Suggestions for the size of a second egg

Pacuare · December 2013

My husband won a gift certificate for a local large kitchen appliance distributer which also happens to sell BGEs. We are going to upgrade some kitchen appliances, buy an outdoor hood for the outdoor kitchen, and will likely have some money leftover. I am contemplating buying a second egg with the leftover money. We are a family of six with a teenager and three little kids - 7 months, 2.5 and 4.5. What size egg would you recommend? We currently have a large egg. I mostly cook burgers, chicken and steak, and do low and slows and pizzas once or twice a month each. I have been debating about what the right size would be and am thinking an XL or a second L might be nice. I am not sure a smaller egg would make sense for us. Any suggestions?

henapple · December 2013

I've been mulling this over for a while. .. Let us know what you decide.

Pacuare · December 2013

I fixed the OP.

Mickey · December 2013

No question on it. A second Large as you already have eqt. Two Larges are fun.

RRP · December 2013

With all the facts you posted there is no question...get another Large!

wmcguire93 · December 2013

My initial reaction was to say a small, because I have a large / small combination and I like it. The small comes up to temp really fast and we use it for everyday cooking and the large for larger weekend BBQ's.

However, we are a family of four and you are a family of six so the extra grill space would probably be beneficial. Plus, like Mickey pointed out, you already have the equipment for a large so no additional expenditures required for new accessories.

Scottborasjr · December 2013

I'd say get another Large. Imagine what your current teenager eats then multiply that times 4-5 and that's how much food you are going to need in 10 years. If you have the money and space the XL would be another option. I just think having two larges that you can swap out equipment and such would be a wise long term investment.

Pacuare · December 2013

Thanks for the input. If I got another large it would definitely be handy to be able to share equipment. The XL would be nice to have the extra grid space for the day to day cooking. I am afraid of how much food will be consumed years down the road when the three little kids are teenagers...

Lit · December 2013

I say get the XL. I had 2 larges and that's great and all but I would not have been able to cook my 17 pound brisket a couple days ago cause it wouldn't have fit in a large. Also I cook alot and freeze it and at least once a month I do a cook that I would have had to fire up both larges for but all of it will fit in the XL. From someone who has had 2 larges and a large and an XL I don't think I would trade my XL for 2 more larges.

Crimsongator · December 2013

If you can swing it financially, go for the XL, you will love the space. I had a large then bought a second large. I ended up trading up for 2 XLs

Pacuare · December 2013

Thanks @Lit and @Crimsongator for your perspective as former large owners who converted to an XL. I was worried that I might regret down the road buying another large instead of an XL. Your experience is definitely making me thinking about buying an XL.

Crimsongator · December 2013

The benefit of 2 large eggs is that all your accessories will interchange. The benefit of the XL is the capacity for large cooks. Especially since they redesigned the XL dome, I think it is a better buy. Weigh your options and choose what serves you best!

henapple · December 2013

Xxl?

bettysnephew · December 2013

With a group like that XL is the answer for the proteins and the large for backup or another temperature for vegies etc. I have an XL for two of us, but love the room when the family gets together. We recently got a medium that will be used quite a bit more for small cooks, but the XL is definitely going to be put to use for low and slow and large gatherings. It's already here and it's not leaving.

Pacuare · December 2013

Ha ha @henapple. We would need to have about eight more kids to justify a XXL and thankfully that will not be happening or otherwise I would be headed for the looney bin. I have my hands full as it is!

Canugghead · December 2013

Another definite vote for the XL.

We have three grown kids and one of them lives on campus except during holidays and occasional weekends. I have an XL and two Larges but use the XL more often than the two L's combined.

I don't have the AR for XL but haven't missed it yet. I can use the Large AR setup in both XL and L. My grid extender from the group buy also works in either XL or L. If needed, I can also use my nuts and bolts from pre AR days to configure two additional raised grids on demand.

I use the XL with lump reducing ring most of the time so it doesn't consume significantly more lump than the L. With the grid extender and lump reducer, the XL provides the luxury of three zones simultaneously: 1) direct above the lump 2) indirect 'beyond' lump 3) raised direct above lump ... think of the possibilities.

When doing ribs or turkey in XL, it's nice to have extra space around, no worry with cosy fit and burnt edges.

Sometimes I'm 'obligated' to use one or the other L just to prevent it from getting moldy due to lack of use!

If I'm allowed to have only one egg, it's XL hands down.

Crimsongator · December 2013

Canugghead said:

.....it's nice to have extra space around, no worry with cosy fit and burnt edges.

Agreed!

Pacuare · December 2013

@Canugghead - where did you buy the lump reducing ring from? How often do you use the XL and a L?

Canugghead · December 2013

You can buy from CGS (link below), but I built my own ...

http://www.ceramicgrillstore.com/lumpring.html

Got a nice rigid SS collar from my 'junk' bin and sliced it with an angle grinder to yield a tall and a short reducer rings ...

in this photo, I used Large grid (XL grid was frozen stuck on the cart) with reducer ring in the XL in an offset mode. After the thick frozen home made sausages were sufficiently charred, I moved them away from the lump so they can cook to temp in indirect mode:

another example... XL grid on reducer ring... after transferring tandoori chicken from centre (direct) to the perimeter(indirect), I cooked home made naan bread in the middle:

I normally egg about 1 to 3 times a week, but during the holiday season it's almost daily.

Scottborasjr · December 2013

Lump reducing rings are available from www.ceramicgrillstore.com. Wonderful company and fantastic products. I would probably say that @tjv who is the owner, would probably have as good a suggestions of any of us to answer your original question. He will not over sell you on anything for any Egg whether it's a mini or an XL I'd go to their website, look over the options for the large and the XL and that could help you make a informed decision.

Don't hesitate to call Tom and ask questions. He is a Egghead and will help steer you the right way. Phone number should be on the website but if you can't find it I can look it up.

cookingdude555 · December 2013

XL. Love that thing, almost had to sell the L to get it. Luckily my wife kind of forgot I made that promise.

td66snrf · December 2013

Get an XL. I had two large for quite a while but when I got the XL it seemed a little unnecessary to have two so I sold one. No regrets on that decision.

lousubcap · December 2013

@Pacuare-no BGE comments here but congrats on what must be a huge gift certificate win! Better to be lucky than good any day! Wherever you land it will turn out great.

jfm0830 · December 2013

When I first got my Large, I thought a small or medium was in my future. But after doing some more thinking a second large made much more sense, for some of the reasons others mentioned and a few more:

-I only needed to rebuy a couple Eggcessories this way.
-I didn't have to think about which sized Egg I was using. Performance & Startup times identical. There is something to be said for not having to think during a complex cook.
-I often leave each one setup for a particular task: indirect & baking and the other for direct or high heat. Don't need to worry about what size I've got set up for what.
-Having same size makes switching grills mid-cook easy. Going from indirect to a final high heat sear to finish or the crown roast I just made went from 475 to 300 to finish. There was no way that was going to happen fast on one Egg. So I fired up Egg number 2 and got it stabilized at 300. When the time came I transferred the roast and pan.
-The Large is a good size cause many accessories for Weber grills are same size as LBGE.

Congrats on your good fortune!!

Jim

canman · December 2013

I only have an XL, and with a large family it is great. I have smoked a ham, a pork butt and a turkey breast at the same time on it with issues. If I buy another it will most likely be a Large just for the fact that it could be transported easier. There are times when I wish I could take it somewhere to cook for others.

Charlesmaneri · December 2013

I would say go for the XL I have 2 larges and wish my 2nd was a XL I cook for a family of 5 me the wife and 25 yr old twins 1 girl 1 boy and a 22 yr old boy and between all 3 children somebody always has a friend over the 2 larges work but the extra room would be nice

Doc_Eggerton · December 2013

There are a lot of misconceptions about the XL. You do not waste lump, it does not take more effort to heat, and it has all sorts of utility that smaller sizes do not have. The only things negative about it are weight and cost. If those don't matter, I would get an XL.

caliking · December 2013

It would be nice to have the larger cooking area and capacity for different cooking zones wiht the XL. I really miss those aspects of my Weber kettle grills.

On the other hand, a second large means that you could share eggcessories, know how the cooker cooks, etc.

With your family size, my vote goes for the XL.

Suggestions for the size of a second egg

Comments

Categories