XL vs. Large Egg

bdempsey11

I was going to do the whole outdoor kitchen thing when I came across the big green egg. I think that I have officially abandoned the full outdoor with built in natural gas grill and am going to go with bge. I have 3 big parties every year where I grill out for like 80 people, beyond that it is just my wife and 2 young kids. Should I go XL for the parties or large and save cash upfront?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Nicholas_Wetton

For what my opinion is worth I have just been through the same dilemma and came down on the side of the XL.  Interestingly, the dealer I bought it through showed me evidence of his BGE sales and over 80% were for the XL.  I went with his advice paid the extra.  Sure he was a good sales guy but he has been in the business a long time and I can trust he will be there for me when I need help.  I trusted his advice and cannot wait for him to deliver it on Friday this week! 

Shawn

XL is a good choice!

4Runner

If I had to do it over again, I would go with the XL.  Although my large has been up to the task for every cook....just would like the extra room.  

DominicMagestic

grilling for 80 people will be challenging if you have the xl or large.

if you are smoking, ie pulled pork smoked ahead of time and then apps and sides, for 80 people you can do it with either size.

are you installing the egg in an outdoor kitchen or looking at using it in the nest?

a large and small combo should be considered for either case (no much different compared to cost of xl - together they can handle the big crowd provided you are smoking instead of grilling, cooking at two different temps for the family is a plus, and you will be surprised how much you can do on the small for a family of four.

sorry for introducing another variable to consider - you are going to be over the moon whatever decision you make.

LDD

going with the XL gives you options. you can scale down or use the larger cooking surface... but this is coming from the guy who either goes big or goes home.

chrisnjenn

I had an xl and sold it. I decided I wanted the versatility of having a large and a small. I should of done that from the start, but thankfully didn't lose really any money getting rid of the xl. Much happier now. Plus with the adj rig and other toys I got from Tom it makes it that much better.

Good luck with your decision.

Lit

80 people I would go with 2 larges minimum. What do you cook? You can fit 50 pounds of shoulder in a large at once and feed all 80 people pulled pork but I am guessing you have options for guests. You need 2 of whatever you decide large or xl or maybe one of each. 2 of the same size is best because accessories would be interchangeable and they are expensive. I have 2 larges, 2 smalls, and a mini. If money isn't a problem I would say design now for a large and an xl. You only have to have the xl 3 times a year so you can conserve charcoal using large the rest of the year. The xl is so much bigger than the large it will be a waste cooking on the xl for 2-4 people on a regular basis.

bdempsey11

All the info is greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking time to help in the decision process.

patrick96

Had the same problem so I bought both use the xl for parties and large the rest of the time

howmeisterg

You can always cook ahead of time for your parties, so size is not a big issue. However, I have a family of 5 and rarely have large parties and decided on the XL just for the versatility of having more square inches of grill space. Its much easier for larger pieces of meat and veggies because these items take up square inches. If I had a large, I would have to mess around with multiple tiers of grill grates for most cooks - The XL saved me time in this respect. The XL has caught up to the L with regard to versatility (adjustable rig, other solutions from the ceramic grillstore).

Some folks like having two because you can cook two completely different ways (i.e. direct and indirect) simultaneously.

Think about what you would be cooking and how you want to cook it! Good Luck!

 

semper fi shane

personally i never considered the large over the XL...bigger is better and if i had picked up the large i'm sure i would have been disapointed that i didn't get the XL

LDD

I hope one day the release a triple XL.

chrisnjenn

Bigger in many cases might be better, but double of something is much better than just being restricted to one.

Having 2 Eggs is much better than having 1 Egg of any size. Much better for entertaining and cooking direct and indirect at the same time.

Glad I got rid of my XL and haven't missed it at all. Love my large and small combo.

Sterling

I've just purchased a Large Egg but the store is coming back out since they didn't sell me the nest with wheel locks.  I have an opportunity to exchange the Lg for the XL for a few dollars more.  Here's my concerns, I'm a female and will be doing 90% of the cooking on the BGE.  Will the XL be too much for me to handle?  What about placing the grate on and off? I tried lifting the lifting the pizza stone in the store and it was really heavy (but I don't really expect to do pizza often).

We don't have a large family, but it would be nice to cook several things at once; especially if I'm doing ribs for folks to take home.  I want to gt the best value since I have this upgrade opportiunity before delivery tomorrow.  I don't know anyone here that has a BGE.  Please advise. Thanks!

ChokeOnSmoke

Sterling,

I don't think you'll have problems with weight of the grid.  My wife handles it just fine.  I use the BGE grid lifter thingy, it works nice for the stock grid.

I purchased the large size pizza stone for my XL, didn't make sense to me to have a XL pizza stone when I'll never make a pizza that big anyway (and it is cheaper!).  When I do pizzas, I put the plate setter on with the feet up, then the grid, then the pizza stone on top of that.

We have a family of 2 and I'd never trade my XL in for a smaller one.  I love it.

Shawn

I would go for XL I regret getting a large I should of went with XL!

Charcoal_Addict

The XL had accesories to do direct and indirect at the same time. Go with 2 XL if you can afford it. Especially for the number of folks you're looking to entertain.

Sterling

Thanks guys!  This really helps me to select the XL (Choke On Smoke -it also helps to know your wife is "handling it") and not be intimidated - I'll let you know how my 1st low & slow turns out!! 

ChokeOnSmoke

Looking forward to hearing about your first cook!

Squeezy

Although I would like the extra space of the XL, I'm quite happy with the large and couldn't imagine cooking on a smaller one ... :@)

joe317

I'm in a similar dilemma. I don't cook for that many people often, but I like to cook different things at the same time. I plan on going all in and buying 2 large eggs up front. I like to cook everything on the grill so having 2 large eggs will let me cook the meat early at a low temp and then start the veggies or other side dish later on the other egg. It will also let me cook a couple of meals at one-time on the weekend when I have a busy work week scheduled. I'm not sure if my logic makes sense, but I figure the cost of 2 large eggs is not much more than the cost of 1 XL. I'll be putting both in an outdoor kitchen so I won't have the extra cost of 2 nests.

Squeezy

Some days I cook all day ... fire is going ... bake some squash, set aside ... make some ABTs .... then whatever meat I have for that day.

All on one lg egg ...

medic119

For you all that are caterer's would your prefrence be 2 xl or 1 xl and a large combo?

 

wassmann

I have a XL BGE.  I was concerned it was too big when I was putting it together.  After I put it together and started using it, I am glad I went for the XL.  I have enough space to do a lot of cooking, especially if I am doing a party.  I don't regret the investment.

Mike8it

The XL is bigger

r270ba

@mike8it this was from 2011 )

hoofaloos

Wonder what he got now

SmokeyPitt

Mike8it

Have to love the zombie thread while half drunk on bourbon!!!

OLD NORTH STATE BBQ CO.

Go big or go home.  Get the XL and add a med later.  Just a great combo.