How much can you really fit on one of these?

Unknown · May 2006

Howdy all -[p]I am smoker shopping right now, and am torn between the BGE and a Klose pit. I am a Texas boy, but now up in Chicago, so I think that the Egg has an edge on temperature stablity when it gets colder around here, and from what I understand, is a lot easier to manage, not requiring the hourly log feedings that an offset smoker (like the Klose) would need.[p]My only real concern is grill space. We are a family of five, my wife and I and three teenage sons (plus one off at college). So the question is, can I really cook enough ribs/pork butt on a Large BGE to feed this crowd plus another family if we had company. I have a hard time imagining more that about 7 racks of ribs on a L one, and perhaps 10 on an XL. Do any of you have luck cooking a ton?[p]Thanks,[p]J

egginator · May 2006

John Daddy (newb),
3 or 4 8-pound pork butts is no problem on the large. I am still working on the rib thing, so I'll let someone else answer that one. Check out the post below for an e-bay egg in Grand Rapids.[p]For what it's worth, I use my egg for smoking - I did ribs last Friday, but I also use it for roasting things like chickens, alder plank salmon and baked potatoes at 350-450, grilling burgers at 550 and steaks at 800+. I'm not sure the offset will do that and an egg grilled steak is better than anything I cooked on a series of gassers in 15 or so years.[p]Ed

EddieMac · May 2006

Hi, John!!...On a Large BGE....Using a standard BGE set up.....GENERALLY SPEAKING........You can easily cook three 7-10lb. Boston Butts....A 20-22lb. Prime Rib....A 20-24lb. fresh ham....A 12-14 pound beef brisket.....7-8 full slabs of baby back ribs....About the same number of full sized St. Louis-style pork ribs....20-22 large chicken wings...A 14-16 pound Turkey....2 full-sized spatchcocked chickens....And it's important to keep in mind....there are some VERY, VERY creative folks here on the BGE Forum that have developed various apparatus' to cook even more slabs of ribs and other cuts of meat at the same time....And they'll share that technology with you....And that really is the beauty of owning the BGE....Alot of people here with way more experience that I have that are willing to help.....[p]With a full load of lump charcoal....You easily get over 20 hours of cook time with no additional loads necessary.....But these aren't "set it and forget it devices"....Still have to check them every couple of hours or so....Or at least until you get the hang of things.....[p]Good luck![p]Ed McLean....eddiemac
Ft. Pierce, FL[p]Do yourself a favor....get the new Big Green Egg DVD...and check it out!...There is a reason why the BGE has a cult-like following....The BGE can make you into a LEGENDARY backyard chef!! (LOL!).[p]

fishlessman · May 2006

John Daddy (newb),
i wont tell you that this was the easiest cook, but 2 8 pound butts and 2 8 pound flats is my biggest cook. 2 butts and 1 packer would be easier to do. 3 butts would also be an easy cook. ive seen 7 beer but chickens posted on this forum as well, as long as you keep some air flow it will work. most of us add a second egg which gives the option of cooking at 2 temps[p]

tach18k · May 2006

John Daddy (newb),
here is 6 racks on end. As you can see there is room for more

Sandbagger · May 2006

John Daddy (newb), Without a doubt, you can cook more on a Klose and they are fantastic stick burners. But honestly, can you do this in a Klose with reasonable satisfaction? So, even if you get a Klose, get an egg, just for the steaks. It will pay for itself in no time: you won't go out for steaks no-more. [p]Just another opinion from Big D......Tom

Essex County · May 2006

fishlessman,
OK, I've only got 5 chickens but I coulda had 7 if I wanted to!
Paul

Unknown · May 2006

tach18k,[p]Thank you for the response. It looks like you went MacGiver on a couple of Weber grilling surfaces to make your rib rack. As for fitting more, the guy in the BBQ store indicated that some people just pile them in. To me, that sounds like a recipe for disaster with inadequate heat distribution and cooking. It looks pretty maxed out at 6.[p]Thanks again for the help.[p]J

tn slagamater · May 2006

John Daddy (newb), there is a photograph floating around the archives of this forum somewhere with 48 rib racks on a large egg.....maybe someone will post it. One of my relatives did three 13 pound turkeys on a large at one time. You can get a lot of food in an egg because it cooks from the retained wall heat, not just the bottom coals.Once you taste Egged food you will wonder how you lived without it....

BurntOfferingBBQ · May 2006

One thing to remember....The beauty of the BGE is the quality and how versitile it can cook. I have a large smoker myself for big events but the BGE can not be matched on how many different ways to cook on the egg.

Unknown · May 2006

Sandbagger,[p]I expect that I could. The firebox on theirs has a lid with a grill under it (20" x 20"), so you can quick fire stuff right over the fire (as well as cook tortillas on the lid). To me the real disadvantages of the Klose are:
- Fire needs more tending (especially compared to BGE with Guru)
- More climate sensitive (tougher to keep temp stable when either really windy or really cold (note, I live in Chicago)
- More money ($2,000 to get what I really want)[p]On the other hand, it is better if I want to feed 20 people without having to juggle grub through the oven, and will give you the true smoke.[p]I think I am going to pull the trigger on the Egg, and see if I am even responsible enough to use one (I am, after all, converting from propane).[p]Thanks again all for the advice.[p]J

GrillMeister · May 2006

John Daddy (newb),[p]For less than a price of a Klose, you can do this and much much more while haveing unprecedented flexiblity and best of all.....You get to be Eggsimilated! Go for a pair of Big Ones![p]RESISTANCE IS FUTILE

Wise One · May 2006

John Daddy, you can get "true smoke" on an Egg as well. I agree with Sandbagger, get the large Egg and then if you really need to cook for 30-50 folks, get a Klose as well. I have cooked for 200 folks on a Egg but I will admit I had to use all mine (Large, Medium, XL) and borrow a friend's nameless ceramic cooker as well.[p]But if you're going to get a Klose, make a statement. A restaurant nearby has a Klose grill in the front of the restaurant which is shaped like a giant pistol. They do cook on it and get some very acceptable BBQ off of it.

SSN686 · May 2006

Morning John Daddy:[p]I have been able to put as many as six slabs of baby backs on my medium, so I'm sure six would not be a problem on the large. Click on the link below to see how they fit and how they turned out. You can get pretty creative and still turn out some great Q.[p]Have a GREAT day!
Jay[p]
[ul][li]LOTS OF RIBS[/ul]

EggRacer · May 2006

GrillMeister,
If you've got to be one, be a big green one! To paraphrase a military saying.

Bluegillman · May 2006

tach18k,
Nice rack for the ribs, who makes them or where can I get one?

Sportsman's Lodge · May 2006

GrillMeister,
What do you have coming off you vent at the bottom of the BGE?

GrillMeister · May 2006

Sportsman's Lodge,[p]One is a BBQ Guru and the other is a Pit Minder E-Temp.[p]They are great at keeping the egg at a constant 225 for 20+ hours without any tending.

How much can you really fit on one of these?

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