Lifelong gass griller looking to swtich to the BGE

Tier1Terrier · July 2015

Been gas grilling my whole life. Got myself a nice Weber Genesis years ago that works like it should. It's great for throwing on some burgers or dogs but I don't get the results I'd like from meats, chicken, etc. Plus, I'm tired of all my charcoal grilling friends making fun of me for using a gas grill ;-)

So I've added the BGE to my 'wish list' that my wife uses for buying me gifts. We are not a big family, 4 for now. Currently I grill out by the pool maybe a couple of times a month. Every once in a while, we'll have some people over and cook out, but never for more than maybe 10 or 15 people (20 max). I'm the kind of person that always likes to go big or go home. I hate buying something only wishing I would have bought something else (better). I'm kinda stuck trying to decide between the Large or the XL BGE. Getting 2 BGEs is not even a consideration. My wife is already wondering about why I need 2 different grills and where are we going to keep them - lol.

So what are peoples thoughts on the L vs the XL for the uses I'm describing? Are there any major performance drawbacks for using the XL if its mostly going to be used for grilling for 4-8 people? Will the XL be so/too big that it won't even be worthwhile to light up for just a say 4 hamburgers and 4 hot dogs from time to time?

Thanks in advance!

ps - this is the first of probably many posts to come

bo31210 · July 2015

First welcome aboard. You have found a great source of information. I will throw in my .02 as will others. I initially purchased medium as it is 2 of us 90% of the time. Shortly thereafter, I realized I should have gotten the large. Don't get me wrong, the medium is an excellent size, but I wanted a little more grill estate. I have a large now (medium was sold to fund the purchase of the large) and am very pleased. I have cooked three butts without issue and could go four with some improvision. The XL is too big for me. I am of the camp you don't build the church for Easter Sunday. If you purchase a large, then get an adjustable rig to go with it from he ceramic grill store, IMO you will have more than enough room. The rare occasion you cook for 20 requires you to get creative! Go ahead and jump into the deep end and enjoy the ride. You can use the Genesis as an outdoor cabinet to store eggcessories!

Jeremiah · July 2015

No one here is gonna talk you out of it. We're all still drinking the cool aid. (excluding @cazzy who is a treasonous turncoat). If you can afford it, get the xl. Or two larges. Or an xl and a mini. Or a large and a small and some insulated box with charcoal in the bottom....

Ozzie_Isaac · July 2015

The XL super easy to control and a great grill. The large is great to, just is a little more finicky.

For your situation I would go large. You can cook a lot of food on it. Use the savings for an AR or Woo2.

HofstraJet · July 2015

Welcome. I'm relatively new here as well, but I think you will be fine with a large. I too have a large and it is just me and my wife. Once you dig around this site, you will be amazed at how much food you can fit onto a large.

Oh, and read up on accessories before you go buy a bunch of stuff you don't need. This is a good thread to start with: http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1178818/what-is-the-bge-accessory-you-regret-purchasing-the-most/p1

logchief · July 2015

I have a large, was going to get the medium cause I'm a cheap bastard but my bride said I'd regret it and get the large and damn glad I did. It's just the two of us but you can load up a lot on a large. I still have my genesis too. You could load up the BGE with ribs and do a bunch of burgs and dogs on the Weber for a crowd. And welcome.

Also a couple of other great websites

http://amazingribs.com/

http://www.nakedwhiz.com/ceramic.htm

YukonRon · July 2015

I have the XL, I have 4 in my family, which actually means 6. (Children's BFFs) and then on Wednesday evenings (Pizza Night) about 15. Weekends are grilling with friends 8-10.
I purchased it having no idea it would mushroom up like it has. I have since added the MM to the group, and it is just so freaking fun.
We are thrilled with the XL. We love the MM combo too. The XL has been a blessing, the size and space are perfect, and fuel consumption is low.

rlbarker4946 · July 2015

terrier,
I am a new owner of a large big green egg. I have been a gas grill user for over 25 years. There is no comparison between these two cooking methods. The gas grill is a spur of the moment thing. Cooking on the BGE is an event. It's something to be planned, executed and enjoyed, for the results are so much more satisfying. I can already see why one should have more than one. The large works for me for the time being. It has all the room I need to cook for 2, and 2 pork butts can feed 10-20 people. but I would not have been disappointed with an XLBGE either.

Dobie · July 2015

Get the XL, dont let the haters get to you the Weber Genesis is a great grill. I have the Genesis and a BGE large, use them both. Wish I would have went XL. Space is a premium on the egg, more is better.

DMW · July 2015

Get the XL, keep the Genesis for 4 hot dog cooks.

YEMTrey · July 2015

If price isn't an issue, go with the XL as you'll appreciate the extra space. Especially once word spreads about the high quality food you're serving and your parties go from 10 to 20 to more than that.

ChokeOnSmoke · July 2015

I went through the same decision years ago. So glad I got the XL. And my family consists of 2! (just my wife and I). I use a lump reducer and love it. Perfect for grilling smaller amounts of food. I go big meat cooking often too and use a food saver to package up my 20+ lbs of beef clod for pulled beef or multiple pork butts or racks of ribs. Go XL, you won't regret it.

Ross in Ventura · July 2015

Tier1Terrier said:

Been gas grilling my whole life. Got myself a nice Weber Genesis years ago that works like it should. It's great for throwing on some burgers or dogs but I don't get the results I'd like from meats, chicken, etc. Plus, I'm tired of all my charcoal grilling friends making fun of me for using a gas grill ;-)

So I've added the BGE to my 'wish list' that my wife uses for buying me gifts. We are not a big family, 4 for now. Currently I grill out by the pool maybe a couple of times a month. Every once in a while, we'll have some people over and cook out, but never for more than maybe 10 or 15 people (20 max). I'm the kind of person that always likes to go big or go home. I hate buying something only wishing I would have bought something else (better). I'm kinda stuck trying to decide between the Large or the XL BGE. Getting 2 BGEs is not even a consideration. My wife is already wondering about why I need 2 different grills and where are we going to keep them - lol.

So what are peoples thoughts on the L vs the XL for the uses I'm describing? Are there any major performance drawbacks for using the XL if its mostly going to be used for grilling for 4-8 people? Will the XL be so/too big that it won't even be worthwhile to light up for just a say 4 hamburgers and 4 hot dogs from time to time?

Thanks in advance!

ps - this is the first of probably many posts to come

TT get lg BGE it's plenty big

Ross

abpgwolf · July 2015

Welcome to the group! I've had my XL for 3 years now and I love it. We gave the gasser to the in-laws after 2 months with the BGE. I fire up the XL for a couple of burgers & dogs all the time. You'll get 3-4 short cooks out of 1 load of lump. I highly reccomend the XL, but you'll be happy with either.

JRWhitee · July 2015

I have had a large since 2006 and have a family of 4, it is all I need. I do have the adjustable rig with the extended grid so I can cook a ton of food. I also have the mini max for tailgating or 4 hamburgers, pork chops, spatchcock chicken etc.

Ladeback69 · July 2015

Welcome aboard. A year and a half ago I replaced my old 20 year old gasser for a XL. It is my only grill so I wanted something that that could do a lot when I needed to. There is only three in my family, but the egg does pretty good job of conserving lump, unless you are doing a long high temp cook. If you are keeping the Weber the large would be a good addition, but so would the XL. Remember the asserories are a little more for the XL and trust me once you get an EGG the bank account can drop. Good luck in your decision and you will be happy with either one.

lowandslow · July 2015

XL without a doubt. I think the large is too small.

WeberWho · July 2015

If you are go big or go home type of person I'd say XL. I'd take my large over my XL. The XL is nice for bigger cooks like ribs and brisket but I find the large more practical for everyday cooks. Do you have any eggfests near you? A good way to see them in action

victor1 · July 2015

My wife and I decided on a medium egg thinking it would be just right for the two of us. Our salesman was not pushy but said from his experience, most people who buy mediums wish they would fo gone for the large. We took his advice, spent a little more bought a large. He was right and we have exactly what we want.

MrWilliams · July 2015

"My wife is already wondering about why I need 2 different grills and where are we going to keep them - lol."
Your going to get the XL. Your real problem is going to be explaining the mini or mini max in 6 months.

gdenby · July 2015

FWIW, the number of people who have reported pitching their gassers has been much larger than those who've kept them. Myself, I think that a combo of a large and a small would give you a lot more versatility than an XL.

As it happened, my 1st was a medium. I soon found myself using it 4 - 5 times a week. Finally, I was asked to do ribs for a dozen teens, and that was problematic. So I bought a 2nd medium, giving me about the same grill space as a large and a small. That way, it was easy to cook for a dozen people, and provide more variety. Also, I could clean them both out on the weekend, and a full load of lump in each let me cook everyday for the rest of the week if I wanted to.

But whatever size, after a brief learning curve, you'll find the product superb. There are 3 area restaurants who use XLs, and all of them have a good reputation.

theyolksonyou · July 2015

MrWilliams said:

"My wife is already wondering about why I need 2 different grills and where are we going to keep them - lol."
Your going to get the XL. Your real problem is going to be explaining the mini or mini max in 6 months.

Just take her to an eggfest and introduce yourself. First people we met had 12, 5 and 6 eggs respectively. Then my second egg didn't seem so bad.

mshump · July 2015

I have the large and am very happy with it. I do have a Weber Genesis also and if my cook is too big for the Egg I will use the Weber for warming or searing etc. I really considered the XL, I researched how much more lump I would use, and accessory prices lg vs XL (especially a metal cart/cabinet and went with the large.

GeorgeS · July 2015

Welcome! I have an XL for a family of 4. We use it all the time for dinner for just us but we often host for the rest of our family. Even with the XL I often wish I had a second egg for either apps or side dish's. Not sure what your budget is but like others have said you wont go wrong with either. I will add a second egg eventually but if I had it to do again I would probably do two large eggs so that accessories worked on both eggs.

RollTideRob · July 2015

We have a large and a medium and if I had to do it over again would go the same route. I use the medium for the smaller cooks when it's just the two of us. I also end up using them both alot of the time. I'll also never own a gasser again.

JohnnyTarheel · July 2015

I have a large. I am extremely pleased and it meets all my needs. It's the wife and me at home but have 10 in immediate family that come over often. Others have mentioned pros and cons for both. I like that it is more economical on lump, accessories are cheaper and multi level grilling lets you cook more when needed. Whatever you decide you will love it. I do as well have a Webber gasser I use for hotdogs!!

GATraveller · July 2015

I have a family of 5 and the large is great for us. Only thing I use my gasser for now is to store bge accessories. Welcome and can't wait to see pics of your cooks!

dmirish1 · July 2015

We've also got a large which is my go to but love having the MiniMax as well. I recommend the large to everyone. Everyone. The conversation doesn't even come up, which makes it awkward. Love the LBGE.

Foghorn · July 2015

Welcome. I have an XL and use it to cook 3 burgers or chicken breasts at times. It works well. I also have a nice gasser that I sometimes use for the same when I am in more of a rush. If you have an XL and a Weber Genesis you can do almost anything. Fill the XL with meat and the gasser with veggies and you can feed a small army.

As I've gotten more experienced with my XL I've learned different ways to light my fire to tailor it to the needs at the time. When time is short I use multiple firestarters to get the fire going faster. For a small cook I just light the coals in the back and cook directly over them while using the front of the grate as a place for indirect cooking or resting. So while some have told you that the large will be fine - and it probably would be - my point is that there is no downside to the XL other than cost.

MJG · July 2015

@Tier1Terrier I have a similar deal. Family of 4 with a Weber Genesis (15 years old and still works like a champ) and a wife who didn't get it. I got the large 3 years ago, and a Ceramic Grill Store AR (adds more cooking levels) for times when I go BIG for parties and such. I love it and have never wished I got the XL. That's just me though. Wife also loves the Egg now. She's just happy that I cook as much as I do with it Nd does like the things I make. Your mileage may vary. Good luck. You can't go wrong!

fishlessman · July 2015

i have a large and a webber gas at camp, the weber does the dogs, burgers, couple dozen ears of corn, planked taters, trays of roasted asparagus etc. the real meat, dutch oven cooking, woking, pizza etc goes on the large. will do what you want but i believe you will always be thinking about that xl

for what its worth you can really pile in the food with these things, ive seen picks of 24 racks of ribs in a large, a dozen chickens in a large, a 62 pound pig in a large. i can even do 30 or so wings in a little 10 inch mini

Lifelong gass griller looking to swtich to the BGE

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