What Is The Difference Between Kamado And Green Egg
But things are a bit easier if you have the right can designed specifically for the large Big Green Egg! Its a quick, easy way to clean out the grill. The Kamado Joe features multiple racks, and also comes with a tool for moving around the hot racks. The BGE itself has only grilling grates that are at a single height.
Is The Green Big Egg Really Worththe Money
The Big Green Egg isnt the only kamado grill but it is the one that most are familiar with. So, is the BGE just asmokescreen of marketing or is it the real deal?
The Big Green Eggs biggest draw is itsability to do one thing better than almost any other grill: give you precisecontrol over the level of heat being used to grill your food as well as have the most amazing warranty and customer service.
Time and again, users report that your abilityto influence the level of heat by utilizing the ventilation system isunparalleled. Likewise, when you pick a temperature, it stays there forhours, unassisted.
When you use the BGE you are using a grillthat is both determined to naturally flatten out fluctuation and eager to giveyou the power to control it. There isnt much more you can ask for thanexcellent savory results all controlled by you!
The Big Green Egg definitely shows itsstrengths when you talk about the numbers behind its performance. Its hard todeny the efficiency of the Big Green Egg when it can track heat readings of over 750 F , warm up to astronomical temperatures in about fifteenminutes, and maintain a long cook with a single load of charcoal for twelve tosixteen hours .
How Does The Big Green Egg Work
GRILL | Sear the perfect steaks, pork chops, or burgers on the Big Green Egg as a grill. High temperature “steakhouse grilling” – even at 750 degrees is quick and easy! Using the two dampers for accurate control, you can lower the heat to a more moderate temperature for other grilled foods. Fish and seafood turn out moist and tender with a flavor-packed crust unmatched by other grills!
OVEN | Using the indirect cooking method with a Plate Setter, the Big Green Egg bakes the perfect bread, pizza, casseroles, cobblers, and pies better than your kitchen’s oven…you may never have to cook indoors again! The Big Green Egg retains heat and moisture so well that foods just don’t dry out. Poultry, beef, lamb, and vegetables are naturally tastier because the juices and flavors stay locked in.
SMOKER | The insulating ceramics of the Big Green Egg allow you to precisely control the temperature, even at low heat. A controllable 200 – 350 degrees gives absolutely succulent results with turkey, ham, lamb, chicken, ribs, or any of your favorite cuts, infusing them with aromatic wood smoke flavor. Want to slow cook at low heat for sixteen to eighteen hours? No problem!
HOW IT WORKS…
Stop by Oasis Outdoor in Pineville, NC and we can show you exactly what this incredible grilling, smoking, baking beast can do!
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Important Info For Freight Orders
Freight orders are orders that are either too heavy or too large dimensionally for normal FedEx/UPS shipment. All freight shipments will require access for a semi-truck and trailer to deliver. If this is a concern in your area, your please contact our customer service team and we will be glad to discuss this with the freight company before the item is purchased.
What to Expect with Freight Orders
Please visit our Shipping & Delivery page for more information on normal and freight order purchases.
Why I Chose The Kamado Joe Over The Big Green Egg
Approximately six years ago, I was at a friends house celebrating his birthday. Ill never forget when we walked out onto his deck and I unknowingly, laid my eyes upon the first ceramic grill Id ever seen.
What in the hell is that?, I asked.
Are you serious? Youve never seen a Big Green Egg before?, my friend replied, looking utterly perplexed as if I had suddenly grown a second head.
I didnt have the first clue what a Big Green Egg was and as any loyal Egghead would, he began to rattle off reason after reason as to why its the best grill ever.
Not thinking much of it, I shrugged my shoulders, grabbed another drink, and continued to mingle at the party. Later that evening however, he served that fateful pulled pork he had smoked over ten hours and Ill never forget my reaction after that first bite.
WHOA. This pulled pork came from that Big Green Egg thing out back?
Looking ridiculously smug, he replied, Sure did. Not bad, huh?
Not bad?! It was borderline life-changing. I still talk about that pork today. It was mind blowing. Between the perfectly done bark and the delicate smoke flavor, it was some of the best pulled pork I had ever had and it was at that moment that I knew I needed to have one of those Big Green Egg things. Whatever they were.
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I Dont Follow The Herd
Theres no doubt that the Big Green Egg brand has been wildly successful since it emerged in 1974. As you undoubtedly know, they have a cult-like following and thats exactly what led me to look elsewhere for my new ceramic grill. Despite popularity, doing / buying what everyone else does just isnt my style. I cant explain the core reason why Ive always been that way because honestly, I havent a clue. I must just be a sucker for the underdog.
How Much Does The Green Egg Grill Cost
The Green Egg Grill, also known as the Big Green Egg, is a high-quality charcoal smoker grill that can be used to sear and smoke a wide range of meat, fish and vegetables.
It is known to be one of the most versatile outdoor cooking products on the market as the ceramic shell holds heat better than almost all the competing products and promotes even cooking.
It is known to be a quality smoker and oven, too.
Based on the ancient cooker known as a kamado, the product is everything from an oven to smoker all rolled into one.
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Should You Buy The Big Green Egg
The Big Green Egg is definitely worth the purchase. Yes, its a bit pricey, but so are all the other kamado-style grills. Besides, once you buy a Big Green Egg, you wont need to buy another grill for the rest of your life.
Like many other people, I give the Large Big Green Egg a five-star rating. It produces incredibly wonderful meals and its easy to use, especially for those who havent cooked on charcoal grills before.
With the weather warming up and the rainy spring season moving on, I plan to pull out my Large Big Green Egg and grill regularly this summer. There are so many recipes Im dying to try. Barbecue at my place, anyone?
Legal Disclaimers And Warnings
Product packaging, owners manuals, installation instructions, and/or operating instructions may include more information than what is shown on our website. The content on our site is intended to be used for reference purposes only. Please fully read all included manuals and documentation before installing or using this product. WARNING for California residents: this product may contain chemical known to the state of California to cause birth defects, cancer, or other reproductive harm.
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Full Cost Of The 18 Inch Large Big Green Egg
- Egg: $749
- Ash Tool: $25
- Total: $1,069
The 18 inch Egg, the most popular model, has 262 square inches of cooking space and weighs in at 162 pounds. The cooking area is big enough for about a dozen burgers.
For those of you doing comparison shopping then there are two other grills that you need to look at. If you want a grill that is BETTER than the Egg and costs about the same then look at the Kamado Joe Classic. The Classic is the same size as the Large Egg and comes fully loaded with all of the accessories that you need.
The folks at BGE are actually scared of the Kamado Joe products. I was at local hardware store talking the sales guy about their Egg selection. I mentioned that it would be nice if he also had some Kamado Joes in stock so people could see them side by side. He agreed with me but said that as part of the agreement to be a BGE dealer he is not allowed to have any Kamado Joes on the showroom floor.
Here is a video Head to Head comparison of the two grills.
If you want a grill that is CHEAPER than the Egg then you need to look at the Pit Boss Kamado Grill. The Pit Boss Kamados are larger than the Large Egg, come fully loaded with all accessories and a cover and cost a heck of a lot less than the Egg.
You can find the Pit Boss Kamados at Costco, Wal-Mart and Home Depot.
What’s So Special About The Big Green Egg
Ceramic earthenware cooking dates back to ancient times. Fast forward to modern days, and entertaining and inspired cooking has never been easier than from our Big Green Egg grill. The company has developed accessories based on suggestions made by the Egghead community as they continue to swap tales and share secrets. We love the all-season versatility of smoking our Thanksgiving turkey during a November snowfall, smoking wings for Superbowl or grilling a brisket for Passover on a chilly morning.
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How To Start A Big Green Egg
Once you get your firestarters ready
follow these 4 easy steps to become a Grill Master:
Build a small pyramid of lump charcoal and place the firestarter in the middle.
Light up the firestarter
Let the firestarter do its job for 10-15 minutes. IMPORTANT – while you are starting your Big Green Egg keep the top lid open. Make sure the bottom is clear of past ashes, and the small vent in the bottom is fully open.
Here is what you will get within 10-15 minutes. Several nicely charred lump coal pieces. Now you can close the top lid and leave the top-vent open on the metal cap.
Its All About The Flavor
Both lump charcoal and pellets are made from hardwoods, like oak, maple, and hickory. Fruit woods are commonly used as well to enhance flavors even more. But which one gives you the best flavor?Wood pellets are going to provide a smoother, smoke flavor. When you buy pellets for a smoker, you can select from different combinations of hardwoods and fruitwoods to get a blend that can really kick up your flavor. Lump charcoal burns much like those nasty briquets, but totally clean. You will get a great smoke flavor that is likely to be somewhat heavier. You will also get a nice charred finish on your meat, giving that perfect crunchy texture. Lump charcoal can be made of any hardwood, and can influence flavors. Independent testing of cooking fuels to attain 225 degrees for one hour found that pellets are cheaper overall. Pellet fuel costs were $0.76 per hour, while charcoal came in at $1.50 per hour.
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What Size Green Egg Should I Buy
A 20 pound brisket will feed 20 of my closest friends. 10 burgers, 8 steaks, or 5 whole chickens get me to a dozen or so, especially if done in stages. Bring in the Big Guns! If you like to entertain and cook for more than 15-20 people then the XL Egg, Big Joe Kamado Joe, or XL Oval Primo is the way to go!
What Are The Extra Costs
The Green Egg, unfortunately, cant sit on the ground once you purchase it, so a dealer will try to push either a basic nest, which is a metal stand for your egg or in some cases, dealers can build a customized stand. Depending on the size and your tastes, the cost of a nest can cost as little a $100 to as much as $500+ for a table/island.
Other accessories, aside from the highly recommended stand, includes a cover, grilling tools, a temperature gauge and a cooking grid.
You will need to purchase lump charcoal when you want to grill. This can be generic charcoal or Green Grill specific charcoal.
Delivery and installation may or may not be included in your estimate and can add another $100+ to the total.
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Who Makes Big Green Egg Grills
The Big Green Egg was developed by Ed Fisher in Atlanta, Georgia in 1974. As an American serviceman, he had enjoyed domed clay cooking in Asia. He was convinced that the amazing Kamado cookers could be produced and marketed successfully in the US.
Ed Fisher enlisted engineers that used state-of-the-art ceramics developed at NASA to build a cooker that provided the best heat insulation.
Three decades later, The Big Green Egg is the worlds largest producer and distributor of Kamado style cookers. They average $5 million in sales yearly.
The Big Green Egg is so succEggful it has developed a fanatical, cult-like following of Eggnerds called Eggheads who have all the Eggcessories . Eggheads have lots of Eggsperience with the kamado-style tEggnology and enjoy hanging out together at Eggcellent Eggfests like Eggtoberfest.
Big Green Egg Accessories For Steak Lovers
Cast Iron Cooking Grates
While the stainless steel grates included with the Big Green Egg are incredibly durable, upgrade to the cast iron cooking grates when you want steak house quality food. The Cast Iron grates get very hot, retain their heat and give you restaurant style sear marks on your steaks and chops.
Plancha Griddle
The plancha griddle is also made out of cast iron and provides a great cooking surface for searing meats, vegetables and seafood.
Ceramic Cookers
For chicken and turkey, these ceramic cookers are awesome! They infuse your meat with so much flavor and moisture. Fill the ceramic cooker with your favorite liquid , herbs and spices, then sit your poultry directly on the ceramic cooker and roast until done. When you carve the meat, it will fall right off the bone.
Instant Read Thermometer
Want to make sure your steak is done to your desired temperature? The Instant Read Thermometer is the tool for you. Insert the thermometer into your meat to check on the temperature. No guess work on when your meat is done with the Big Green Egg thermometer.
Automatic Temperature Control DigiQ BBQ Guru
The temperature control allows you to monitor the temperature of your Egg. This comes in very handy if you are doing a long, slow smoke and you want to get a good night’s sleep. The Temperature control will keep your Egg at the right temperature when you can not be there to monitor it.
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Why Does The Big Green Egg Offer Such A Small Mini
There are times that call for a small, intimate celebration and lighting a full bag of charcoal may seem downright wasteful. Enter Mini-Max. We love the versatility of Mini-Max when a special occasion or a quick meal is in order. They are also highly portable for taking camping or to a vacation home.
See what other Designer Appliances readers are saying.
SIDENOTE. This post was last modified on May 12, 2021. However, we regularly update our content as we test more products and new models are released. We also listen to the feedback of our customers and make changes to our product recommendations based on their experiences. So don’t be surprised if you see some old comments below! Since reader comments contribute to the topic, we have decided not to delete them.
How Cr Tests Kamado Grills
We started by assessing the cooking performance of each kamado. Could it get thin-crust pizza hot enough to crisp the crust without burning the toppings? Next, we used pork shoulder to see whether the grill could cook low and slow for long stretches, all while maintaining a consistent temperature.
Every kamado grill we tested excels in our cooking tests, but they differ significantly in two key areas: convenience and cleaning. The best kamados not only cook well but also make it easy to build a hot fire or dial down the temperature for ribs or brisket. They’re also easy to clean. Many have ash catchers, or trays, while others need to be disassembled for a thorough cleaning.
If you’re curious about kamados, our grill buying guide is a great place to learn a little more about the landscape. CR members can also access our ratings of gas, charcoal, and kamado grills.
CR members can read on for our in-depth test results for the Big Green Egg.
And regardless of which kamado grill you use, there are certain tips that will help ensure great results. Below, we’ve highlighted five of the foods that we think are best on a kamado and provided expert tips for preparing each.
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