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Newbie here - Medium Egg with Table

Lanier Jim
Lanier Jim Posts: 505
edited November -0001 in EggHead Forum
Newbie here...wanted to say hello and get some advice. Got a family of 5 - wife, 3 kids...and want a medium egg with table. Live on the lake - yeah, I get to fish and take a pontoon ride any time I want :) I mainly cook the main meal on grill and wanted to make sure the medium would do what I needed. 6-8 burgers, 5 steaks, 2 whole chickens -

Who out there has a medium egg and will it do what I'm looking for? If you have a medium sitting in a table - post a pic please. I also have a Weber Gas grill...and just sold my Brinkmann Electric smoker. Thus - the BGE.

I've read the boards and see that most say go to the large...I just don't know if I want to spend the extra money - especially with getting a table too. So - will the medium hold enough of the main course for a family of 5? More guest come up...can always use the Weber too.

Thanks for the help -

Lanier Jim
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Comments

  • Bacchus
    Bacchus Posts: 6,019
    Why are you dead set on a table? Sure they are nice, but the nests are as well. Going with a nest and Large would be about the same price....
    You can always build a table later.



    Oh, welcome aboard.
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  • Rolling Egg
    Rolling Egg Posts: 1,995
    I would have to agree with Bacchus. Skip the table and get the large if that will put you back in the price range. If I had 5 people to feed with frequent guest I would have to say I would want the large. I have a large and just purchased a medium. I haven't cooked on it but a couple times so I haven't tested its capabilities. More will chime in. Good Luck.
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  • Bacchus
    Bacchus Posts: 6,019
    Rolling Egg, I am looking to possibly get a medium to supplement my Large and Small. I have heard from one or two others that Mediums take longer to get up to heat on hotter cooks. I am curious to get your take once you use it a few times...... :)
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  • Rolling Egg
    Rolling Egg Posts: 1,995
    I will tell you this. I filled it to the top of the box today and lit it with a mapp right in the center. I put platesetter on and shut the dome without the daisy. I had the bottom about half way. Went inside and came back in about 12 to 15 minutes and it was at 650. It kinda shocked me. I think its going to be faster than my large to be honest with ya.
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  • Bacchus
    Bacchus Posts: 6,019
    Good to know.,,,,TY
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  • Lanier Jim
    Lanier Jim Posts: 505
    Thanks folks - as for the table - I guess it's from having more space on the side to put stuff. I just read about 9000 posts on the medium and got a ton of great information. For what I'm going to do with it...seems like the medium will handle my needs.

    One more question...I've heard...but not read on the forum yet - that the medium had a problem with fitting correctly in the back where the hinge is located.

    Has anyone ever heard of this?

    BTW - Go Dawgs! :-)
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  • Bacchus
    Bacchus Posts: 6,019
    Well, what you plan to do with it and what you end up doing with it are not likely to be the same. I originally wanted a medium not a large as my first egg, but the dealer made me a great deal on the Large. I'm glad it worked out that way.
    Anyway, I wouldnt be concerned about any "fitting" problems with any of the eggs. The BGE company is top notch and will take care of any problem you may incur, which is pretty unlikely.

    Good Luck!
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  • Lanier Jim
    Lanier Jim Posts: 505
    RB - what part of Georgia? I'm in Gainesville -
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  • Bash
    Bash Posts: 1,011
    I think the medium is slower than my XL getting going. But both are fast. I had some Wicked Good going at 350 in the XL, and then started the medium up to sear london broil, and it was up to 600 in about 15 minutes using Cowboy.

    I do notice the medium cools back down way faster than the XL, so cooling it down for the roast is much faster on the medium. I guess it is just so much less thermal mass.

    Had the XL at 350 for over an hour tonight, and the medium was at 600-650 for a few minutes, and down to 350 for 20 or so. It cooled to the touch much faster than the XL.

    Richard
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  • Bobby-Q
    Bobby-Q Posts: 1,994
    You're going to be one of the many we see in the store each month bringing us back a medium and trading up to a large. For the family size you described you would be pushing the limits of a medium every cook. If you got a large you wouldbe cruising everyday cooks and would be able to handle bigger cooks when you have company. You live on the lake and have a pontoon, I know you have company.

    Head on over to Green's Grocery and ask them what they think.
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  • Little Chef
    Little Chef Posts: 4,725
    Jim....I would encourage you to go for the large with a nest and mates..... Add a table later..... We absolutely love our medium, but certainly wouldn't give up one of our larges. Go for the large.... you truly won't be sorry. Add a table and medium some time from now.... ;) Just my two cents. :)
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  • Bacchus
    Bacchus Posts: 6,019
    Jim, Im just down the road, in Suwanee. There are several of us in the area, but none can cook as good as myself.
    Shoot me an email sometime if you want. bacchus3266@gmail.com
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  • JLOCKHART29
    JLOCKHART29 Posts: 5,897
    OK most of the regulars hear will admit I use my only Egg, A medium, more than 90% of the population cooking on it 2-5 times a week for over two years. Get the large. Period. As much as I would love to see another medium on board (seems we are the redheaded stepchild! :laugh: ) it will agravat you in the end. 70% of my cooks are for me and my wife. 30% for us and another couple. I would not trade my medium for a large for anything. No problem with fitment, heats up in a flash and will cook 16-18 hours on one lump load no problem. That said two big racks of ribs are all that will fit COMFORTABLY. One spatchock chicken is all COMFORTABLY. Trust me I have figured out how to cook some meat on this thing!
    NEW08029-1.jpg

    NEW08034.jpg

    Still the few times I needed extra room it would be nice to have a large and with your family you'll need the room. As far as the table I went from this:
    09-08-07025.jpg

    To this in just a couple of years! :laugh: Yes the concreat foundation in first pic is where the Egg is today in second.
    Earlyoct09033.jpg
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  • sharhamm
    sharhamm Posts: 258
    Have only had my medium for two months. Buy a large. There are only two of us and I wish I had now gone for the large. No way are you going to be happy cooking for a family of 5 on a medium. Especially if you are cooking ribs!
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  • Deplesis
    Deplesis Posts: 215
    Jim,
    I had the same question 4 months ago. Didn't want to spoend the $ on the table yet and didn't have time to build the one I want yet.
    Terrific Egg Dealer has loaned me the nest until I get the table built. I've tried to pay him for it twice now and he keeps refusing to take it until I've built my table.
    IMHO.....Go with the large and if you have to you can always sell the nest on line when you get the table.
    Regards,
    RJ
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  • PhilOsh
    PhilOsh Posts: 84
    I've had a medium for a year. Got it as a gift. Only my wife and I are left at home and the medium is fine for us two, but when we have guests or the kids come home I wish I had the large. I think I will be buying a large in the future. The grilling surface is only 15 inches. Lay that area out and look to see what you can fit in that space. Only one chicken, certainly not 5 steaks. True, you can use multiple levels, and that works well for wings and ribs, but I would suggest going with the large.

    Phil
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  • Matt_inSC
    Matt_inSC Posts: 80
    If you opt for the Large I have a nest (5 mths. old) for it that I'd like to sell (I've almost finished my table). Your location may make shipping cost prohibitive but we might can make up for that on the price.
    If you're interested let me know where you live.
    I also have a cover for the Large I need to sell if interested.
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  • Smoking Coles
    Smoking Coles Posts: 230
    Jim,

    I have two eggs and they are both mediums. I love them, but will be upgrading one to a large in the future. I would say for a family of 5, you are going to be pushing the capacity for the meduims. There are probably timew when you will want to do a couple of boston butts or ribs for your family and guests and you'll definately wish you had the large. I have a family of four, and if we have any guests over I usally have to fire both mediums up. They heat up extremely fast and probably use a little less lump than the large, but I think it would be definately worth it. The large definately has more accessories and alot more setups than the meduims can accomodate. You will have your egg for a very long time, to the initial investment would definately pay off in the end. If you just go with the nest set up and build a table later, check out www.nakedwhiz.com and to to the photo gallery and look at all of the different types of tables people have built. I took alot of ideas from other builds and did a custom table for my mediums. Either one you will enjoy, but I sure am looking forward to replaceing one of my mediums with a large. Good luck.

    IMG_0173.jpg
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  • Lanier Jim
    Lanier Jim Posts: 505
    RB and Smokin Coles -

    RB - I know Suwanee well. Lived in Norcross for years...son played baseball at Norcross and we played North Gwinnett twice a season. Then around the southeast with college ball. I know alot of folks from North Gwinnett if you had/have kids there. I'll shoot you an email soon.

    SC - great set up! I'd be scared of getting it dirty :) ...I guess the large is the way to go. Like I said in my first post - I looked at the medium because I do still have a Weber gas grill to work on but the family is big on coals and wood...just tastes better.

    Jimmy
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  • Chuckatuck Creek Egger
    Chuckatuck Creek Egger Posts: 71
    I started out with a medium and four months later had a large. It is only me and the wife, but guests always tend to show up. I would definitely say with a family of 5 go with the large. Good luck!
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