Big Green Egg

I have the large but could use the XL. I use it almost daily in the summer, weekly in the winter. How do I justify the cost? I don't even think about it when I get the results I get.

We had 2 different gas grills that were probably in the $1000 range (so not cheap) and they rusted or different elements broke within a few years...that is why DH wanted to go with a BGE type grill.  

Smoked meatloaf is the bomb! 

We bought one last year and absolutely love it! We have the large and most of the time it is big enough (just 3 of us). As for what to cook on it - pretty much anything. What it does to the taste of food is amazing. One night I threw one of those $3 polska kielbasa's from Hilshire Farms on just for the heck of it. OMG, the amount of flavor that sausage had was unbelievable! It's the only way I will cook those now.



You will have better control and better flavor with the BGE. I grew up with charcoal and used it until we inherited DD's gas grill from college days. I counted down the days till that thing died and then went and got the BGE. It's more mine that DH's, but he's learning to use it. I really don't think you will regret getting one. You might also want to do some reading over at the Egghead Forum. Lots of great information, ideas and recipes there.

ETA:  I should have just said ditto to everything Dalai Mama said.  She was one of the peas who helped convince me to bite the bullet and buy the BGE last year.  

I would love one. Just to have it.
I would also love to have a huge offset Pitt grill, but my husband says it looks like a Hicksville thing.

I like to fuss with the fire, so the egg would just frustrate me. So I found a char-broil charcoal grill that is shaped like a gas grill. Lots of grill space and a firebox that I can fuss with coals. The only thing I don't like is the charcoal tray. It is a really stupid design but is easily solved by putting a piece of steel mesh over it.

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We bought a Kamado Joe, which is the same style but a bit less expensive. We've just had it a short time, and have smoked a roast beef and a chicken on it, and they are ahh-mazing!!!

I have the XL green eggs it was my 50 birthday present and yes I asked for it , I Love that thing I use it if between one and five times a week it just depends.

Yes, we have one. We use it several times a week (whenever we cook out). We have the Large. Justifying it was easy.

22 years we bought an Oklahoma Joe, DH and his dad went straight to the factory in Ok and bought it while we were visiting OK on vacation. This was before they sold out to Char-broil. They are absolute junk now compared to back then. I think even back then we paid almost $700 and the quality was fantastic. When we look at the Char-broil version we are absolutely shocked at the lack of quality compared to the original. And that thing held up for 22 years before starting to rust. So this spring DH began researching.

He absolutely fell in love with the EGG and compared it extensively to cheaper versions. The quality of th Egg was much like out Oklahoma Joe. Thick, heavy, sturdy- built to last. And much like the cheaper OKlahoma Jow, the cheaper versions were exactly that, cheaper and with almost certainty, one would need to replace within a few years.

Shop. Pick up the lids, look at the quality. The difference will astound you. And for us, paying for a quality item that will last another 22 years is well worth the cost. DH loves grilling and smoking meat and considers a good grill an investment over one that needs to replaced Ina few short years.

And according to him- managing the temp and cooking on it a dream, it holds heat in a way the cheaper versions are not built to do, no matter what you are told. Just comparing the quality hands on will tell you that.

For someone who loves to grill, a good grill makes it even more pleasurable.

We have large and I love it! We use it most weekends or at least once a week.
I justify the cost because the flavor and quality of the food we can make on that thing is superior to any grill I've ever owned.

I have also done some smoked mac n cheese that is AMAZING and I often have people ask for this specific dish.
The best turkey I've ever eaten came off our Egg. We also love all types of seafood, pork, steaks, etc. Even when we kind of overcooked a meal, it wasn't all that bad. There is just something about how it holds in the meat's juices but gives that amazing smoked taste!!

We did a brisket yesterday and it smoked all day long. We actually enjoyed sitting around yesterday morning having our coffee, then ate some lunch snacks outside, played with the dog and watch some TV out there all while tending the Egg. It was a pretty relaxing day for us. We also have a hammock on the deck where the Egg is and just grilled and chilled allll day.

When the power went out for a few days last winter, we ate GOOD because we just fired up that Egg and let it ride for hours. The neighbors brought a few things over too. It was kind of fun actually!!

Yes, we have one.

Bought the large. It's a little small when cooking for more than 3 or 4 people. We would cook the entire meal on the Egg. Steaks, baked potatoes, corn on the cob, heat up the rolls. Or, fish (2 kinds), potato/veggie packet, rolls. Pizza. One friend would call and ask if we could make dinner on the egg, he would bring the steaks. Or, are you guys making dinner on the egg? LOL! We would invite him to join us for dinner. It was on his way home anyway.  

We used the BGE 3 to 4 times a week from April to October. We went Whole Foods Plant Based in February and haven't used the Egg at all this year. 

My husband had been looking at the BGE for a couple of years, but wouldn't spend the money on it. I had a barely part-time job and allowed my peanuts to accumulate for awhile. Then, I bought him an Egg for his birthday. Best way I could have ever spent that money. 

He isn't much for splurging on himself. Though, he will indulge me. 

The BGE is worth every penny. One needs to be willing to learn how to use it though. 

One of our favorites was cooking a 'beer can' chicken. All that is needed is a soda can filled with water for moisture. Sprayed with olive oil and seasoned heavily with some spice mixture (I can't remember what it is. But, I could find out.). Baked on the egg. The meat would fall off the bone and was so tender. Baked potatoes were a frequent side. 

I don't love smoked food either. I also get nervous about HCAs with charcoal grilling. I know we would use a BGE often, but I don't think it's worth a potential health risk, especially given how pricey the grills are-if I had one, I'd want to get my money's worth, lol

My DH and his friend took a grilling/smoking class last weekend... and as I type this, DH is sitting across from me researching the Egg, the Traiger and something else (Daniel Boone something or other?). He has talked about nothing else since last weekend!

How do I justify the cost? He does 99% of the meals in our house (he's retired, I'm not) so if he wants to buy it, that's fine with me!

Another who didn't know about this. I've seen them, just never looked at them.

My dh cooks over wood, as he doesn't care for charcoal. Can he use wood?