Which egg do I buy??

Unknown · September 2007

My husband of 11 years and I have 6 children, the oldest is 10. We want to buy an egg, but not sure what size? 4 of these children are boys, so they are going to be able to eat more and more as they grow. My instinct tells me to get an extra large (so we don't out grow it), but I have been told by two different dealers that the large would be plenty. Some of your expert advise would be appreciated!![p]

Wise One · September 2007

Countrymouse, with your family I would start with a large. Then after cooking all you can cook, you can decide if your second will be a XL or another large (or perhaps even a medium). Besides, if you decide the large is not enough, you can always trade up to an XL but I doubt you will want to part with it even if you decide you need the XL.

Flashback Bob · September 2007

Countrymouse,
Typically it's always safe to start with a large as that size can handle a variety of situations. I am cooking for 4 unless we have company in which case it's usually not more than 8. The large has been fine for me.[p]But in your case where you are starting off feeding 8 people, that's a good argument for an XL.[p]On my large, I know I can cook 16 chicken thighs (but I think that's the max), 2 slabs of spare ribs (using a rib rack) plus trimmings, at least one Picnic shoulder and depending on the size of the steaks,4 - 6 steaks that are thick enough to feed 2 adults each. So you can cook the meat for 8 people on it. If you like to have leftovers, again that would be a good reason to go XL. [p]I believe there are more of the standard accessories available for the large than the XL. That's not to say you can cook anything on one that you can't cook on the other, it's just a higher level of convenience.[p]I'm sure someone who actually owns an XL will chime in and let you know.

Photo Egg · September 2007

Countrymouse,
I have a large and XL. The XL has a ton of grill area and I like that.
I know I'm going to get killed for saying this on this forum but how about the two grill combo as other have mentioned. The two I would think about would be a large or XL BGE and a Weber Ranck Kettle. We all know how great the BGE cooks but the Ranch Kettle is a big grilling machine for steaks, burgers, chicken. It's hard to match the grill space of the 37" grate. It would feed your little army and the BGE for ABT's, Pulled Pork, Brisket, Pizza and other cool stuff.
Sorry for the Weber Ranch Kettle plug but it is a cool grill.
Darian

lazy river bbq · September 2007

Countrymouse,
I have a large and a medium build in a table and I use my large quite often for my family and friends and it will put out a ton of grub!! Maybe, try placing a normal dinner menu for your family on the forum and I bet we can tell you if you have enough room on the large for your family size!! hollar if i can help josh

gdenby · September 2007

Countrymouse,[p]I only have 2 mediums, which have the combined cooking space of a large and a small, but which is less that an XL. I've had no trouble feeding 10 people at a time with them. Even with using just 1 medium, I often have leftovers with 2 teenage boys at the table. When I look at XLs, they seem immense to me. [p]There is one other thing to consider. Most people buy lots of accessories for their Eggs. Big items, like tables, or smaller items like rib racks, or pizza stones. After getting my first Egg, the food was so good that my wife didn't say a word about the shipments of accessories I was buying every other week (still haven't quite stopped.) So, to get the most out of whatever size you buy, you will most likely get a number of other items.[p]Whichever size you decide on, you will find it a wonderful appliance.[p]gdenby

fishlessman · September 2007

<p />Countrymouse,its hard to tell someone what they need because different families just eat differently. keep in mind that most of us buy a second egg, maybe a large and small combo, your case it would be 2 larges or an xl and large for the added grill space. dont worry about low and slow pulled pork and brisket cooks as you can get 30 pounds plus in a large. my only experience is with a large and small, these are some cooks on a large that show what fits on the large bge grill to help you decide what your needs are.
16 thighs fit well, i do that cook often. pork loin casserole and baked potaoes, and a 7 or 8 pound potroast with potatoes.[p][p]

Flashback Bob · September 2007

Photo Egg,
Wouldn't the weber use different charcoal? I have a friend who has a weber and he can't get lump to work for him. I can tell by his stories that the application is different.

Jeeves · September 2007

fishlessman,[p]Do you regret buying a small and not a medium? There was someone that posted the other day that they bought a small for camping etc, but they only did that once...[p]I have a Large and I'm thinking about getting one for the front of the house. If I get a medium, SOME items are interchangeable. Less fuel is used as the egg gets smaller, which is one reason why I'm avoiding another large, unless the fuel consumption is minimal.

Photo Egg · September 2007

Flashback Bob,
Lump is great in the Egg because it is produces very low ash. This is not as important in most other cookers for grilling. I have no problem keeping a couple kinds of lump and even a bag of Kingsford.
Even different types of lump cook different.
I cook on a 22" Weber at my aunt's house all the time.
I have no problem with lump or the standard Kingsford.
I do shut the vents down on the air intake a little more with lump but it's not a big deal. I honestly can't taste the fillers in Kingsford on my food. I normally add a little cherry wood or Jack Danials chips so the flavor of the wood I use is what I taste.
Can you explain your statement "I can tell by his stories that the application is different". I guess I missed something.
This post was not a Weber sales pitch or Eggs are bad thing. I own 3 BGEs and several other great cookers. They all fill a need.[p]Off topic, your illistrations and cartoons on your home page are super. You are very talented and creative. I have always been good at capture of an image but never creating.
Take care,
Darian

Unknown · September 2007

Thank you all for your helpful comments. The amount of food we eat... Well my husband will eat a normal to large man size portion. My 10, and 8 yr old sons can eat more than I can already, and I know that as they grow they will get closer and closer to what their dad eats. Which is why I think we need something we can grow into. Not to mention that I have 2 and 4 year old boys who have appetites to grow into.[p]I think that the large size grill would be okay for the amount of meat we cook, 8 to 10 burgers for instance. How are veggies on this grill though? Wouldn't I want a larger surface to have room for corn on the cob, potatos...?

Flashback Bob · September 2007

Photo Egg,
Well first off, thanks for the Kudos![p]Secondly, it's hard to explain but it sounds like my friend can't (doesn't) get the lump burning correctly when he cooks. sounds like he has flames throughout the cook rather than cooking on glowing coals. Thought maybe on a weber you can't regulate air enough to control the 'fire".

Flashback Bob · September 2007

countrymouse,
FWIW, If every time I grilled I was cooking for as big a crew as you have, I would want the XL. If for no other reason than the wiggle room. While I can fit a lot of food on the large, I like to have some breathing room. And as you said, room to grow without NEEDING to buy another grill.[p]If you want to include veggies too, that's all the more reason to go XL. You have a big family, if you can afford it why not get a big Egg?[p]But that's just me.

Photo Egg · September 2007

Flashback Bob,
Yes, air control on the Kettle is not near as good as the Egg. I close the bottom vents from 100% to about 25%, spread the coals or lump across the entire coal grate, add the cooking grate and put the lid back on for 5 min or so while I'm walking back into the house to get the food to be grilled. This couple minutes gives the coals or lump time to settle down. Keeping the lid on as much as poss during the cook will keep the flames down just as cooking direct on the Egg. I also like cooking with the coals all pushed to one side and cook indirect on the other. Great for searing and roasting. Because lump produces far less ash the airflow is much greater with lump. This means the fire temp will get hotter faster when the lid is removed. And again, all lump is different. I cooked a big batch of wings on the first level and batch of ABT's on second 18" grid raised with fire bricks two weeks ago at my aunts all with lump on a 22" Weber. I will tell you it is easier on my BGE XL but it all turned out great. No flash backs but I still have very little hair on my lower arms just from flipping food with short tongs.
Darian

fishlessman · September 2007

Jeeves,
i dont use it as much as the large, but the small works for me. i can get a rack of ribs in there, a descent size roast, a big bean pot etc, and for the smaller cooks it works out good too, it really uses alot less fuel than the large. i would get a large over a medium though, just because everything i have fits my large and could easily be used for both, i have a second large at camp that i can bring home if needed and viseversa

DynaGreaseball · September 2007

fishlessman,[p]I'm intrigued by the pot roast pic. Looks like a great smoke ring on the chuck roast. Did you cook the whole thing in your cast iron pot without a top, or did you do a low and slow on the meat and then add the meat later to the pot?

fishlessman · September 2007

DynaGreaseball,
i dont cover the meat with water during the cook, just about half way, then flip a few hours into it and continue cooking, potatoes and whatever at the end for the last hour or so. the liquid evaporates during the cook and when its about half gone i add it back to halfway up. i also use a mixture of chicken broth, wine, beer, and some water as the liquid. i see a lot of cooks where the meat is covered with liquid but thats a boil, better for the meat to braise on one side and roast on the other. low 300's works good

Dimple's Mom · September 2007

Countrymouse,
Boy, that's a tough question. Most people usually recommend starting with the large.[p]However, as the mom of 3 teen boys, I know that you're will not just be feeding your own kids in a very short time, if it hasn't happened already. Their teen friends are going to be hanging around and esp at dinner time, now that you have an egg.[p]I guess what I would take into consideration is do you always want to be firing up two eggs every time you make burgers? For things like roasts and pork butts, a large is sufficient, but it won't be for your family for ribs; and if you want to make a lot of burgers, you'll be doing them in batches on a large. [p]I think if I were you, knowing what I know (granted that would be not much), I would get an extra large now and if you decide you need it down the line, mostly for sides or when you might not be cooking as much meat at one time, then maybe add a medium.[p]Congratulations on your large family. I always wanted at least 6 kids. My husband didn't want any, so we settled at 3. I am always soooo envious of anyone with a large family.[p]Gwen

Unknown · September 2007

Countrymouse,[p]Sounds like you'll be needing an extra large Egg. I've been lovin' and grillin' on my large Egg for the past year for my family of five. With that many young children who will soon become carnivors I'd go with the XL Egg.[p]Dawgbone

JeffHughes · September 2007

Flashback Bob,[p]
Your buddy needs to learn the Tao of Lump.[p]Lump is a superior fuel for any charcoal grill.[p]Lump burns hot and fast in an uncovered kettle, so the correct quanity is important. [p]Learning fire control is an art, frankly it's one that many eggers miss out on with the advent of Gurus and Stokers.[p]Anyway, the superior flavor profile of lump is worth some effort on your buddy's part.[p]Regards--Jeff

mb168 · September 2007

Dimple's Mom,[p]thi sis exactly what we have as of right now. Bought the XL to be able to cook lots of ribs and whatever else I wanted to throw on for 5-7 family and my wife picked up a medium yesterday that was on sale which I just fired up fo rthe first time for 3 chicken breasts which should save a lot of lump too. But definitley the XL to start with, you wont regret it. I saw someone on here last week said to buy the biggest one you can afford and you'll be happy.

Dimple's Mom · September 2007

mb168,
The ex large has a neat accessory that I liked too. It's that half grill thing where you could have that raised above the full grill and keep buns warm up there while you cook the burgers or keep potatoes warm while you do the steaks, etc.[p]I like that kind of stuff. I also buy my cars based on the cupholders, seatwarmer, etc. [p]Gwen

Jeeves · September 2007

fishlessman,[p]So, to add onto a large, would you go with a large, medium, or small?

Which egg do I buy??

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