Large vs. Extra-Large Big Green Egg

rbierman · September 2012

It is time to get a BGE for family cooking and occasional parties. But which size would be best? My first impression was that the cooking grate area on the large Egg wasn't all that big so maybe I should go all out for an X-Large Egg. I like to cook 3 full slabs of ribs at a time, and the main purpose of buying the Egg will be for smoking as opposed to grilling. Also, I will keep my gas and charcoal Webers for overflow cooking/warming for parties. I intend on building my own cart for the Egg so I must decide beforehand which size it will be.

DonWW · September 2012

A recent thread on Large vs X-Large has quite a few comments that may be helpful to you.

http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/comment/1232647/

EggerinLA · September 2012

Only like 5,000 threads on this doing a search.

Hillbilly-Hightech · September 2012

In addition to the link provided, here's some more to keep you reading for awhile:

http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1142719/deciding-between-xl-or-lareg-egg#latest

http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1142687/have-a-large-where-to-go-next#latest

I'm sure there are many more if you search the forum. This question seems to pop up every few weeks - it's the BGE equivalent of "which Martial Art should I take?"

HTH,
HH

rbierman · October 2012

Thank you all for the links and comments that helped me with the decision. I'll be joining more discussions soon as a BGE will soon be smoking on our patio. RB

jeroldharter · October 2012

I went through that and bought an XL. No regrets. No problems cooking for just two people or many people. Very fuel efficient. It is a beast in terms of weight. No problem with 3 slabs of ribs. You could easily do more.

Austin Egghead · October 2012

Go with your what you can afford and that best suits your needs.

r270ba · October 2012

jeroldharter said:
I went through that and bought an XL. No regrets. No problems cooking for just two people or many people. Very fuel efficient. It is a beast in terms of weight. No problem with 3 slabs of ribs. You could easily do more.

+1

Doc_Eggerton · October 2012

My personal experience is, if you buy a LBGE you will own both a LBGE and an XLBGE within a month!

Actually if I only had one, price or portability was not an issue, I would get an XL. You don't have to load it up completely, and can set a fire to one side for direct and indirect on one grid. The large cooking area is convenient as is the higher space in the dome. Not sure you could do 22 turkey thighs or 30 pounds of pork in a LBGE.

bigphil · October 2012

i agree with Doc got my LBGE and within 3 months got my XLBGE both are used almost every day unless we have left overs

Optiontrader · October 2012

I let my wife convince me with her "its just the two of us" line to buy the large, and I love it, but wish I would have gotten the XL. The XL is on the horizon.

double · October 2012

Go XL

That's 35lb of ribs

FanOfFanboys · October 2012

Hillbilly-Hightech said:

In addition to the link provided, here's some more to keep you reading for awhile:

http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1142719/deciding-between-xl-or-lareg-egg#latest

http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1142687/have-a-large-where-to-go-next#latest

I'm sure there are many more if you search the forum. This question seems to pop up every few weeks - it's the BGE equivalent of "which Martial Art should I take?"

HTH,
HH

The answer is catch wrestling

Dave in Florida · October 2012

Optiontrader said:

I let my wife convince me with her "its just the two of us" line to buy the large, and I love it, but wish I would have gotten the XL. The XL is on the horizon.

Yep...I did the same thing! But I will be getting an XL.

nolaegghead · October 2012

If you cook more food, get a bigger egg. Less food, get a smaller egg.

abpgwolf · October 2012

I asked the same question 3 months ago. I ended up with the XL and haven't regretted it once. I've cooked for 25 - 30 people & haven't come close to running out of room. You'll likely use more lump and pay a little more for accessories, but IMHO the you'll still be happier with the XL.

chrisnjenn · October 2012

I got a large and small and love the combo. No regrets and would do it over again if given a choice. Got the best smoker in the world on order (Jambo J-3) which I bought to compete with. I will get it in February.

dlk7 · October 2012

chrisnjenn said:
I got a large and small and love the combo. No regrets and would do it over again if given a choice. Got the best smoker in the world on order (Jambo J-3) which I bought to compete with. I will get it in February.

Why not get the J-5?

chrisnjenn · October 2012

dlk7 said:

I got a large and small and love the combo. No regrets and would do it over again if given a choice. Got the best smoker in the world on order (Jambo J-3) which I bought to compete with. I will get it in February.
Why not get the J-5?

As you know, there is no difference between the J-3 and J-5 except for smoking capacity. The J-3 is huge enough. Ha. Plus it is being used only for comps. and parties. Way more smoker than I need or ever use, but I want it.

hogsfan · October 2012

Based on what you are saying (You like to smoke vs grill, have parties, and cook 3 racks of ribs at a time), I think the XL is the best choice.

EggerinLA · October 2012

Either is a good choice. You can smoke 3 racks of ribs flat on a large easily. I have the adjustable rib with sliding system and can easily do 6 racks flat on my large.

Mighty_Quinn · October 2012

EggerinLA said:

Either is a good choice. You can smoke 3 racks of ribs flat on a large easily. I have the adjustable rib with sliding system and can easily do 6 racks flat on my large.

this is true. Adjustable rig makes the large a workhorse.

henapple · October 2012

EggerinLA said:
Only like 5,000 threads on this doing a search.

Great help.

cookingdude555 · October 2012

XL

Little Steven · October 2012

I have 4 large eggs. I have an extra large as well but don't use it very often. It's the old style and if I were buying my first now I would go with the XL

mikeb9550 · October 2012

On here, pretty much everyone will say XL. I went with the large because all my other grills were larger and never got filled. I cook for 3 but the other 2 arn't big meat eaters. I would say it depends on what your cooking needs are. If you don't need the extra space cost, weight, size, cost of accessories all go in favor of the large. The L is probably overkill for what I do.

I also plan on making a swing rack but that is mostly to cook lower temp or keep stuff warm since its harder to do indirect like on my weber. Like cooking baked potatoes when doing steak. Been busy trying to finish my outdoor BBQ area before winter gets here.

If I cooked for large groups or had a big family, XL for sure. I would recommend going one size up. For example, my needs I probably would have been ok with the Med but went with large.

EggRacer · October 2012

I have both the XL and L. I use the XL more because of the larger cooking area. I did get a lump reducing ring to save on lump usage. My advice is get the largest one that fits your budget.

chrisnjenn · October 2012

People say get the biggest size for your budget. Not to be rude, but that is funny to me. If a person has a disposable income to spend on a large then an additional couple of hundred isn't much. Heck, if I was going to get a new one and considering a xl, I would spend that money on a large/small combo. Not too much difference in price and a whole lot more versatile. Hot and fast on one, low and slow on another at the same time. So much better. Now if price isn't a concern buy them all.

BuckeyeBob · October 2012

I got mine about 9 months ago and after agonizing back and forth, and budget was not the issue, I got the Large. I cook for 4 of us most nights and sometimes for more when the other kids are home from school. Only a few times have I felt like I needed the extra space. Have easily cooked 3-4 racks of ribs and 3 butts. For me the Large works.

travisstrick · October 2012

chrisnjenn said:

People say get the biggest size for your budget. Not to be rude, but that is funny to me. If a person has a disposable income to spend on a large then an additional couple of hundred isn't much. Heck, if I was going to get a new one and considering a xl, I would spend that money on a large/small combo. Not too much difference in price and a whole lot more versatile. Hot and fast on one, low and slow on another at the same time. So much better. Now if price isn't a concern buy them all.

The OP asked for everyones opinions. No need to refute others, just add your own and everyone will benefit.

chrisnjenn · October 2012

LOL. I will comment whenever I feel like it. You nor anyone else will tell me how to post. If ya don't like it, then ignore my comments. Easy enough.

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Large vs. Extra-Large Big Green Egg

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