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Advice on buying a new egg

Big Papa
Big Papa Posts: 220
edited November -0001 in EggHead Forum
I really like wht the BGE has to offer. I am a chef and love to cook all types of food. I do alot of smoking and grilling.
I need some advice on wich BGE to buy.
the large just doesnt look like it has enough surface area of cooking for me.
the EXtra large looks like it has plenty, but...
the Extra LArge BGE doesnt look as deep. Will that make much of a differance in smoking or grilling?
Or is it a optical illusion and the depth is the same?

Please give me all the advice you have.

thanks

Chef C
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Comments

  • AZRP
    AZRP Posts: 10,116
    Get a large, then follow up with a small down the road. -RP
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  • Griller
    Griller Posts: 88
    Lots of folks have bought a large plus a medium instead of an XL.
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  • Big Papa
    Big Papa Posts: 220
    Am I wrong thinking that the XL is not as deep?
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  • Grandpas Grub
    Grandpas Grub Posts: 14,226
    We will only tell you if you share come of your tips...

    Your are corret. However tvj a forum member has some accessories which might solve your problem. His site is http://www.eggaccessories.com/xl.html

    Third picture down on the right. Tom will be glad to help you with your questions. I am pretty sure he said he has an XL.

    You didn't say how many you cook for but at first we all like more space which the XL has.

    Multiple eggs give the option of cooking at different temps or different setup's.

    I have all the eggs, large and down. On th large alone if I plan my meal it is easy to cook for 26 people which I do about every 4 to 6 weeks.

    Having the other eggs just gives me more options.

    Most of the time over here we are cooking for 2 people.

    There are a lot of oppinions on the forum, make sure you read some fromt he folks with XL's.

    GG
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  • Mike in Abita
    Mike in Abita Posts: 3,302
    I do not have a LGE. I have an XL and a MED on order. You should not have a problem going vertical in an XL. It has quite a bit more grid space than the LGE and this fact may make vertical less of a concern. Being that it is the largest egg it does use more lump than the other sizes. Most of the more experienced eggers will recommend a LGE and a SML. You are actually getting two eggs for roughly the same price as one XL. With the L&S you also get the option of cooking your sides and other things at a different temp. Which ever size you choose you'll cook on it for a few months, then have to explain to the spouse why you need another one.

    You cannot go wrong with either of them. These are by far the best cookers out there. I have tried a few of the others and kicked myself for not trying the EGG sooner. I would have saved myself quite a bit of money if I had. Welcome and please contribute to forum.
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  • Bobby-Q
    Bobby-Q Posts: 1,994
    The XL is about the same depth as the large it is just configured different.

    The XL is a great cooker. It does a great job grilling, smoking, baking...everything the large does. We couldn't make it any better so we made it bigger...that is what the advertising says and it's true.

    You won't be dissapointed with an XL.
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  • SWOkla-Jerry
    SWOkla-Jerry Posts: 640
    I started with an XL about a year ago and added a LBGE recently. I luv my eggs.

    EGGS.jpg
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  • johnBoy
    johnBoy Posts: 1
    I am about to take the plunge. 99% of the time I will be cooking for 4 or less people. The other times it won't be for more than 8. What size do I need?
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  • lowercasebill
    lowercasebill Posts: 5,218
    morning s-i- u
    no time to read all the replies, but...this question comes up almost weekely and the common wisdom is : if you can afford an xl, buy a large and a medium [or small] this way you can be low and slo on the large and sides on the other, two differnt temp cooks at the same time etc.
    many of us own more than one [i have large and mini and am lookin' again]..
    there have been posts here with 20-30 lbs of meat on a large maybe more .
    welcome,
    bill
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  • Unknown
    Unknown
    I have an XL and like it. There is plenty of surface area to work with. The issue I have with it is the weight and moving it around. In hindsight, I probably would have bought a L then a S.

    MAS
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  • Bacchus
    Bacchus Posts: 6,019
    The Large is all around the best choice for a first egg.
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  • Zippylip
    Zippylip Posts: 4,768
    Johnboy, once you start using the egg, you will likely start cooking for larger crowds more often than you think, so I would recommend you start with the large, it'll take care of the 4 of you just fine as well as the 44 people you invite to demonstrate your pulled pork acumen :woohoo:
    happy in the hut
    West Chester Pennsylvania
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  • Zippylip
    Zippylip Posts: 4,768
    bill, regarding the mini, although I have never seen one in person, from the pictures I have seen on the forum, it looks pretty small. I was wondering how you even fit large chunks of lump into that little fella (or do you just put in the smaller chunks), what (for example) you can fit on the grid, given its size, is your food only a few inches from the burning lump, & finally, given your experience would you recommend a mini or would you go with a small as a second egg?
    happy in the hut
    West Chester Pennsylvania
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  • Mike in Abita
    Mike in Abita Posts: 3,302
    Based on that info and some arranging, I'd say a SML would do. Although after a while you might want to start impressing the co-workers and such. This would lead to a MED or even LGE.

    Start with a SML and add a LGE later.
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  • Celtic Wolf
    Celtic Wolf Posts: 9,773
    I am going to give up on recommending which one to buy. This choice is your and yours alone.

    This question is asked every week. Every week we all give our opinions and in the end you are just as undecided.

    I have both small eggs that get used a lot. I have large eggs that used a lot and I have an XL that used a lot.

    You have to decide do you really need all that room? Are you buying it because the man thing says bigger is better? Would you be better served buying a large and a small? Will a Large be enough for you. Can the location where your egg will be handle the eggs weight? Do you care if it burns more lump or not?

    Every one of the eggs are phenomenal cookers. You will not be disappointed with whenever one you buy.
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  • WMK
    WMK Posts: 1,747
    Smoke it up,

    As Celtic Wolf said, this is a common question, you can find some of the previous answers here.
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  • lowercasebill
    lowercasebill Posts: 5,218
    mini dimension slide show

    th_minidimensions003.jpg

    lots of mini pics slides show

    th_mini004.jpg

    really depends on what you want to do and how many you are cooking for... it is great for a steak or two and sausages ... the l.l. bean platter is 16" and the big breast are perdue oven stuffer roaaster breasts not normal sized ones. when i bought the mini both boys were away at school... if your egg is going to stay put and you are cooking for more than 2/3 i would go with the small... but as you can see there is lots you can do on the mini.. including indirect. if you are looking to do sides for a family of 4 while the large has meat on it is would go with a small and i may come home from pa with a small or a medium, hope this helps.
    bill
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  • Zippylip
    Zippylip Posts: 4,768
    holy smokes man, that slide show is amazing, & very helpful. Will the Woodburners have'm & does anyone cook on the mini at the eggfest?
    happy in the hut
    West Chester Pennsylvania
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  • lowercasebill
    lowercasebill Posts: 5,218
    as far as i know i am the only goof who has ever cooked on a mini at the fest ,,,i wanted one so i signed up to cook on it and then buy at discounted egg fest price... if people preorder an egg someone cooks on it... i tell woodburners i will cook on what ever they are selling... just need two days notice ,,, if you decide you want one and don't want to cook... let them and me know and i will cook on it.
    almost beer o clock.
    bill
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  • Celtic Wolf
    Celtic Wolf Posts: 9,773
    Sorry, but you aren't :)

    You should have been at Waldorf..
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  • lowercasebill
    lowercasebill Posts: 5,218
    crap... i cannot even win at being a goof B)
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  • Zippylip
    Zippylip Posts: 4,768
    I am gonna need to see the mini & the small side by side before bust'n a move on one
    happy in the hut
    West Chester Pennsylvania
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