Second BGE Size

SGH

SGH said:

Question for everyone. Have you ever noticed that when someone asks for a recommendation on a second BGE the medium usually gets the nod? Or it’s near the top recommended. With that said, why does it remain the least selling BGE?
In no way am I trying to bash the medium. Quiet the contrary. I cooked on Nolas and loved it. Everyone seems to only say good things about it. But yet it is supposedly the red headed step child in the line up. What gives?

I pose the same question again. 

cookingdude555

SGH said:

SGH said:

Question for everyone. Have you ever noticed that when someone asks for a recommendation on a second BGE the medium usually gets the nod? Or it’s near the top recommended. With that said, why does it remain the least selling BGE?
In no way am I trying to bash the medium. Quiet the contrary. I cooked on Nolas and loved it. Everyone seems to only say good things about it. But yet it is supposedly the red headed step child in the line up. What gives?

I pose the same question again. 

Its a fair question.  I think back to this question that came up so often a long time ago when there were only 4 egg sizes.  Everyone had a large, and I think the logic was that if you want to get a smaller size than the large everyone owned, people felt the medium is not different enough and you should go for the small.  I initially followed that logic, and after my first large, went small, then the mini came along for me, and then I found a great medium.  I found frustration in the small egg.  Its a fine cooker, but it suffered at high temps.  When I got the medium, it had none of those issues and used just a little more fuel.  

Long winded answer I guess.  I think I am just going to go with people think the small is cuter than the medium.

QDude

I have an XL and bought a small a few years ago off of Craigslist.  I hated it!  I could not get it up to temp  in under an hour.  Very frustrating.  I sold it in less than a year.  If I get another egg, it will be a medium.

Mickey

Mini. I have 5 Eggs and if i could only have one tomorrow it would be the Mini. 

mEGG_My_Day

QDude said:

I have an XL and bought a small a few years ago off of Craigslist.  I hated it!  I could not get it up to temp  in under an hour.  Very frustrating.  I sold it in less than a year.  If I get another egg, it will be a medium.

Not to be argumentative- but have had the exact opposite experience- maybe the kick ash basket made the difference.  I don’t know, but I love the small.  It’s been an awesome cooker for us. High temp, low temp - never an issue either way. 

4TheGrillOfIt

mEGG_My_Day said:

QDude said:

I have an XL and bought a small a few years ago off of Craigslist.  I hated it!  I could not get it up to temp  in under an hour.  Very frustrating.  I sold it in less than a year.  If I get another egg, it will be a medium.

Not to be argumentative- but have had the exact opposite experience- maybe the kick ash basket made the difference.  I don’t know, but I love the small.  It’s been an awesome cooker for us. High temp, low temp - never an issue either way. 

Same for me.  The small is like a sports car in responsiveness.  So much fun to use.  It heats up quickly and dials in temp changes quickly as well.  

QDude

mEGG_My_Day said:

QDude said:

I have an XL and bought a small a few years ago off of Craigslist.  I hated it!  I could not get it up to temp  in under an hour.  Very frustrating.  I sold it in less than a year.  If I get another egg, it will be a medium.

Not to be argumentative- but have had the exact opposite experience- maybe the kick ash basket made the difference.  I don’t know, but I love the small.  It’s been an awesome cooker for us. High temp, low temp - never an issue either way. 

I don't know what I was doing wrong with mine but obviously something wasn't right.

Foghorn

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned the obvious factor between the two original choices.

If you're going to travel with the egg - go camping, take it to a relative's house on a vacation/holiday, whatever, then get the minimax.

If not, get the medium.

fence0407

I have a LBGE, MiniBGE and a Blackstone Griddle - I'd go with the Blackstone. But if you must have another egg - the mini is a killer and will surprise you!

RRP

QDude said:

mEGG_My_Day said:

QDude said:

I have an XL and bought a small a few years ago off of Craigslist.  I hated it!  I could not get it up to temp  in under an hour.  Very frustrating.  I sold it in less than a year.  If I get another egg, it will be a medium.

Not to be argumentative- but have had the exact opposite experience- maybe the kick ash basket made the difference.  I don’t know, but I love the small.  It’s been an awesome cooker for us. High temp, low temp - never an issue either way. 

I don't know what I was doing wrong with mine but obviously something wasn't right.

The love and hate toward a small has gone on for years! I happen to love mine and have no issues of temperature ceiling nor time. To my knowledge no one has ever come up with the answer as why some do and some don't.

Photo Egg

RRP said:

QDude said:

mEGG_My_Day said:

QDude said:

I have an XL and bought a small a few years ago off of Craigslist.  I hated it!  I could not get it up to temp  in under an hour.  Very frustrating.  I sold it in less than a year.  If I get another egg, it will be a medium.

Not to be argumentative- but have had the exact opposite experience- maybe the kick ash basket made the difference.  I don’t know, but I love the small.  It’s been an awesome cooker for us. High temp, low temp - never an issue either way. 

I don't know what I was doing wrong with mine but obviously something wasn't right.

The love and hate toward a small has gone on for years! I happen to love mine and have no issues of temperature ceiling nor time. To my knowledge no one has ever come up with the answer as why some do and some don't.

I have 2 Smalls and both cook great. The only times I have had trouble getting to temps was related to lots of smallish size pieces of lump that were fitting together real well and limited airflow. Once it got burning it cleared it's own way and temp shot up. Wiggle Rod really helps but trickier to use on the Smaller sized Eggs with stock cast iron grate. As others have mentioned, taking out stock lump grate and adding a Kick Ash Basket really helps.
With any of my Eggs, start up routine is key. I always start my Egg as the first step of my prep. Even a couple hours in advance. It really doesn't burn that much extra lump. Light in 2-3 spots, depending on the temp range I want, and set the vents to dial in around 250-300 and walk away. Then I adjust temps to target closer to cook time. Living in a very humid climate the extra warm up time really helps, especially if there is still a bunch of old lump in the Egg.

builderdawg

RRP said:

QDude said:

mEGG_My_Day said:

QDude said:

I have an XL and bought a small a few years ago off of Craigslist.  I hated it!  I could not get it up to temp  in under an hour.  Very frustrating.  I sold it in less than a year.  If I get another egg, it will be a medium.

Not to be argumentative- but have had the exact opposite experience- maybe the kick ash basket made the difference.  I don’t know, but I love the small.  It’s been an awesome cooker for us. High temp, low temp - never an issue either way. 

I don't know what I was doing wrong with mine but obviously something wasn't right.

The love and hate toward a small has gone on for years! I happen to love mine and have no issues of temperature ceiling nor time. To my knowledge no one has ever come up with the answer as why some do and some don't.

The small is awesome. I was gifted a small a number of years ago but I ended up regifting it to my father in law. I immediately regretted getting rid of the small and bought a MiniMax. 

BSR

Minimax is the only one truly portable and I take it all over the place. I also use it more than my large at home at least 10:1

Lit

BSR said:

Minimax is the only one truly portable and I take it all over the place. I also use it more than my large at home at least 10:1

KJ jr is a few pounds lighter if i remember correctly and isnt limited by its short stature. Also cheaper and comes with the accessories you would buy for the MM. The MM carrier is much nicer than the KJ.

BSR

Lit said:

BSR said:

Minimax is the only one truly portable and I take it all over the place. I also use it more than my large at home at least 10:1

KJ jr is a few pounds lighter if i remember correctly and isnt limited by its short stature. Also cheaper and comes with the accessories you would buy for the MM. The MM carrier is much nicer than the KJ.

I hate to say it and maybe it's frowned upon on this forum but I think the KJ line is winning in most ways in most sizes. I just happen to own two Green Eggs. My brother has the same size KJ and his is nicer imo.

Lit

BSR said:

Lit said:

BSR said:

Minimax is the only one truly portable and I take it all over the place. I also use it more than my large at home at least 10:1

KJ jr is a few pounds lighter if i remember correctly and isnt limited by its short stature. Also cheaper and comes with the accessories you would buy for the MM. The MM carrier is much nicer than the KJ.

I hate to say it and maybe it's frowned upon on this forum but I think the KJ line is winning in most ways in most sizes. I just happen to own two Green Eggs. My brother has the same size KJ and his is nicer imo.

I think its pretty much accepted now. BGE just has the better forum.

cookingdude555

I have two KJs, in all honesty I prefer my eggs. Especially when price is considered. My 2XL with nest handler and indirect setup was cheaper than the classic 3. I don’t need an expensive hinge that makes the lid float, and a lid clip that is now required to overcome the problem created. KJs are fine, but they are not miles ahead of BGE. They have created a perceived need for their upgrades, and you pay for it. I get that some people feel they need it, it’s America after all. I am sure Karen has a red grill, and that’s fine by me. 

47_Driver

I have a large and a mini max. I use both all the time. I use my mini max with grill grates for steaks a lot. 

Lumpy_Coal

BSR said:

Minimax is the only one truly portable and I take it all over the place. I also use it more than my large at home at least 10:1

In BGE the Minimax is but don’t forget the Mini, unfortunately they are often mistakenly misrepresented for each other.  

Lumpy_Coal

bbauernfeind said:

My wife and I have an XL BGE and we are thinking of adding a second egg for smaller cooks.  I was wondering what size most go with when they have two eggs.  We are debating between the minimax and a medium.  Thanks in advance for the feedback.

I have four sizes, two brands.  Personally, if you are not travelling with it, I would get a medium.