How To Use The Big Green Egg Egg Genius
Dec 13, 2024
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If you are looking for how to use the Egg Genius, by Big Green Egg, this is the guide for you. Using the Egg Genius makes monitoring and controlling your Big Green Egg temperature much easier and the ability to monitor it from wherever you may be with a cell phone connection.
There are a growing number of grill and smoker air systems in the market place that regulate the air flow into a grill and hold temperature at your desired rate. Not all are created equally and sometimes a specialty model may be the best fit for you. The Egg Genius, by Big Green Egg, is the version designed for all models of BGEs. The app is managed by Flame Boss, a partner with a focus on temperature control systems.
Table of Contents
How The Egg Genius Works
The Egg Genius sits at the bottom vent of your Big Green Egg, plugs into an outlet, and connects to your WiFi. After connecting the Egg Genius to your WiFi you can set and monitor your cook through the Big Green Egg App. There are two probes – one monitoring ambient grill temperature and one that inserts into the meat you are cooking.
Once you set your target temperature, the fan on the Egg Genius will blow and stoke the fire. The rate of the fan will increase and decrease to keep the target ambient temperature. The temperature of the grill, the meat, and the rate of the fan are all broadcast through the cloud to your mobile device.
For example, if you leave your home, you can still monitor and change temperature settings anywhere you have cell phone connection.
The Egg Genius is best when used for low and slow cooking. Although if you are grilling on a Big Green Egg with the convEGGtor plate you can use it to control higher temperature too. We do not recommend using it for direct grilling over charcoal.
What’s Included
The Egg Genius packaging includes the Egg Genius, a DC Adapter, mounts for your Egg, an ambient temperature probe (alligator clip), and a meat thermometer probe. The mounts will work for any size egg from XL, Large, and even the Mini Max.
What’s Not Included
You can add a Y-adapter to connect multiple meat probes, and you can purchase a rechargeable battery pack that allows you to connect remotely for up to 8 hours of charge. The battery pack can also be recharged while using it.
What You Will Need
Power. You will need to plug in the Egg Genius to an outlet or use the battery pack (not included) while using the device.
Connect Egg Genius To WiFi
When you first unbox the Egg Genius, download the Big Green Egg application to your smartphone or tablet (works on Android or iPhone). Plug in the Egg Genius and then open the app. Follow the series of prompts to connect your Egg Genius to your WiFi.
The serial number is located on the unit. Once it is connected you will see the ID number of the Egg Genius on your smart phone. You can connect more than one.
When you see a solid green light, your unit is properly connected.
Set the Mounting Plate
Open your bottom vent fully. Match the larger plate with a Large, XL, or 2 XL. Use the smaller plate for the Mini Max, and Medium.
The plates need to be slightly bent to sit tightly between the top and bottom slots. Then press it all the way to the left of the vent. You want it sitting snuggly on the closing catch on the left side of the opening.
Slide the mesh cover so it sits over the mounting plate. Then slide the solid cover so the mount is sitting snugly.
Start Your Egg
Ignite your charcoal and Big Green Egg as you normally would with your preferred method. Once you have ignited the charcoal, and placed your convEGGTor and grates, close the lid.
Then make sure the top vent is closed so only 1/4 inch of opening exists.
This is the optimal position for maintaining enough airflow from the fan so it can raise and lower temperature.
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Attach Alligator Clip
Place the alligator clip vertically on your grill grate. This will monitor the ambient temperature of your grill. You need the alligator clip mounted in the Egg while it starts up and plugged into the Egg Genius so it can stoke the fire.
Important: Do not mount the alligator clip over the gap between the plate and the Egg sidewall. Hotter air that comes from that gap will give an inaccurate reading of the heat level above the plate. So be sure that the clip is over the plate and not sitting right next to your meat.
Mount Egg Genius
Plug in the AC adaptor (or charger pack) to the Egg Genius. Then insert the ambient probe into the unit. Mount the Egg Genius.
There is a small lip on the top side of the unit, insert that into the mounting plate so it sits snugly. It will only work in one direction. The wire probes plug in on the bottom.
Now that the Egg Genius is mounted, plugged in, and the alligator clip ambient temperature cord is plugged in, connect it with your app.
Set your desired grill temperature on the app. The fan will engage within 1 minute and start to stoke the fire. The fan will run at various percentages. The higher the percentage the stronger the fan will run. As you get closer to your target temperature you will see the fan percentage decrease. And eventually hit zero.
Once your grill is at your target temperature, insert the meat probe into your meat. Then plug in the probe into the Egg Genius.
Multiple Meat Probes
If you purchased multiple meat probes, this is the time to place the Y-adapter into the “meat” connection. Then you can plug your two probes into the corresponding connectors. You can connect up to three meat probes with the correct adapter.
Monitor Cook
The application will then show you the following:
- Target Grill Temperature: This can be changed during the cooking process to be raised or lowered right from the app, wherever you are with a cell phone connection.
- Actual Grill Temperature: There will be a reading that shows the actual grill temperature. As this number approaches the target grill temperature, the fan will start to slow down.
- Fan Percentage: This shows the percentage the fan is blowing from 0 to 100.
- Meat Probe: This will show the temperature of the meat where the probe is inserted. You can name the probes if using multiple meats.
Application Features
The application is powered by Flame Boss. Before pairing your Egg Genius you will need to create an account with them. Just download the Big Green Egg App to follow the directions for a new account.
Because the app will connect to your local WiFi, this means that you can monitor the cook on your phone real-time from wherever you may be. And you can adjust your temperature and the Egg Genius will respond.
Display
There is a graphical display that monitors each cook. You can name it, which is good if you save each cook to the cloud. The display includes cook time, all temperatures, and the fan percentage.
You can also enable cook sharing and generate a link so friends can see the cook live in case you are planning a specific time. Add notes so you can manage any milestones like rain, snow, wrapping the meat, or other item you want to track.
Note: After your cook is done you need to click the “Start New Cook” button at the bottom of the home display.
Alarms
You can set alarms for the grill temperature and for each probe. Go into each cooking segment and adjust the alarm. The default for the ambient temperature is an alarm +/- 20 degrees.
Direct/Local Connect
You can change the connection feature from WiFi to a Bluetooth connection directly with the unit. This will lower the range access and you will not have the ability to monitor the cook away from the range of the Egg Genius.
Pros
- Easy Set Up – You can have the Egg Genius ready to use in less than 15 minutes.
- App Simplicity – Using the App is intuitive and easy. You can rename your cook, and you can adjust your temperature ranges with easy navigation. It also saves your cooks to the cloud for future reference. We loved changing the temperature while out coaching soccer. Just one quick adjustment and done.
- Range – As long as your Egg Genius is connected to your WiFi, you have unlimited range wherever you have cell phone service. Our unit was 70 feet from our router through three thick walls and worked perfectly.
- Accuracy – The temperature was accurate when we compared it with our Instant Read Thermometer and the fan and ambient temperatures stayed consistent throughout our many cooks.
Cons
- Not Weatherproof – If you live in a climate that rains, like us in Oregon, then be aware that this is not a weatherproof unit. So keep it out of the elements and don’t leave it outside when not in use. Consider protecting from the rain, but be sure the fan is not blocked.
- Connection – In busy holiday seasons like Thanksgiving and Christmas, the cloud connection may not work as the Flame Boss Servers get overwhelmed. This is a known issue that Flame Boss is trying to address.
- Durability – The plastic housing is not as durable as other units. It could stand to use a more durable upgrade. So be sure you take care not to drop it.
Where To Buy The Egg Genius
You can purchase the Egg Genius through local Big Green Egg dealers. Be sure to call them first to make sure it’s in stock because it’s not always in high demand. We had to call several local dealers to locate one.
You can also purchase direct through Big Green Egg.
Keep an eye out for bundled sales through holiday season too. There is a one year warranty and will require a receipt if needed.
Explore more of our kamado grill resources or our BBQ recipes if you are ready to fire up!
Similar Products
The Egg Genius is most comparable to the Flame Boss 400, Thermoworks Billows, and the Smobot.
The Flame Boss 400 is more expensive and offers the same features. It also is a more universal kamado grill unit so the mounting plates aren’t designed specifically for a Big Green Egg.
The Smobot is a different set up and more expensive where it controls the airflow from the top vent versus the base vent. It’s also not weatherproof and is more expensive than the Egg Genius. The upside is that they have kits for almost every type of charcoal grill if you don’t own a Big Green Egg.
The Thermoworks Billows is a great investment if you already own other Thermoworks products like the Signals, Smoke X, and RFX products. The Billows integrates with them and so it is likely a better option.
Frequently Asked Questions
the Egg Genius is similar to the Flame Boss 400 model but on average less expensive and designed to fit specifically on BGE models.
If power goes out, the app will note the power outage. If it goes back on during your cook, it should reconnect and resume monitoring the temperature. Some airflow will continue to enter the Egg even if the power is out.
Yes, it does need to be plugged in or use the battery pack accessory to run.
Leave a comment with your experience or if you have any questions.
