Will ‘Egghead grill’ revolutionize barbecue?
Image from About.com
In case you haven’t noticed, it’s summer! To me, and many others I know, that means it’s barbecue season. Of course, if it were up to me barbecue season would last all year.
Thanks to the “Big Green Egg,” also known as the “Egghead grill,” some people have made year-round grilling a reality. CNN reports that Adam Frey of Bloomington, Minnesota, grilled outdoors all through January with his Big Green Egg.
What is a Big Green Egg?
BigGreenEgg.com calls its product “the world’s best smoker and grill.” What makes it the best? I bring you an explanation straight from the source, but be careful. Reading this might make you want to run out and get a fast cash payday loan so you can buy one and become an Egghead griller.
You can use the EGG® year around in all climates, even in freezing temperatures or during pouring rain. You will find it more versatile than any outdoor cooking appliance on the market, whether comparing it to gas, electric or another charcoal grill, because the EGG is a smoker, a grill and an oven all rolled into one. …
You can grill steaks and chops to the perfect degree of doneness, cooking at temperatures up to 750°F for steakhouse searing. But if fallin’-off-the-bone ribs or a tasty, juicy brisket is on your menu, the EGG will maintain a low temperature of 200° to 250°F. …
The simple secret to temperature control is the easily adjustable dampers that let you maintain accuracy within a few degrees. The exterior temperature gauge gives precise temperature readings of the cooker’s internal temperature. … The ceramic surface doesn’t get as hot as a metal cooker, also making the EGG safer to use.
What’s the catch?
Some users of the Big Green Egg also use it to make baked goods, such as bread. The catch, of course, is the price. The Big Green Egg comes in several sizes, but the extra large one — which reportedly can cook 24 burgers, 12 steaks or 11 whole chickens at a time — can cost up to $900.
Of course, you might be able to find a used one on craigslist for cheaper, but I have my doubts. People who own a The Egghead grill might not be inclined to let go of it. CNN reports:
The oval-shaped grill has amassed a cult-like following since it was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1974. Fans of the grill call themselves Eggheads.
“When you find yourself waking up, thinking about what you’re going to grill that night, you’re pretty addicted,” Frey said. … He wasn’t the only one to express devotion to the ceramic cooker. Other iReporters shared photos, videos and stories about their egg-centricity.
“I am an Egghead. They should pay me, because I constantly encourage people to buy one,” joked Brad Cates.
Not sold online? You’re kidding!
Unfortunately, the manufacturer’s web site says “There are no authorized internet retailers for Big Green Egg products.” Business opportunity alert! If you could become that authorized internet retailer, you could probably make a killing.
As it stands now, you have to go through an “official distributor” to buy a Big Green Egg. You can e-mail the manufacturer through the web site. There are also some kamado charcoal grills available on Amazon. They are basically the same as an Egghead grill, just a different brand.
Learn more or celebrate the Big Green Egg
If you can’t figure out how to get your hands on a Big Green Egg, and you’re really into it, you could attend a festival that demonstrates and celebrates it.
EGGtoberfest 2009 will take place in Tucker, Georgia, near Atlanta, in October. You can register for tickets to EGGtoberfest starting August 1. The event will take place Oct. 16 and 17 at the Big Green Egg Worldwide Headquarters.
CNN says EGGtoberfest is “an annual event where more than 1,000 Eggheads converge to share recipes, meet fellow fanatics and purchase additional Eggs.”
I rarely turn on my oven anymore. Everything tastes better on the EGG. As far as being expensive…..I went through 3 gas grills in ten years, the EGG will last the rest off my life.
I can vouch for the BGE having owned an XL for the last couple of years and it has always produced great tasting food every time without any hassle. Best of all, the BGE always gets a few comments , not all of them polite, but there you go!
Oooo, I want one, I want one! I am a major BBQ/ smoked-food lover who lives in the state of Washington, where it’s mostly cold throughout the year. My family and I would sit outside, under the heavy snow trying to grill some meat. People would drive by and look at us funny; but hey, anything for some barbecue right? But with the Big Green Head, we’ll be the hottest grill masters on the block! Watch out! LOL