Which one? Large or XL

Bama Egger

Hi All,[p]I am very close to buying my first outdoor cooker and have decided on the BGE, mostly because the messages here are very convincing.
Anyway, the XL will not be available in my area (Toronto) until the Spring 2005. I was concerned that the 18.25" grid on the large is not big enough for entertaining (unless slow cooking roasts etc). If I'm cooking chicken quarters, sausages and lamb steaks for about 12 guests is the large big enough? Should I wait to buy the XL? I figure the Egg will be a purchase of a lifetime and I don't mind waiting if its the right decision. Thanks in advance.

Smokey

Paul,[p]What are your needs? How many in the family or group you cook for on a regular basis? The XL is NICE & BIG, but I don't think I would use all of the space. I had a medium for years before I upgraded to a large. Many people (including me) have more than one egg. I love them and have used two (at the same time) several times. Great when what you are cooking requires different temps.

Bama Egger

Smokey, thanks for your input. On a regular basis, I would be cooking for 6-8 people. I was hoping that one Egg would meet all my requirments, thus contemplating the XL for when entertaining larger groups. But if I'm cooking different things, then different temps are required and would have to cook in stages anyway, I guess. Comments?

James

Paul,[p]I think you'll find that the large is plenty big for groups of 8 or even 12.

Unknown

Paul,[p]Wait for the XL.

Smokey

Paul,[p]I think 6 would not be a problem. 8 might be, depends on what you're cooking. The medium was too small when I was doing chicken wings!! The large would work well, but the XL will be better!

The Naked Whiz

Paul,
I own a large and a small, and that makes a great combo. I'd bet if you searched really hard you could get a large/small for not much more than an XL is going to be, and of course, you'd have it now.[p]I sometimes cook things at different temps, so two cookers is a good thing. You can do your different foods and have them ready at the same time. Or, you can just cook more of the same thing when it is necessary.[p]Or maybe you can work a deal with someone. You buy a large now, and when the XL is out, you can sell them a used large. Whatever you do, you'll be happy. I'd just worry that the spring '05 date will slip and you'll be waiting and waiting. Jeez, that's a year away![p]TNW

Unknown

Paul,[p]You could always just go and buy a dozen or so mini's. that should fit the bill.[p]Until you want to do a brisket anyways.
Matt.

stike

Paul,
don't forget, if you are sparking up the XL for just 2/4/6 people most of the time, you'll be burning lump like it grows on trees.[p]wait.
well[p]you know what i mean.[p]i'm thinking of getting a small not only for the multiple-temp cook possibility, but for day to day use i understand it's more efficient...[p]hate to see you fire up all that lump on an XL just to do a pair of steaks

Unknown

Paul, the Whiz has got you a plan that I agree with... I got a lge and sm and love it...yes you can just restart the lump left from your last cook when you go to cook the next time but you gotta put some back to replace what was burnt and sooner or later you gotta take that sucker apart and give her a good cleaning , which is why I use my small so much. As long as you get a BGE and use the techinques you'll find talked about on this forum, I promise you won't be disappointed.

randomegger

Paul,
I've had a large for three years now and it amazes me how much food you can place on that grill. That said, there have been times that I had to fire up the gas grill to keep things warm or cook some sides with - especially when entertaining, rarely when it's just family.[p]I recently bought a small to complement the large and I have to say it's been just great. You can cook the main on the large and some appetizers on the small, or cook things at different temps. The other bonus is when it's just my wife and I - we can just cook something on the small and not even fuss with the large.[p]The old gas grill is looking more and more like a dinosaur every day.

ToyCollector

Paul,[p]I started with a large and so far only once did I do the sacked grids method. I added a small later to do small meals such as burgers, wings, sausages. Great having both, but a luxury, not a neccessity. Just saves lump, but does give you ability to cook two vastly different things on two surfaces with different temps. I have had both going at the same time more than I thought. i.e. cooking lunch on small while doing long cook on large.[p]

Cornfed

Paul,[p]If the XL won't be available in your area until Spring 2005, get the Large now since instant gratification should always trump any other reasons when buying grills.[p]If you can get your hands on one sooner, though, go for the XL. You'll find reasons to use the extra capacity, and you'll be one of the cooler kids on the virtual block by having one before the rest of us.[p]Later,
Cornfed