Crunch time... MM or KJ

bhedges1987 · November 2016

pros and cons of each. Both dealers close to me. Not worried about the extra $150. More concerned with which cooks better.

Will be for home use: burgers, steaks, chicken and occasional pork butt. Will take camping also.

I have seen people here lately complain about the MM.

Thanks in advance

Mickey · November 2016

How many are you cooking for with this and your age?

bhedges1987 · November 2016

My wife and I. Two adults

bhedges1987 · November 2016

A small is out of the question. Too large for traveling for my car and camping stuff.

tarheelmatt · November 2016

Go see @The Cen-Tex Smoker thread and see the folks stating they should have went with Joe Jr.

No issues from my end on my Joe Jr.

tarheelmatt · November 2016

Pros for Joe jr - Everything you need to cook direct or indirect out of the box for cheaper.

Photo Egg · November 2016

bhedges1987 said:

A small is out of the question. Too large for traveling for my car and camping stuff.

The KJ Jr is not much smaller than the Small BGE and weight is about the same. And the KJ stand also takes up some space.
Even the MM is heavy and only a little shorter than the Small.
I would be thinking Mini BGE or Weber Smokey Joe, especially for 2 people.

Mickey · November 2016

Ok, the reason I ask is my Mini-Max is heavy as hell for an out of shape 68 year old ex-car bum.
I ask about how many you are cooking for to judge cooking area needed.
I have both a Mini-Max (one of the very first in Texas, and a Mini that is about 6 years old.
I can move around the Mini just fine for trips with-out calling my wife.
The Mini (no you did not ask about a Mini) has plenty of cooking area for the two of you. If I was buying today and did not have eather I would buy (and recommend to you) the Mini wth-out question.
I have 4 Eggs (2 Large, Mini, & Mini-Max) and use the Mini the most. If I could only keep two it would be Mini and Large. If only one it would be the Mini as I use it most. Hope the allow me to take the Mini and my poodle to the retirement home some day.

bhedges1987 · November 2016

Thanks. I actually haven't seen a mini in person. Capable of doing a small 6lb boneless butt indirect?

I did just go see a kj jr and I beleieve it is too big for what I'm wanting. It also did weight a lot.

@Mickey

Photo Egg · November 2016

bhedges1987 said:

Thanks. I actually haven't seen a mini in person. Capable of doing a small 6lb boneless butt indirect?

I did just go see a kj jr and I beleieve it is too big for what I'm wanting. It also did weight a lot.

@Mickey

The KJ Jr is taller than the MM but not by much. 2-3 inches.

VB_egger · November 2016

I have the classic and Jr. They are both great, the Jr. offers everything out of the box you need for just about anything you would want to do.

SmokeyPitt · November 2016

tarheelmatt said:

Pros for Joe jr - Everything you need to cook direct or indirect out of the box for cheaper.

This is something to consider-it seems most people get and extra $50-$100 in after market goodies for the MM so if there is a $150 price difference then it is really a $200-$250 price difference when it is all said and done.

Mickey · November 2016

Take a look at the Mini. Also we sent a Mini to Afganistan for a 21 unit company of MP's to cook on.

Mini movies

Thanks to Spring Chicken, aka Leroy:

#1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYGge_k7FUI

#2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha4L_WocnJQ&feature=youtu.be

#3

http://youtu.be/YXW2tk49VE0

#4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGTQtVWlhus&feature=g-upl

#5

http://youtu.be/ZIgTkeR184A

For all you guys thinking of getting rid of your Mini, here's a few reminders of what can be cooked on the Mini.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYGge_k7FUI&list=UUd8OXP_tkp28l2eMVZJHBXg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha4L_WocnJQ&list=UUd8OXP_tkp28l2eMVZJHBXg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXW2tk49VE0&list=UUd8OXP_tkp28l2eMVZJHBXg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGTQtVWlhus&list=UUd8OXP_tkp28l2eMVZJHBXg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIgTkeR184A&list=UUd8OXP_tkp28l2eMVZJHBXg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-wFZ3MdCxY&list=UUd8OXP_tkp28l2eMVZJHBXg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_DIshWuRLE&list=UUd8OXP_tkp28l2eMVZJHBXg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLbmjcSNPVo&list=UUd8OXP_tkp28l2eMVZJHBXg

I suppose you could also cook all that stuff on larger Eggs, but for two people, you sure have a lot of choices of things to cook on a Mini.

By the way, the Mini is the perfect Christmas gift to get someone started in Egg'n.

Merry Christmas to All...

Spring "Loving The Magic Of The Mini" Chicken

Spring Texas USA

Magic Mini Moments.wmv

www.youtube.com

One of the most popular Big Green Eggs is the Mini. It's small but it puts out some fantastic food. ...

SkySaw · November 2016

The Jr. is a really enjoyable grill. If you remove the innards it can be carried very easily in its holder. The Jr. can hold a 12-inch pizza stone indirect, it can hold a 9x12 pan or a 5-quart DO if you remove or raise the thermometer. I have never seen any complaints about the Jr.

Legume · November 2016

I have no experience with either, but after some recent discussion on MM, I think I'm going to an Akorn Jr because I want something that is portable and durable enough to transport by boat without taking extreme packing care. $155ish on Amazon Prime, it's worth a try for me.

edit - I should add, I know it won't be the same as a BGE, but I won't need it to be.

SaintJohnsEgger · November 2016

OK. Good stuff.

What's the music in the first video?

Canugghead · November 2016

bhedges1987 said:

Thanks. I actually haven't seen a mini in person. Capable of doing a small 6lb boneless butt indirect?

did anyone or any of the videos answer this question? I'm wondering about that too

Stormbringer · November 2016

SkySaw said:
I have never seen any complaints about the Jr.

This is a good point. I've seen many threads with MM pros and cons yet nary a bad word on the Jnr. Can't add a comparative statement, so will just say happy with our MM.

HeavyG · November 2016

I chose the KJ Jr. over the MiniMax a year and a half ago and have zero regrets. It's the same size (actually the grid is a skosh larger) , significantly lighter, and significantly cheaper if you pick one up at a Costco Roadshow.

My KJ Jr. is my most used grill since it is just me and my wife most of the time. I've done a 9 pound butt on mine. It was a tight fit but it cleared the dome thermometer and cooked just fine.

As @Legume mentioned Akorn has started making their Akorn Jr. again. If I had a need to frequently carry a small kamado around the Akorn Jr. would be my choice.

The only drawback to both the KJ Jr. and the Akorn Jr. is that if you are allergic to red you're kinda screwed.

kjs · November 2016

Komado Joe website says Joe Jr weighs 68 lbs? Is that right. Seems really light. I can move The Mini Max weighing in at 90 pretty easily for now, but they will come a day.

I don't use my mini max as much as I thought I might. But got pretty good deal at the mothership on a floor model that had never been cooked in. So I don't have any regrets.

Jeremiah · November 2016

If I had it to do over, I'd have bought a mini. As it is, my craigslist search continues.

bigbadben · November 2016

I have cooked an 8 lbs boneless butt indirect.

68 lbs seems about right.

KJ customer service is top notch, direct from HQ. free shipping on any warranty parts.

Canugghead · November 2016

Jeremiah said:

If I had it to do over, I'd have bought a mini. As it is, my craigslist search continues.

I passed on an opportunity to buy a mini for $100 monopoly money because it was >2.5 hours away

SaintJohnsEgger · November 2016

HeavyG said:

As @Legume mentioned Akorn has started making their Akorn Jr. again. If I had a need to frequently carry a small kamado around the Akorn Jr. would be my choice.

The only drawback to both the KJ Jr. and the Akorn Jr. is that if you are allergic to red you're kinda screwed.

How good is the Akorn? How are accessories for it?

$153 on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Char-Griller-Akorn-Kamado-Kooker-Charcoal/dp/B00EBWBFQQ/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_1?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1479863741&sr=8-1-fkmr2&keywords=acorn+komodo+grill

Legume · November 2016

@SaintJohnsEgger no idea, will post here when I get it

bgebrent · November 2016

tarheelmatt said:

Go see @The Cen-Tex Smoker thread and see the folks stating they should have went with Joe Jr.

No issues from my end on my Joe Jr.

The last person in the world I'd trust. This time on rare occasion he got it right.

The Cen-Tex Smoker · November 2016

bgebrent said:

tarheelmatt said:

Go see @The Cen-Tex Smoker thread and see the folks stating they should have went with Joe Jr.

No issues from my end on my Joe Jr.

The last person in the world I'd trust. This time on rare occasion he got it right.

well played, sir

chuckytheegghead · November 2016

No issues with my MM but you may want to consider the mini. Perfect for 2 people. We use ours often and the carrier makes it even easier to carry.

bigbadben · November 2016

SaintJohnsEgger said:

HeavyG said:

As @Legume mentioned Akorn has started making their Akorn Jr. again. If I had a need to frequently carry a small kamado around the Akorn Jr. would be my choice.

The only drawback to both the KJ Jr. and the Akorn Jr. is that if you are allergic to red you're kinda screwed.

How good is the Akorn? How are accessories for it?

$153 on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Char-Griller-Akorn-Kamado-Kooker-Charcoal/dp/B00EBWBFQQ/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_1?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1479863741&sr=8-1-fkmr2&keywords=acorn+komodo+grill

Very few accessories for it, I think just the indirect setup. People love them on "other Kamado forums". Light weight, cheap. Holds temps well enough. They are metal and akorn do have rusting issues. They do not have the thermal mass of ceramic so temps can be slightly more difficult to control.

smokeyw · November 2016

I use my MM more than my large or small and have absolutely nothing negative to say about it other than it is heavy. The small probably gets used the least. I probably use the MM more for grilling and cooking with a wok than I do for low and slow but it does OK at that too. It is not ideal for everything but no grill is. That is why they make so many different ones. I can't speak for the Joe Jr but it appears to be a good choice as well. I really don't get why some people are not satisfied with their MM.

NPHuskerFL · November 2016

I clearly don't own nor have I ever used a KJjr. I like my MM and I've used it probably just as much as the LG. Some things I've upgraded>>>WOO, CI grid, handles, kicks, Smokeware cap & thermo. I enjoy using mine. And our Son his.

Crunch time... MM or KJ

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