Welcome to the EGGhead Forum - a great place to visit and packed with tips and EGGspert advice! You can also join the conversation and get more information and amazing kamado recipes by following Big Green Egg to Experience our World of Flavor™ at:
Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  Pinterest  |  Youtube  |  Vimeo
Share your photos by tagging us and using the hashtag #BigGreenEgg.

Want to see how the EGG is made? Click to Watch

Mini Max / Small Green Egg. Why do you have one?

Kevinboatright
Kevinboatright Posts: 278
edited February 2018 in Off Topic
I have a large and was wondering what everyone with a dual egg set-up uses their Mini Max or Small Eggs for? 
I understand the ability to easily move the egg and take it with you places. Besides that why do you have a small or mini? Just curious. 

They don’t seem cost cost effective to me considering how much one cost vs upgrading to a large. 
Atlanta, GA 

LBGE, Mini-Max, Mini, 1995 BGE Chiminea, 22" Blackstone, Weber Genesis E-310. 
«1

Comments

  • slovelad
    slovelad Posts: 1,742
    Searing and small meals. I have a mini, the smallest of them all, and it gets used way more than my large. Chicken, steaks, I’ve even done 3lb butt and whole spatchcock chicken 
  • slovelad said:
    Searing and small meals. I have a mini, the smallest of them all, and it gets used way more than my large. Chicken, steaks, I’ve even done 3lb butt and whole spatchcock chicken 
    Would you say it’s mostly used for direct cooking? Does it heat up and take less time to cook on simply due to size? 
    Atlanta, GA 

    LBGE, Mini-Max, Mini, 1995 BGE Chiminea, 22" Blackstone, Weber Genesis E-310. 
  • slovelad
    slovelad Posts: 1,742
    edited February 2018
    @Kevinboatright yes mostly for hot sears, although I have done Indirect cooking on it 
  • Mickey
    Mickey Posts: 19,694
    My first Egg was a Small. Sold it after i bought my second Large and Mini. 
    Now with two Larges a Mini-Max and a Mini I use my Mini more than the other 3. 
    I use the two !arges like a double oven. Cook turkey one one and ham on the other most. The Mini gets the almost daily cooks for me. 
    Salado TX & 30A  FL: Egg Family: 3 Large and a very well used Mini, added a Mini Max when they came out (I'm good for now). 

  • WeberWho
    WeberWho Posts: 11,258
    I bought my small for smaller cooks. The small also functions like it's bigger siblings. 
    "The pig is an amazing animal. You feed a pig an apple and it makes bacon. Let's see Michael Phelps do that" - Jim Gaffigan

    Minnesota
  • Mattman3969
    Mattman3969 Posts: 10,458
    I use my mini the most then the small and in 3rd place is the large.  

    BM(before mini) the small was the weekday workhorse and on the weekends it would be cooking the sides to go with the protein that was on the large.  

    The mini is my favorite egg.  

    -----------------------------------------

    analyze adapt overcome

    2008 -Large BGE. 2013- Small BGE and 2015 - Mini. Henderson, Ky.
  • Kevinboatright
    Kevinboatright Posts: 278
    edited February 2018
    Any issues with running out of coal?  My assumption would be no considering mostly searing or doing 10-20min cooks. 
    I’ve had a large for about 2 years now for just me and the wife with the occasional party (10-15 people) and I also have a Weber 300 Genesis gaser. I was looking a at a mini max for the ability to take the egg with me but I can’t justify the price for just that extra feature.  I need to valid my purchase lol.

    Just getting more ideas from first hand users. 
    Everyone I know has a medium or bigger egg. 
    Atlanta, GA 

    LBGE, Mini-Max, Mini, 1995 BGE Chiminea, 22" Blackstone, Weber Genesis E-310. 
  • They are lump misers. 
    Good word! 
    Atlanta, GA 

    LBGE, Mini-Max, Mini, 1995 BGE Chiminea, 22" Blackstone, Weber Genesis E-310. 
  • TN_Egger
    TN_Egger Posts: 1,120
    They are lump misers. 
    Niggardly lump misers....
    Signal Mountain, TN
  • lousubcap
    lousubcap Posts: 33,870
    I use my SBGE pretty much like @Mattman3969 primarily hot and fast but I have run L&S cooks of 8-9hr duration (pork butts).  I had no concerns about portability.  I purchased it before the MM actually made it to retail.  
    It is a hacker and with two BGE's you more immediate cooking flexibility.  FWIW- 
    Louisville; Rolling smoke in the neighbourhood. # 38 for the win.  Life is too short for light/lite beer!  Seems I'm livin in a transitional period.
  • Mattman3969
    Mattman3969 Posts: 10,458
    I’m not a MM owner but if you are cooking for you and Mrs Kevinboatright and not looking for portability I would look at the small because of the lump capacity for longer LnS cooks.   if grid space and low n slow isn’t a big concern you should think about a mini. I find myself cramming more protein in the mini than my wife and I can eat.  It’s a fun cooker.   

    -----------------------------------------

    analyze adapt overcome

    2008 -Large BGE. 2013- Small BGE and 2015 - Mini. Henderson, Ky.
  • What did you pay for your small or mini?  Or a average range. I would really like to find a used one, so I can try it out. 
    Atlanta, GA 

    LBGE, Mini-Max, Mini, 1995 BGE Chiminea, 22" Blackstone, Weber Genesis E-310. 
  • TN_Egger
    TN_Egger Posts: 1,120
    $550-ish for a new small & nest about 4 years ago
    Signal Mountain, TN
  • Mattman3969
    Mattman3969 Posts: 10,458
    New I paid $500 for the small, nest and mates. New mini was $275 

    -----------------------------------------

    analyze adapt overcome

    2008 -Large BGE. 2013- Small BGE and 2015 - Mini. Henderson, Ky.
  • blind99
    blind99 Posts: 4,974
    Small is an awesome little cooker. I can smoke a pork butt with a single piece of lump!

    just kidding but yes it’s really efficient. And great for searing steaks. 

    Eggs are like pans, you need a few in different sizes and you use all of them. 
    Chicago, IL - Large and Small BGE - Weber Gasser and Kettle
  • SamIAm2
    SamIAm2 Posts: 1,957
    Bought the MiniMax to do small cooks for myself and SWMBO. Use the large for low and slow - brisket, pulled pork, pepper stout beef but like the ability to cook meals for evening while low and slow is going. Did four pork chops raised direct for this evenings meal, have done 3.5 pound spatchcock chicken, steaks on CI grid, pork tenderloin, burgers and veggies. It comes up to cooking temp quickly, is a lump miser and is just a fun tool to have. 
    Ubi panis, ibi patria.
    Large - Roswell rig, MiniMax-PS Woo; Cocoa, Fl.
  • I use mine to make my Large appear clean by comparison.
    "I've made a note never to piss you two off." - Stike
  • mEGG_My_Day
    mEGG_My_Day Posts: 1,658
    I bought my small to do grill type cooks, like burgers when my large was busy cooking low and slow ribs or butts.  Thanks to the woo - I now use the small all the time. 
    Memphis, TN 

    LBGE, 2 SBGE, Hasty-Bake Gourmet
  • CoMoBGE
    CoMoBGE Posts: 374
    Any issues with running out of coal?  My assumption would be no considering mostly searing or doing 10-20min cooks. 
    I’ve had a large for about 2 years now for just me and the wife with the occasional party (10-15 people) and I also have a Weber 300 Genesis gaser. I was looking a at a mini max for the ability to take the egg with me but I can’t justify the price for just that extra feature.  I need to valid my purchase lol.

    Just getting more ideas from first hand users. 
    Everyone I know has a medium or bigger egg. 
    I have an Xl and had the opportunity to buy a mini at a great price. Bought it and quickly figured out that it wasn’t big enough for 4 people. Gave it to my Dad as a gift and he uses it almost every day(has had a large for 20 years) for the 2 people in the house. He swears by it. 
  • Sometimes you just want to cook just one giant cowboy ribeye! I reverse seared this one. Finishing with the cold grate method. So perfect.
    Kansas City, Kansas
    Second hand Medium BGE, Second hand Black Kamado Joe Classic, Second hand Weber Kettle, Second hand Weber Smokey Mountain
  • CoMoBGE said:
    Any issues with running out of coal?  My assumption would be no considering mostly searing or doing 10-20min cooks. 
    I’ve had a large for about 2 years now for just me and the wife with the occasional party (10-15 people) and I also have a Weber 300 Genesis gaser. I was looking a at a mini max for the ability to take the egg with me but I can’t justify the price for just that extra feature.  I need to valid my purchase lol.

    Just getting more ideas from first hand users. 
    Everyone I know has a medium or bigger egg. 
    I have an Xl and had the opportunity to buy a mini at a great price. Bought it and quickly figured out that it wasn’t big enough for 4 people. Gave it to my Dad as a gift and he uses it almost every day(has had a large for 20 years) for the 2 people in the house. He swears by it. 
    If I could find one at a great price I’d get it and if I didn’t like it I’d give it to my mom and dad as well. 
    Atlanta, GA 

    LBGE, Mini-Max, Mini, 1995 BGE Chiminea, 22" Blackstone, Weber Genesis E-310. 
  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 26,019
    My small is my work horse! By and far it gets 60% of all my cooks for the two of us.  I bought it years ago before the M/M was even dreamed about at the Mothership! 
  • thetrim
    thetrim Posts: 11,375
    Grilled vegetables while the L or XL churns out the main dish.
    =======================================
    XL 6/06, Mini 6/12, L 10/12, Mini #2 12/14 MiniMax 3/16 Large #2 11/20 Legacy from my FIL - RIP
    Tampa Bay, FL
    EIB 6 Oct 95
  • Carolina Q
    Carolina Q Posts: 14,831
    First, I bought a large. Then a Mini, which became my go to cooker. Loved the little thing. Until my dog knocked it over and destroyed it. Found a CharGriller Akorn Jr (14" grid) that is larger than a Mini 10" or Small/MMax 13" and smaller than a Medium 15" egg. Weighs less than a Mini. Travels well too. And it's steel so if my dog knocks it over, it may dent, but it won't break. Functions much like an egg and it handles most of my cooking these days.

    I hate it when I go to the kitchen for food and all I find are ingredients!                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

    Michael 
    Central Connecticut 

  • MotownVol
    MotownVol Posts: 1,061
    Since getting my mini max at Christmas, I have probably used it at least 15 times and I swear I just emptied off one bag of lump.   Steaks, burger, salmon, chicken, brats.   I have only fired up my large, once, for some ribs.  Major savings on lump.
    Morristown TN, LBGE and Mini-Max.
  • Eoin
    Eoin Posts: 4,304
    I added a MMX to the XL as it seemed a waste heating up the XL for small cooks. The MMX is ready to cook faster and uses a lot less lump than the XL. It's also theoretically useful that it is portable, though not used it camping yet.
  • CPARKTX
    CPARKTX Posts: 2,095
    Small for camping and tailgating 
    LBGE & SBGE.  Central Texas.  
  • Sounds like a good excuse to buy a Mini Max or Small. And another excuse to build a table.   Win-Win for me. Now I have to convince her. Lol 
    Atlanta, GA 

    LBGE, Mini-Max, Mini, 1995 BGE Chiminea, 22" Blackstone, Weber Genesis E-310. 
  • Budaman5000
    Budaman5000 Posts: 87
    edited February 2018
    I have a large then bought a small... large I will use for slow cooking all day. Small I would round for cooking the quick meals...there is defiantly a lot of options what one can do with on.   Use one for quick searing then to the slow and low temps.... I convinced my wife for the second one..if I am just cooking for us this can save on lump coal...it would pay for itself in half a year..maybe.. I use the small a lot for wok.