What Size Egg Should I buy?

Unknown · February 2008

I went to a grill shop yesterday looking to buy a new gas grill because I need convenience. Low and behold the owner of the shop was cooking on his Egg. He loved it so much he was talking me out of buying the $5000 gas grill and telling me I should buy the egg. I figured if the owner of the shop is convincing me to spend less at his store there must be something about these things.

It seems the Egg meets all of my needs except potentially one. My wife and I have a house on the lake and like to entertain lots of people. We need something versatile that I can use just for us and for large groups of people.

I am concerned about not having enough cooking space when we have alot of people over. The guy at the grill shop had an extra large egg and a large egg he was using but he tried to steer me away from the extra large one because he said that it takes alot more fuel and the lid didnt close quite right on it. I think the extra large one would give me enough cooking area but I dont want to spend that much money on something that is going to act all finicky on me.

What are your thoughts? Do you think the large will be enough space? Does anybody own an extra large and have any problems with it? I would love to hear your feedback.

BENTE · February 2008

i do not have a xl. but for most families the xl is just too big. i have a large and a small. if i were you and i was going to buy one of the $5000 grill i would get two larges and be done with it.. save your self about $3000. also get a platesetter and pizza stone for both of them youwill want to do bread and pizza!! you have made the right decision about which klind of grill to buy i hope you make the right decision on what size

SWOkla-Jerry · February 2008

Welcome aboard Art. I am a newbie egger and purchased my XL this past Nov. I have done 4 overniters, pork butts and brisket, also have cooked about everything else inbetween. I love it, haven't had any issues with my XL. Just keep tuned into this forum, these guys are the best for advice, recipes, and just about anything in Eggdom cooking.

PhilsGrill · February 2008

Your shop owner speaks 'wisely'.

I don't know what 'lots of people' are, so I'll take a guess. Just by the sound of your post, you could do with two large Eggs. That sounds about perfect for your family and your guests.

Beanie-Bean · February 2008

It doesn't matter which way you go, you won't burn near as much fuel with any of the BGEs compared to a regular grill or smoker. If you need some room, I'd recommend the XL, otherwise I can recommend the LG/SM combination. The LG gives you enough flexiblity to cook just about anything under the sun, and the addition of the other cooker will give you another option to cook something else at a different temp, much like having another burner on your stovetop. Or, it could provide you the extra room you were needing.

I've recently added my second BGE, and will be rounding out the collection with an XL at the TX EggFest in a few months. I've used kettles, gassers, and smokers, and the BGEs will do all of that and more. Just keep in mind that you'll have to experiment a bit to learn how to control the heat on these things, after which you'll be off to the races. Please check out The Naked Whiz's site for some really great info. Between that site and this forum, I was able to buy my first cooker in October with confidence!

http://www.nakedwhiz.com/nwindex.htm

Hope this helps.

Dawgtired · February 2008

Hi,
I know the xl had some problems initially but I think they've been addressed already. You will not be dissapointed in your egg. There is absolutely nothing better. I personally have two, a large and a small but we don't usually entertain a lot of people at one time. If you do, I'd go with two large eggs. That way, if it is just you and your wife, you don't need to heat up the xl and use more wood and you have more versatility with what you cook. Just my 2 cents.

Eggtucky · February 2008

Not sure either how many folks at once you are entertaining, but I recently cooked for 10 people (wings, abts, fatties) and had no problem on one large. Could've cooked for 5 more people easy. If you are planning on more than 15 at a time, might go 2 large. If not and sometimes it will be just you and the wife unit, I'd go one large and a small. The small is great for 2 and as an 'extra burner' for more than 15 people. Good luck!

Michael B · February 2008

I'm in the same bote here; how many people make up a large group?
What kind of cooks are you talking about?

On my large I am limited to
1 - 20 pound turkey
3 - chickens on verticle roasters
4 - slabs of spare ribs (laid flat) with maybe 8 fatties along side
2 - 13 to 15 pound briskets
5 - pork butts
I was busy, but I did a couple burger cooks and kept up with 16 high school boys.

If you do a *lot* of grilling, you may want an XL for the extra surface area. The XL is a little shallower and has a wider coal bed than the other cookers, so makes a little better griller. (my opinion)

Myself:
I'd get a large and cook on it for a while.
Then I'd decide if I need a second Egg, and build from there.

Unknown · February 2008

I will typically host about 20-30 people once a month, 5-10 once a week and my wife and I would use it for ourself about 3 times a week. It would be nice to be able to do a turkey and a ham or 15-20 burgers.

Im think I may be leaning towards a large and I can eventually buy a second large if I feel I need it but im still not sure.

For those that own the XL do you know if it takes much longer to heat up?

Mike in Abita · February 2008

I find my XL doesn't take long to heat up. I bought my XL with the assumption that it would be the only one I bought. Boy was I wrong. I have my eye on a MED and I gave a MINI to my BIL. I might have to replace that MINI shortly after I get the MED. I would recommend getting the LGE and after cooking on it, get a few eggsessories. If you still think you need the XL go for it. Otherwise the multiple egg setup will probably fill your needs.

AlwaysGolf · February 2008

Art, what shop were you in yesterday. I bought two large Eggs yesterday, after going through the same questions. I was going to buy the XL but after suggestions and advice from the forum decided on the Lge and small or medium combo. This forum steers you right.

After wife saw the medium she said that we should just get two larges, I said are you sure and she said yes.

I found that the price of the two larges was only a little more than the cost of the XL and they give you more versatility.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

UGAVET · February 2008

I have an xl, large, small and mini. For me, i use the xl the least. i only crank it when im doing alot of steaks, chicken, burgers, wings. i use it more as a grill. i use the large for most of my low and slow needs. If i were in your position, i would get 2 larges. set one up with platesetter and all the other eggcessories and the other i would get the extened grid setup to raise the grid option and use it as a grill then you have alot of versatility there. enjoy!

What Size Egg Should I buy?

Comments

Categories