Reasons Not to buy the XL Egg???

florida Nick · March 2009

Hello fellow Eggheads, (please pardon my long post)
I'm in the process of doing research to purchase my first Big Green Egg. I currently have a virticle propane water smoker. I have had some success with it but am just not satisfied with the results. I will be purchasing my BGE mainly for use as a smoker. I will occasionally be using it for steaks and burgers, but will mostly use it to smoke ribs, pork butt, brisket, and chicken. I have BBQs frequently and cook for anywhere between 4 to 30 people. I will usually choose a main dish to smoke and then fill the remaining room in the smoker with anything else I think will taste good smoked. I like to experiment and have no problems filling the 4 racks of my water smoker.I have seen the large and XL side by side and the large just doesn't look big enough. The price difference between the large and the XL is not an issue, and I am fine with the fact that it will require the use of more lump.
So my question to the forum is: Are there any reasons to NOT buy the XL because it performs differently or does not perform as well as the large? I'm particularly concerned about the performance as a smoker but any feed back is very much appreciated.
Thanks in advance for the advice, I think it's really cool how you are all so supportive and helpfull to one another.
I'm really looking forward to some great smoking EGGsperiences! :woohoo:

snoqualmiesmoker · March 2009

Don't own one, but I too have been looking at the different XL sizes from other brands. My reasoning is the lid. While I can buy the "flip" from eggaccesories, you are still limited by the dome height. They tried to fix the interior height with the platesetter, but the issue is the lid.

just my $.02

Bobby-Q · March 2009

Having never worked with an EGG before you won't notice any difference at all with the XL. It is an awesome cooker.

Our BBQ team uses 2 XLs to compete with and we have had a little bit of success.

Grand Oeuf Vert · March 2009

Like you, the BGE came recommended to me. My friend has an XL and is quite happy with it. During my price search, 2 dealers told me that the Large makes a better smoker. I'm not sure why they said that. My use for the BGE is almost the same as yours. I went with the dealers suggestion and Large it is. I'm cookin' up a storm now and I am a very satisifed Egg Head! I did 5 Chickens and fed 11 no problem.

snoqualmiesmoker · March 2009

Bobby-Q wrote:

Having never worked with an EGG before you won't notice any difference at all with the XL. It is an awesome cooker.

Our BBQ team uses 2 XLs to compete with and we have had a little bit of success.

You need to get your pics uploaded on your site! Can you tell me how you have your eggs set up? Are they in Tables or in nests?

Florida Grillin Girl · March 2009

Eggcited,
I think you will be very surprised at how much meat will fit on the large. With the grid extenders, you can easily cook for 30 people, and not have to worry about the space inside the dome.

Also, you will probably use it more as a grill than you think. Wait til you see how steaks come out on it!!!

Good luck.
Faith
Tampa

florida Nick · March 2009

Thanks for all the replies so far. I forgot to mention that I also have a propane grill the will get over 600 degrees. So cooking different items at different temps when necessary isn't a problem either. I know alot of people will recomend the large/small combo.
Thanks again guys!
edit: wow! 2 more replies while I was posting this. You guys (and girls) rock!

AzScott · March 2009

Forget the large small combo. Go for the XL and if you love it get a medium for smaller cooks. If you're cooking for 30 + people at times and the money nor lump bothers you at all get it. The people I know with them love them.

Car Wash Mike · March 2009

Personally for the money, I think a large, small combo would work 10 times better than a one time xl.

Mike

Fire Walker · March 2009

I have an XL and have cooked, smoked, grilled, sear and baked on it for three years and never found a down side. I've cooked a 24lb, turkey in it, so as far as dome height as an issue it's whoee! The versatility you would enjoy with the XL will astound you. There is as you probably noticed a little bias against the XL lots of people like to talk about them with no actual experience. The other thing you will hear is that they burn alot more lump maybe alittle but it is a much bigger unit. You will not be disapointed.

FireWalker

Squeeze · March 2009

They set theirs up the same way we do for contests....2 XLs side by side in a nest..although they are special All Terrain Nests with big ole rubber tires.....

tjv · March 2009

I own both the large and xl egg. Owned a medium too. Feel free to email me your phone number and we can talk it over. If we can find out why your current cooker or situation is a bust, that might help zero in on your next (better) cooker.

My email is acgpinc@verizon.net. t

pplkook · March 2009

Howdy

I would highly recommend the L. The XL is quite large, and a well optioned L can do pretty much anything for a reasonable number of people, especially smoking.

I find myself wanting to add to my L and get and a S or M so I can be doing a low and slow on the L, and then doing other things for in prep for serving at a party like ABTs, Veggies, Burgers, etc. One egg is never enough.

The good news is that there are NO bad decisions. Also remember that you will eventually option the heck out of your egg. My biggest problem is effective storage for all my stuff.

Second best thing you can buy....BBQ Guru DigiQ-II with a Pit Viper.

Good luck

Jack

Rollocks · March 2009

I own the XL egg and love the amount of room I get. It functions well as a smoker and holds many more slabs of ribs than a Large. With a flip ring I've smoked 21 full slabs with a little room to spare.

Rollocks · March 2009

Oh I forgot to mention that the XL does use a bit of lump. I wound up buying a small for doing smaller cooks such as a few burgers or a few steaks

Gator Bait · March 2009

Hi Eggcited,

I agree with those that think you are going to use it for more then smoking once you get one. They are so good at so many things and a ball to cook on. If I was feeding that many I would go for multiple eggs. I have a medium for just myself and it is perfect. I have cooked on a large and they cook just the same, the only difference is the volume. I would think if you started out with the large you would never regret it and if you need the added acreage you could add another of what ever size you might need, whether it be a medium, large or extra large. If I could think up a good excuse for it I'd run out and buy a second egg in a second.
Just my $.02 worth, good luck on your decision.

Gator

Hamilton · March 2009

I have owned all Eggs from XL to small and have ended up keeping two - a large and a XL. The more I cook on the XL, the more I like it.

Panhandle Smoker · March 2009

I started out with a XL and like it very much. I then bought a large. You can set the large up to have a lot of acreage as you can with the XL, but the XL I feel is almost twice the size of the Lg. Having both was the best thing I could have done and have no regrets at all. The reason I started with the XL like you, I cook a lot when I cook. As others have said within a year you will most likely own a second Egg no matter which one you end up with first. Either way you wont be disappointed.

Bash · March 2009

I've had my XL for a couple of weeks. It's bigger than I need for BBQ, but is perfect for grilling lots of burgers, etc.

If you don't mind the price and the lump you will burn, I'd say get the XL. I do go through quite a bit of lump (already about 40# in 2 weeks). I would like a Med to complement, when I don't need all the room.

I've had a blast cooking on it so far. Just finished my third set of pizzas tonight, and had roasted ckicken breast with thick sliced onions last night.

I'd say go see them in a store, and go with your gut. As long as you are happy, that's all that matters.

Ashman · March 2009

Until they make an 2XL, buy the XL. :laugh: I love mine. Most of the time it is for 3, but on weekends, could be 15. Either way, I'm happy.

Gordon

Grandpas Grub · March 2009

I was somewhat in your shoes 2 years ago, virticle propane water smoke. I had 2 of them, both pretty expensive for their type of smokers.

You will the love the difference in the results compared to your past smoker. After you get your egg, forget about putting liquids under your cook, you won't need them and your results will be moisture.

The best advice I can offer is don't wait to get your egg. You will find temperature regulation is much easier on the egg, it won't take long before you can taste the difference of not using propane and you won't have the food moisture loss due to cooking with propane. You will find the egg will hold temperatures better than what you have now and you won't experience the head differential from the lower foods to the foods higher in the cooker.

On my large with multple racks I could cook as much and or more than what I could cook on one of the vertical smokers.

As for size, I have not used an XL. Two years ago I didn't like the idea there were not very many grid (grate) accessories, but that isn't the case now. tjv here on the forum has a lot of options and has been doing some work with cooking with less lump.

I mainly cook for 2 and about once a month cook for 24. The large works fine for that. I have since added more eggs.

I would have to do some more thinking about getting an XL but if I were to do it all over again, for my needs, I am thinking I would end up with 2 larges and a mini.

Looking forward to having you in the egg family.

GG

Grandpas Grub · March 2009

is nothing and you won't have to be using propane.

There will be a lot of talk about high temperature cooking. But all that aside for now. With a few simple accessories you can easily sear steaks at 800° to 900° using a spider.

You will find the best use for your gasser and verticals is for storage.

Go buy your egg.

GG

Grandpas Grub · March 2009

FYI eggcited!

Email Tom, and use this resource. This is one of the forum members who makes a lot of wonderful accessories for the eggs. He had been doing a lot of work on the XL lately.

Tom, with the accessories how large of a turkey can be cooked on the XL. I have done a 23# on the Large without problem.

GG

Bash · March 2009

I've poked around tjv's site, and I don't recall seeing anything on using less lump on the XL.

Is there something you can point me to?

Thanks,
Richard

Mike in Abita · March 2009

It's in the development stage at this point. A few of us are testing out a new idea. Look closely under the pizza stone and you'll see a series of rings, which are the same size as a medium grid. Uses less lump and allows for more versatility.

Grandpas Grub · March 2009

Thanks Mike, I didn't remember where I saw the picture but I knew Tom was working/playing with something.

I think I would get 2 larges and a mini for my needs. Possibly a xl, large, mini. However, if the same concept were adapted to the large then possibly just 2 larger size eggs.

Kent

Grandpas Grub · March 2009

Sure looks like a large in the picture???

Kent

Mike in Abita · March 2009

Tom actually has a better photo somewhere on the forum. I don't remember what he cooked but the reducer was clearer than in my photo. Might have to do some steaks this weekend to get some better photos.

Mike in Abita · March 2009

That's just an optical illusion. I tested it in the MED and it acts just like a WOO ring in the LGE. It raises the grid up to the felt line. Another photo op project on Sat. :woohoo:

Grandpas Grub · March 2009

You have a good point, a lot of us who do not have or haven't used the XL have pretty strong opinions about the XL.

Late last fall I was talking with my dealer and he said those that load the XL full for every cook end using a little more lump. Those that do a little proportion lump loading to the cook say they are using less lump.

After getting all 4 sizes, lg & down. I think I would rather have 2 larges an a mini or even a xl, lg and mini.

Now that wishin could be that I don't have an XL. Sometime in the future I might sell off the mini and small and get another large or possibly XL.

GG

Grandpas Grub · March 2009

Looking forward to seeing both pictures.

I wonder about the physics of the heat & cooking when using a 'lump basket' in the eggs.

Kent

Reasons Not to buy the XL Egg???

Comments

Categories