first you need to carefully place the EGG in your outdoor kitchen. If you already own the EGG, it is best to disassemble it first, especially the larger models. First place the dome in the Table Nest in your outdoor kitchen. Then build the EGG according to the instructions of your model. This way, you can safely place the EGG in your brand new kitchen and really get to work!
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