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Do You 'Grill' or 'Cook Outside'?

By grill, I mean, is it a special event that happens only on the weekend or a holiday? While 'Cook Outside' is also a state of mind, but one where you don't even notice there's a door to out there. I feel like I am trying to cross over to the outdoor cook side, but Ms Kayak thinks I might be off my nut a little. If I say 'outdoor kitchen', her middle-class shields go up, but I think a permanent installation of some sort would speed my transition to where I want to be. She did buy me this expensive grill, but my obsession may have taken her by surprise.

I'm not interested in who's a 'real bbq'er', but if others think it's a journey, or just a trip to the checkbook. 

Bob

New Cumberland, PA
XL with the usual accessories

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Comments

  • Foghorn
    Foghorn Posts: 10,227
    I cook outside whenever we can fit it in our schedule. 

    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

  • Eoin
    Eoin Posts: 4,304
    Is it cheating if you have a cover to cook under outside?
  • theyolksonyou
    theyolksonyou Posts: 18,459
    Considering I have two eggs, a blackstone, two induction eyes and a deep fryer in the garage, I guess I cook outside. 4-7 times a week. 
  • lousubcap
    lousubcap Posts: 36,796
    Just cook outside as you wish.  The taste of the output wins the day every time.  Wade into the outdoor kitchen deal if that's where you want to land but acquire more outdoor toys first so that it becomes obvious.  FWIW-
    Louisville; Rolling smoke in the neighbourhood.  Life is too short for light/lite beer!  Seems I'm livin in a transitional period. CHEETO (aka Agent Orange) makes Nixon look like a saint.  
  • Hans61
    Hans61 Posts: 3,901
    I hear you. I classify by what and how I'm cooking. Cooking is the umbrella under which grilling, barbecueing, fall under. In your egg you will also bake pizza, casseroles, ect
    “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
  • Botch
    Botch Posts: 17,373
    This is a sexist assumption, but I'm assuming you do the cooking when it's outside, and she does when it's inside; why wouldn't she be happy with that?  

    “All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure.”

                  - Mark Twain 

    Ogden, UT, USA


  • Kayak
    Kayak Posts: 700
    Thanks for the fast responses. I do half the cooking, but since the gas grill went to a scrapper, it's strictly me outdoors. We have an uncovered patio, so it's definitely weather affected here in SC PA. In my mind I see us eating on the patio, while various courses come off the egg and nice bottles drain. In reality, it's prep, prep, prep.. oh sh#t, rush, rush, rush, and another frustrating cook. Is there a time when it start to come together?

    Bob

    New Cumberland, PA
    XL with the usual accessories

  • hoosier_egger
    hoosier_egger Posts: 6,808
    You tell me... Currently got chops on the egg and fries in the Waring Pro
    ~ John - Formerly known as ColtsFan  - https://www.instagram.com/hoosier_egger
    XL BGE, LG BGE, Med BGE, BGE Chiminea, Ardore Pizza Oven
    Bloomington, IN - Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoosiers!

  • da87
    da87 Posts: 640
    Even before the Egg I've cooked outside year round  - including in Vermont, Massachusetts, and PA. Now I just Egg, which says it all!
    Doug
    Wayne, PA
    LBGE, Weber Kettle (gifted to my sister), Weber Gasser

    "Two things are infinite:  the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe"   Albert Einstein
  • Mickey
    Mickey Posts: 19,768
    Cook outside much more now that I'm retired. The lump on the floor is also retired. 

    Salado TX & 30A  FL: Egg Family: 3 Large and a very well used Mini, added a Mini Max when they came out (I'm good for now). Just given a Mini to add to the herd. 

  • Shiff
    Shiff Posts: 1,835
    I cook on the egg 2-3 times per week and always make enough so we have leftovers a few more nights during the week.  The weather never stops me and I have cooked in rain and snow 12 months of the year.

    Large BGE
    Barry, Lancaster, PA
  • Mickey
    Mickey Posts: 19,768
    RRP said:
    I'm surprised no one has mentioned the term I use - "I egg" it just rolls right off my tongue - either I will cook inside on the stove or occasionally use the oven, but when I'm outside I either say I'm going "to egg" or "I'll egg" that.
    My friend that was used much more when we were just learning this game. 
    Salado TX & 30A  FL: Egg Family: 3 Large and a very well used Mini, added a Mini Max when they came out (I'm good for now). Just given a Mini to add to the herd. 

  • Lo_Gear
    Lo_Gear Posts: 108
    I cook outside, one of my neighbors wayyyy down the street came by and told me I grill more than anyone he's ever known lol.
  • buzd504
    buzd504 Posts: 3,877
    Kayak said:
    Thanks for the fast responses. I do half the cooking, but since the gas grill went to a scrapper, it's strictly me outdoors. We have an uncovered patio, so it's definitely weather affected here in SC PA. In my mind I see us eating on the patio, while various courses come off the egg and nice bottles drain. In reality, it's prep, prep, prep.. oh sh#t, rush, rush, rush, and another frustrating cook. Is there a time when it start to come together?
    Your planning and rhythm will get better.
    NOLA
  • blasting
    blasting Posts: 6,262

    100% outdoor cook since 2009.

    Over Christmas I helped prepare in someone else's kitchen - it actually felt strange.



    Phoenix 
  • NPHuskerFL
    NPHuskerFL Posts: 17,629
    Outside in or inside out...I cook. 
    LBGE 2013 & MM 2014
    Die Hard HUSKER & BRONCO FAN
    Flying Low & Slow in "Da Burg" FL
  • THEBuckeye
    THEBuckeye Posts: 4,232
    I cook. My wife asks "have you lit the grill?" and I cringe. 
    New Albany, Ohio 

  • YukonRon
    YukonRon Posts: 17,261
    edited March 2017
    To answer in the spirit of your posted question, I cook outside as often as possible, and it seems to cover all semantics for the use of a lump fueled ceramic komodo.
    Occasionally I will SV chops or chicken breasts, but I finish them cooking outside on the egg.
    This is really a shame, as I reflect on the reason why we demolished and rebuilt our kitchen. Without realizing it, We designed it more for convenience of cooking on the BGEs, and less so for the convenience of cooking in the kitchen. Don't get me wrong, it still works well when we use the kitchen to cook in, but looking at it now, there could have been a couple more things I could have done to make it better.
    To answer your other question regarding an eventual smooth process; Trust me, it does come together. I think if you do anything, its success starts with prep. Learn how to invest your time wisely, and it is successful. If you do not, outdoor cooking area or not, the chances for a meal, you are happy with, will be less likely. 
    Keep on egging.
    "Knowledge is Good" - Emil Faber

    XL and MM
    Louisville, Kentucky
  • Eoin
    Eoin Posts: 4,304
    We are fortunate to have a covered area for the Egg near a door that is near the kitchen.  We remodelled the door layout in our main open plan living area a few years ago, and luckily it fits right in with using the Egg.

    We have moved a lot of cooking that we used to do indoors onto the Egg and it has become an outdoor kitchen.  We just cook day to day stuff on the Egg now instead of in the indoor kitchen.

    @Kayak do you have the folding side tables?  If you prep indoors, these give a decent set down area for trays / plates etc.
  • abpgwolf
    abpgwolf Posts: 564
    Kayak said:
    Thanks for the fast responses. I do half the cooking, but since the gas grill went to a scrapper, it's strictly me outdoors. We have an uncovered patio, so it's definitely weather affected here in SC PA. In my mind I see us eating on the patio, while various courses come off the egg and nice bottles drain. In reality, it's prep, prep, prep.. oh sh#t, rush, rush, rush, and another frustrating cook. Is there a time when it start to come together?
    Don't worry, it will start to come together soon! I do a lot of prep the night before and do final prep after I light the egg (while waiting for it to come up to temp). I also prep veggies and side dishes while the main course is cooking. I live nearby and don't mind cooking in all sorts of weather, (our egg is right outside the back door). Have Fun!

    Lititz, PA – XL BGE

  • northGAcock
    northGAcock Posts: 15,173
    My patio is one of the most used rooms in my house. I have tunes, cooking devices, table, dogs, birds, plants, art, lights, shade, etc. In other words...yes I live, work and play out there most of the time.
    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
  • fishlessman
    fishlessman Posts: 34,591
    focus on your prep skills, light the egg ahead of time, dont rush, dont panic, dont frustrate ;)  sometimes i light the night before, drop a butt in at 4 am, go off in the boat 8 or so hours, get home, crack a beer and go check on things.  the prep was a killer for me, im light speed from where i was when i first got an egg.  theres diced onions in the freezer ready to go, theres sharp cheddar in strips frozen ready to be grated inthe food processor, ginger gets food processed now as well as grating it by hand is a nightmare, sous vide is a no brainer. i know when i first got the egg my dishes were out of control prep wise, ive toned that down. adding a black stone griddle simplified things as well, light, cook some smashburgers and be eating is a couple minutes start to finish.
    fukahwee maine

    you can lead a fish to water but you can not make him drink it
  • Kayak
    Kayak Posts: 700
    ^^^ This. It really seems to come together when it's a comfortable spot you can be without a coat, umbrella, flashlight, etc. We spent a lot on our indoor kitchen also, and it has that relaxed, talkin' and drinkin' while you're cookin' thing going on. I've made a lot of progress in that direction outside, but I think the hill I climb is mostly mental.

    Bob

    New Cumberland, PA
    XL with the usual accessories

  • GATraveller
    GATraveller Posts: 8,207
    edited March 2017
    I egg or cook......rarely grill.

    "Social media gives legions of idiots the right to speak when they once only spoke at a bar after a glass of wine, without harming the community [...] but now they have the same right to speak as a Nobel Prize winner. It's the invasion of the idiots."

                                                                                  -Umberto Eco

    2 Large
    Peachtree Corners, GA
  • SaintJohnsEgger
    SaintJohnsEgger Posts: 1,826
    edited March 2017
    Mickey said:
    Cook outside much more now that I'm retired. The lump on the floor is also retired. 

    I'm with Mickey though I am only semi-retired.

    I also have 2 lumps and whenever I lay down for a nap they want to crawl in bed next to me and take a nap. They think I'm just one of the lumps like they are.

    I tend to "cook" on the gasser and "smoke" on the Egg but I am hoping to change that and use my egg for all of my cooks. Hopefully I can win a MiniMax this week end at the egg fest and make it my primary cooker.
    Marshall in Beautiful Fruit Cove, FL.
    MiniMax 04/17
    Unofficial BGE MiniMax Evangelist
    Facebook Big Green Egg MiniMax Owners Group


  • Hntnhrd
    Hntnhrd Posts: 713
    I got my egg 6 months ago I cook on it 4 to 6 days a week. In January I picked up a blackstone and that takes over the duty the other days. Living in Montana I am dealing with cold and snow and it is worth it!! My wife and daughters have been very happy with the results. My egg seems to be holding up well to the use. 

  • CodyA88
    CodyA88 Posts: 156
    I'm in the egg or cook camp as well.  I do "cook" outside with the Blackstone but if involves lump, I'm egging. Haven't said grill since I got rid of the ole Weber.
    LBGE, 28" Blackstone
    Georgia