My next egg?

mrw123 · April 2015

After reading Franklin's book, I decided I needed a big offset smoker. Thankfully, that feeling passed after about 24 hours.

I love my large. I get rave reviews for everything I make. Particular favorites are brisket, pastrami and cold smoked salmon.

I love the fact I can get it dialed in and then just wait, comfortable, knowing the egg will maintain whatever temp I want. The idea of staying up all night with an offset was just too much.

So, the question is, what size do I want for my next egg?

Large has been perfect for cooking for 1-2 families. That happens regularly.

Am I better off getting a small or medium because most of the time I'm cooking for one family, or am I better off getting another large or xl for the times I'm cooking for a larger group?

My birthday is coming up, and I think I'll throw myself a party, invite a bunch of friends and I'll cook a BUNCH of food for everyone.

Any ideas?

bo_mull · April 2015

I have a large and my next one will be a large also. The reason for this is that I will be able to share accessories between the two.

SMITTYtheSMOKER · April 2015

I have a big capacity smoker that I spend $3kplus on, it hasn't been fired in 3 years. It looks nice, but the Eggs carry the work load for me.

ryantt · April 2015

I'd suggest the XL it has extra capacity and coupled with your large you could turn out enough food for a small army. The idea of sharing accessories is nice but if your running both eggs for the same style cook then you need to double up on some the the accessories anyway. I have the XL and we did about 40 lbs of pork on the main great with no issues. my next egg is going to be smaller just because my daughter (age 6) wants one her size. She's a BBQ pit master in training, loves the all night cooks we've done on our offset and UDS. Best of luck on your next purchase....

Chubbs · April 2015

I say buy the largest toucan afford

DieselkW · April 2015

Hmmm.
Nice dilemma to have, which new egg to buy.... I would be very tempted to buy a smaller one to complement a large, depending on how often you really need the grill space of an XL + Large. A Mini + Large is pretty good capacity, and the price difference can be spent on A/Rs or Woos or Spiders, etc. to give you more total cooking area when you're having company.

Then there's the added bonus of being able to take the Mini on vacations, ball games, grandmas, etc. I'm spoiled, and it's a drag to be visiting somewhere and have to use a "normal" grill again. They just seem so... inferior.

I cook for three 90% of the time - and if I were going to buy another egg, it would definitely be a smaller one. I had no problem feeding a dozen at a backyard party using only my Large, food just hit the table in batches instead of all at once.

I think it makes more sense to go smaller for a second egg.

minniemoh · April 2015

I have a family of five and my medium gets to carry the load most of the time. I'm a huge fan of a large & medium combo. You can turn out plenty of food for a large group and the medium uses a lot less lump for those small/quick weeknight cooks.

badinfluence · April 2015

@mrw123 look at the meat monster internal firebox if you think you need a large smoker. They are made by peoria custom cookers in peoria Illinois. They are just as easy as a egg as they come with a guru so just set it and forget it. Be forwarded they start at like 8K. But there are options. By the time I was done Ihave just shy of 11k into mine but ddon't regret the purchase one bit.

DoubleEgger · April 2015

Get the medium. It heats up so fast you'll want to cook every day on it. It's a lump miser too.

BamaFanInArky · April 2015

I enjoy my mini.
I've carried it to the front driveway several times to grill and watch the kiddos. I even used it on the edge of my garage so we could watch the rain

Skiddymarker · April 2015

Have you cooked on any of the other kamados? KJ or Primo maybe? (not talking about the Akorns, Brownings, etc...)
Love my MBGE but there is a whole world of options out there, including your thinking about an offset. Hell, I still find a use for my kettle and gasser.
It is like the guy that has driven the same brand of pick-up for 25 years, he may be an expert on the pros and cons of that brand, but he is not in any position to give you a knowledgable comparison of other brands.
Lately I’ve been thinking about turning to the dark side of the force and getting serious about a Primo oval. Have had some experience with them, they cook just like a BGE and they have some nice options. Rant over.

Many have two LBGE - it is small enough to work for a family and two of them can cook for three families. You also get to use many of the accessories interchangeably. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Zmokin · April 2015

I can't tell you what size to get for your 2nd egg. Only you know what you tend to do most often and what will meet your needs. For me, my large meets my needs, so my 2nd egg when I get one will be a medium, but it will be located over an hour drive away at my summer cabin. So at each residence, I will be a single egg cooker.

meat73 · April 2015

Thinking of getting something just not sure love my large just so mm any choices and little extra cash

mrw123 · April 2015

Thanks for all the advice!

When I bought my large, I first talked myself out of the xl. I think that was a mistake. It seems like more real estate is always better.

For my second, I definitely don't want to go too small. There is no chance I'll be transporting it (sounds like fun, but it'd never happen for me). Medium sounds great because it uses less lump and heats up faster, another large sounds great because I can share accessories and XL sounds great because it's XL

Ladeback69 · April 2015

ryantt said:

I'd suggest the XL it has extra capacity and coupled with your large you could turn out enough food for a small army. The idea of sharing accessories is nice but if your running both eggs for the same style cook then you need to double up on some the the accessories anyway. I have the XL and we did about 40 lbs of pork on the main great with no issues. my next egg is going to be smaller just because my daughter (age 6) wants one her size. She's a BBQ pit master in training, loves the all night cooks we've done on our offset and UDS. Best of luck on your next purchase....

I agree with @ryantt. I have an XL and I have done of 60 pounds on it for my brothers 60th, but I had to do it in two cooks. Now I could have borrowed back my WSM to do it all in one, but I like how it is easier to work with the Egg then the WSM. With the XL I did a 18 pound brisket and 2-9 pound pork butts in one cook and then 7 slabs of ribs and 7 pound of sausage on the other cook. With a large and XL I could have done it all in one shot.

By the way @ryantt, how did you get your 6 year old interested? My 6 year old son isn't that interested. I keep trying to show him, but he doesn't care. He also complains when he feel it is taking to long for dinner to be ready. He would be happy eating MD's Happy Meals for dinner every night or pizza. He likes it when it is done, but just can't wait.

ryantt · April 2015

@Ladeback69We started when my daughter was very young, as cooking is a family affair in our home. She started by helping make rub and it just naturally progressed. Her first cook was chicken. She felt proud that she made it. Now she's done a few overnight cooks and talks about it all the time. Most Saturday's she gets up when I come home from work 5-530 and wants to start the pork butt process. We crack open a bottle of IBC root beer for her and something different for me....it's just time to talk bond and have fun. Give it time maybe let him help by topping a pizza or making some rub. Something fast and easy to spark his interest.

RiverDoc · April 2015

We love our Large/small combo. I got the small because during the week it is generally just 2 adults and a 6 year old. Heats up super quick and uses less lump. This was a great choice for us, your needs may differ so good luck, have fun

tjosborne · April 2015

BamaFanInArky said:

I enjoy my mini.
I've carried it to the front driveway several times to grill and watch the kiddos. I even used it on the edge of my garage so we could watch the rain
Is that the mini or the mini max there?

Caymanite · April 2015

I also love our Large/small combo. The small is ready to go in 10 minutes and is used during the week for my family of 4

otter · April 2015

I like our Large/Small combo

Ozzie_Isaac · April 2015

I really like my medium. My XL is reserved for large weekend cooks, the medium gets the brunt of weeknight cooks. Comes to temp quick, very easy to control, and I'm pretty sure it actually makes lump.

jaydub58 · April 2015

As I have said before, I have a Kamado Joe Jr to go with my Large BGE. I like the portability, it is about 15 pounds or so less than the Mini Max, but also has the 13 inch cooking grid.
Also, I bought the red one, so every day looks like Christmas out on my deck!

mrw123 · April 2015

I went to my local dealer this weekend with my 8 year old. He saw the mini and declared it was perfect for him. Boy am I tempted!

I spent some time looking at the XL and I have a question. The hardware (lid hinge and springs) seemed a little under sized for the weight of the lid. There was a lot more wiggle when opening and closing than I expected. Anyone have any problems with their XL? I haven't heard of any, but now I'm curious.

I also spent some time online looking at the pitmaker 'safe'. That'd be a hefty jump in price, but I'm firmly in the 'buy once cry once' category. I'd rather do it right the first time. Anyone have any experience with the 'safe?'

Thanks

Ladeback69 · April 2015

mrw123 said:

I went to my local dealer this weekend with my 8 year old. He saw the mini and declared it was perfect for him. Boy am I tempted!
I spent some time looking at the XL and I have a question. The hardware (lid hinge and springs) seemed a little under sized for the weight of the lid. There was a lot more wiggle when opening and closing than I expected. Anyone have any problems with their XL? I haven't heard of any, but now I'm curious.
I also spent some time online looking at the pitmaker 'safe'. That'd be a hefty jump in price, but I'm firmly in the 'buy once cry once' category. I'd rather do it right the first time. Anyone have any experience with the 'safe?'

Thanks

@mrw123, I have had an XL for a little over a year now and heaven't noticed any troubles with opening mine up or it wiggling. Maybe demo needs a little tightening up. I love mine and cooked a lot on it,

What are your plans for the Pitmaker "Safe"? I don't know anything about them other then it looks like you will need a water source to help with the cooking process. I all about simplicity and having to need water is not something I would want. IMO. There are other stick burners out there you can get like, Lane, Stumps or Good One. @SGH is a good person to talk too about this. He has a few. I personally would like the Good One "Marshal". Its about the same price, but doesn't need water to cook with. They are made about an hour from where I live.

http://thegood-one.com/the-marshall/

mrw123 · April 2015

Ladeback69 said:

@mrw123, I have had an XL for a little over a year now and heaven't noticed any troubles with opening mine up or it wiggling. Maybe demo needs a little tightening up. I love mine and cooked a lot on it,

I think you are right--probably just a poorly put together demo.

The thought behind the 'safe' is just more capacity. (They look GREAT too)

The more I think about this, the more I think I want another egg though. As of right now, I'm thinking an XL for the times I want to do a big cook, my existing large to be the workhorse, and I think I may have to get the mini so my 8 year old can cook with me. I just love that idea.

Now, to discuss all this with the purchasing manager.....

Thanks again for all the advice.

My next egg?

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