Ceramic Grills: The Big Green Egg Grill Vs. Other Barbeque Grills

If you are a grill fanatic, you have most likely heard of the Big Green Egg grill. It's a ceramic barbeque grill which can be used as a bbq grill, smoker and a brick oven. It really is so adaptable you are able to make everything from hamburgers and steaks and other standard bbq grill foods to desserts, breads and even pizza.

Eggheads can't live without the Big Green Egg, but you might be curious about what makes the Egg (as it's fondly called) out-shine other barbecue grills.

Possibly the greatest difference is the appearance. The Big Green Egg smoker is well, green and the same shape as a big egg. Though I can not say why it's green, I can say that the egg shape appeared to be designed (purposely) to grant the ability to regulate and maintain the heat within the bbq grill better than other grills.

The next largest difference is the material the grill is made of. Rather than being made out of metal, the Big Green Egg has thick ceramic walls. Ceramic is noticeably more long lasting than other materials, which means the Egg will last longer than other barbecue grills, it can be cooked on all year (even with unusually cold temps). It's also safer than other grills, particularly if there are children playing close by, since the ceramic exterior stays cooler compared to regular metal grills plus you always grill with the lid down, therefore you don't have to be concerned with flare-ups.

There are lots of other differences however certainly one of my favorites may be the number of fans the Big Green Egg has. You'll find Egg supporters and events all through the United States, and Eggheads are always willing to share their stories, advice in addition to recipes at gatherings as well as on the Egghead website. I can't think of any other barbeque grill that has such a following.

I will admit, the Egg does have a few shortcomings in comparison with other bbq grills. For instance, it is not an inexpensive barbeque grill. You should expect to pay about $700 for the large Big Green Egg. In addition, you need to use lump wood charcoal, which is not always readily available and is usually a bit more costly compared to traditional charcoal briquettes. The Big Green Egg also has a smaller cooking surface when compared with many gas grills, which means you may need to have a back-up grill if you're grilling for lots of people.

Even so, the versatility of the Big Green Egg grill, the ability to grill, smoke or bake with your Egg, and the amazing results you get (the Egg can be quite forgiving, even for newbie grillers) are worth the purchase price. If you're a barbeque enthusiast and you also do a good deal of smoking in addition to barbecuing you will love the quality and the results you will get using the Big Green Egg.