Welcome to the EGGhead Forum - a great place to visit and packed with tips and EGGspert advice! You can also join the conversation and get more information and amazing kamado recipes by following Big Green Egg to Experience our World of Flavor™ at:
Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  Pinterest  |  Youtube  |  Vimeo
Share your photos by tagging us and using the hashtag #BigGreenEgg.

Want to see how the EGG is made? Click to Watch

Have a large, where to go next?

allsid
allsid Posts: 492
edited August 2012 in EggHead Forum
I have a large BGE and have cooked on it religiously for 15 months.  I travel for work, but probably still get 4-5 cooks a week in on it.  My dilemma is that its just the 2 of us and I find that using a large that often is kind of a waste of charcoal. So I am thinking of adding a smaller egg to the quiver.  I was pretty set on a small, but checked one out the other day and got a little concerned about the svelte size of the bottom air vent.  

So now I am totally confused and wondering about a Med -vs- a Small.  

Have there been any changes or upgrades to the small over the past year or 2?  I think the one @ my egg dealers is at least 2 years old.

Any opinions regarding this is appreciated.

Thanks! -P


Proud resident of Missoula, MT
https://www.facebook.com/GrillingMontana
http://grillingmontana.com
https://instagram.com/grillingmontana

Check out my book on Kamado cooking called Exclusively Kamado:
http://bit.ly/kamadobook

Comments

  • SkinnyV
    SkinnyV Posts: 3,404
    Mini, large bag of BGE charcoal lasted me 2.5 months. I will get a large as my next thinking it will be perfect combo in a nice table.
    Seattle, WA
  • bud812
    bud812 Posts: 1,869
    I too have a LBGE & bought a small to go with it about 2 months ago & love it. It's just me here so the large it too much for every night cooks, the small is just right. I also got the Woo & 13" stone from CGS so I can do indirect cooks too. The bottom vent is just fine, no problem with air flow.

    Not to get technical, but according to chemistry alcohol is a solution...

    Large & Small BGE

    Stockton Ca.

  • Doc_Eggerton
    Doc_Eggerton Posts: 5,321
    An XL and only half fill it on one side.  I do that almost every night, but when I need the room to smoke 25 turkey thighs, or do 35 pounds of pork shoulder, it is there.

    Our standard cook is meat on the LBGE and veggies on the half filled XL.

    I find the concept of wasting lump to be very ambiguous.  Unless you are doing very hot, very long cooks it does not matter how much you load.  You use the heat you need, then shut down.  The left overs are there next night.

    XXL #82 out of the first 100, XLGE X 2, LBGE (gave this one to daughter 1.0) , MBGE (now in the hands of iloveagoodyoke daughter 2.0) and lots of toys

  • allsid
    allsid Posts: 492
    DOC-  Did you fashion that half fill thingy yourself?  It's something I had never thought of (or seen).  Also-  you have my mind turning about turkey things!  sounds great-
    Proud resident of Missoula, MT
    https://www.facebook.com/GrillingMontana
    http://grillingmontana.com
    https://instagram.com/grillingmontana

    Check out my book on Kamado cooking called Exclusively Kamado:
    http://bit.ly/kamadobook

  • Doc_Eggerton
    Doc_Eggerton Posts: 5,321
    edited August 2012
    Those are Angl-Z from the ceramic grill store.  They appeal to my sense of order, but in truth you can just pile the lump on one side.

    You don't have to use all the space you have, but it is better to more than you need.

    XXL #82 out of the first 100, XLGE X 2, LBGE (gave this one to daughter 1.0) , MBGE (now in the hands of iloveagoodyoke daughter 2.0) and lots of toys

  • Doc_Eggerton
    Doc_Eggerton Posts: 5,321
    Biggest by volume cook I've ever done.

    XXL #82 out of the first 100, XLGE X 2, LBGE (gave this one to daughter 1.0) , MBGE (now in the hands of iloveagoodyoke daughter 2.0) and lots of toys

  • I just solved my delimma re: LBGE + ?MBGE vs ?SBGE. I quickly decided on the med once I saw them side by side. I am VERY happy with my decision.
    LBGE 4/2012, MBGE 6/2012 & Mini 11/2013
    Rome, GA
  • MrCookingNurse
    MrCookingNurse Posts: 4,665
    edited August 2012

    I find the concept of wasting lump to be very ambiguous.  Unless you are doing very hot, very long cooks it does not matter how much you load.  You use the heat you need, then shut down.  The left overs are there next night.

    +1

    I use a large for my wife and I. Ive never had any problems loading it and reusing lump for multiple other cooks after shutting it down. Now of course it will take more fuel to get a bigger area hotter. I only want a smaller egg for traveling. Just cause at home it's always nice to have more room then less room.


    _______________________________________________

    XLBGE 
  • +1

    Although, sometimes we just need any justification to get that 2nd (or 3rd, or 4th, etc) egg!!!


    Large BGE and a couple non-greenies
    Roanoke TX
  • fishlessman
    fishlessman Posts: 32,674
    if i was running the small as a second egg for side dishes the small is a good choice, i went with the small as a second egg. what i found though is that i was only using it for a steak or two or a pork chop etc, i really should have just got the mini as a second egg. the small uses way less lump for quicker cooks than the large from my experience
    fukahwee maine

    you can lead a fish to water but you can not make him drink it
  • Skiddymarker
    Skiddymarker Posts: 8,522
    Much depends on what you cook for those smaller cooks. We are pizza fanatics and although just the two of us, the medium was our choice. It does a good job with a 13" pie. 

    For us the small was just too small. it is the choice if you want portability, I'd think.

    Delta B.C. - Whiskey and steak, because no good story ever started with someone having a salad!
  • allsid
    allsid Posts: 492
    I am leaning toward medium now, but was curious if anyone who has a med & a small could chime in or any additional opinions to help my decision?

    Many thanks-  P
    Proud resident of Missoula, MT
    https://www.facebook.com/GrillingMontana
    http://grillingmontana.com
    https://instagram.com/grillingmontana

    Check out my book on Kamado cooking called Exclusively Kamado:
    http://bit.ly/kamadobook

  • The med can handle a bit more-is more versatile for pans, dutch ovens, pizza etc.small is tight for those types of sides. 
    LBGE 4/2012, MBGE 6/2012 & Mini 11/2013
    Rome, GA
  • smokesniffer
    smokesniffer Posts: 2,016
    I have had a large for about 7 months. We wanted another smaller egg for RVing and tailgating. I had a mini or a small in mind. Saw the two side by each. For us the mini was just a bit to small. I liked the idea having more grill area in the small egg. There is a lot that can be cooked on the mini. One deciding factor was that I wasn't sure if I could really do an indirect low and slow cook. So a small was purchased. It is portable, I either leave the guts in it and carry it to the nest or if the walk is a little further, I take out the innards and go Fast forward to a camping trip we just did. I cooked for 6 adults and 3 kids on my small, I was a little concerned about feeding everyone at the same time, but it happened which really made me feel like I had made the right choice for us. Any second egg, no matter what size should be considered a bonus, and should be appreciated, all the best with your decision.
    Large, small, and a mini