mini's out. how about the small?

Unknown

ok, same scenario. I would like to smoke 1 porkbutt at the most, but mostly smaller quantities. I really would like it to be portable also. is the small big enough to let go all night at 200* and not have to babysit it?
also, anyone ever smoke baked beans?

Smokey

bean,[p]I started with a small and quickly upgraded to the medium. Although you're only cooking for two, your friends will love your cooking! The medium will so anything (and is usually not that much more than a small). Also it is easier to get accessories![p]Smokey

Sundown

bean,[p]Good lord boy! Bite the bullet and buy the darned large. Then you can up-grade to a medium or a small or another large! You're no different than the rest of us. Agonize over which one to buy then regret buying the small or medium - at which point you end up getting the large. This advice comes from being on this forum for four years and seeing the same FAQ's all the time.

Puj

Sundown, tooooo funny![p]Bean, follow Sundown's advise. It's dead on.[p]Puj

The Naked Whiz

Sundown,
Now, now, go easy on the boy. He said he wants it to be portable. I consider the small to be about the upper limits of what one could rationally consider portable. I'm not sure how long you can keep a small going on a low and slow as I've yet to do that on mine. But if you want small and portable but still have something that behaves more like a large than a mini, I'd say a small should do you. You can always add charcoal for a longer cook if you need to.[p]TNW

tn slagamater

bean, I have a large and a small. We just cooked Bourbon baked beans on the small. The small will cook for 18-19 hours with out re-loading at low temperatures with most normal lump charcoal brands. With "Wicked Good" it might cook forever, I have not tried it in my small, however! The large is more useful, more versatile and does everything the small can do AND MUCH MORE!The main advantage of the small is portability? (70 pounds) and a grid closer to the coals for high temp searing. I would get a large if you can swing the price.You will find you cook a lot of food, egging is addictive!!

QBabe

The Naked Whiz,[p]We've done 18 hrs on our small without refueling. Our dome is usually 225-250° when doing butts for pulled pork. I usually get the cryovac two-packs at Sam's Club and they usually average 6-7 lbs each. Biggest one I did on the small was about 8.25 lbs and that's the longest cook I've done. [p]It's a great little cooker. We take ours camping all the time and to family outings. It's very portable and packs up surprisingly well. It'll do most anything the large will do with the exception of a big giant turkey. A small one might fit. You know, that's one cook I actually haven't done yet in any of my cookers - might have to remedy that....![p]Tonia
:~)

tn slagamater

QBabe,have you ever tried a brisket in the small? I plan to start one in the small and was thinking of cutting the brisket in half to get it in or possibly placing it in sideways?? Any ideas?

QBabe

tn slagamater,[p]No, brisket is something that is still somewhat of a mystery to me. I've never had it (other than my own), so I don't really know what I'm shooting for, and I just haven't mastered it yet. One cook came out so so, another like shoe leather, the third one, again just so-so. Partly, I think it's that I haven't gotten a feel for how to judge the timing. I've seen it range from 1 hr/lb to 2 hrs/lb and that makes it hard to get the sides coordinated...[p]Sorry, no brainstorms here [p]If you're successful though, please let me know what you did. I haven't given up trying![p]QBabe
:~)

tn slagamater

QBabe,you hit the nail on the head on timing brisket! They are never the same time for me either. I just use the internal temp and fork test to guess when it is ready, but have always done it on the large egg. I need to experiment on the small with this...Thanks!

Unknown

everyone,
thanks for the advice. I am really looking for portability. if it weighs 100lbs+, I will probably never take it with me. it sounds like the small will cook a small porkbutt. that is perfect for me. there is another reason I want to keep the quantity of food I cook fairly low. I used to weigh 350lbs and lost over 100lbs 5 years ago and would like to keep it that way.lol
I love great food and could see myself going nuts with it. I bought a bread machine and started gaining weight before I plugged it in. nothing like that smell of fresh bread baking in the oven.
I am afraid the smell of a porkbutt smoking in the backyard will have the same effect.lol

Unknown

<p />QBabe, took the small camping about 8 trips this summer. Did a 6 pound turkey breast w/bone in. We had some friends over to our campfire and got busy making a fifth of tequila disappear. The turkey stayed on about an hour & 1/2 too long, (5 hours total). Indirect with drip pan. It came out perfect and had the best (slightly smokey) flavor you could ask for. This was the first time cooking turkey on either of our eggs. The leftover turkey sandwiches in the picnic cooler at the beach were superior. Turkey breast on the small will be a regular event on our future camping trips.

Unknown

QBabe,
you have me convinced the small is perfect for me. and one of the posts addressed to you describes a bone-in turkey breast working in the small. this is exactly what I am looking for.
I would like to also smoke(or is it barbecue?) some fresh fish. crappie, yellow perch and walleye.

Gretl

bean,
My Small handles a double batch of baked beans very nicely. It's a great pal for the Large. I haven't transported it, but it could be done.
Cheers,
Gretl

TRex

bean,[p]The perfect combination is a Large and Small. Buy the Large first, unless portability is really that important to you. [p]If you make it to Eggtoberfest in Atlanta, you might still have time to sign up for a demo Egg at reduced price.[p]TRex

Wise One

bean, try Marvlus Marv's beans

[ul][li]Marvlus Marv's Beans[/ul]

Unknown

TRex,
I stopped at the local dealer and they have a small for $319. is that a good price? they also had bge lump charcoal for $15 for 20lb. what do you think?
I ordered another porkbutt from my buddy. this is getting expensive. I need my own bge.lol

QBabe

bean,[p]If you're in Florida, come by our Florida Q-Fest on October 11th and you could pick up your new demo egg for $299 with a free nest. Here's a link to all the information about the 'Fest and the demo eggs.[p]QBabe
:~)

[ul][li]Florida Q-Fest (October 10-13, 2003)[/ul]

Unknown

QBabe,
I'm up here in the north. the dealer has the medium for $479, which seems to be a good price. if my sister in law still lived in atlanta, I would make it to the big gathering. but she lives in south carolina. she really needs to coordinate her moving around with my interests.lol