Big Green Egg

[OCK913]

I am shopping for a new grill and I normally buy  Home Depot or Lowes gas grill and it lasts about 2-3 years and then I replace it. Well there is this new place near me called the BBQ Grill Station so I thought I would see what they had. The sell several brands, but they praise this thing called the Big Green Egg. I had never heard of it but I have seen them on this show called BBQ Pitmasters on TV. I am having a bit of trouble wrapping my head around a $1000 grill, but thought I would ask here..... anybody have one or know anything about them? If so, is it worth it?

[Strawboss]

I've heard of them. BBQ is fairly serious business with many folks. I've got a gas grill made in Canada, nothing fancy, well made, not cheap, $200 I think a few years back. With proper care, I expect this to last close to 20 years. I myself can't see spending $1000 on a grill. I'm going to say that I doubt you could see or taste the difference, of course as I said there are others that will disagree.

[BrianM]

I've been using a standard Weber charcoal kettle grill for 5+ years and it does everything I've ever needed/wanted.  From grilling brats and burgers on up to and including smoking Thanksgiving turkey.  I use it pretty much weekly for 8~10 months of the year, and maybe once a month the other few months.  I tend to favor smoking over grilling, but not enough to lay out cash for a dedicated smoker. 

My brother-in-law has a Big Green Egg, but I've never seen it move from his garage...  kinda like his '68 Camaro, golf clubs and motorcycle.  I might have to steal it from him for awhile to see how it does.  Hard to imagine it'll grill/smoke 10x better than my old trusty Weber. 

Oh, I should mention that the Weber has lived outside in the weather of Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado and Georgia year round, has survived rough moves 3 times and still looks as good as new... or would if I'd clean it.  The stand is a bit wobbly now, but still holds the grill up and the wheels still roll.

[lolife]

I have had a Big Green Egg for about 2 yrs now. 

First off, you can see & taste a HUGE difference in the food.  I'm not someone who enjoys cooking or grilling.  In fact I used to hate it.  I sucked at it & the food wasn't all that great when I was cooking on a gas grill.

The secret to the egg is that its made of ceramic.  The heat retention & the ability to control the temps ranging from 200 degrees to 700 degrees.  I've cooked pizza, bread, steaks, hamburgers, pork chops, ribs, chicken, whole turkeys & just about anything you can think of. 

If you've ever bought something that was supposed to be top of the line & got it home & had it only disappoint you b/c it wasn't as great as you thought it was...well the Egg isn't it.  I agree that $1000 is a stretch to pay for a cooker.  Everyone calls the Egg a grill but its far from a grill.  Its a smoker, grill & dutch oven all rolled into one just by changing the setup inside the egg. 

My neighbor behind me paid over $700 for a stainless Weber gas grill.  After eating the pork chops that I cook, he immediately give his Weber to his parents & purchased an Egg.

I carried some left over chicken to work & a couple people wanted to taste the food that I had cooked the previous night & now they have an Egg.

My father-in-law is one of these people who pride themselves on being able to cook.  He only cooks in a Weber charcoal grill & said that there was nothing even close to cooking on his charcoal briquets.  He cooked ribs one night & when he asked how they were & my wife replied they were "alright", he got pissy & wanted me to cook ribs.  I smoked some ribs on the Egg & even he admitted that my ribs smoked his.

I honestly have never tasted pork chops better than the ones I cook.  All I do is heat the egg to 400 degrees, 4 minutes each side & chow down.  They're spectacular. 

I'd say spring for the Egg.  You won't regret it.  I've turned about 5 people onto the Egg & not one of them have regretted the purchase. 

[B.D.F.]

Judging from the photos of that thing, it is about the right diameter to change C-14 tires on too. Any instructions for that? Something like 'Heat the tire for one minute on each side, strap the wheel to the grill and mount tire. Fill tire with air to 42 PSI plus an additional one PSI for each ten degrees that you warmed the tire over 70F: example, if the tire is 350F, 42 PSI + ((350-70) / 10), or 70 PSI.'

Sorry, couldn't resist. 

Brian

I have had a Big Green Egg for about 2 yrs now. 

First off, you can see & taste a HUGE difference in the food.  I'm not someone who enjoys cooking or grilling.  In fact I used to hate it.  I sucked at it & the food wasn't all that great when I was cooking on a gas grill.

<snipped cooking anecdotes>

I'd say spring for the Egg.  You won't regret it.  I've turned about 5 people onto the Egg & not one of them have regretted the purchase.

[lolife]

An old worn out PR3 might be kinda tasty...stank like hell cooking...but with the right bbq sauce, it may be aw-ight.   

[Timalan]

I have been longing for a big green egg. Have not sprung for it yet. There are some cheaper knockoffs SAMs club has one. Same ish but much cheaper skimped parts etc. Till I have the money for a Hasty Bake or a big green egg it is weber for me?

[sherob]

A friend of mine in Seattle has one... swears by it... being from Texas, I'm still a Pitt's and Spitt's type of guy.

http://www.pittsandspitts.com/index.htm

[dusty1300]

Check out the Grill-domes. I have one of those, I found it cheaper, thicker ceramic, and good customer service. They have a forum there to read also.

http://grilldome.com/

A lot of BBQ contest people use these ceramic cookers. Others use the Weber Smokey Mountain cookers. I like the ceramic for long cooks as it retains the heat so you use less charcoal and have less messing with it. You can also get a device the mounts to all these smokers that adjust the temp and keep it constant. Great for slow cooks.

Tom

[JetJock]

The things you learn on this site! Never heard of these things and I do a lot of grilling. Bit pricey, but I'm interested and may have to figure out which b-day or something merits putting this on the list.

[Conrad]

My son won a Father's day contest a couple of years ago and the Egg was part of the package. He swears by it and says that it's the best grill ever!

[okxd45]

I've been using a standard Weber charcoal kettle grill for 5+ years and it does everything I've ever needed/wanted.  From grilling brats and burgers on up to and including smoking Thanksgiving turkey.  I use it pretty much weekly for 8~10 months of the year, and maybe once a month the other few months.  I tend to favor smoking over grilling, but not enough to lay out cash for a dedicated smoker. 

My brother-in-law has a Big Green Egg, but I've never seen it move from his garage...  kinda like his '68 Camaro, golf clubs and motorcycle.  I might have to steal it from him for awhile to see how it does.  Hard to imagine it'll grill/smoke 10x better than my old trusty Weber. 

Oh, I should mention that the Weber has lived outside in the weather of Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado and Georgia year round, has survived rough moves 3 times and still looks as good as new... or would if I'd clean it.  The stand is a bit wobbly now, but still holds the grill up and the wheels still roll.

I too love my Weber charcoal grill! It's lasted 7 years in OK outside.

[Powers77]

Have had one since July 3rd.  Heard about them on a similar forum and did a lot of research before purchase.  One of the few items I've researched that has little to no negative reviews.
Go to their website and follow the link to the forum they support.  Lots of expertise there.
I was originally looking for a new Weber but I'm really glad I found the Egg.
Very easy to control the temps and do slow cooking of pork butts, chicken and brisket.
Have had some very tasty meals over the last couple of months.

[OCK913]

Thanks for all the replies....   After reading lots of info on the web and a few personal critiques I was unable to find anything negative. There were some expressions of it being too expensive, but even those people said it cooked an amazing meal. So i decided to bite the bullet and buy it. I fired it up yesterday for the first time and we made jalapeno poppers first and then grilled some steaks. I have been married 18 years and after her first bite, my wife looked at me and said that was the best steak I had ever grilled. I like mine wll done and even cooked that way, it was still tender and juicy. It was only day one..... but I think I am going to like this!

[sherob]

Cool... next up, brisket 

[lolife]

Thanks for all the replies....   After reading lots of info on the web and a few personal critiques I was unable to find anything negative. There were some expressions of it being too expensive, but even those people said it cooked an amazing meal. So i decided to bite the bullet and buy it. I fired it up yesterday for the first time and we made jalapeno poppers first and then grilled some steaks. I have been married 18 years and after her first bite, my wife looked at me and said that was the best steak I had ever grilled. I like mine wll done and even cooked that way, it was still tender and juicy. It was only day one..... but I think I am going to like this!

That's exactly the appeal of the Egg for me.  I'm not an expert griller by no means but yet I can cook unbelievably good food.  Its the Egg not me.  As far as price, stainless Webers are near $700.

[Strawboss]

And thats what makes this forum and country great, opinions offered, private decision made. That your family is happy is whats important. Now, you gonna have a tech session and cook steaks?

[booger]

I've been thinking about buying one.

Do you have to burn it in?

[Intruder]

I've had one for about 7 years now. Has great heat control and retention. I like to smoke in it. One load of charcoal will keep the inside temp at 200 about 10 hours. I smoke a turkey every Thanksgiving, standing rib roast (prime rib) every Christmas, and brisket several times a year. Does steaks and burgers like nothing else too. I have also done a wood fire pizza or two on the plate setter accessory.

They are expensive, but well worth every penny!

[lolife]

I've been thinking about buying one.

Do you have to burn it in?

I've didn't "burn mine in".  I loaded some charcoal & cooked some burgers the first time on mine.  I will say that either the food started tasting better after the inside turned black or I got better at controlling the temps during the time it took to turn the inside black.   

On the DVD that comes with the Egg it shows a guy cooking several things just to give you an idea of how the Egg works.  The Eggs in the video are brand new b/c the inside of its white so I would say the answer to your question would be no.