Char-Broil The Big Eas Use and care manual

08.09
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SM MO OK KE ER R
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R O O A A S S T T E E R R
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I N N F F R R A A R R E E D D
&GRILL

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OUTDOOR COOKING GUIDE
Congratulations and welcome to ownership of The Big Easy®
from Char-Broil®. It is our sincere hope that by reading this
guide, and with a little practice, you will come to fully enjoy the
tender juiciness and delicious flavor of food you prepare with
your new infrared Smoker, Roaster & Grill.
We suggest you take a few moments to read the assembly
manual and ensure your cooker is assembled correctly and
completely and that you are familiar with both its construction
and operation before using your cooker.
There are no hard and fast rules for cooking - just some basic
facts about how The Big Easy® works. The exclusive and
patented infrared cooking system will help you prepare
wonderful meals. Use this cooking guide as an introduction to
cooking with The Big Easy®. It’s filled with great tips, tricks and
recipes.
The most important thing you can do first is register your cooker
so that we can be more helpful when you need us. Please
complete the warranty registration card found on the last page
of your Product Guide or save a stamp and visit us at
www.charbroil.com.
When you register, be sure to sign up for our free weekly email
newsletter called Sizzle on the Grill™. Each issue is packed with
new tips, tricks, recipes, party ideas and exclusive subscriber
offers. We never sell or distribute your contact
information. We want your Char-Broil® experience
to be a great one and this is one way we can stay
in touch.
Happy Cooking!

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OUTDOOR COOKING GUIDE
FIRST THINGS FIRST
1) You will find that most of the product assembly has been
completed for you at the factory. Follow the Assembly
Guide closely to complete any remaining steps and
reference all safety and usage information found in the
Product Guide.
2) Hand-tightening the quick-connector from The Big Easy®
to a full 20lb. propane tank sounds easy enough, but
thanks to some built-in safety features
inside your regulator and propane tank, it
MUST be done absolutely correctly, step-
by-step, for your cooker to function
properly. Refer to the Product
Guide for detailed instructions.
All new propane cylinders are
equipped with an Overfill
Protection Device (OPD) that
can trip when engaging the
quick-connector from any
propane powered appliance.
08.09

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OUTDOOR COOKING GUIDE
3) Just like grandma’s cast iron skillet, the stainless steel
Cooking Chamber, Grilling Grate, chrome Cooking
Basket, and Cooking Racks need to be seasoned prior to
use. This is most important as it will allow the cooking
chamber to work properly. In addition, it will make
cleaning easier and inhibit rusting.
Coat all surfaces of the cooking chamber with vegetable
oil. If you use a cooking oil spray, which is much easier
to use especially on the cooking basket and racks, wipe
down the cooking chamber after spraying to ensure an
even coat. Start The Big Easy® and let it burn for 15
minutes –or until the vegetable oil burns off and stops
smoking. The shiny finish on the basket and cooking
chamber should now have a very dark brown or bronze
color.
You are now ready to cook. The more you use your Big
Easy®, the better it will cook. The darker - more
seasoned - the cooking chamber becomes the
hotter and the more evenly it will cook.
A light coat of vegetable oil after each
use will keep the surfaces seasoned and
help prevent any rusting –again, just
like grandma’s cast iron skillet.

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OUTDOOR COOKING GUIDE
SMOKING
Smoking food has never been… well… easier. Instead of
charcoal or wood, The Big Easy® uses the convenience of its
propane-powered infrared cooking system. Smoke flavor is
added using about a ½ lb. of wood chips or pellets inside the
stainless steel smoker sox. When choosing chips or pellets,
you should keep in mind that the smoke flavor will not be as
intense as when using a wood-fired smoker.
Mesquite or hickory wood chips or pellets
are recommended for their stronger aroma
and flavor.
To begin, fill the smoker box and close the
top. Remove the cooking basket from the
cooking chamber and position the smoker
box in any of the 4 locations inside the
cooking chamber. Ignite The Big Easy®, ensure
that the temperature control is set to HIGH and close the
hood. The wood chips will heat up and begin to smoke after
approximately 15 minutes - depending on outside weather
conditions. In cold or windy conditions, it
will take longer for the wood chips to start
to smoke.
Use this time to prepare the cooking basket
with the food you plan to smoke. Food can
be placed in the bottom of the cooking
basket and/or closer to the top using the
cooking racks. Once the chips start to
smoke, turn the temperature control to LOW, open The Big
Easy® lid and align the legs of the cooking basket so that they

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OUTDOOR COOKING GUIDE
are positioned on either side of the Smoker Box as you begin
to lower the cooking basket into the chamber using the
lifting hook. Close the lid and double check to make sure
that the temperature control is set to LOW. Cooking on
HIGH with the lid closed will likely burn your food.
A full box of wood chips will smoke for approximately 45
minutes while pellets will smoke for about an hour. Once
they have stopped smoking, the box will be approximately
two-thirds full of the charcoal remains. If desired, use the
lifting hook to open the smoker box lid
to drop in additional chips or pellets.
Use extreme caution as the smoker box
will be HOT. Keep the temperature
control on LOW. The additional chips
will start to smoke after a few minutes.
ROASTING
Cooking on HIGH with the The Big Easy® lid in its OPEN
position will allow you to prepare Rotisserie Chicken and
other recipes without the hassles of traditional rotisserie
cooking. When roasting with The Big Easy®, there are no
forks and spit rod to balance or troublesome flare-ups to
control. The grilling grate and smoker box are not used
when roasting and can be stored using the hooks on the
hinges of The Big Easy® lid.
This is also how you can make a delicious, safe and healthy
Southern Fried Turkey –without gallons of oil to purchase or
recycle.

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OUTDOOR COOKING GUIDE
GRILLING
When grilling, the smoker box must be removed from its
position inside the cooking chamber for the grilling grate to
be used. The smoker box can be stored using the hooks on
the hinges of The Big Easy® lid. The cooking basket can be
removed or left inside the cooking chamber while grilling.
The stainless steel grilling grate should be seasoned like the
cooking chamber and basket before first use. Food can be
grilled with the lid open or closed and the temperature
setting on high or low –but always preheat on high for 10-15
minutes with the lid closed before placing your food on the
grate. Wood chips or pellets can also be used while grilling.
Simply drop them on the grilling grate next to you food to
add a wood-smoked flavor to grilled foods. You will find
that The Big Easy® is perfect for grilling smaller foods that
can fall through the grates on other grills.

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OUTDOOR COOKING GUIDE
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1) How does this thing work?
You’ll think it’s magic, but it’s really
simply using two methods of heat
transfer. First, the propane burner
heats the air between the cooking
chamber and the outside of The
Big Easy®. This hot air, also
known as convective heat, warms
the cooking chamber before it
escapes out the top. The cooking
chamber absorbs the heat and
radiates it to the inside as 100%
infrared heat. By converting the
hot air, or convective heat, into
infrared, radiant heat, food
cooked in The Big Easy® is moist
and juicy.
2) Do I need to soak the wood chips in water?
No. Soaking the wood chips in water before use will not
extend the smoking time, only lengthen the time before
they start to smoke.
3) Can I cook a frozen turkey?
No. Turkey must be completely thawed and you should
always remove the giblets, neck and anything from inside
the cavity before cooking.

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OUTDOOR COOKING GUIDE
4) Can I cook a turkey with stuffing inside?
The USDA recommends cooking stuffing separately for
optimal safety and uniform doneness. Visit
www.isitdoneyet.gov for more information on cooking
turkey safely.
5) Can I use injectable marinades?
Absolutely. But if you are really into making it easy, use
a dry rub on the outside. One of our favorites to use is a
Creole seasoning with salt, red pepper, garlic and other
spices found readily at any grocery store. Try to avoid
rubs with high sugar content if you are roasting with the
temperature setting on HIGH. When preparing fried
turkey or rotisserie chicken, you can rub the skin with
peanut or canola oil before using a dry
rub. The infrared heat will keep your
food moist and juicy on the inside.
6) How long will it take to cook?
With The Big Easy®, food is done
when it reaches proper
temperature. Use the food
thermometer included or upgrade
to a digital one like the Char-Broil®
Smart Temp pictured below and
insert the probe into the thickest part of the food, not
touching bone, before lowering into the cook chamber.
A general guideline for cook time is 10 minutes per
pound –which will vary depending on the food being
cooked and the outdoor weather conditions. See the
USDA guidelines printed on the back over of this
cooking guide or visit www.isitdoneyet.gov for more
information on food safety.

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OUTDOOR COOKING GUIDE
7) How is The Big Easy® faster than an oil fryer?
An oil fryer requires up to 3 gallons of peanut oil that can
take up to 45 minutes to preheat to the proper
temperature. Cook time is about 3 minutes per pound,
but it can take several hours for the oil to cool down so
that you can clean up and recycle the oil. When roasting
with The Big Easy®, no preheat time is required and it
will cool down after cooking in about 15 minutes. The
oil-frying process, from start to finish, will take twice as
long as frying without oil in The Big Easy®.
8) Can I use drippings for gravy?
Yes - if they are properly prepared.
Before cooking, you must insert a
food-safe aluminum liner into the
removable grease tray to catch the
drippings. After cooking, the
drippings must be heated on a stovetop to the proper
temperature for doneness (180˚F or 82˚C). Never serve
the drippings directly from the removable grease tray.
Additional food-safe aluminum liners are available for
purchase at www.charbroil.com.

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OUTDOOR COOKING GUIDE
9) How do I clean The Big Easy®?
After each use, burn off any excess grease and food
debris remaining on the cooking basket or that has
accumulated inside the cooking chamber by allowing
unit to burn for approximately 15 minutes on HIGH with
the lid CLOSED or until it stops smoking. After
the unit has cooled, a grill brush can be used to
loosen any remaining material in the cook
chamber or grilling grate. Char-Broil’s palm-
sized HedgeHawg™ Grill Brush is ideal for
this use.
After brushing, the cook chamber can then be lifted out
and emptied. The cooking basket and racks can be
brushed and treated similarly to the cooking grates on a
gas grill. They can also be washed in a sink or
dishwasher if desired.
The disposable food-safe aluminum liners for the grease
tray make clean-up much easier. If any drippings spill
onto the grease tray when removing it, clean with soap
and water. The grease tray has a painted finish and
should not be cleaned in a dishwasher. Likewise, the
porcelain and painted exterior surfaces can be cleaned
with soap and water as desired.
A light coat of cooking spray on the stainless steel grates
and cooking chamber after cleaning will help protect
from rusting and build the seasoned finish –again, just
like a cast iron skillet.
Minimize cleaning between uses with a custom-fit cover
for The Big Easy® available from Char-Broil®.

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OUTDOOR COOKING GUIDE
Poultry Recipes
Big Easy® Southern Fried Turkey
Cook Setting: Roast
Ingredients:
Whole turkey
Peanut oil
Herb seasoning or favorite low-sugar dry rub
Directions:
Prepare turkey for cooking and remove the neck, giblets
and anything inside the cavity. Pat turkey dry and rub or
spay with peanut oil. Season the outside with your favorite
herb or garlic seasoning and place inside the cooking
basket breast side up.
Cook the turkey until the internal temperature is 165˚ F
degrees. The outside should be crisp and golden brown.
Allow the turkey to rest for 10-15 minutes while the cooking
basket cools before removing. Carve and enjoy.
Easy Idea: Roast Sweet Potatoes above the turkey using The
Big Easy® Cooking Rack available at www.charbroil.com.

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OUTDOOR COOKING GUIDE
Louisiana Style Fried Turkey
Cook Setting: Roast
Ingredients:
Whole turkey
Peanut oil
Creole dry rub seasoning
Favorite Injectable marinade
Directions:
Prepare turkey for cooking and remove the neck, giblets
and anything inside the cavity. Pat turkey dry and rub with
peanut oil.
Inject turkey with a favorite marinade –see Rubs and
Marinades section for recipes or your local grocer. Inject
multiple locations in the breast and legs about ½” apart to
evenly distribute the marinade. Season the outside with
Creole seasoning and place in the cooking basket breast
side up.
Cook the turkey until the internal temperature is 165˚ F
degrees. The outside should be crisp and golden brown.
Allow the turkey to rest for 10-15 minutes while the cooking
basket cools before removing. Carve and enjoy.
Easy Idea: Skip the marinade injection step –it’s messy and
your turkey will turn out moist and juicy without it.

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OUTDOOR COOKING GUIDE
Big Easy® Rotisserie Chicken
Cook Setting: Roast
Ingredients:
Whole chicken
Herb seasoning or lemon-pepper dry rub
Directions:
Prepare chicken for cooking and remove the neck, giblets
and anything inside the cavity.
Season the outside with your favorite low-sugar dry rub
and place in cooking basket breast side up.
Cook until internal temperature is 165˚ F degrees. The
outside should be crispy and golden brown.
Allow the chicken to rest for 10-15 minutes while the
cooking basket cools before removing. Carve and enjoy.
Serve with The Big Easy® Roasted Potatoes and Corn.
Easy Idea: Cook two chickens at the same time using the
two Half Racks on the same level in the basket.

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OUTDOOR COOKING GUIDE
Cornish Hens
Cook Setting: Roast or Smoke
Ingredients:
3 Cornish hens
Mojito seasoning dry rub
Directions:
Prepare hens for cooking and remove the neck, giblets and
anything inside the cavity.
Arrange the hens back-to-back with the breast side toward
the outside in the bottom of the cooking basket
Cook until internal temperature is 165˚ F degrees. The
outside should be crispy and golden brown.
Allow the hens to rest for 10-15 minutes while the cooking
basket cools before removing. Carve and enjoy.
Easy Idea: Try a clean, no-rub, method of applying dry
seasoning by sprinkling on after placing the food inside the
cooking basket…
Even better, try doing it outside just before placing the
basket inside the cooking chamber and keep the kitchen
clean!

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OUTDOOR COOKING GUIDE
Pork Recipes
Big Easy® BBQ
Cook Setting: Smoke
Ingredients:
5 –7 lb pork roast or Boston Butt
Dry Rub Seasoning
BBQ Sauce
Directions:
Season the entire cut of meat using your favorite BBQ dry
rub. Place into the cooking basket and cook until the
internal temperature is 160˚F degrees.
Remove the pork, cover with your favorite BBQ sauce,
wrap with two layers of heavy-duty aluminum foil, and
return to cooking basket for an additional 15-20 minutes.
Turn The Big Easy® off and allow the roast to remain inside
the cooking chamber for an additional 15-20 minutes. The
additional cook time inside the foil is not required, but will
tenderize the BBQ.
Remove the basket and allow the BBQ to rest for 10-15
minutes while the cooking basket and aluminum foil cools.
Serve chopped, sliced, cubed or pulled.

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OUTDOOR COOKING GUIDE
The Big Easy® Pork Tenderloins
Cook Setting: Smoke or Grill
Ingredients:
2 Pork Tenderloins
Kosher salt
Fresh cracked pepper
Directions:
Season the tenderloins using kosher salt and fresh cracked
pepper. Place into the cooking basket and cook until the
internal temperature is 160˚F degrees.
Tenderloins will cook fast. Check internal temperature
after 30 minutes.
Allow the tenderloins to rest for 10-15 minutes while the
cooking basket cools before removing. Cut tenderloins in
½ inch slices and serve with favorite sauce and side dishes.
Easy Idea: Skewer one end of the tenderloin and allow them
to hang vertically inside the cooking chamber.

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OUTDOOR COOKING GUIDE
Beef Recipes
Big Easy® Beef Roast
Cook Setting: Smoke
Ingredients:
3 - 5 lb Beef Roast
Kosher salt
Fresh cracked pepper
Directions:
Prepare a 3 to 5 lb beef roast for cooking. Season outside
with salt and pepper or a Creole rub for added spice. Place
beef roast in bottom center of cooking basket, place basket
in The Big Easy®. Cook beef until the internal temperature
reaches a minimum of 145˚ F.
Large cuts of meat and turkeys can typically be removed 5
to 10 degrees prior to the desired internal temperature.
When internal temp is approximately 5-10 degrees below
the target you desire, remove and place on plate or tray,
cover with aluminum foil and a kitchen towel. Allow to
rest for 10-20 minutes while the internal temperature
continues cooking the roast to the target temp. Always
check the internal temperature before serving to insure it
has reached desired temperature. Slice and enjoy!
Easy Idea: Try cooking roasted red potatoes and corn above
the roast using the Half Racks.

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OUTDOOR COOKING GUIDE
Char-Broil’s® Favorite Prime Rib Roast
Cook Setting: Smoke
Ingredients:
5 lb rib roast
1 Tbsp garlic powder
1 Tbsp Sea Salt
1 Tbsp Onion powder
2 tsp cayenne pepper
2 tsp each: dried rosemary, thyme
Directions:
Mix all dry ingredients together in large mixing bowl -
using fork or whisk. Place rib roast in bowl and use hands
to work rub into all areas of meat (Note: rubber gloves can
come in handy).
Place rib roast in the cooking basket - make sure the meat
is centered and balanced. Cook beef until the internal
temperature reaches a minimum of 145˚ F.
Large cuts of meat and turkeys can typically be removed 5
to 10 degrees prior to the desired internal temperature.
When internal temp is approximately 5-10 degrees below
the target you desire, remove and place on plate or tray,
cover with aluminum foil and a kitchen towel. Allow to
rest for 10-20 minutes while the internal temperature
continues cooking the roast to the target temp. Always
check the internal temperature before serving to insure it
has reached desired temperature. Slice and enjoy!

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OUTDOOR COOKING GUIDE
Vegetable Recipes
Roasted Red, Sweet, or Russet Potatoes
Wash and clean potatoes. Place in bottom of cooking
basket or use The Big Easy® cooking rack to cook above
other foods. Cook until a tooth pick can easily go into the
center of the potatoes. As a general guide, a large potato
will cook in the time it takes to cook a turkey or a roast.
Do not puncture or cut the skin when cooking sweet
potatoes so that the natural sugar will remain inside the
potato. The natural sugar can leak onto any meat being
cooked below and caramelize into a dark crust. After
cooking, cut in half lengthwise and add butter and brown
sugar as desired.
Easy Idea: Try rubbing potatoes with vegetable oil and
seasoning with kosher salt. The oil will help the salt stick.
Corn
Wash and clean corn in the husk, but do not remove the
husk. Soak corn in cold water for 30 minutes or up to an
hour. Place the corn vertically in the cooking basket.
Corn will be done in 45-60 minutes. You will know its
done when you can press a kernel and liquid comes out.