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New, (First), BGE... Large or XL?
Comments
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another XL vote
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XL vote here. It's a nice problem to have. More stuff to cook.
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Me, too. Love having both, though.td66snrf said:I use my large way more than my XL. Just my 2cnts -
I have the L and XL. The large gets used way more than the XL. Especially with smaller cooks being my wife and I. It's nice having the XL for bigger cooks but sounds like you got that covered. The large get used nearly every cook and the XL rarely sees action as it's overkill for basic cooks in my opinion"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 -
I have an XL, and love it. We do a lot of entertaining so it gets used frequently.
We also have a MiniMax, which we have found to be extremely versatile, to use when it is just my wife and I, as well as, using it for camping and tailgating.
Absolutely enjoy the XL, would not trade it for any other size, and I have had it now, going on 3 years."Knowledge is Good" - Emil Faber
XL and MM
Louisville, Kentucky -
Very cool! Thanks! I got the ConvEGGtor and a Woo w/ ceramic stone & drip pan. I like the way the Woo can raise the grate a bit, but it's not much, and I haven't used it yet. And using the Woo "upside down" w/o the conveggtor means I have a big grate on a the small Woo ring. It's not very stable and seems it would be sort of precarious to handle/flip grilling meat.CoMoBGE said:If you buy the xl, look at the bge brand raised grate. Only cost $60 with cooking grate included and I love it. Just my opinion.
I like the looks of that BGE extended grate for grilling. Thanks!
Of all the lies I tell, "Just kidding" is my favorite.
XLBGE, Jordan Lake, NC -
My Large handles 2 racks easily. I do that all the time. When I do 3, I occasionally (but not always) have to trim the end just a bit.
Other considerations:- The Large is very economical with lump, a.
- More Eggcessories from most manufacturers are made for the Large than any other size.
Cincinnati, Ohio. Large BGE since 2011. Still learning. -
The biggest you can afford. Start with the XL and soon enough you will be cooking on a Minimax, the best of both worlds.
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Did he pick yet?“There are three rules that I live by: never get less than twelve hours sleep; never play cards with a guy who has the same first name as a city; and never get involved with a woman with a tattoo of a dagger on her body.”
Coach Finstock Teen Wolf -
I have a large and am buying an XL for the lake house.
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Did you get a large or a xl?herbu said:Very cool! Thanks! I got the ConvEGGtor and a Woo w/ ceramic stone & drip pan. I like the way the Woo can raise the grate a bit, but it's not much, and I haven't used it yet. And using the Woo "upside down" w/o the conveggtor means I have a big grate on a the small Woo ring. It's not very stable and seems it would be sort of precarious to handle/flip grilling meat.
I like the looks of that BGE extended grate for grilling. Thanks!“There are three rules that I live by: never get less than twelve hours sleep; never play cards with a guy who has the same first name as a city; and never get involved with a woman with a tattoo of a dagger on her body.”
Coach Finstock Teen Wolf -
Sorry. I got the XL.Hans61 said:Did you get a large or a xl?
I like the idea of whole rack(s) of pork/beef ribs w/o trimming. And whole brisket packers... and whole ribeyes. While I said this would be mainly for the wife and me, it was in the back of my mind for the occasional larger group.
It's still early, but so far I'm finding results from the BGE are every bit as pleasing as results from my big offset smoker... maybe better. And certainly MUCH easier. In fact, with the XL, I'm not real sure when I'll need to use the big offset smoker again. We'll see. But I'm glad I got the XL.
Of all the lies I tell, "Just kidding" is my favorite.
XLBGE, Jordan Lake, NC -
Two years later... Wanted to chime in because I am about ready to pull the plug on another Egg... I bought a Large in 2014, a Small in 2015, and a Mini in 2016... I took a year off, but now I am going for the XL...
IMO, Bigger is better. And more is never enough
Owner of:
1 - Large BGE
1 - Small BGE
1 - Mini BGE
EggHead since 2014 -
You will love the extra grill space on the XL...sinc86 said:Two years later... Wanted to chime in because I am about ready to pull the plug on another Egg... I bought a Large in 2014, a Small in 2015, and a Mini in 2016... I took a year off, but now I am going for the XL...
IMO, Bigger is better. And more is never enough 
Thank you,DarianGalveston Texas -
I too have a Large offset ( Pitts & Spitts 24x48).herbu said:I'm about to buy my first BGE. I have a large offset smoker that can easily hold 25 turkeys. The problem is that smoking one rack of ribs takes as much effort and tending as 100 racks. I want something easier to cook just for the two of us... thus the BGE.
Looking at the grate diameters, the Large is 18.25". The XL is 24". I measured a couple racks of baby backs I have in the freezer, and they're about 20" long. I think a rack of beef ribs is about the same. So the XL seems like a safer choice... not to hold a lot of food, but to be sure 1 or 2 racks of ribs will easily fit.
What is y'alls experience and advice?
Is there a real big difference in cooking on a L vs XL?
Does an XL use significantly more chunk for the same temp/time vs a Large?
Are accessories significantly more limited or harder to find?
Are there disadvantages to an XL that I should consider?
BTW, I just found and started reading this forum about a week ago when I decided to seriously consider a BGE. I have read a lot, but have A LOT more to read. I enjoy y'alls sense of humor, and appreciate your experience. I expect to hang around and steal as much as possible. I say "steal", because I fully intend to take credit from the wife for every good idea I find here. Thanks!
I went for the "Extra Real Estate" on the XL and haven't looked back.
With 2nd rack i can do 6 St Louis style ribs FLAT or 4 12lb briskets.
Pitts & Spitts offset is jealous and threating to go on strike since I haven't put a fire in it after my XL purchase.
Jim
Jim
"Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in."
XL
MiniMax
MHP Gasser
Thermoworks Smoke & Thermapen -
Even the XL feels cramped. I couldn't imagine going down to an L.South of Nashville - BGE XL - Alfresco 42" ALXE - Alfresco Versa Burner - Sunbeam Microwave
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If you are asking the question then you may as well get the xlarge. I have never had a single customer complain about buying one that’s too big. Occasionally there is remorse for buying one too small. Good luck and enjoy.
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Just noticed that this is the reincarnation of an old thread but want to wade in anyway. I have had my Large for about 15 years (long before there was an XL) and a Small (also before the XL was available). I enjoy that setup and it works well for my wife and I.
I cook ribs, butts, and turkeys (and almost anything else) on the Large. I generally use the Small when I'm cooking for just me an my wife. There are only two of us now that the kids are off with kids of their own so the small is a good choice for daily cooking.
That said, if I were starting out with no egg, I'd get an XL. After all, you can cook one hot dog on it as well as on a mini.
BTW, I really want a mini ... just can't justify the dollars for a tiny cooker. -
XLs are awesome
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Two larges or an xl and a mm
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I have a large Big Green Egg I can cook up the six racks of ribs using my rib rack.
It works great for three teenagers when they were home plenty of food in the large egg.
You're going to enjoy either size
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I was in the same situation myself. Went with the XL because I wanted to be able to lay a full slab of ribs on the rack without using a rib rack. Plus I cook an occasional brisket and that requires extra space.herbu said:I'm about to buy my first BGE. I have a large offset smoker that can easily hold 25 turkeys. The problem is that smoking one rack of ribs takes as much effort and tending as 100 racks. I want something easier to cook just for the two of us... thus the BGE.
Looking at the grate diameters, the Large is 18.25". The XL is 24". I measured a couple racks of baby backs I have in the freezer, and they're about 20" long. I think a rack of beef ribs is about the same. So the XL seems like a safer choice... not to hold a lot of food, but to be sure 1 or 2 racks of ribs will easily fit.
What is y'alls experience and advice?
Is there a real big difference in cooking on a L vs XL?
Does an XL use significantly more chunk for the same temp/time vs a Large?
Are accessories significantly more limited or harder to find?
Are there disadvantages to an XL that I should consider?
BTW, I just found and started reading this forum about a week ago when I decided to seriously consider a BGE. I have read a lot, but have A LOT more to read. I enjoy y'alls sense of humor, and appreciate your experience. I expect to hang around and steal as much as possible. I say "steal", because I fully intend to take credit from the wife for every good idea I find here. Thanks!
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I have a LG that I bought from a friend of mine. The deal was way too good to pass up. I am more than happy with the LG but if I was starting from scratch I would get the XLLG BGE
36" Blackstone
Weber Genisis
Cold IPA on tap! -
I like my large but it’s normally just my wife and I. When my son gets here in January, I’m going to use that as an excuse to get a XL for our growing family.1 large BGE, Spartanburg SC
My dog thinks I'm a grilling god. -
You have to build the church for Easter Sunday. I've got a large and MM. The large does our second turkey at Thanksgiving. Last year we had 35 guests. If you need something larger, you should get it now. If you have to get it later, you will be stuck with two. Or you can sell the large to the tightwads on the interweb for a fraction of what you paid for it. Frankly, I follow the adage of "buy once, cry once".
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I’m with you. My. Medium is one of the better things I have ever purchased.DoubleEgger said:Normally I'd say the XL but you already have the capacity to cook large amounts.
Seriously consider a Medium. It's a great cooker. Heats up fast, practically makes lump it's so efficient. It's just two of us here and the medium carries the lion's share of the load. I rarely fire up the XL anymore. I burn a significant amount less lump now versus when I just had the XL to the point that I'd say the medium pays for itself in 2-3 years.
Everybody here that has a medium loves them.Eastern Shore Virginia
Medium & Mini Max
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