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Would this be throwing away money stupidly or just mildly so?
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ChrisgrillsSTLMO
Posts: 397
Greetings-
My local grocery store has put an Akorn grill, fully assembled, with all the normal pieces included, on sale for $199. This is well below the normal cost of this grill and I am pretty close to pulling the trigger, my rationale being the following:
For $200 I can get a serviceable grill that can live in the garage when not being used and will only be used when we have big parties. How often do we have big parties(10+ people) you ask? Three or four times a year. My main grill will still be the Egg for daily use. I have a broken plate setter (busted leg) that I believe I can MacGyver into working on the Akorn to make it work as a smoker without having to buy their version, a further savings. I read about keeping the temp below 700° and since it would be the auxiliary unit for big cooks I don't foresee that I would need to do really high temp cooking on the Akorn. If/When it finally wears out, I am only out $200.
So, should I do this or am I just throwing money away? One other key factor, I do have the full support of SWMBO to make the purchase
Standing by to hear the thoughts of wiser folks than me, thanks for reading.
Cheers,
My local grocery store has put an Akorn grill, fully assembled, with all the normal pieces included, on sale for $199. This is well below the normal cost of this grill and I am pretty close to pulling the trigger, my rationale being the following:
For $200 I can get a serviceable grill that can live in the garage when not being used and will only be used when we have big parties. How often do we have big parties(10+ people) you ask? Three or four times a year. My main grill will still be the Egg for daily use. I have a broken plate setter (busted leg) that I believe I can MacGyver into working on the Akorn to make it work as a smoker without having to buy their version, a further savings. I read about keeping the temp below 700° and since it would be the auxiliary unit for big cooks I don't foresee that I would need to do really high temp cooking on the Akorn. If/When it finally wears out, I am only out $200.
So, should I do this or am I just throwing money away? One other key factor, I do have the full support of SWMBO to make the purchase
Standing by to hear the thoughts of wiser folks than me, thanks for reading.
Cheers,
Chris
St. Louis, MO
Unit 1: LBGE, cedar table Unit 2:Akorn
St. Louis, MO
Unit 1: LBGE, cedar table Unit 2:Akorn
Comments
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Not wiser by any means, but for that investment I would go for it. A second cooking appliance, however you get there provides a whole lot of flexibility. But it's not my $$ so easy to suggest you spend. FWIW-Louisville; Rolling smoke in the neighbourhood. # 38 for the win. Life is too short for light/lite beer! Seems I'm livin in a transitional period.
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I'd do it.
XXL BGE, Karebecue, Klose BYC, Chargiller Akorn Kamado, Weber Smokey Mountain, Grand Turbo gasser, Weber Smoky Joe, and the wheelbarrow that my grandfather used to cook steaks from his cattle
San Antonio, TX
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Sounds smart to me for the reasons above. $200 frankly doesn't seem like an awful lot for the flexibility you'd be picking up.John in the Willamette Valley of Oregon
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I would do it for sure.
I'm only hungry when I'm awake!
Okeechobee FL. Winter
West Jefferson NC Summer
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If you pull the trigger , check out threads on BBQ brethren and other sites about mods you can do to optimize it.
Have you you thought about a weber smokey mountain bullet smoker? Lots of happy customers. Weber warranty and service are also top notch.#1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February 2013 • #3 Mini May 2013A happy BGE family in Houston, TX. -
Hell yeah.
Not to get technical, but according to chemistry alcohol is a solution...
Large & Small BGE
Stockton Ca.
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My BIL has one. It's worth that price all day long
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@northGAcock - Disagree and no counter post...Louisville; Rolling smoke in the neighbourhood. # 38 for the win. Life is too short for light/lite beer! Seems I'm livin in a transitional period.
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ChrisgrillsSTLMO said:Greetings-
My local grocery store has put an Akorn grill, fully assembled, with all the normal pieces included, on sale for $199. This is well below the normal cost of this grill and I am pretty close to pulling the trigger, my rationale being the following:
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lousubcap said:@northGAcock - Disagree and no counter post...Ellijay GA with a Medium & MiniMax
Well, I married me a wife, she's been trouble all my life,
Run me out in the cold rain and snow -
ChrisgrillsSTLMO said:So, should I do this or am I just throwing money away? One other key factor, I do have the full support of SWMBO to make the purchase._____________
"In the twinkling of an eye, I found myself without an office, without a seat, without a party, and without an appendix." - Winston Churchill
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I am not certain, but I think that the Acorn is a few inches larger than the Egg. Your plate setter may not work like you wanted. It might be worth checking before you buy - if that was a major factor in your justification to buy the Acorn.
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Guess I'll be the outcast again. I'd skip it and buy a weber or barrel chargriller. Take the lessons you've learned from using your egg, and apply them to what ever vessel you choose and really wow your guests.
Or in my case, blow the whole meal and look like the dumbass I really am.Slumming it in Aiken, SC. -
It could make a good traveling setup also.2-XLs ,MM,blackstone,Ooni koda 16,R&V works 8.5 gallon fryer,express smoker and 40" smoking cajun
scott
Greenville Tx -
Thanks for all of the information and alternate choices. @stlcharcoal - thanks for the heads up, I will use that as plan B.
I will look into the Weber and barrell. Thanks to @78 T140E I will take a tape measure and double check.
Any other thoughts are still welcome!
Cheers,
Chris
St. Louis, MO
Unit 1: LBGE, cedar table Unit 2:Akorn -
Both Lowe's and HomeDepot sell the Acorn and they spec 314 sq. in. of primary cooking space. 314 sq. in. = 20 in diameter.
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Our friends in GA have one and it works just fine. They've had theirs a few years with no issues. Go for it. Why not especially for the purpose you have given. But, I wouldn't pigeon hole myself...look at other cookers with similar price point. Good luck.LBGE 2013 & MM 2014Die Hard HUSKER & BRONCO FANFlying Low & Slow in "Da Burg" FL
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It's a great supplement to the egg and with the right accessories and know how, it can produce results similar to an egg.
Large BGE - Medium BGE - Too many accessories to name
Antioch, TN
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If you belong to Sam's Club they had medium Vision grills on clearance last fall for around $200. I would have picked one up without hesitating if I had the room and was looking for extra space"The pig is an amazing animal. You feed a pig an apple and it makes bacon. Let's see Michael Phelps do that" - Jim Gaffigan
Minnesota -
That sounds like a great deal. I have been eyeing a pellet grill lately, but still haven't decided. You may not use it all of the time, but it would be very nice to have when you need it. The way I look at it is, anything that makes the job easier, then why not? I like to enjoy entertaining rather than stress about not having the proper tools to cook with.
Large BGE
Greenville, SC -
I owned one of those before my egg. I gave it away when I got the egg. I sometimes regret that move when I have to cook for quite a few people. The price is good and there's nothing wrong with an Akorn.Danville, Il
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When I saw this thread title, I thought for sure it was going to be another discussion of the KickAsh Basket."I've made a note never to piss you two off." - Stike
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If you have space then go for it. It's not much more than a weber kettle. You'll use it for parties. If you get into baking you can keep it "smoke free." If you don't use it as much as you want I bet someone would buy it from you next year for $100.Chicago, IL - Large and Small BGE - Weber Gasser and Kettle
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Greeti
Got it today, thanks for all the advice! Will post pics once it is in place and running.
Cheers,
Chris
St. Louis, MO
Unit 1: LBGE, cedar table Unit 2:Akorn -
I have an akorn jr at our vacation place and it's greatIn the bush just East of Cambridge,Ontario
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