XL Big Green Egg Review | How Much Egg is Too Much Egg?

[@mattsmith2992]

Xl Egg owner here for 10 years. Just finished my 9th Thanksgiving Turkey on my egg yesterday. It gets better every year. You have given a well detailed layout of the egg world. One thing that was omitted was the vast third party market of Accessories. The egg, conveggtor , Grill Grates, and Kick that Ash basket are all you’ll need to start. Don’t be overwhelmed by everything else. The egg is definitely worth the effort to learn.

[@gosman949]

another Thanksgiving right around the corner.

[@frederickmcgraw6220]

Fantastic review! 7 years with the XL. Base had crack at 5 years BUT replaced and installation FREE! Love this!

[@BenLowers]

I received a BGE XL with the wood table and a place setter for Father’s Day, 2014 (8 yrs ago). I dove right into learning. We now smoke ribs every few months, and cook steaks, burgers, fish filets, pork loin and chops, and chicken (and lots of sides) about every 5-10 days year round. LESSON LEARNED: Opening the dome in the middle of a cook should be minimized, and when you do… make it quick! Fish baskets and kebob baskets are highly recommended to get in, flip it, and get back out!

[@tjfoster1102]

Fantastic community of comments here. I've been considering a used XL but it's for two of us with an occasional cook for larger groups. I think I can safely get away with a large. Thanks much for this review and thanks to all for your input!

[@riccoratzo]

Thats a lot of information, very good! Thank you!

[@JBSmoke1]

Fair review. I'm an XL owner and I love it.

[@Keith80027]

I have had a Large Green Egg since 2008 and love it. I normally cook for 4 to 6 people and it works just fine whether I doing meat, fish or pizza. I have bought a number of items from Kick Ash like the basket and ash can that has made it easier to clean out which I do every time. I live in Colorado where it can be 105 degrees to -20 degrees with no wind to 60 miles per hour. I cooked in snow storms without difficulty once I get the fire going, unlike my previous tin cooks that were useless in cold or wind. It does take a learning curve to use constantly, but well worth the taste difference between a LP grill or pellet grill or tin box. The Kamado grill is a jack of all trades were you can grill, sear and smoke on the same grill.

[@emmgeevideo]

Definitely need to do a head-to-head review of KJ and BGE. I totally agree with you that to really get the best out of a BGE or KJ, you have to invest in some skills and be able to take the time actually cook.

[@emmgeevideo]

The KJ Big Joe comes with the SloRoller which is great for low and slow. The hinge is much better. Ash handling is much easier with the KJ. Take a closer look...

[@carolkalmerkalmer3135]

My egg is 13 years old and still is in great condition and looks about the same as the day I got it. I live in Florida and use my egg about 2 to 3 times a week all year long. My egg is in my lanai and/or in the bird cage which now does have a canopy on it so the egg does not endure the rigors of outdoor weather. I have many accessories for my egg and belong to a grillers club here too. Everyth;ing I cook on egg is great from burgers to turkeys, chicken, pork loins, and tomorrow I will do ribs.

[@gosman949]

I was going to ask for a comparison between the Green Egg and the Kamado Joe, and then you mentioned it at the end of the video! So count me in!

[@TheBarbecueLab]

Thanks Jay!

[@ericmoorehead1100]

China vs Mexico

[@scottc8876]

Bought the XL a year ago. Upgraded from the Akorn. The best upgrade for me. With the wood table it was right at $2k. I use it weekly mostly for smoking.

[@TheBarbecueLab]

Sounds like a great fit for you! Congrats!

[@Dragon-Slay3r]

I bet he knows why

[@michaelrice2843]

Very detailed and helpful review. Thank you!

[@TheBarbecueLab]

Glad it was helpful!

[@rjsewell4844]

Great content brotha! Really great review. We love our BGE and have had it for almost a decade! Definitely a learning curve when moving from a standard Weber or gas grill but totally worth it in my opinion!

[@TheBarbecueLab]

Almost a decade?! Nice! What maintenance have you needed to do to it over the last 10 years? I needed a new gasket in year two, but I'm curious what you've needed to do with yours over such a long time.

[@rjsewell4844]

@@TheBarbecueLab two new gaskets over that time period and several deep cleans (removing ring, fire box, etc.) with vacuuming out all debris. Firebox is still intact with no cracks. Only issue I have now is needing a new plate setter because one of the legs has a chipped piece off it.

[@frankwaltrip5807]

I’ve had xl bge for 2 years now, totally love it!!! Wouldn’t take for it!

[@Dragon-Slay3r]

I bet he knows

[@stevefenstermacher1330]

I would like to see a comparison between the BGE XL and Big Joe II or III

[@TheBarbecueLab]

Thanks Steve. We're working on that and will see what we can do.

[@thatrealba]

Thanks for all the info. I'm considering an XL Egg as my first of this type, so this was invaluable to me.

[@TheBarbecueLab]

Thanks BA - If you haven't seen our XL Kamado head to head with 5 brands, you might find this one helpful - kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5y0pIWNhs-XmbM

[@stephenfarrell6794]

Yes that comparison would be great.

[@curtisdrakesr4900]

I also wanna see comparison. Also anything that differs from one to the other

[@prestonbuffington954]

@@curtisdrakesr4900 I would also like to see the comparison vid.

[@2chrisward]

Agreed. Comparison would be interesting.

[@davidbusch2354]

My XL fell apart on me. First the spring lid contraption disintegrated and I was forced to lift the lid on and off by hand. Then the entire metal support structure broke while I was cooking and I got burned. I rolled the rest of it out to the road for pickup. I went back to a Weber - this time the Master-Touch 22". I am very pleased with it.

[@toomanybears_]

I got one for free all it needs is a new hinge and charcoal grate. Looking forward to cooking with it once I get it fixed up.

[@TheBarbecueLab]

Nice! It should last a couple more decades for you at a minimum. Congrats on your pickup!

[@bkeaver644]

Please I'd love to see a head to head with the KomodoJoe and BGE

[@Xpyburnt_ndz]

Watched your vid on the Vision Komado and have contacted them regarding how I can get one here in central CA...really like all the features they have for about the same pricing as the "green machine" rigs. Loved your vid on the Vision!

[@TheBarbecueLab]

Thanks Chris L. All the best with your new cooker!

[@msingold]

I started out with a Vision that I purchased at Costco about 10 years ago. I still have the Vision plus a Pit Boss (also from Costco) and a couple BGE. There is nothing wrong with the 10 yr old Vision. If I have/had a complaint, it's that the intake/ash exit is too small but it is a smaller "egg". Who knows, it might be bigger now. I also love the BGE's I have. I do not like the Pit Boss as much as the others. The air intake and exhaust cap designs, while similar to BGE, do not perform anywhere near as good as the others. Beware, the Pit Boss looks just like a Kamado Joe... but it definitely isn't!

[@jimintheweb632]

Excellent intel. Thank you.

[@Dragon-Slay3r]

😂

[@andreaalman8258]

Thank you very much for your review! I know now that I don’t need the XL version 😂

[@rogerboyer6323]

I started with a Char Griller Akorn to see if Kamado cooking was worth it to me and after I was convinced I moved up to the Kamado Joe classic. That might be another option for people who don't want to spend all that money to find out about Kamado cooking. I've always felt like the Kamado Joe is a better value for the money than Big Green Egg because most of the necessary accessories are included. I am not sure comparing the Kamado Joe III to the Big Green Egg is correct since that Kamado Joe is a different design with the slo roller, etc.

[@TheBarbecueLab]

Thanks for chiming in Roger! So with the KJiii, do you think it has a fair comparison in the market to any other Kamado, or does it stand alone?

[@rogerboyer6323]

@@TheBarbecueLab From what I can tell it's probably unique

[@rogerboyer6323]

@@TheBarbecueLab I think the better comparison might be the Big Joe since it's more like the Big Green Egg

[@arom8438]

Let see the head to head.. I’ll be subscribing video was super informative!!

[@zacharyschneider5119]

would love to see a head to head or a review of the primo oval xl

[@TheBarbecueLab]

Thanks for your comment Zachary. I'd love to shoot a head to head and a review with the Primo Oval XL, but I haven't been able to get my hands on a unit to do any testing with so far. If that ever changes, I'm all in on both the head to head and review.

[@yomomma5295]

Would love a comparison video

[@catheddy942]

quick question. Can you smoke on all sizes of Egg? can't seem to find that in the blurb. Thanks

[@TheBarbecueLab]

Great question! Yes, you can smoke in all sizes of Egg. As long as you have the diverter plate to create a buffer between the fire and the food, you can smoke with it.

[@curtisdrakesr4900]

One question...Have you heard any of the grills you listed being better quality/longer lasting than any of the others. Friends that do own chargrillers have to replace them every 5 to 7 years depending on handling and cleaning

[@stephenfarrell6794]

If you want a durable gas grill go with Broilmaster, I have had mine since August of 1997 and replaced the burner 3 times and getting ready for another in the Spring. I also have a Traeger Lil Tex that I have had since December 2006 and have replaced 3 hot rods and upgraded the controller twice. I also have a Weber Premium kettle that I got in July 2011 and still going strong with a few upgrades.

[@TheBarbecueLab]

The only longevity issues that I'm aware of on kamado grills are related to the metal components. The Char Griller kamado is made up of metal inside, so they rust out and need replaced from what I hear. The Big Green Egg, Kamado Joe and Primo are all ceramic cookers, so the only metal parts are the charcoal grate, the cooking grate and the metal bands or hinges on the outside. The Vision Maxis has a metal quick change insert that serves as an ash drawer, so there's more metal on the Vision compared to the BGE, KJ and Primo, but it's still primarily a ceramic kamado. I've heard of people needing to replace the exhaust cap, and maybe an interior piece of ceramic if they let the fire get away from them, but they're pretty much cookers that will last a couple decades if you take care of them. (The mostly metal Char Griller not included.)

[@curtisdrakesr4900]

@@stephenfarrell6794 Did you buy your original broilmaster from a big box store or a dealer? They are actually made right here in Indiana and Canada as well

[@stephenfarrell6794]

@@curtisdrakesr4900 I purchased it at an authorized dealer.

[@anak5971]

Thk appreciate

[@srthiago01]

Really good content, thanks

[@TheBarbecueLab]

Thanks Thiago! All the best.

[@rickstevens3027]

Please compare to the KJ Big Joe ;)

[@RJ-mh3ox]

family guy wasn’t to far off 😂

[@mercedvaldezv7364]

I looked into the big green egg 5 years ago but the price of all the add-ons kept me away. I went with the Grilla Grills Kong and have been happy with the purchase.

[@TheBarbecueLab]

Haven’t had hands on with a Kong yet. What do you like about it?

[@mercedvaldezv7364]

@@TheBarbecueLab I like the two tier grill surface they come with. At the time it was $799 shipped to my door. I ended up paying around $970 total with a diffuser plate, cover and ash tool. I based the purchase primarily on cash savings. The same setup would’ve cost a few hundred dollars more with a BGE. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying the Kong is better by any means. But the Kong works for me. On a side note, I have had to use some loctite on the nuts that hold the handle and side trays as they kept coming loose. That would be my biggest critique of the Kong.

[@user-in4uf7to5d]

2000 $ is cheap compare to my country, where it costs almost 5 K 😭😭😭

[@TheBarbecueLab]

Wow. That’s incredible.

[@chriskramer508]

what are my thoughts on the big green egg? proceeds to not give thoughts on big green egg

[@Dragon-Slay3r]

I don't claim any benefits because I got pushed out a job and no one tells me why 😭

[@AsTheWheelsTurn]

way overpriced, that is absurd.Prob going to buy one though lol

[@magacop5180]

The Kamado competition has left BGE in the dust. They need to hit the Drawing board.

[@msingold]

How so?

[@michaelmilitello5644]

Your comments on briquettes are not true. There are plenty of quality brands and made of only hardwood (crushed lump) and food grade starch as a binder. Yes. Kingsford had a lot of other crap and it’s gross. Please don’t mislead people.

[@msingold]

Either way, BGE recommends only using hardwood lump.

[@BarmanBean]

Use the other briquettes then. Even the “low ash” briquettes are insanely ashy. Not nearly worth the cost savings plus the reduction in real charcoal taste.

[@mayramontes9945]

Too much talking and not showing the grill