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    Trick Question: Keep "L" or sell and get a "Mini-Max" to complement "XL"

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    Comments

    • Posts: 12,712
      edited May 2014
      Another vote for keeping the Large and getting a cheap kettle for tailgating.  Also remember you can use the Large's pizza stone, platesetter, etc. in the XL too.

      May be I'm missing something, I don't get the 'two Larges can share accessories' concept as an advantage over XL+L.  I use my Large's platesetter, pizza stone, drip pan, etc. in my XL.
      canuckland
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    • Posts: 9,053
      The KJ junior is available and I love mine. $400 with a stand, woo like raised cooking adapter, stone for indirect, and ash tool. Hard deal to beat. Also good choice never sell your XL. I wouldn't trade my XL for 2 larges.
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    • Posts: 17,629
      Egglegal_Alien said:

      Seems my original topic has kind of derailed, and I actually am at least partly to blame, hehe... any more thoughts regarding my current conundrum?

      My bad :-D. If the LG is getting no use and your family's needs would be better fulfilled with the XL and MM I say do it.

      LBGE 2013 & MM 2014
      Die Hard HUSKER & BRONCO FAN
      Flying Low & Slow in "Da Burg" FL
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    • Posts: 100
      Yes - right - wrote Jimmy but thought Johnny - sorry Johnny!

      Egglegal Alien - Keep the large egg - it'll get use, won't it?  If not, sell her, but really now it's a LBGE - what's not to love?
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    • Posts: 113
      NPHuskerFL said:
      show previous quotes
      My bad :-D. If the LG is getting no use and your family's needs would be better fulfilled with the XL and MM I say do it.
      Hehehe, no prob... 

      Oh, it gets used alright, it's been cooked on 3 times in the last seven days, XL got 2 uses on the same time... I don't know if it's "a phase", but I've been cooking on a BGE 5+ times a week on average since I first got one last August.

      If I'd had the MM, 2 of those 3 cooks on the L could have been done there and the third would have been done on the XL.
      XL BGE + Large BGE @ Monterrey, Mexico
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    • Posts: 113
      Canugghead said:
      Another vote for keeping the Large and getting a cheap kettle for tailgating.  Also remember you can use the Large's pizza stone, platesetter, etc. in the XL too.

      May be I'm missing something, I don't get the 'two Larges can share accessories' concept as an advantage over XL+L.  I use my Large's platesetter, pizza stone, drip pan, etc. in my XL.
      The thing I don't fancy about getting a cheep kettle is that I really like to get 600+ temps for most of my steaks (which I figure would be a major part of my camping/picnic menus) and I don't think I could get those temps on them, of if they'd collapse after a few uses at that temp if I do get there.
      XL BGE + Large BGE @ Monterrey, Mexico
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    • Posts: 42,109
      Sell the large, buy the mini-max.  Don't listen to any of these other folk, they're just projecting their desires into your advice.
      ______________________________________________
      I love lamp..
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    • Posts: 17,629
      What would you "GAIN" by losing the LG and getting the MM. List pros vs cons on each. I just feel the LG would win that battle. But, that's your decision friend.
      LBGE 2013 & MM 2014
      Die Hard HUSKER & BRONCO FAN
      Flying Low & Slow in "Da Burg" FL
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    • Posts: 12,712
      this one perhaps ?! 
      canuckland
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    • Posts: 42,109
      @NPHuskerFL: more space, not spending any more money, not having the capacity to be asked to cook for giant crowds, spending less on lump with a smaller grill, etc.  But the OP has defined his needs, I'm just making them up based on your question.
      ______________________________________________
      I love lamp..
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    • Posts: 113
      edited May 2014
      Pros and cons I see of selling the L and getting the MM

      Pros:
      Sear temp capable mobility
      Save a little space on my smallish deck
      Save a little lump (pfff!) 

      Cons: 
      Selling an Egg (somehow it feels wrong, plus I don't expect to get back what I paid for it and I know it's still worth)
      Losing some grill surface 
      Having to re-buy accessories

      Can be done with the L but could be better with the Mini-Max
      Dual cooks with roasts / grilling / sides done on XL and searing on the smaller Egg
      XL BGE + Large BGE @ Monterrey, Mexico
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    • Posts: 100
      Why not have both?  You were going to buy the mini-max anyway.  It's a hard decision - but a fun one.  On one hand you can have a mini-max for zero $$ from your wallet, or you could be the proud owner of 3 eggs.  Will they all get use?  If so, why discard one?  
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    • Posts: 113
      edited May 2014
      grill4us said:
      Why not have both?  You were going to buy the mini-max anyway.  It's a hard decision - but a fun one.  On one hand you can have a mini-max for zero $$ from your wallet, or you could be the proud owner of 3 eggs.  Will they all get use?  If so, why discard one?  
      Having enough trouble selling the whole two BGE idea to SWMBO, hehehe.

      ... I still might do it though.

      XL BGE + Large BGE @ Monterrey, Mexico
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    • Posts: 113
      edited May 2014
      I'm starting to buy into the "keep both XL and L and give the Smokey Joe a try" idea.

      The Smokey should do at least for the time it takes BGE to launch the MM, and in the meanwhile I'll have enough time to test drive the XL + L combo.

      And even if the kettle don't deliver searing temps or it melts down from them I'll come back to think some more about buying the MM and it won't be a huge loss, The Smokey Joe it's cheeper than almost any BGE accessory, hehe... 

      Thanks for your input guys!
      XL BGE + Large BGE @ Monterrey, Mexico
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    • Posts: 12,712
      Want to test drive my Sputnik?
      image

      canuckland
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    • Posts: 113
      Sure thing... can you ship it to Mexico? 

      What is that thing? Looks cool.
      XL BGE + Large BGE @ Monterrey, Mexico
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    • Posts: 529
      What would you get for the large? Nor too much. Keep it and get a MM too if you think you really need one.
      middle of nowhere- G.I. NE
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    • Posts: 12,712
      marketed by IKEA many moons ago! I got it at a yard sale.

      image

      image
      canuckland
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    • Posts: 42,109
      That's the "Kugelgrill" from Ikea.   It's häftigt.


      ______________________________________________
      I love lamp..
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    • Posts: 17,629
      edited May 2014
      Canugghead said:

      Want to test drive my Sputnik?

      image

      That'll look purdy propped up on the left side of my table. Edit> or on the tailgate at the beach!
      ;)
      LBGE 2013 & MM 2014
      Die Hard HUSKER & BRONCO FAN
      Flying Low & Slow in "Da Burg" FL
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    • Posts: 13,836
      Egglegal_Alien said:
      I'm starting to buy into the "keep both XL and L and give the Smokey Joe a try" idea.

      The Smokey should do at least for the time it takes BGE to launch the MM, and in the meanwhile I'll have enough time to test drive the XL + L combo.

      And even if the kettle don't deliver searing temps or it melts down from them I'll come back to think some more about buying the MM and it won't be a huge loss, The Smokey Joe it's cheeper than almost any BGE accessory, hehe... 

      Thanks for your input guys!

      To get a good sear, you don't need high dome temp. You need high temp from the coal below. Either fill the kettle a bit higher than normal and/or drop the grid down lower, use a CI pan directly on the coals, or just drop the steak directly on the coals. BTW, I like the keep both and get another idea.
      They/Them
      Morgantown, PA

      XL BGE - S BGE - KJ Jr - HB Legacy - BS Pizza Oven - 30" Firepit - King Kooker Fryer -  PR72T - WSJ - BS 17" Griddle - XXL BGE  - BS SS36" Griddle - 2 Burner Gasser - Pellet Smoker
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    • Posts: 10,490
      Crimsongator said:
      show previous quotes

      I have been looking at a Jumbo Joe locally. It is $25 at a returns store
      You mean like Big Lots?  

      Which came first the chicken or the egg?  I egged the chicken and then I ate his leg. 

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    • Posts: 5,797
      Essex
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    • Posts: 113
      edited May 2014
      DMW said:
      show previous quotes

      To get a good sear, you don't need high dome temp. You need high temp from the coal below. Either fill the kettle a bit higher than normal and/or drop the grid down lower, use a CI pan directly on the coals, or just drop the steak directly on the coals. BTW, I like the keep both and get another idea.

      I know, I've done both, first time I dropped a steak straight on the charcoal I was surprised not to get virtually any ash stuck to it :D.

      ...still, I think airflow on BGE helps getting higher charcoal temp, same principle behind bellows on a forge.
      XL BGE + Large BGE @ Monterrey, Mexico
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    • Posts: 4,448

      If you'll be doing mostly high-temp searing you might want to check this out:

      http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-L410-Pre-Seasoned-Sportsmans-Charcoal/dp/B00022OK2A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400089540&sr=8-1&keywords=lodge+grill

      I know some people who have them for camping and it works great for steaks/burgers/hot dogs.  It may be a touch pricier than some of the other things you're looking at, but Lodge generally makes great stuff, and if you keep your eyes on Amazon the price might drop some, if it isn't a pressing need.

      LBGE

      Pikesville, MD

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    • Posts: 888
      I don't get the Minimax. Short as the Mini with a bigger diameter. Makes it just a heavier mini in my mind.
      Gittin' there...
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    • Posts: 8,364

      Agreed.  Same draft door as the small, mini?  Reduced firebox size, BBQ will be a challenge with the ConvEGGtor thrown in the mix?  Elimination of raised direct, where the BGE shines IMO? 

      Nice thing about the small, it works similar to it's larger siblings.  Going from an 8lb butt at 250 to 12" pizzas at 600.    

      Brandon
      Quad Cities
      "If yer gonna denigrate, familiarity with the subject is helpful."

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