BGE vs WSM (pork butt)

Brew'nQue

This past weekend I smoked some pork butt. Originally I was going to smoke both of the butts on the BGE, but decided to make it a 'contest' 'tween the egg and the weber smokey mountain:

Here are the raw, trimmed butts...both ~ 7.5 pounds.


Rub applied (Renowed Mr. Brown):


Big Green Egg:


Weber Smokey Mountain:


The Battlefield:


BGE Finished Butt:


WSM Finished Butt:


BGE Pulled Pork:


Closeup of BGE Pork:


WSM Pulled Pork:


Overall, I'd have to say that the BGE won this battle. The finished product from both were very similar...both very, very good...but the cooking process was where the BGE won. The weather conditions of the cook were horrible...about 45 degrees out with 30-40mph wind. Started them both at 10:45pm Friday night. Stayed up 'till midnight to make sure the temps were steady, went to bed with both hovering around 250. Woke up at 4:30am...went to check temps. The WSM was at 269, so I closed the bottom vents quite a bit. The BGE was at 190, so I opened the bottom vent a lil on it. Went inside for ~10 mins or so. Went out to check, and both were getting back to where I wanted them, so I went back to bed. Woke up at 7:15. The WSM was at 200, so I opened up the bottom vents. The BGE was chuggin along at exactly 250 (dome temp, so at the grid it was ~220-230). Gave the WSM time to heat up, but it didn't...so I opened the door on it to find that all of the charcoal was burned! I started with a full ring of coal (minion method) with only ~12 coals lit at first. This was the first long cook on my WSM where that much coal didn't last at least 12+ hours. I blame it on the wind. Anyways, started another 3/4 full chimney of coal and added it to the WSM...temp rose and stabilized around 230-240. All the while, the BGE chugged along at 250 on the dot.

Finally, after ~16.5 hours, both butts reached 195-197. Pulled 'em off the smokers and wrapped 'em in foil. After ~2 hours I pulled the pr0k.

Very good pr0k came off of both cookers, but the BGE won by way of ease of cook! I think the next contest will be ribs. Of course, if the BGE ever 'loses' a contest to the WSM in smoking....it'll just want a rematch: Searing Steaks. :P

Brew'nQue

Oops...one more pic:


Closeup of WSM Pulled Pork:

Ripnem

Nice job and thanks for the side by side comparison. I dabbled with the WSM for years and just couldn't take the pain any longer. Offset was worse. I must admit that I didn't take the time to learn 'the system' to either of those cookers, just went at it with my own figure'ens and wrestled like a banchy 90% of the time. I can't say that I've ever really wrestled with the egg, but that is mostly (I'm sure) because of this forum. Either way, I'm happy with the egg collection and don't miss any of the old black cookers.

Little Steven

Brew'nQue,

Man I don't know where you live but if it is a bit north try a rematch in February
Nice looking pork from both.

Steve

Botch

Thanks for the comparison. I'd used an electric water smoker for over ten years and was about to replace it with a Weber, a demo at a hardware store Grand Opening convinced me to get a LBGE. So glad that happened!

jaydub58

I did have a WSM for a few years, but was never enthusiastic about it. I had trouble keeeping it fueled for low-n-slow, and weather conditions did affect the process a lot. That was what got me interesed in the BGE, and Duhhhhh, I am sue glad I made that change.
Now my grandson is tring to master the WSM! :silly:

asianflava

Bad weather is where the BGE excels IMHO. I was at a BBQ class and a guy with a WSM ran out of fuel mid-cook. It was below freezing and windy, not being insulated really made a difference.

cookingdude555

Great comparison, food looks awesome on both. I havent used the WSM in a while, gonna break it out and grease it up with some ribs or wings. I dont use it during cold weather, no issues with it during the warmer months. Great little cooker.