Before deciding. I love my PBC. Best ribs wings prime rib I e ever had. No gasket to worry about. Larger capacity and less than half the cost. Tons of videos on the website walk you through different cooks. Did pulled pork a few weeks ago and it was excellent. link - ( New Window )
Grilling not as much, and if you're looking for some of the crazy high temperatures that you can get with a ceramic/brick cooker to bake bread and pizza, you're going to need a bunch of add-ons that aren't worth it, IMO.
But as a smoker, I actually prefer my WSM to the BGE's I've used. The advantage of the BGE is the versatility, but it becomes one of those 'jack of all trades/master of none' type devices.
BGE's are awesome, but I think they are way too expensive IMO for two reasons - 1) even the large ones don't have that big of a cooking surface and 2) I like to be able to raise and lower the charcoal to the cooking surface. you can't do that easily on the BGE.
if you buy one, you will enter into a cult that tells people how much better it is than any other grill there is...I bought a char-griller duo (two grills connected, one gas, the other charcoal and it has a smoke box - about $300) its exactly what I wanted at the time and it still delivers...I texted by buddy who's a BGE owner the day I bought it and called me right away and told me to return it, put the $300 in savings and just keep saving until you can afford a BGE. he was dead serious. I had to fake an small emergency to get him off the phone.
BGE's are awesome, but I think they are way too expensive IMO for two reasons - 1) even the large ones don't have that big of a cooking surface and 2) I like to be able to raise and lower the charcoal to the cooking surface. you can't do that easily on the BGE.
if you buy one, you will enter into a cult that tells people how much better it is than any other grill there is...I bought a char-griller duo (two grills connected, one gas, the other charcoal and it has a smoke box - about $300) its exactly what I wanted at the time and it still delivers...I texted by buddy who's a BGE owner the day I bought it and called me right away and told me to return it, put the $300 in savings and just keep saving until you can afford a BGE. he was dead serious. I had to fake an small emergency to get him off the phone.
I have a WSM too (got it really cheap off of craigslist on a whim). I do whole birds, wings and butts on it. its great and works very well...have you even gotten racks and done ribs on it?
It's something along the lines of a Weber kettle. I wouldn't use the WSM as my primary grill, though.
Every tool needs to have the same question answered - how do you plan to use it? The BGE is nice because all of that ceramic mass lets it hold temps for a very long time and keep them remarkably stable, high temps as well as low.
The downside? Can't come to temp quickly either, nor cool down. It's also a bit smaller.
If 75% of my use was as a smoker, I'd rather get the WSM and one of the computer controlled temp controllers (CyberQ, etc.) with the same money (and less) as a BGE.
I have a WSM too (got it really cheap off of craigslist on a whim). I do whole birds, wings and butts on it. its great and works very well...have you even gotten racks and done ribs on it?
You don't need the racks, just coil the ribs up. The racks help, but they're by no means necessary.
BGE's are awesome, but I think they are way too expensive IMO for two reasons - 1) even the large ones don't have that big of a cooking surface and 2) I like to be able to raise and lower the charcoal to the cooking surface. you can't do that easily on the BGE.
if you buy one, you will enter into a cult that tells people how much better it is than any other grill there is...I bought a char-griller duo (two grills connected, one gas, the other charcoal and it has a smoke box - about $300) its exactly what I wanted at the time and it still delivers...I texted by buddy who's a BGE owner the day I bought it and called me right away and told me to return it, put the $300 in savings and just keep saving until you can afford a BGE. he was dead serious. I had to fake an small emergency to get him off the phone.
I had the Duo. It fell apart after 3 years.
I've have mine for 5 years now and it still is going strong (thought I've replaced a couple of things on it). it certainly won't last forever and I don't know if I would get another one when its time for a replacement, but I'd say I got my money's worth out of it, especially since I can't see it needing to be replaced for a couple more years.
We got the Weber kettle last year based on recs from here...
either we bought a lemon or my wife has struggled to adjust, but we've had a lot of problems with it. We actually had better luck with the Char-Grill side-by-side, a relatively cheap POS grill/smoker combo that actually did a pretty good job for us.
Anything from a low smoke to making a pizza at high temp, it handles it like a champ. Biggest thing I have found is to make sure your bottom ash collector is cleaned fully before each grilling. That is where your temp control starts and ends.
I was sold when we did a salmon the first day we got it and it came out better then any one I have had at home or at a restaurant.
...made by Vision Grills. Home Depot also sells them. Not sure if Costco still does. The one I have was about $400 less than a comparable BGE (large). It's great, I use it all the time in spring/summer/fall. No issues over the past 2+ years.
I can get consistent heat ranging from 800 degrees to <250.
BGE's are more expensive than any other kamado grill out there. Not saying that BGE's aren't worth it, just that there are highly rated less expensive options out there if price is an issue for you. (It was for me.) Vision Grill at Home Depot - ( New Window )
either we bought a lemon or my wife has struggled to adjust, but we've had a lot of problems with it. We actually had better luck with the Char-Grill side-by-side, a relatively cheap POS grill/smoker combo that actually did a pretty good job for us.
Sorry to hear that Russell -- there are some great videos that show you the ins and outs of that grill if she's willing to look at them.
again, I don't have one, but have cooked on one before. if you want to spend the money you will no doubt love it. I've yet to come across anyone that has one that regretted it or wished they didn't have it.
link - ( New Window )
All I can say about the BGE is that everyone I know that owns one, loves one. Very few instances of buyers remorse. Good luck with it!
I know a couple of restaurants in the area that use them. Kevin Rathbun is one of their chef spokespeople and he swears by it.
That's crazy talk boy, nobody "settles" for a WSM.
But as a smoker, I actually prefer my WSM to the BGE's I've used. The advantage of the BGE is the versatility, but it becomes one of those 'jack of all trades/master of none' type devices.
if you buy one, you will enter into a cult that tells people how much better it is than any other grill there is...I bought a char-griller duo (two grills connected, one gas, the other charcoal and it has a smoke box - about $300) its exactly what I wanted at the time and it still delivers...I texted by buddy who's a BGE owner the day I bought it and called me right away and told me to return it, put the $300 in savings and just keep saving until you can afford a BGE. he was dead serious. I had to fake an small emergency to get him off the phone.
if you buy one, you will enter into a cult that tells people how much better it is than any other grill there is...I bought a char-griller duo (two grills connected, one gas, the other charcoal and it has a smoke box - about $300) its exactly what I wanted at the time and it still delivers...I texted by buddy who's a BGE owner the day I bought it and called me right away and told me to return it, put the $300 in savings and just keep saving until you can afford a BGE. he was dead serious. I had to fake an small emergency to get him off the phone.
I had the Duo. It fell apart after 3 years.
Every tool needs to have the same question answered - how do you plan to use it? The BGE is nice because all of that ceramic mass lets it hold temps for a very long time and keep them remarkably stable, high temps as well as low.
The downside? Can't come to temp quickly either, nor cool down. It's also a bit smaller.
If 75% of my use was as a smoker, I'd rather get the WSM and one of the computer controlled temp controllers (CyberQ, etc.) with the same money (and less) as a BGE.
You don't need the racks, just coil the ribs up. The racks help, but they're by no means necessary.
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BGE's are awesome, but I think they are way too expensive IMO for two reasons - 1) even the large ones don't have that big of a cooking surface and 2) I like to be able to raise and lower the charcoal to the cooking surface. you can't do that easily on the BGE.
if you buy one, you will enter into a cult that tells people how much better it is than any other grill there is...I bought a char-griller duo (two grills connected, one gas, the other charcoal and it has a smoke box - about $300) its exactly what I wanted at the time and it still delivers...I texted by buddy who's a BGE owner the day I bought it and called me right away and told me to return it, put the $300 in savings and just keep saving until you can afford a BGE. he was dead serious. I had to fake an small emergency to get him off the phone.
I had the Duo. It fell apart after 3 years.
I've have mine for 5 years now and it still is going strong (thought I've replaced a couple of things on it). it certainly won't last forever and I don't know if I would get another one when its time for a replacement, but I'd say I got my money's worth out of it, especially since I can't see it needing to be replaced for a couple more years.
I was sold when we did a salmon the first day we got it and it came out better then any one I have had at home or at a restaurant.
I can get consistent heat ranging from 800 degrees to <250.
BGE's are more expensive than any other kamado grill out there. Not saying that BGE's aren't worth it, just that there are highly rated less expensive options out there if price is an issue for you. (It was for me.)
Vision Grill at Home Depot - ( New Window )
Pit Barrel Cooker and Weber grill may not be upscale enough for you
Sorry to hear that Russell -- there are some great videos that show you the ins and outs of that grill if she's willing to look at them.
again, I don't have one, but have cooked on one before. if you want to spend the money you will no doubt love it. I've yet to come across anyone that has one that regretted it or wished they didn't have it.
Yes I do, why would you ask that?