Mini Max or Small

Jupiter Jim

Fred19Flintstone said:

When I travel with my eggs, I put a piece of cardboard under the firebox, one under the ring and one between the base & dome.  Prolly overkill, but the roads here in Michigan are the worst in the nation.

Yes overkill for sure, my small has been to FL, NC, OH, IL, TN, SC,GA, IN, KY in a basement hatch of the Motor Home, no packing of any kind with no cracks or breaks. I take it out of the nest after the last cook put it in the hatch and roll down the road.

bgebrent

MM is a grilling and searing machine.  You can smoke on it but for me that’s secondary.

Jupiter Jim

TEXASBGE2018 said:

YEMTrey said:

Tom is your friend. Can raise grid above felt line. Plenty of room and I cook mostly direct on my MM.

See I would think cooking in the configuration you show right there that you would have major flare ups and burn up the outside of anything before it even finished cooking. The lump is like 3” below the grid.

Not true at all, I have never had that problem.

SaintJohnsEgger

gasman79 said:

What do y’all use the small and the MM for? Is it mainly for traveling/tailgating?

I have a XL and a medium and find the medium to be pretty much the right size for us (family of 5). My wife refuses to let me sit and continue to grill in shifts for food.

I have never traveled or tailgated with my MM. I use it for anything and everything. Its a great grill. Its almost as fast as my gasser and it definitely grills as good or better than the gasser. Real smoke taste on steaks, wings and anything else is more flavorful than on the gasser.

bucky925

I talked to Tom last last week about a woo for the MM.  He advised me to hang tight for a few days as they were putting together a package.   https://ceramicgrillstore.com/collections/big-green-egg-minimax-small-accessories-by-ceramic-grill-store/products/150-mini-max-woo-bge?variant=3598261551130.  good people over at the CGS!

cookingdude555

I still say small, but the MM cooked up a  wicked tri tip tonight while I watch my Utes lose to Washington.



Stand back, I was watching the game on the really big screen.

scooter209

So I found a great deal on Craigslist for a small a few months ago and pulled the trigger, but am now having buyers remorse.  Ive added a KAB and woo ring setup from CGS.  I’m having a terrible time getting this thing lit and maintaining temp.  It acts very different from my L and XL.  It seems to struggle with sufficient airflow and I’m wondering if it’s a design flaw or something I’m doing wrong.  The only way I can get it to come up to temp is to hand select lump, so as to avoid small pieces, and then clip on a fan near the inlet vent to force airflow through.  If I remove the fan, the egg loses temp.  If I maintain the fan, the lump burns out quickly.  Don’t know if it’s just my lack of skills, this particular egg, my lighting/lump loading technique, or the design.  I keep it clean, so no obstructions or ash buildup.  I want something I can use to travel with, frustrated with the small and considering if I should sell it and buy a MM. I’m not sure if that would solve my issue, my only logic is since it has a larger diameter base where the air can circulate, it may maintain temps better and stay lit.  I think the air doesn’t flow in the small well.  I’m getting frustrated and appreciate any suggestions.  Thanks in advance.

Mattman3969

Did you remove the OEM grate ?

scooter209

Yes, KAB only

mEGG_My_Day

I have never had this problem with my small - even before the KAB and WOO were installed.  Do you have the fire box opening aligned with the bottom vent?  What lump are you using?  Have you calibrated your thermometer? 

shtgunal3

I have no problem getting my small up to nuclear temps. I light it the same as I do my large and mini.

lousubcap

Echo all above regarding the SBGE and its ability to go nuclear if not paying attention.  Great cooker in the arsenal. 

cookingdude555

@scooter209, see my way of “fixing” the small. I wish I had kept it instead of the MM:

https://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1206536/my-small-is-a-mini-max-cross-dresser

scooter209

I’ve got a calibrated Tel Tru thermometer and use Rockwood lump.  The firebox opening is aligned with the bottom vent.  Thanks for the feedback, I’ll try a MM KAB and see if that helps.

builderdawg

I have a MM and I use to have a small, but I gave it to my father in law. They are both awesome. The MM is great because it gives you the option of portability.  If portability is not something you care about, go with the small. 

Flatfoot

bgebrent said:

Mini Max for me.  Personal preference.

+1