The Big Green Egg Vs A Gas Grill
In an article from our sister site, The Big Green Egg and a gas grill were pitted against each other to find out which is the better option. If youre in the market for either one, this article will help you decide!
The green egg gas grill combo is a popular choice for many people. The Big Green Egg is the best option if you are looking to cook in an environmentally friendly way. It is also very cheap and easy to use.
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Choosing the proper grill for your culinary requirements might take a lot of time and work, it goes without saying. After all, there are other factors to consider, such as the size of the grill, the kind of grill, and the intended use of the grill. A gas grill will be quite different from a barbecue intended specifically for smoking meats.
Many people choose two grills in particular out of all the grills available. The Big Green Egg and the gas grill are these grills. While almost everyone who is looking for a grill is familiar with the term gas grill, not everyone is familiar with the term Big Green Egg. Simply described, the Green Egg is a sort of grill designed for charcoal grilling , however it may also be used as an oven, smoker, or pizza oven.
Before you can compare these two grills, you must first understand what the Green Egg is.
Cooking On The Big Green Egg
As I mentioned, I received a few different accessories to assist in my grilling endeavors, such as the convEGGtor. Its a ceramic piece that I can choose to place in the grill when I want to cook something with indirect heat. It basically turns the grill into an outdoor convection oven. This is nice because I can use the grill as a pizza oven, bake cinnamon rolls, or slow cook meats to achieve that fall-off-the-bone effect with barbecue.
I have used the convEGGtor quite a bit, such as with appetizers like bacon wrapped salmon or bacon wrapped jalapenos. For these recipes, I wanted the bacon to thoroughly cook and the smoke from the grill to infuse into the cream cheese and the jalapenos and salmon. The convEGGtor prevented the appetizers from being scorched by an open fire. Using this accessory does mean that the food takes a bit longer to cook, but the results were well worth it.
Overall, the Large Big Green Egg is a lot easier to use than I expected. While there is a little bit of a learning curve to using this grill , every single meal that Ive prepared with my Large Big Green Egg has come out nicely and Im beyond enthused to use this grill for many summers to come.
The Big Green Egg Stays Green
Big Green Eggs come in any size you want, whether you’re looking for a compact tailgate grill or a massive machine to take residence on your patio. However, you can only purchase the grills in the company’s signature bright forest green color. It makes sense considering the color is literally in the name of the product, but it’s easy to imagine BGEs in an array of colors along the lines of KitchenAid stand mixers or Le Creuset cookware.
You can purchase an egg directly from the brand or at one of their authorized dealers, but that’s it. You can find authorized dealers in your area via the BGE website. But if you’re looking for a different color, you’re going to have to go the DIY route and paint it yourself, if you have that kind of dedication and patience. But hey, green always looks good outside, so you can never go wrong leaving it as is.
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What Makes The Gas Grill Better
When you are trying to decide what makes a better cooking platform,there are a number of things you need to look at besides the features of them.You will need to think about warranties, portability, ease of use, and theamount of space that each product takes up.
The price is going to be the toughest point to consider, as there areso many different variables to factor in. Of course, the smallest grill thatyou can find is going to be less expensive than the most expensive counterpart.
Fueling the gas grill compared to fueling a charcoal grill of any kindis going to be a benefit in several ways. For one, while it might be annoyingto dislodge and dispose of the gas tank, you only have to do that once or twicea year, depending on how much you cook.
Compared to charcoal grills, you will be buying several bags of coal ayear, with each bag being about the price of a canister of gas. In terms offuel, the gas grill is going to be the more convenient option.
Cleaning out your gas grill is also going to be considerably easier aswell. Because you arent dealing with a fuel source that leaves anything behindbut fumes that evaporate in the air, you arent going to need to worry abouttrying to dispose of a massive ashtray. Instead, you just need to clean off thegrid and the lid, and then you will be ready to continue grilling.
If you are looking for something that is easiest to work with, thenyou are absolutely going to want to consider the gas grill.
Big Green Egg: 2022 Big Green Egg Reviewed
When people first see a Big Green Egg, they are always intrigued as it can be hard to understand what it does. Is the Big Green Egg a smoker? How is it different from a regular charcoal grill? Is it fun to use? Often the question arises: I already have a gas grill – is it worth investing in a Big Green Egg, too?
Big Green Egg has created a cult following over the years. They are the most well known Kamado ceramic grill maker on the market and for good reason. The green egg grill cookers are made of the highest quality materials, can be used all year round and the community they have created inspires bbqers around the world. Big Green Egg users are always eager to talk about their experiences with their Egg, share recipes, tips and most importantly, their food. When you buy a Big Green Egg you are buying into a lifestyle.
At Designer Appliances, we are big enthusiasts of Big Green Egg and wanted to share why we feel this way about this Kamado style grill and smoker. In fact, many of our staff own an Egg and are firmly attached to the quality of how our barbecue and smoked foods turn out. If you are around any of our stores over the weekends, you will often see us preparing staff lunch on a Big Green Egg. You’re always welcome to join us!
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What Makes A Big Green Egg Different
You can use a kamado to grill steaks and burgers, or use it as an outdoor oven or smoker.
The Big Green Egg is a charcoal grill, but unlike kettle and barrel-style grills, the Egg is whats known as a kamado-style grill, an oval cooking vessel made from ceramic. The thick walls of this grill store more heat than regular charcoal grills, allowing it to radiate around the food as it cooks. While you can use it as a regular grill for high-temperature cooking, you can also lower the temperature and use all that stored heat to turn the grill into a smoker or an oven. As an added bonus, those thick walls also make the Egg more efficient during our tests, it always had more leftover charcoal as compared to other charcoal grills, ready to relight for the next grilling session.
Unlike most of the grills we tested, the Big Green Egg isnt available at national chain stores. Its available at mostAce Hardware stores, but other individual dealers also sell the Egg. The prices tend to vary by dealer, who may sell it as part of a package deal or a special. You can find a Big Green Egg dealer near you to get the price .
You Can Cook Almost Anything On It
When we think of barbecue, it elicits a pretty specific sensory response. The heat of the grill, the sound of crackling sausages, the sight of grill marks on a perfectly cooked steak. Humans have been cooking food over fire since the beginning of time, with various meats likely being the most typical option. But there’s literally no limit to what you can make on a Big Green Egg so think outside of the barbecue.
The Big Green Egg website shows you how to use the grill to roast a whole turkey, smoke an entire brisket, char some vegetables, make a crispy/gooey pizza, and even bake homemade bread. If you can cook it, you can grill it. Want to prepare some smoked almonds to eat on top of your homemade ice cream sundaes? Pull out the BGE. Want to make grilled corn on the cob slathered in butter and salt? Just BGE it. The options are endless.
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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 .
What Can The Big Green Egg Do For You
Charcoal grills, and the Green Egg, function a little bit differently.They take a little bit more time to start up, as you have to make sure that thecharcoal is lit and is able to begin burning properly, which can be problematicif you want to cook and it is particularly windy outside. Charcoal grills alsorequire you to have a steady supply of charcoal at the ready, which can be alittle bit more demanding than a gas grill, depending on how much you cook.
On the other hand, the Green Egg offers a number of additional optionsfor cooking that gas grills do not. This includes being able to sear, bake, andsmoke foods. This means that the Green Egg is not only a grill, but can doubleas a number of other cooking utensils. If you are someone who enjoys cooking outside,this can be a significant money saver.
The Big Green Egg takes a little bit more time to cook for thebenefits that it can provide. Of course, you can always take food off early ifyou or your family is impatient for food.
However, if you are willing to wait the extra time, you will end upadding a wonderful smoked flavor to your dishes. When it comes to grillingmeats, that smoked flavor can make an immense difference in the quality of thedish, and it is oftentimes worth the extra wait.
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Is Kamado Joe As Good As Big Green Egg
Both designs look similar, except that one is a ceramic green egg and the other is red. The similarities largely stop there. The Big Green Egg is a traditional style kamado grill. It features a single level of cooking surface with a top and bottom vent that are adjustable. The heavy lid uses a spring to prevent breakage. The kamado grill from Kamado Joe’s uses a two level grill rack and a special vent that keeps out rain and may make it easier for some grillers to maintain the perfect temperature. The lids of all models use an “air hinge” that lets you open and close the lid with one finger. This keeps the heavy, ceramic lid from closing too hard and cracking. Numerous add-ons are available for these grills to allow you the best options for grilling, smoking, roasting, or baking. They even make a rotisserie that you can cook up multiple chickens on at one time. The upper and lower vents make it easy to use lump charcoal and keep the heat even.
Maintenance For The Big Green Egg
Protecting your Big Green Egg also includes maintenance, and youll be happy to know that this grill doesnt require too much work. I like to brush the grill grates and food particles off the convEGGtor before each use, but thats about all I do when it comes to pre-grilling maintenance. Cleaning the inside with water or soap is not advised.
As I mentioned above, you can only use lump charcoal in this grill. What I didnt mention is that you should never use lighter fluid to start a fire. The lighter fluid will ruin the Big Green Eggs inner materials, so always use fire starters or a butane starter. Once youve filled the Big Green Egg with charcoal to the full line, you can cook about three times before refilling the grill again. Lump charcoal doesnt produce a ton of ash, but you will need to clean out the bottom hatch occasionally with the Big Green Ash tool. Collect the ash in the included pan and throw the ash in the trash or use it in compost.
The Big Green Egg is warm to the touch while cooking, so be sure to keep children away from it. Once youre done grilling, it does take hours for the grill to fully cool down. I snuff out the fire by closing all the grates which removes the airflow and lets the fire die.
- Keep you grill free from grime with our advice on how to clean a BBQ
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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.
Ordering And Setting Up The Big Green Egg
There are a lot of things to consider when ordering and setting up a Large Big Green Egg at your home. Those with a complete outdoor kitchen can order the Large egg itself for about $950. However, most people will probably require a base for the grill, and the best way to do that is to order your Big Green Egg as part of a package deal.
I received the Nest + Handler Package, which means my Large Big Green Egg was placed in a metal base that had a handle and wheels. The package also included a bag of natural lump charcoal, SpeediLight All Natural Charcoal Starters, an ash removal tool, and a Grid Gripper, a tool to safely remove the cooking grid when its hot. The best accessory in the package was a convEGGtor, a ceramic plate that you place under the cooking grid for indirect cooking or to bake, smoke, and roast.
- Do away with the base and see how to integrate your Big Green Egg with these outdoor kitchen ideas
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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?
