Mini or small?

ckillian · September 2014

A friend of mine was recently in town (I'm in Houston area, he's in Denver) going through three days of medical exams to see if he qualifies to donate a kidney to my wife. Her kidneys have been slowly failing for about 10 years and it's gotten to that time.

There's really no way to thank someone for something like this, but we wanted to do a little something for him and his wife, who held down the fort at home while he was gone.

He's got a pellet grill, which he's happy with. I mocked him endlessly when he got it. I've loved my LBGE and tried to get him to go that way. But what's done is done.

I'm going to get him either a small or a mini Egg as a little token of our thanks. Trying to decide between the two.

It will not be his primary grill. More like something he can use for smaller cooks. He's also into camping, so the portability of the Mini might be nice. But I'm also afraid the Mini might not be versatile enough.

Any advice would be appreciated.

SGH · September 2014

Brother first let me say that I'm very sorry to hear about your wife. I wish you and her the very best. As to the eggs. I don't think that you can go wrong with either. I recently acquired a mini to compliment my large and absolutely love it. As far as portability the mini is the clear winner. As far as capacity the small wins. If he will be taking it camping I feel that he would be better served with a mini. It's much easier to move the mini around than it is to move the small. Again both would make a wonderful gift no doubt. But if his forte is camping then the mini wins hands down in my book. The mini is a cooking machine. I can attest to this personally. I will never be without a mini again. It's that good. Again I wish your wife all the luck in the world and hope that she makes a fast and full recovery. She will be included in my prayers unless you request other wise. Good luck brother and God bless.

SGH · September 2014

Check out these post to see what the little mini can do my friend. I use to be a non believer where the mini was concerned. I thought it was to small. I have fully seen the light. I now use and highly recommend the mini to all eggers. It's a winner in my book.

http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1169628/13-cooks-in-2-1-2-days-with-the-mighty-mini#latest

http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1170937/the-marvelous-mini#latest

ckillian · September 2014

Thanks a lot, SGH. I think the Mini, it is. Of course, now I'll probably have to buy two. One for them, one for us...

SGH · September 2014

You are welcome my friend. I don't think that you or your friend will be disappointed in the mini. It's a excellent unit for sure.

odie91 · September 2014

I've had a mini for two years and have not really enjoyed it to be honest. I've come to the realization that a woo would change my view on that. So if u decide on the mini, get him the woo too. Otherwise I don't find the thing any more useful than a Lodge hibachi grill.

DMW · September 2014

I debated the same question when looking for a companion egg for my XL. I came to the conclusion the Mini was just a bit too small for what I wanted from it. I wanted to be able to do complete weeknight cooks without firing the XL in addition to apps/sides while the XL was processing the main event.

And so I have a Small. Works great for me, and is still somewhat portable for when I need to take it somewhere.

Here's a thread with some pics.

http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1171016/legion-of-the-smalls#latest

jlsm · September 2014

I love my mini, too. I usually use it for fast cooks, brats, burgers and steaks. But I also do pork loin, game hens, leg of lamb and chicken thighs on it; you do need a woo and pizza stones for that. I would also suggest that a HighQue grate is essential, even more so than the woo. You want to give him the right accessories to convert him.

Here's what I suggest, in priority:

Ash tool

HighQue

Woo and stones

Thatgrimguy · September 2014

The small is easily portabile IMO. I move mine by myself pretty often. The height of the dome in the small over the mini is HUGE advantage IMO. It makes is a very capable smoker instead of a cool little grill. The mini is a great companion grill. But the small is a great all around cooker. For a first egg. I would get him a small so he can see everything an egg can do. While people manage to do a lot on the mini, it's going to be difficult enough that he will downplay the entire egg line a result.

WeberWho · September 2014

I have the mini and small egg. The small wins hands down. If your friend is reluctant about an egg from the start I would pass on the mini. It's just too small. The small egg is small but still big enough for most cooks. Since your buddy has a pellet grill I'm guessing he's into low and slow. The small is a much better option for low/slow. It's possible in the mini but not ideally. The mini just isn't worth $400 in my opinion. Maybe a little more than my $29.99 Weber Smokey Joe. Not trying to bash mini owners as I'm a mini owner myself. The small seems more like a grill and not so much of a toy

grege345 · September 2014

I agree. For a first egg a small would be the ticket. I think the small is around 60-70 lb. but the egg carten makes it super portable it seems.

jlsm · September 2014

If he has a pellet, I doubt you'll convince him to do a low and slow on the mini, though it is definitely possible (see previous posts about butt on the mini). I still go with mini for portability.

ckillian · September 2014

Went out to Ace Hardware today and looked at the small and mini. I think, upon further review, that the mini will be a little too small and limited. The small seems to be a lot more flexible.

Then it hit me. I'll just wait for the MiniMax. Capacity of a small, portability of a mini. Best of both worlds.

The rep said it would be out in the next couple months. I'm hoping that turns out to be the case.

Thanks for all the advice everyone.

P.S. They had a XXLarge on display. Holy crap, that thing is huge. Makes me want to start a catering business just to justify buying one.

Mickey · September 2014

I sold my Small and very happy with Mini. Mini movies Thanks to Spring Chicken, aka Leroy: #1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYGge_k7FUI #2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha4L_WocnJQ&feature=youtu.be #3

http://youtu.be/YXW2tk49VE0 #4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGTQtVWlhus&feature=g-upl #5

http://youtu.be/ZIgTkeR184A

grillingunner · September 2014

Just got my mini last night and love it so far. I bought it used for a good price so that is why I jumped on it. I was a little unsure if it would be big enough but so far so good

lousubcap · September 2014

I would go with the SBGE. But I own a SBGE (and LBGE) and no eggsperience with the mini. So, this is a one-sided response. The SBGE has quite a L&S capacity based on its ability to load lots of lump. You can always go less...and I can wrestle it (SBGE) wherever I need to land it. Clearly not as easy to move as a mini-but do you want ease of movement or versatility...that really is where you have to decide. FWIW-

And I am most impressed with your friend and saddened to hear of your wife's condition. Here's to a successful outcome all the way around.

Botch · September 2014

Hopefully not too OT: I've found my Small to be the perfect size for a standard 14" wok. Has anyone successfully used their Mini with a wok? What size wok? Thanks!

ckillian · September 2014

Thanks everyone.

Decision was made. The Ace Hardware had a 20% coupon and they applied it to my entire purchase of a Small BGE, a nest, and a platesetter.

I was going to wait for the MiniMax, but between the awesome price I got on the small, and the uncertainty of the MiniMax arrival date, I pulled the trigger on the Small.

SoCalTim · September 2014

@ckillian‌ ... I don't have anything EGG related to add to your post, other than God Bless You and your wife.

Mini or small?

Comments

Categories