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 .
Big Green Egg Grill: Are They Worth The Money
Even to a novice barbecue enthusiast, somegrill names have the advantage of being universally recognizable. This isespecially true for the iconic ceramic, or kamado, style grill the Big Green Egg. The BGE garnered attention as the first of its kind in the United States.
Not every product thats first to the markethas the luxury of becoming so synonymous with its brand, yet the Big Green Eggremains known to this day.
In spite of nearly fifty years since itsintroduction, the Big Green Egg still remains one of the most accessible kamadogrills, and one of the most durable. And when parts need to be replaced, the job can easily be done on your own.While many grills appeal to either novicesor accomplished backyard veterans, the Big Green Egg is a fantastic choice forboth.
So, what makes the Big Green Egg so enticing and expensive?
How To Use The Big Green Egg
If I didnt know what temperature to set the grill, I went to the Big Green Egg recipe page and searched for the item I planned to grill. I didnt necessarily follow the recipes to a T, especially when it came to marinating the food, but instead focused on finding the temperature setting and cook time for the meat or the vegetable I was cooking. I came to realize that grilling on this charcoal grill is kind of like using an oven. Set the temperature, monitor the food, and its done after a certain amount of time.
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Vision Grills Elite Series Deluxe Kamado Grill
MOST VERSATILE
Vision Grills Elite Series Deluxe Kamado is extra in all the best ways, when you want to go hard on grilling with all the bells and whistles there is to offer.
While most kamado grills come on a rolling stand, very few offer quite the amount of storage options the Elite Series Deluxe does, include two tables with plenty of space for grilling tools, and more storage below the grill itself to hand the grates when youre finished cooking. Not only does it also offer two grilling tiers, it has both cast iron and stainless steel cooking grates if you want to get a specific kind of cook. The grates are also hinged, which gives you easy access to add more wood and tend to the charcoal.
Another unique feature is the slide-out ash drawer, which also includes a slot for an electric starter where the bottom dampers are located for the easiest charcoal lighting start-up, and clean-up, possible. The hinge is also incredibly easy to lift, but also includes a locking hatch with a tighter seal for those searing high temperatures, which you can easily check on the LED grill light.
The grill is rounded out with a round Lava Stone for indirect cooking and smoking. Vision Grills shows that sometimes, more truly is more.
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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Does The Green Egg Ever Go On Sale
Thanks to something called the Minimum Advertised Price or MAP, brands such as Weber and Big Green Egg and Liebherr, Viking and Miele rarely if ever go on sale in stores. You may have looked for an items price in print or online and seen call for price.
What Is The Big Green Egg Like To Use
Ive cooked on the Big Green Egg many times and have made everything from steak to pork chops, salmon, shrimp, jalapeno-wrapped bacon, squash, and elote . All of the food turned out delicious, but I wouldnt have been able to accomplish these delightful dishes without utilizing the Big Green Egg website.
My Large Big Green Egg didnt come with a grilling instructional pamphlet . Even though the delivery guys provided some instructions on how to light the grill and what I could cook with the Big Green Egg, I made sure to read the instructional pages on the grills website. If I hadnt, I wouldnt have known that the first time you use the grill , you shouldnt go above 350 degrees Fahrenheit, because doing so could damage the gasket which would then need to be replaced.
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How To Buy A Grill At Costco
In order to buy a Costco grill, youll need a Costco membership. A standard or Gold Star membership costs $60 a year. An executive membership, which includes 2% rewards on qualified purchases, additional savings on Costco services and benefits on certain Costco travel products, cost $120 a year. Theres also a business membership available for $60 a year, plus an additional $60 for each affiliate cardholder.
Costco technically offers free delivery options on many of its grills. However, its website notes that you may be able to find a lower priced grill in-store a caveat that some purchasers also called out in their reviews.
Keep in mind, too, some grills wont arrive until approximately two-to-three weeks from the time of your order. Costco customers can opt to pay an extra $50 for grill assembly. The grills can be returned directly to any of its 700 warehouses.
Looking for more options? Weve rounded up the best grills available at other popular megastores across common grilling categories.
First Things First The Price
Youll begin to notice a common theme here at Kamado Jim if you stick around long enough. Im pretty frugal. My wife would beg to differ and just calls me outright cheap, but I prefer to go with the term frugal. It works for Warren Buffett and he isnt exactly living a life of despair.
**Update July 2016** Youll see the original paragraph below regarding the deal I received on my Kamado Joe has been struck through as that deal is no longer valid, unfortunately.
Semantics aside, I was able to get a better price on my Kamado Joe by purchasing via Wayfair.com. As a new customer, not only did I receive 10% off their price of $950, but I also received a small reward or store credit to the tune of $35 which I could use on a future purchase. Also, they didnt charge me for tax and shipping which could be substantial given the price and weight of the Kamado Joe . As an extra added bonus, I received an additional 10% off due to a slight backorder from the Kamado Joe warehouse. Needless to say, I cannot praise Wayfair customer service enough. Id do business with them again in a heartbeat.
All in all, I saved nearly $200 off retail bringing my total, out of pocket cost to $768. From the research Ive done, you simply cannot get a comparably sized Big Green Egg for less than that, unless youre able to take advantage of the demo egg deal at EGGtoberfest.
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Additional Features For The Big Green Egg
If you plan to purchase a Large Big Green Egg, there are a few things to keep in mind. For instance, the Big Green Egg is like an egg, in that if it falls and hits the ground, its going to crack. This is why I highly suggest you purchase a package that includes a nest.
I store my Big Green Egg in the garage and when I want to grill, I pull the Large Big Green Egg outside. If you push the Big Green Egg and hit a rock or divot in the ground, its more likely to topple over and break the egg. Once Ive placed it in the spot I want, I lock the wheels and Im ready to grill.
The Best Costco Grills
The best Costco grills are made from high-grade materials and have high customer ratings. They also offer competitive warranties.
Keep in mind, prices on these grills are subject to change. The cited ratings and number of reviews were accurate at the time of publication. Shoppers should read each grills warranty in full to understand what is covered .
1. Genesis II S-345 3 Burner Gas Grill by Weber
Price: $1,129.99
Costco reviews rating:4.6 stars
Total number of reviews:910
Serious backyard chefs might want to consider this highly rated propane gas grill, which touts all the features you expect from a Weber grill and then some. Its outfitted with stainless steel grates, three stainless steel main burners operating at a total of 39,000 BTUs per hour and a side burner operating at 12,000 BTUs per hour. It offers 513 square inches of primary cooking space.
The grill comes with a number of bells and whistles, including four meat probes, a grill cover, backlit knobs for nighttime grilling and a smart thermometer that pairs with Webers iGrill app to send you notices when your food has reached the recommended temperature.
2. KitchenAid 4-burner Gas Grill with Side Burner
Price:$499.97
Costco reviews rating:4.4 stars
Total number of reviews: 321
3. Louisiana Grills Kamado Charcoal Grill
Price: $699.99
Costco reviews rating: 4.4 stars
Total number of reviews:112
4. Nexgrill Cast Aluminum Table Top Gas BBQ
Price: $139.99
Costco reviews rating:4.6
Total number of reviews: 915
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Kamado Joe Vs Big Green Egg Overall Winner
The Kamado Joe vs Big Green Egg debate is a close one but for my taste, Kamado Joe is the clear winner. Their product is premium, impactful, and will make delicious food for a long time. Theres an endless amount of ways to customize your cooking experience on a Kamado Joe.
Frankly, a lot of the same things can be said about Big Green Egg. Its another great brand with a loyal following and for good reason. If you end up with a Big Green Egg, I can assure you you wont be disappointed.
When comparing two extremely high quality brands, the verdict often comes down to the little things. Thats definitely the case here. Kamado Joe just tends to stay a little bit ahead of the technology curve, their grills come with complete features so you dont have to pay extra for things like a stand or side tables, and their customer service is better.
What Is The Difference Between A Kamado Grill And A Gas Grill
In some cases, a kamado grill can be a gas grill, but most of the time they are designed for charcoal. Gas grills use tanks of propane for their fuel, and kamados take natural lump charcoal.
Youll find a distinct taste difference when youre cooking with lump charcoal instead of propane. Propane might be easy to use, but it won’t give the best results.
Natural lump charcoal is really wood, and you can taste the flavor that it imparts to all your favorite recipes. Propane is a heat source that gives no taste or flavor, and serves strictly as fuel.
There are kits that allow you to convert your kamado to propane or natural gas, and additional flavor can be achieved if you add chunks of wood to provide smoke.
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What Brands Make Kamado Grills
Shopping for a kamado grill is a challenge because there are many types and sizes of grills to choose between. Two of the most popular brands on the market are from Kamado Joe and The Big Green Egg. Today, we are going to explore the similarities and differences of these two smokers and help you determine which one will suit your cooking needs the best.
The Most Striking Kamado: Komodo Kamado Big Bad 32
Komodo Kamado makes some of the highest-quality, most striking cookers we’ve seen. Stunning assortments of inlaid tile finishes are available, but these cookers aren’t just another pretty face. Attention to detail is evident in everything you see and touch, from the 304 stainless steel grates and hinges to the heavy-duty casters. And the casters have to be powerful to support this bad boyit comes fully assembled and weighs in at almost half a ton. At 32 inches wide, this is the biggest kamado on the market. Want to make it even fancier? Plenty of options are available, including teakwood carts and gas ignition.
Cooking Area: 576 square inches
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The Best Kamado Grill For 2022
We thoroughly tested a group of popular kamado grills from Big Green Egg, Kamado Joe, Char-Griller and others. These are our picks.
Brian Bennett
Senior writer
Brian Bennett is a senior writer for the home and outdoor section at CNET. He reviews a wide range of household and smart-home products. These include everything from cordless and robot vacuum cleaners to fire pits, grills and coffee makers. An NYC native, Brian now resides in bucolic Louisville, Kentucky where he rides longboards downhill in his free time.
There really aren’t a lot of grilling jobs that you can’t tackle with a kamado grill. It takes a bit of practice, but once you’re familiar with it, a kamado grill can run circles around your standard gas grill. They’re also great for wood-fired cooking, which is a technique that consistently yields delectable results.
Typically made from ceramics, these grilling champs boast amazing heat retention. A little amount of fuel goes a long way, allowing you to run a kamado cooker at slow and low temperatures all day long. Plus, you can fire up your grill to become scalding hot. I’m talking hot enough to cook authentic wood-fired Neapolitan pizza. A kamado griller is also great for searing true steakhouse-style steak and, honestly, just about anything you’d consider grilling.
Ribs, chicken, burgers: You name it, we cooked it.
Here are my picks for the best kamado grill options for 2022. I’ll update this list as I review new products.
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.
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Is The Big Green Egg Grill Worth It
CR put the $1,000 kamado grill to the test to see how it stacks up against less expensive competitors
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Since its 1970s debut, the Big Green Egg has maintained its status as a backyard cultural phenomenon. For the uninitiated, lets just say that this ceramic beast of a charcoal grill and smoker has hatched numerous copycat cookers and die-hard devotees who call themselves Eggheads. Were not judging.
We can, however, evaluate its performance and help you answer the question: Does anyone really need to drop $1,000 or more on the Big Green Egg? Especially when competitive kamado grills can be had for as little as a few hundred dollars, not to mention that some great gas grillsas well as the top-rated charcoal grills from our testsstart just north of $100. But the Big Green Egg was never trying to supplant gas and charcoal grills and, frankly, its design has little in common with traditional grills.
The Big Green Egg was the only widely known kamado grill for years, says Mark Allwood, a market analyst who oversees grills for Consumer Reports. But in the past few years, weve seen lots of kamado models from other brands trying to capitalize on the popularity of the Egg.