Smoker Grill

mike braden

mike braden

Well-known member
Looking for input on a smoker grill. Looked at several including the big green egg.

Any suggestions?

Anything decent in the $200-400 range.

Is the BGE worth the money. Most reviews seem to think that it is.
 
Hi Mike,

I have owned both the XL BGE and the large oval Primo. Both are great cookers that you can grill, smoke (with the plate setter option) and bake on. The capacity is limited though if you ever plan on cooking for a larger party of any size. I ended up with a Stumps vertical smoker because of the larger capacity, but it comes with a larger price tag. For the budget that you mentioned of $200 to $400, I would recomend you looking for one of the new Weber 22 1/2" Smokey Mountains. I think they run around $300 bucks and are great smokers. You can still use them as a charcoal grill as well. The only down-side of them is loss of heat in the winter or on very windy days. Guys that I know that use them, combat that by wrapping them with a hot water heater blanket. You can also purchase a BBQ Guru for the Webers to digitally control the pit temp and your meat temps.

Hope that helps,

Todd
 
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been eating off a BGE for over 15 years, parents have two, and that was the first thing I bought after my wife and I bought our first home. worth every penny, can smoke at 175 and sear steaks at 700, it does it all. You really have to go out of your way to mess something up on one. We stopped frying turkeys at thanksgiving and only smoke turkeys now, it blows a fried turkey out of the water. steaks, hamburgers, chicken, vegetables, you name it it's awesome. I own a large, but if I had it to do over again I would get the XL.
 
Thanks for the input guys. I have a friend that was looking at a more budget model (between 200-400). From what I see, I like the BGE and I am considering buying one for myself.
 
i will give you some info. the cheaper smokers are just that cheep. the egg is on of the best. i built a smoker last year after a trip to ga. the smoker has to be able to hold heat! so cheep thin ga. metal smokers will not keep an even heat. 1/4 to 1/2 steel pipe make a great smoker. it also helps to be air tight as possable. keep the heat even in the smoke chamber. never use any kind of tank or pipe that had oil in it. most people use used propane cylinders be cause you can burn the propane out of the metal better then oil. a new tank would be the best. here is a link that my brother and i used to build ours. http://www.texasbarbeques.com/barbeque_smoker_plans.html

if you are handy and can get a a hold of a uesd propane tank for free you can make one yourself for what you can buy one for.
 
BGE all the way Own 2 but Im also biased as they ROCK and the fact that where I work we are a Dealer....... :)


My Egg Rig

61707_1567664841224_1523539454_1455775_4799642_n.jpg


ALso keep your eyes on Craigs list in your area as used ones come up often and many
at a BARGIN PRICE! The eggs do have lifetime cermamic warrantys for the owner wich is
nice. We havent had many problems but a couple busted fire rings ect. they take care of it
for us easily.
 
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