Against my obsessive compulsive nature.....

Unknown

I'm thinking about a BBQ Guru. A friend just recently gave me an old clay big green egg. I replaced the gasket and have fell in love with the thing. I love the low and slow method, but need to start doing more chicken and turkey so I can get out the door to my BGE.
I've browsed their website and I'm pretty much sold. I've read several favorable posts on this incredible site(BTW..u folks should be real proud of the "community" you guys have formed, and I hope to be included) about the Guru and would appreciate anymore advice, critiques, and recommendations regarding the Guru.[p]PRESHADIT,
TC

Hammer

TC,
I like the Guru simply because it affords me time to do other things while the Guru does it job. It allows me to sleep extra hours on a lo & slo cookor when I just don't have the time to be adjusting the daisy or vents for a cook.
With that said, I still like to cook using the daisy and vent in order to keep my skills in place.
The bottom line to me is simple: Like Dizzy Pig Rubs;Lawn Ranger tools;Tel-Tru Thermometers; Thermopen Instant Thermometers, and the BGE, the Guru does as advertised.
Hope this helps!
Hammer[p]

Sundown

TC,[p]Here we go!
I believe that any newbie should learn the basics and be fairly proficient at them BEFORE they get into a Guru. I don't own a Guru because I do enjoy the routine involved with cooking low and slow. As far as sleeping through the night, I do just finewith a late check and an early check. Haven't lost any sleep since the first low and slow.
I use starter cubes and I own a MAPP torch. MOre often than not I use the cubes. All in all it's the slow pace that's created by adjusting and tweaking. All part of the mystique for me. Besides, what if your Guru has a problem and you haven't mastered the basics? I have to say though, the Guru works for a whole lot of people and they would get medieval on anyone that tried to take it. ;>)

katman

TC,
I've had one of them old clay eggs for about 18 years. Still use it as well as my newer ceramic large and small. Bought a guru competitor a year or so ago and them I got a pit minder. Love them both. I never have a problem controlling temp manually, but I sure like to hook up one of the controllers if I want to sleep, or if its real windy, or if I want to head out fishing and don't know when I'll be back. They do a great job.[p]Now, I agree that it is beneficial for you to learn how to build a good fire and manage it manually. But, well, I always use to have a stick in my car. Then I got one with auto transmission for my daily 60 minute, bumper to bumper commute. I still have a stick in my 911, but I got the tiptronic in my boxter and full auto in my Jetta. That Jetta is a nice ride for when I just want to get somewhere without working at driving.

stike

Sundown,
i agree.
as i hit the sack, 11pm-ish, i check the temp.
and when i get up (usually a bit earlier than normal because gee it feels almost like christmas morning!), i do the early a.m. check.[p]and like you, after my first somewhat restless sleep during the first overnight cook (brought on by my beginner mistrust of the egg stability, temp-wise), i've slept like a baby ever since.[p]that said, i'm not a gadget guy, either. but i don't begrudge anyone who is. i just think it's not truly needed in my case.

fishlessman

stike,
i dont find it necessary either, another electronic gadget to break down. maybe its just a cheap yankee thing, butafter every thing is set up it works fine. what do the guru folks do when the power goes out or the battery dies in the middle of the night

katman

fishlessman,
I got one of those jumpstarters. Probably will use it tonight when the thunderstorms knock out the power.

fishlessman

katman,
thats just the thing,with a guru i would have to set my old linden windup alarm clock every 3 hours to see if the power went out : )

Unknown

fishlessman,
Thanks to everyone for their input. After reading these posts I've decided against a guru because I really enjoy all the tweaking and need to get my skills up to par before I try the whole auto-pilot thing.
Thanx again

GrillMeister

fishlessman,[p]I use a small rechargable 12 volt battery which I charge before each use. It will run a guru over several days before it dies. I don't take chances with the power going out during thunderstorm season.

katman

fishlessman,
First time I used the guru competitor, it woke me up. The darn thing started beeping cause the butt was done. sounded like the backup alarm on a dump truck.