Type of Big Green Egg to buy.

ugdlocal13

We are deciding on what type a big green egg to buy. I was thinking of getting a medium but most likely will get a large even though there's only just two of us in our house. You never know who's going to drop by. Any suggestions would help.

ColtsFan

Welcome! 

I cook for two the majority of the time and I went with the large. I've added some accessories from CGS to give me more real estate and adaptability. 

The large is a great size for two, IMO. 

OhioEgger

Many of us went through that decision process. Only two in my family as well, and I'm extremely glad I got the Large. Anything smaller would definitely be more difficult to work with for the cooking I do.

StillH2OEgger

Large here for two of us as well. It has been enough for us and provided enough space for entertaining a few, too.

lousubcap

Another vote for the LBGE but many will offer "get a big as you can afford."  You can't create more real estate.  Should you land on a LBGE you will likely end up with some after-market (either purchased or home-made) rig to get more cooking area.  Regardless of where you land don't look back and above all, have fun.
BTW- welcome aboard and enjoy the journey.

ugdlocal13

I thank you very much for all your comments. Looks like the large egg wins.

Cashfan

I cook for one. Started with a large, added a mini-max, large primo oval, and a blackstone.

There are times I have had all three eggs going at the same time.

Tempted to buy an xl oval, a small BGE, and a WSM.....

This was a slippery slope that I didn't see didn't see coming when I bought my first one three years ago.

cookingdude555

I think the first of your five eggs should be a large. Then you'll want a smaller "daily driver", then the xl will show up to keep up with the popular food you put out. 

Eoin

I added a MMX to my XL because it's quick and easy to fire up and uses a lot less lump. A smaller size Egg is really useful to go with a Large or XL, then you can do anything.

Edit: Meat is not normally the problem for me with the MMX, I can cook meat for the boys easily but when you want to grill veg more space is really useful.

Theophan

I have a Medium and a Large, and I usually cook for two.  On one hand, there's no question about the fact that I cook MUCH more on my Medium, and I love it, it's just perfect most of the time.  But... on the other hand there really are times when the Medium is just too small and I'm glad I have the Large.  And sometimes I've had them both going at once.

Overall, I agree with all of the posts above: I'd get the Large for what might be my only Big Green Egg.

odie91

Cashfan said:

I cook for one. Started with a large, added a mini-max, large primo oval, and a blackstone.

There are times I have had all three eggs going at the same time.

Tempted to buy an xl oval, a small BGE, and a WSM.....

This was a slippery slope that I didn't see didn't see coming when I bought my first one three years ago.

I like the idea of the oval.  I'm so lazy and sometimes don't want to bother with putting in the pizza stone for indirect cooks on my bge

stlcharcoal

Kind of tough to put a full packer brisket, full rack of ribs, whole turkey, or two butts on a medium......you just have to be attentive to the size of pieces of meat.  The medium will work just fine for most of what you'll cook for 2, but there are sometime you'll want the large.  And for $150 more, you can just get one of those and use a minimal amount of more charcoal to run it.  Plus, lot more accessories for the large than the medium when it comes to cast iron griddles, half moons, rigs and stackers, etc.  Large is the most popular size by far, medium is #4 or #5.

SaintJohnsEgger

I was cooking for 6 when I got my large last October 30th. Now I'm down to 4 and I've added a MiniMax for smaller cooks

GoldenQ

I started with the XL and would never want a smaller if I only had one.    However a large to add to the XL would be great.   You can get more aftermarket stuff for the large but I like the larger grate on the XL for large briskets or cooks for company. I also have a double rig for it which I use a lot to bet more space especially with ribs.

DoubleEgger

The medium is all you need. Great cooker. Everybody who has a medium loves it. 

thetrim

XXL or don't bother!

GrateEggspectations

Having owned a MM, MBGE and LBGE, I can tell you that even when cooking for two, an additional consideration should be the cooker's ability to accommodate bakeware. Most pans, pots, griddles, Dutch ovens, etc. will fit on a Large whereas they will not generally fit onto a Medium. Personally, this alone would be reason enough for me to go Large. 

blasting

Large is a good all round size.  If you think you'll eventually end up with two eggs, then my pick for a combination would be a Medium / XL.

onedbguru

I can concur with "get a big as you can afford."  It is just the wife and I and occasionally the kids and I have an XL.  I have lit the XL for as little as a single hotdog.  As I have stated before, you can always do a smaller cook on an XL, its harder to do a bigger cook anything smaller. 

Markarm4119

I would definitively go with the green one !

Gym

cookingdude555 said:

I think the first of your five eggs should be a large. Then you'll want a smaller "daily driver", then the xl will show up to keep up with the popular food you put out. 

Agreed!

Gulfcoastguy

I've got a medium and it has done everything that I ask of it. Most of the time I'm just cooking for one but I've cooked a lot of pork loins(two 4.5 lbers) and spatchcock turkeys(14 lbs) for family potlucks. My next will be a large though just in case and in order to have two eggs for more extensive menus.

JohnnyTarheel

Start with a large... you'll be glad you did... 

Cashfan

odie91 said:

Cashfan said:

I cook for one. Started with a large, added a mini-max, large primo oval, and a blackstone.

There are times I have had all three eggs going at the same time.

Tempted to buy an xl oval, a small BGE, and a WSM.....

This was a slippery slope that I didn't see didn't see coming when I bought my first one three years ago.

I like the idea of the oval.  I'm so lazy and sometimes don't want to bother with putting in the pizza stone for indirect cooks on my bge

I use the oval almost exclusively for smoking, i haven't use the split grates/diffusers at all. It was going to replace the large, but I can't part with the large, we've been through a lot together. If I had an XL Oval it might a be different story. Can get a little more on the large oval then I can the large round, but not by much. 

I also picked up a kamado joe divide and conquer system that fits my large, but it is still in the box. Picked up for 70% off at the hardware store that was closing, couldn't help myself at that price.

dstearn

ugdlocal13 said:

We are deciding on what type a big green egg to buy. I was thinking of getting a medium but most likely will get a large even though there's only just two of us in our house. You never know who's going to drop by. Any suggestions would help.

Been there done that. There are only two of us as well but I bought the XL and have not regretted my decision.

SloppyJoe

Get a Large. 

BJM2932

I say get the large. Majority of the time it's just my wife and I, but the large never feels like overkill for 2. 

XC242

Large

Brason

Large here as well. It is usually just the 2 of us here but we are able to cook for all our guests as well.

td66snrf

I have  an XL, Large,  medium, small and mini. If I could only have one it would be the large. 

RajunCajun

I've got a large with a two-tier system and rarely (if ever) do I need more capacity.  Man, you're gonna love your new BGE.