Big Green Egg - does it do everything?

[omniflow]

I've been vaguely tempted by these for a while, and I'm wondering if they're a decent replacement for my current assortment of outdoor cooking equipment. Currently I have a Weber gas grill, a Weber kettle with rotisserie add-on and a Pro-Q Frontier smoker. To go with these I very nearly ordered a Rocc box pizza oven earlier today, but decided at the last minute to wait until they're actually shipping.

I think I'll need to keep the gas grill whatever I decide - it's just too convenient for a weekday evening.

I do like the Pro-Q, and I've mastered the art of an unattended 18 hour cook using a single load of charcoal - with a pretty much consistent 100 C temp throughout (well every time I went out to take look anyway).

Has anyone made the switch to a BGE and do you think it's a better option. I know it's expensive, but it's one of my favourite passtimes, so I'm prepared to consider it.

[tomsugden]

I bought a large BGE 2 years ago, and was so impressed with it that I went on to buy a mini BGE so the missus and I could do mid week bbqs.

I've used it as an oven, a bbq, a smoker and a pizza maker, and all have been excellent. You can achieve amazing results without needing to be an expert, and there's lots of recipes and techniques online.

The only downside is we don't get as many invites to other people's bbqs as they don't feel they can compete

Edited by tomsugden on Tuesday 29th March 13:01

[C70R]

My experience of a friend's Big Green Egg is that it's a fantastic smoker, but the grill area is small if you're cooking for more than 3-4 (if they are impatient).

[tomsugden]

Surely that depends on which size you have?

http://shop.biggreenegg.co.uk/

[sunil4]

Wait until April 6th, Weber are rumoured to be launching a ceramic cooker then

[C70R]

tomsugden said:

Surely that depends on which size you have?

http://shop.biggreenegg.co.uk/

Absolutely - he has a large, and it seems like a lot of money (unless you're regularly smoking) for something that can only serve 3-4 at a go.

[tomsugden]

This hugely increases the cooking area

http://shop.biggreenegg.co.uk/product/3-tier-cooki...

[Rick101]

I have exactly the same gear an was also considering a ceramic. Not bge though, too expensive. Several others available. Currently looking at a Costco offering for £600 iirc.

[ReaperCushions]

A friend has one (Large) and it is very good indeed, however, I honestly don't think you can do anything more or less on it than a regular weber with various accessories for a quarter of the price.

[omniflow]

I've now managed to convince myself that I need a ceramic BBQ. I have slightly downscaled my requirement from an XL to a Large, and am also considering other brands. I have next week off work, so will start looking more closely. I will also wait until 6th April and see if Weber release anything, so thanks for all the input. The stand / table is also very important to me. I think some of the offerings out there are extremely ugly, and certainly for BGE a decent looking table is almost as much as the BBQ.

[lj04]

Last time I was in Costco their ceramic bq was £349 . Has anyone tried it?

[Rick101]

This is the Ceramic I was considering.

http://www.costco.co.uk/view/p/pit-boss-24-kamado-...


edit
Weight: 118kg

[tuffer]

Love mine, going to do some chicken kebabs tonight.

[5potTurbo]

Rick101 said:

Weight: 118kg

So will you be if you buy one!


I looked at a BGE, then saw the price. Eye watering, I thought. The food would have to be really VERY, VERY good - but then I'd not want to be like another poster earlier, not being invited to someone else's place.
(We get invited as others feel sorry for us and our inferior Weber Genesis gas grill )

[insurance_jon]

tuffer said:

Love mine, going to do some chicken kebabs tonight.

Where from and how much? want!!!!!

[tuffer]

insurance_jon said:

tuffer said:

Love mine, going to do some chicken kebabs tonight.

Where from and how much? want!!!!!

I made it. Well, when I say I made it....I designed it and then gave the plans to a local Timber Merchants who cut all the pieces including the M&T joints. I then got the chippy who did a load of other stuff on my house to put it together. The primary reason for this is that I am a completely incompetent F**kwit when it comes to anything other than putting a nail in a wall (and I have made a mess of that in the past).
It did cost a fair bit as it is made or Iroco and weighs approximately 19,000 tonnes. I am sure Matt the chippy would be happy to knock up another one.....



The sum total of my efforts, I fitted the bottle opener....Someone else measured and made the marks.

[anonymous-user]

C70R said:

tomsugden said:

Surely that depends on which size you have?

http://shop.biggreenegg.co.uk/

Absolutely - he has a large, and it seems like a lot of money (unless you're regularly smoking) for something that can only serve 3-4 at a go.

I have one and agree as a pure grill thee space is great.

But used as an oven it is really very good - pizza is superb and meat seems to resist drying out unless you completely fk it up.

[scottri]

Rick101 said:

This is the Ceramic I was considering.

http://www.costco.co.uk/view/p/pit-boss-24-kamado-...


edit
Weight: 118kg

They don't come with the heat deflector so you will need to budget another £75 or so to get one shipped from the US.

[insurance_jon]

that is awesome tuffer!

on the subject of the wood. the whole of hastings pier has just been decked in the same stuff due to its fire resistant properties

[tuffer]

insurance_jon said:

that is awesome tuffer!

on the subject of the wood. the whole of hastings pier has just been decked in the same stuff due to its fire resistant properties

I imagine that must have cost a fair bit and it will probably sink into the Sea under the weight.