sometimes need more grilling capacity. Another egg or ???

tedzap · August 2015

I have a large BGE with temp controller and use it several times a week. Wouldn't trade it for anything. However, I sometimes wish I had more capacity, and am looking for advice on how to achieve this. The two front runners are either a XL-BGE, or a Yoder 640 pellet smoker.

I do a lot of smoked shoulders, ribs, and brisket flats. I would like to be able to handle a full size brisket, don' think the large can handle that. When I make wings I wish I could do more than the two tiered L-BGE can handle. Like 2x as many.

In my opinion (without actually owning a pellet grill) the BGE is more efficient and capable of high temp cooks. The yoder pellet is less efficient and limited in temperature... but it would be more convenient (keep the hopper full and push the button) and more transportable (with the competition cart).

On the one hand I think I should stick with the eggs, but on the other, I might really enjoy the pellet beside the existing egg.

Anyone have a Yoder beside their egg?

Thanks in advance, all input is appreciated. I know this forum might be jaded, but I think it fits me better than others I visit.

-Ted

stemc33 · August 2015

PM @SGH, he has every kind of cooking vessel known to man. He'll be a big help in pointing you in the right direction.

lousubcap · August 2015

First up-the LBGE can handle a full size (14-18LB) brisket but you will likely have to drape it over a fire brick til shrinkage takes over. The CGS AR or some combo thereof gives you the vertical cooking area that you can use. I will give you that the 18" diameter cooking grid is a challenge but going up can get you quite a bit of real estate. No eggsperience with the other cookers you mention but I would also say that you need to enjoy your cooking eggsperience so if that's a different rig than go for it.

MJG · August 2015

You ever consider an Adjustable Rig? But to dissuade you from adding to the arsenal...but it added a lot of versatility to my one humble LBGE.

SteelCitySmoke814 · August 2015

+1 vote for the AR (adjustable rig) from CGS. Love mine!

jeroldharter · August 2015

I had an old Traeger which I liked but the new ones seem to be lower quality. My friend has a Yoder which is good quality and he likes it.

As a cheaper and a little more fiddly alternative, you might try a Weber kettle with a Smokenator accessory. Would cost ~$250.

The down side of the XL BGE is the cost and the added cost/space of duplicating all of the accessories.

texaswig · August 2015

I would say xl. The way I see it your already halfway there. You can use your temp controller and since you already egg there will be no learning curve.

Jeremiah · August 2015

I'm kinda in the same boat. I'd like to either build my own or buy the Lang 48" hybrid as I want to be able to simultaneously grill and smoke. I'd have no trouble building it, but I just don't have the time, problem is I don't have $3800 either.

Foghorn · August 2015

I've never cooked on a Yoder, but I recently cooked on a friend's Traeger. It turned out some mighty fine brisket, pork shoulder and chicken wings over the course of 24 hours - and it was even easier than the egg to control. It can't sear a steak like an egg, but it can definitely do low and slow cooks and anything up to about 350 (don't quote me on this) degrees. It's not as much fun as playing with the egg or any non-pellet wood/charcoal grill. So, I guess it depends on whether you want something else that cooks like an egg, or you want something that cooks different - but probably easier. Working multiple grills at once is a real challenge. I do it all the time, but I also commonly end up with at least one item overcooked.

So I probably haven't been much help. Sorry. Hopefully somebody with some Yoder experience will come along.

Foghorn · August 2015

Foghorn · August 2015

I should have mentioned that I love my XL BGE - partly because it holds 72 chicken wings on one level.

SGH · August 2015

The Yoder 640 is bad to the bone. It can be ran up to 700 degrees for searing. It's built like a tank and does a incredible job of smoking. As easy as it is to cook on the egg, I assure that the Yoder 640 is even easier. I have seen the 640 in action many times and it never disappoints. If I wanted a truly set it and forget rig that would also grill, the 640 would be the rig of choice right now.

Monty77 · August 2015

I cook 90% of my meals with my large and Mini Max, but I have the XL here for the same things you are mentioning, large loads of meats like ribs, shoulders, burgers and wings. I will say for sure that the large will handle full packer briskets, I have had anywhere from 13-16 pounders on my large. Most recently I fit two twelve pounders on it, it was tight but 24 lbs fit.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5017260/uploads/editor/xp/vwokda68x6je.jpg

Jeremiah · August 2015

Really @stemc33 ?? How's my post off topic????

Lit · August 2015

I love my backwoods fatboy. Run it as a stick burner so no charcoal it's more work than the egg but I can do 20 racks of ribs for under $5 of wood and the results are better than the egg. Can also do 8 briskets for under $10 in wood. Couple other people on here have pitmaker vaults that also look really nice. These setups make even XL eggs look cheap though.

Lit · August 2015

@Jeremiah check out shirley fabrications. I looked at langs but shirley appear to be way nicer. This is my dream rig.

Toddski · August 2015

I have a large and a xl and use them both. It's nice to be able to cook direct in one and indirect in the other.I like to use my xl for raised direct because there is not enough room on the large for the amount of chicken I cook.I love them both but get more use out of my xl.

Jeremiah · August 2015

@Lit Wow. They do make some nice stuff.

stemc33 · August 2015

Jeremiah said:

Really @stemc33 ?? How's my post off topic????

Just checking to see if you were paying attention. Obviously my fingers weren't. Lol. Off topic unchecked.

sometimes need more grilling capacity. Another egg or ???

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