Mini

JMCXL · August 2018

Does anyone know that last time the mother ship changed the Mini (not the MiniMax)? I was looking at one last week and the top (when open) had a bit of play - back and forth. Wondering if this was an old design or just what you get. I realized the top is not heavy, just looking for a more secure top. Also has the ceramics changed inside lately. Sometime the slow movers sit around, you get a new egg with an old design. Thanks for any knowledge on the subject.

R2Egg2Q · August 2018

This may not be the most accurate but I believe these are the most recent changes in order from recent to older:

1. dome holder tabs 2016?
2. notches in the fire ring to fit a mini plate setter 2013?
3. handle change from two small rectangular blocks to the current wrap around style 2012
4. Cooking Grid size change from 9.5” diameter to 10” diameter 2012
5. Porcelain coated grid to 9.5” stainless grid 2011
6. Hinge change from single arm to current style sometime before 2010?

My Mini (hatched in 2011) has a little play back and forth but not much. I don’t recall any mention of a change to fix that.

cookingdude555 · August 2018

Mine is a wiggler too. Mine is a fraken mini. It has had warranty parts, and I have bought some new parts as the upgrades that @R2Egg2Q outlined. Mine doesn't go out much, but here is a picture of it from a year ago. It has the bands with the hinges on both sides.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5017260/uploads/editor/01/hq9lrjpdfhle.jpg

JMCXL · August 2018

Thanks for the detailed updates, that will help me when I stop back in and check the one on display. Thinking of adding it to the collection

cookingdude555 · August 2018

JMCXL said:

Thanks for the detailed updates, that will help me when I stop back in and check the one on display. Thinking of adding it to the collection

The mini is a novelty. It doesn't serve any real purpose in my opinion other than kind of being cool. I would not sell mine, it would not fetch enough money, and it doesn't take enough space to be a bother. I fire it up maybe 3 times a year. Its fun. I would say go for it, but if you're looking for a micro egg, and this is going to be your only smaller egg, the medium/small/Mini Max/Kamado Joe jr would get my vote first.

Soon there will be the dedicated mini minions to discredit my words. There will be some epic videos and pictures of what a mini can do.

JMCXL · August 2018

I think it is cool and is a great present someone can get me
might side on my desk and put lights in it

Mattman3969 · August 2018

cookingdude555 said:

JMCXL said:

Thanks for the detailed updates, that will help me when I stop back in and check the one on display. Thinking of adding it to the collection

The mini is a novelty. It doesn't serve any real purpose in my opinion other than kind of being cool. I would not sell mine, it would not fetch enough money, and it doesn't take enough space to be a bother. I fire it up maybe 3 times a year. Its fun. I would say go for it, but if you're looking for a micro egg, and this is going to be your only smaller egg, the medium/small/Mini Max/Kamado Joe jr would get my vote first.

Soon there will be the dedicated mini minions to discredit my words. There will be some epic videos and pictures of what a mini can do.

I’ll be the first minion to tell you that it all depends on how many you cook for. I cook for 2 and my MINI is fired at least 4times a week. Hell I’ve cooked for 6 on my mini. At the beach. Just because it doesn’t work for you doesn’t mean it is a novelty.

Now I do agree that there are less expensive options such as the Akorn that might fit the OPs bill better

I’m firing my novelty up here shortly to do a spatch Chicken that will feed 4 people. Jus sayin

TEXASBGE2018 · August 2018

If I could get a brand new mini for say around $175-$200 I might bite. But around here new ones cost around $375. Ain't no freakin way I'm paying that for what amounts to a grate that's almost smaller than my hand. Granted I have freakishly large Grizzly Bear Hands but still.

SonVolt · August 2018

If I had $200 burning a hole in my pocket I'd still get a Weber kettle.

TEXASBGE2018 · August 2018

SonVolt said:

If I had $200 burning a hole in my pocket I'd still get a Weber kettle.

ehh been there done that. Weber kettles are Amateur hour to me.

SonVolt · August 2018

Webers are 100% functional utility - nothing amateurish about them. I love my Egg, but the Mini is better suited dangling on the end of a keychain

TEXASBGE2018 · August 2018

SonVolt said:

Webers are 100% functional utility - nothing amateurish about them. I love my Egg, but the Mini is better suited dangling on the end of a keychain

Prior to getting my Egg I had 3 Webers (A Performer, a Kettle, and a WSM). They always felt cheap to me. Plastic Wheels, cheap thin steel, terrible heat retention. The only thing I felt they did somewhat decent was High heat searing but even that was iffy because the design is so shallow that you get flare ups

SonVolt · August 2018

Durability is up for interpretation. They may feel cheap, but guess which one would would survive a tumble, or being tossed in the bed of a truck on the go? My money's not going on the 75lb hunk of ceramic.

northGAcock · August 2018

SonVolt said:

Webers are 100% functional utility - nothing amateurish about them. I love my Egg, but the Mini is better suited dangling on the end of a keychain

I enjoyed my kettle for many years. Cooked many a good meals. No opinion on the mine...I don’t have one....but would like one.

Mattman3969 · August 2018

Lot of IFs from non owners

chuckytheegghead · August 2018

Mattman3969 said:

Lot of IFs from non owners

Agreed. You’d be surprised how much it gets used. Certainly not a novelty guys.

cookingdude555 · August 2018

I think everyone should have a chance to cook on a mini. Its a blast. But ultimately its a situation where you’re trying to figure out ways to make it work on the mini. I would say it’s worth it. Sorry for the novelty bit guys. To some it isn’t, and I respect that. To others, it is. It’s just perspective.

Chris8938 · August 2018

I love my mini. There a multiple nights a week my wife is working and my kids want crappy Mac and cheese. I just fire up the mini and throw on my protein. It is a high heat grilling machine. Never fired it up for a low and slow yet...

HeavyG · August 2018

TEXASBGE2018 said:

SonVolt said:

Webers are 100% functional utility - nothing amateurish about them. I love my Egg, but the Mini is better suited dangling on the end of a keychain

Prior to getting my Egg I had 3 Webers (A Performer, a Kettle, and a WSM). They always felt cheap to me. Plastic Wheels, cheap thin steel, terrible heat retention. The only thing I felt they did somewhat decent was High heat searing but even that was iffy because the design is so shallow that you get flare ups

Sounds like you never really learned how to use your kettles and WSM. Harry Soo has won many bbq championships with nothing but his trusty old WSM.

Heat retention can certainly be a bit tricky on cold/windy/rainy/snowy days but for most of the year it's not much of a problem. But if one has problems keeping a temp range then using a pit controller works just as well on kettles/WSM's as all those folks running them on their ceramic kamados.

TEXASBGE2018 · August 2018

HeavyG said:

TEXASBGE2018 said:

SonVolt said:

Webers are 100% functional utility - nothing amateurish about them. I love my Egg, but the Mini is better suited dangling on the end of a keychain

Prior to getting my Egg I had 3 Webers (A Performer, a Kettle, and a WSM). They always felt cheap to me. Plastic Wheels, cheap thin steel, terrible heat retention. The only thing I felt they did somewhat decent was High heat searing but even that was iffy because the design is so shallow that you get flare ups

Sounds like you never really learned how to use your kettles and WSM. Harry Soo has won many bbq championships with nothing but his trusty old WSM.

Heat retention can certainly be a bit tricky on cold/windy/rainy/snowy days but for most of the year it's not much of a problem. But if one has problems keeping a temp range then using a pit controller works just as well on kettles/WSM's as all those folks running them on their ceramic kamados.

I know exactly how to use them just fine. I know who Harry Soo is. I didn’t say they don’t make good bbq. Just that they aren’t anything special. Nothing wrong with a Honda Civic. But if I wanna go fast in ultimate luxury there are better options. That was my point.

HeavyG · August 2018

TEXASBGE2018 said:

HeavyG said:

TEXASBGE2018 said:

SonVolt said:

Webers are 100% functional utility - nothing amateurish about them. I love my Egg, but the Mini is better suited dangling on the end of a keychain

Prior to getting my Egg I had 3 Webers (A Performer, a Kettle, and a WSM). They always felt cheap to me. Plastic Wheels, cheap thin steel, terrible heat retention. The only thing I felt they did somewhat decent was High heat searing but even that was iffy because the design is so shallow that you get flare ups

Sounds like you never really learned how to use your kettles and WSM. Harry Soo has won many bbq championships with nothing but his trusty old WSM.

Heat retention can certainly be a bit tricky on cold/windy/rainy/snowy days but for most of the year it's not much of a problem. But if one has problems keeping a temp range then using a pit controller works just as well on kettles/WSM's as all those folks running them on their ceramic kamados.

I know exactly how to use them just fine. I know who Harry Soo is. I didn’t say they don’t make good bbq. Just that they aren’t anything special. Nothing wrong with a Honda Civic. But if I wanna go fast in ultimate luxury there are better options. That was my point.

Weber = Honda Civic

BGE = Honda Accord

Komodo Kamado = whatever you consider to be a "fast in ultimate luxury" vehicle

And all three are capable of turning out the same finished product.

I get it though, some folks like a Rolex to tell the time while others are fine with a Seiko.

TEXASBGE2018 · August 2018

HeavyG said:

TEXASBGE2018 said:

HeavyG said:

TEXASBGE2018 said:

SonVolt said:

Webers are 100% functional utility - nothing amateurish about them. I love my Egg, but the Mini is better suited dangling on the end of a keychain

Prior to getting my Egg I had 3 Webers (A Performer, a Kettle, and a WSM). They always felt cheap to me. Plastic Wheels, cheap thin steel, terrible heat retention. The only thing I felt they did somewhat decent was High heat searing but even that was iffy because the design is so shallow that you get flare ups

Sounds like you never really learned how to use your kettles and WSM. Harry Soo has won many bbq championships with nothing but his trusty old WSM.

Heat retention can certainly be a bit tricky on cold/windy/rainy/snowy days but for most of the year it's not much of a problem. But if one has problems keeping a temp range then using a pit controller works just as well on kettles/WSM's as all those folks running them on their ceramic kamados.

I know exactly how to use them just fine. I know who Harry Soo is. I didn’t say they don’t make good bbq. Just that they aren’t anything special. Nothing wrong with a Honda Civic. But if I wanna go fast in ultimate luxury there are better options. That was my point.

Weber = Honda Civic
BGE = Honda Accord
Komodo Kamado = whatever you consider to be a "fast in ultimate luxury" vehicle

And all three are capable of turning out the same finished product.

I get it though, some folks like a Rolex to tell the time while others are fine with a Seiko.

I'm thinking more like this

Weber=Toyota Camry

BGE= Lexus GS

Komodo Kamado= Mercedes AMG GT

SGH · August 2018

HeavyG said:
I get it though, some folks like a Rolex to tell the time while others are fine with a Seiko.

I have a Timex that cost less than 10 bucks. However I do have a couple of high end razors. So I guess it evens out in the end.

JMCXL · August 2018

Just couldn’t resist the offer, thinknit was below cost. I am one happy guy. I have the best wife, just so you know!

this is my 5th egg...

JMCXL · August 2018

SGH · August 2018

JMCXL said:

Awesome brother.

JMCXL · August 2018

R2Egg2Q · August 2018

Congrats on the Mini!

cookingdude555 · August 2018

JMCXL said:

That is one of the better mini pics Ive ever seen. Here is one from last summer when I fired up the mini for a sear (looking into the firebox). Im suprised I didnt melt the phone putting it basically in the opening. The thing is a bbq microwave.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5017260/uploads/editor/fd/arqz13wt15t6.jpg

Ozzie_Isaac · August 2018

TEXASBGE2018 said:

HeavyG said:

TEXASBGE2018 said:

HeavyG said:

TEXASBGE2018 said:

SonVolt said:

Webers are 100% functional utility - nothing amateurish about them. I love my Egg, but the Mini is better suited dangling on the end of a keychain

Prior to getting my Egg I had 3 Webers (A Performer, a Kettle, and a WSM). They always felt cheap to me. Plastic Wheels, cheap thin steel, terrible heat retention. The only thing I felt they did somewhat decent was High heat searing but even that was iffy because the design is so shallow that you get flare ups

Sounds like you never really learned how to use your kettles and WSM. Harry Soo has won many bbq championships with nothing but his trusty old WSM.

Heat retention can certainly be a bit tricky on cold/windy/rainy/snowy days but for most of the year it's not much of a problem. But if one has problems keeping a temp range then using a pit controller works just as well on kettles/WSM's as all those folks running them on their ceramic kamados.

I know exactly how to use them just fine. I know who Harry Soo is. I didn’t say they don’t make good bbq. Just that they aren’t anything special. Nothing wrong with a Honda Civic. But if I wanna go fast in ultimate luxury there are better options. That was my point.

Weber = Honda Civic
BGE = Honda Accord
Komodo Kamado = whatever you consider to be a "fast in ultimate luxury" vehicle

And all three are capable of turning out the same finished product.

I get it though, some folks like a Rolex to tell the time while others are fine with a Seiko.

I'm thinking more like this
Weber=Toyota Camry
BGE= Lexus GS
Komodo Kamado= Mercedes AMG GT

KK is at least a Bentley.

Mattman3969 · August 2018

Mr OT has commented from personal experience

Mini

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