do I need a small egg?

shelly

I've been enjoying my cooks on my large bge but can hardly keep up with all the food that I have been making. There's just me and my wife and she is not a big meat eater.[p]I have been reluctant to fire up my large for just a piece or two of swordfish. I feel like I should be cooking more once the egg is heated up so I do.[p]So would a small egg be my solution to quickly grill for the 2 of us?[p]Other than the 13" diameter grate size, what are the limitations of the small? Can I assume that it would heat more quickly with less lump?[p]Is the grate height of the small on the nest the same height as the large egg grate on its nest? Or will I be bending over a lot?[p]Any feedback is appreciated.[p]Thanks.[p]Shelly[p]

Wise One

shelly, yes. In its nest it is a bit lower, but build a table and get them both at EXACTLY the same height. I use a mini for cooking for two (along with my medium and XL) and it works well. My mother has a small and she just loves it. Now that they have a platesetter for the small, there is no reason not to buy one. Or maybe two.

galoot

shelly,
I have an XL and a few months after buying it, I got a small. I did that mostly for camping, but of course I use it in conjunction with the XL at home. I tend to fire it up for quick dinners. Last night I did 2 tenderloins on it and it was perfect. They would have looked kind of lonely on the XL all by themselves; at least you have a large!
There are times I get both going to cook at different temps too. Don't regret either one, but if I did it all over again, it would be a large and a small.

Pharmeggist

shelly,
A small would be a great choice to compliment your large egg.... that is the combination I have and it works great for me. I cooked a home-made meat loaf on the small Monday night and it was great. I like to cook home-made bread and and cakes on tne small too.
~Pharmeggist

Golfnut

<p />shelly,
This is what you need! We love this combination. There are just the two of us so I cook on the small more than the large. We also bought the Gratemates which makes the small much more versatile. Also for me the small takes just as long to come up to cooking temp as the large if not longer.

shelly

Gadgetman,
Thanks for the feedback. I'm envious of all your flaat, level grounds as I live on the side of a hilltop.[p]What are the grate mates? I'm thinking that mates are the side table exetnsions I have on my large egg.[p]Shelly

shelly

Pharmeggist,[p]I plan to make a meatloaf this weekend. Did you shape it freehand and cook on a perforated sheet or in a regular loaf pan?[p]Do you also find that it takes just as long or a bit longer to bring your smallto cooking temperature?[p]Thanks.[p]Shelly

Chubby

shelly,[p]"GrateMates" are custom accessories (made specifically)
for your Small BigGreenEgg..[p]
Here's more info if you desire to check them out further.[p]Evans

[ul][li]GrateMates[/ul]

RRP

shelly,
Get it! but be prepared to kick yourself as for why you didn't buy it sooner. There's just the two of us also and I use my small 60% of the time. Plus as a combo it gives you the opportunity for simultaneous cooking.

shelly

I was sent the following link by ButtsLuvRubs. Thanks again, David, for the thoughtfulness. [p]It's an old post all about converting the large to a small (or remove to make it large again.) It's probably the way I will go to save some $$$ and storage space.[p]Haven't gotten to need simultaneous cooking yet. I have so many cooking toys that I can't get all my fun from the egg, can I?[p]Shelly[p]http://www.eggheadforum.com/archives//2006/messages/282656.htm[p]

Dixie_Flyer

shelly,[p]I've got a large and a small -- I use the large for smoking and the small for steaks...the small doesn't heat up as fast as the large though (less air flow)

shelly

Thanks d-f,[p]You're the second person to tell me that the small doesn't heat up as fast as the large. That's disappointing as I thought it would work better/faster for a quick cook.[p]Shelly

Chubby

shelly,[p]Just a differing view...[p]I haven't found that to be the case at all, and have cooked on quite a few Smalls n Larges over the last three years.[p]Evans

Pharmeggist

shelly,
I cooked it in a Metal loaf pan and it took about the same time as it used to in the oven. The small egg doesn't take long to heat up... Usually I light the egg and prep the food and by the time I have the food prep. done the egg is ready. Hope this answers your question.
~Pharmeggist

RRP

Chubby,
I agree with you Evans - my small can get to sfterburner temps much quicker than my large. Besides our collective words simple reason is on our side.

Chubby

RRP,[p]
A smart fellow you are!![p]Evans[p]PS...[p]Be careful siding with me...!! [p]You have a reputation to protect![p]LOL!!![p]Evans

RRP

Chubby,
hey - I've been following that banter today between the two largest states and no way can Illinois get in the middle of that feud! OTOH our history of inept and corrupt governors can whip your combined governors in any pork barrel, illegal schemes and other political shenanigans in a heartbeat - but cooking on an egg? no!