You can smoke meat on nearly any grill or smoker, but few cooking devices offer the performance and versatility of the Big Green Egg. Originally released in the 1970s, it features a Japanese kamado-style design consisting of a large egg-shaped container with a cooking grate in the middle. So, why should you smoke meat on the Big Green Egg?
#1) Traps Flavorful Smoke
The Big Green features a sealed design that traps flavorful smoke. Whether you are smoking beef, chicken, pork or fish, the amount of smoke to which your meat is exposed will affect its flavor. If you use a smoker that leaks smoke, your meat won't taste as delicious. With its sealed design, however, smoke will remain inside the Big Green Egg where it enhances the flavor of your meat.
#2) Insulated Ceramic Construction
While other smokers typically feature a stainless steel construction, the Big Green Egg features a ceramic construction that acts as insulation. Ceramic is an excellent material for preventing the loss of thermal energy. By definition, ceramic is any type of solid, inorganic material that's exposed to high temperatures. When used in the construction of a smoker, such as the Big Green Egg, ceramic traps heat to offer a more efficient smoking experience.
#3) High-Quality Stainless Steel Cooking Grate
You don't have to worry about the Big Green Egg's cooking grate rusting. It's made of high-quality stainless steel that inhibits oxidation, thereby protecting the grate from rusting. You should still clean the grate on a regular basis, ideally each time you use it. But with its stainless steel design, the Big Green Egg's cooking grate won't rust, allowing you to use it for countless cookouts.
#4) Dual Draft Doors
You can easily control the internal temperature of the Big Green Egg using its dual draft doors. The draft doors are essentially air vents to pull fresh air into the fuel chamber where your charcoal and wood burns. While many low-end smokers only have a single draft door, the Big Green Egg features two: one at the bottom and another at the bottom. By opening the draft doors, you can increase the temperature of your Big Green Egg. And if you need to lower the temperature, you can close the draft doors.
#5) Over a Half-Dozen Sizes
Whether you're looking for a small smoker to cook a few hamburgers or an oversized smoker to cook several racks of ribs, there's probably a Big Green Egg to meet your needs. It's currently offered in over a half-dozen sizes, including Mini, MiniMax, Small, Medium, Large, XLarge and 2XL. The 2XL, of course, is the largest model, featuring 672 square inches of cooking space -- the equivalent of about 35 to 40 hamburger patties. The Mini, on the other hand, is the smallest model, though it still offers about 79 square inches of cooking space. Consider how much meat you intend to smoke during a typical cookout, and choose an appropriately sized model. If you only smoke a few hamburgers at a time, a Mini model will likely suffice.
#6) Isn't Affected By Rain
Wouldn't it be great if the weather was always nice and sunny when you want to smoke meat? Regardless of where you live, you won't have the luxury of experiencing clear skies all 365 days of the year. The good news is that you can still smoke meat when it's raining outside if you use the Big Green Egg. Rainwater will simply drip off the sides of the Big Green Egg while having minimal effect on its internal temperature. As a result, your charcoal and wood will stay dry inside the Big Green Egg's ceramic shell, allowing it to burn and smoke even in bad weather.
#7) Less Charcoal and Wood Required
With its heavily insulated ceramic construction, the Big Green Egg requires charcoal and cooking wood than other types of smokers. As your charcoal and cooking wood burns, the heat -- along with the smoke -- become trapped inside the Big Green Egg's ceramic shell. Because of its insulated ceramic design, the Big Green Egg generally requires less charcoal and cooking wood. This is just one more reason to consider purchasing the Big Green Egg.
The Big Green Egg isn't cheap, but you should think of it as an investment. Since it's heavily insulated, it could save you money on charcoal and cooking wood. If you usually go through a half bag charcoal, for example, you may only need to use a quarter of a bag. Over the course of a year, that can translate into big bucks. Furthermore, you can use the Big Green Egg for more than just smoking; it's perfect for grilling and even baking.
Find the best deals on premium smoking chunks by visiting our online store today. Cutting Edge Firewood offers a variety of high-quality smoking chunks, including white oak, hickory, cherry, pecan and whiskey, all of which will allow you to smoke delicious meat.
