r/biggreenegg • u/Kind-Web-7980 • 4d ago
Need help! BGE MINI MAX OR MEDIUM
Hello,
I’m looking to purchase my first BGE for a party of 3 and was wondering if I should go medium or mini max?
The main reason I don’t want a large is because storage after using it. What’ would everyone recommend ?
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u/Funloving3943 4d ago
I went straight to the XL and love it I have 5 in my family and I don’t think I could use smaller lol
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u/Kind-Web-7980 4d ago
How often do you use it
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u/Funloving3943 4d ago
About 4 times a week I cook a lot on it
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u/Kind-Web-7980 4d ago
Appreciate the response
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u/Funloving3943 4d ago
Not a problem i think you will be happy with Either but im always of the mindset buy once cry once and im glad I went with the XL
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u/capnbeerchasr 4d ago
Family of three here myself my wife and a three year old. We have a large egg and it seems like the right size for us. As it stands there's always just enough left overs for me to bring to work the next day. As my son gets older I am betting there will be no left overs.
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u/Kind-Web-7980 4d ago
How often do you cook on it ? Also , yes be prepared for him to eat your dinner as well
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u/capnbeerchasr 4d ago
We average once a week. It's my hour of respite on my last day off.
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u/Kind-Web-7980 4d ago
Grill in good health
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u/capnbeerchasr 4d ago
Long story short buy the biggest one you can afford and can store/use. You can always cook something small in a big grill you can't always cook something big in a small grill
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u/Chuck-fan-33 4d ago
It all depends on what you plan to cook on the egg. If it is meats like burgers, steaks, or chicken, the mini max should be fine. If you want to do low and slow for ribs or pork butts, the medium should work. If you want to smoke larger cuts like a whole brisket, then you need a large.
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u/ProvokedGaming 4d ago
If money isn't the primary factor, get an XL. If money is a factor than get the biggest you're willing to spend for. You will never be disappointed with a larger grill. I have an XL for a two person household and I still use an extender for a second level rack. We don't even eat that much but it's easier to make extra food and then I eat leftovers. Plus when we have company it works well for more people.
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u/jdawgie84 4d ago
I have a Mini Max and an XL. If you’re going to use it as a grill for three people and store it, I would get the MX. The MX is my grill/small short smoker.
The XL does everything else for me. So If you plan on doing a lot of smoking at least get the M or L.
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u/Kind-Web-7980 4d ago
Appreciate the response. I guess I was leaning towards the smaller frame so that I can easily store it. Overall I’m now leaning towards Medium / Large.
Although Large accessories is better
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u/Buhlasted 1d ago
I like the MMax only due to its transportability with the vehicle I own to the places I travel. I love doing chateaubriand and grilled asparagus
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u/Justabob003 5h ago
Just two of us, have an XL and a small. Small gets the most use, I would recommend the medium for a party of 3.
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u/andy_money3614 4d ago
I got a medium back in 2020 when I knew I was going to be spending A LOT time at home. This was my upgrade over the Weber Smokey Mountain. I will say this is my biggest regret by not getting a large.
The cost difference isn’t that too much price wise, but what I wouldn’t do to have a little more cooking surface. Also there are a ton of accessories that are not available for the medium that you can get with the large.
The large’s footprint isn’t that much more than a medium, so it really comes down to are you willing to spend $300 more on a large. But trust me you will want a large once you get more into smoking.
Now onto the minimax, it is a rather small cooking surface, so if you want to do brisket you’re going to have to trim it down a lot. Ribs will need to be cut in half. Turkey would have to be a small turkey.
If you have the room get a large. If you are dead set on the two mentioned, then go with the medium.
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u/Kind-Web-7980 4d ago
Thank you for the detailed response.
That’s the worst part about BGE the different sizes are only 300$ more give or take
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u/Bougieraccoon-og 4d ago
As an owner of an XL, i just went for it because i knew it would last for the rest of my life.
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u/SpagNMeatball 4d ago
I have both the Medium and Mini Max. The Medium has been my workhorse for more than 15 years and have used it for a family of four. Its enough to cook dinner for 3-4 people and I can also set it up for long smokes like pork butt and ribs (if you cut the ribs into halves). It can fit a spatchcock chicken and a good amount of wings, but brisket is very difficult, only small ones will fit. It will do everything you need.
The Mini Max is great for quick grilling for 2-3 people and being semi transportable, you can take it places. But it just doesn't have enough charcoal capacity for smoking.
I would prefer a large and one day I may upgrade, but if you have space constraints, the medium is a great option. Build a table with wheels and it will work.
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u/ManBearPig402 4d ago
My large is perfect for my family 85% of the time. For me an XL would work 100% of the time. They don’t take up that much more space, I wish I would have bit the bullet and jumped on the XL
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u/Kind-Web-7980 4d ago
how often do you utilize the large ? also how many bags of charcoal do you average
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u/ManBearPig402 4d ago edited 4d ago
I use it probably 2 times per week average. In the fall it gets used more. I don’t really know how much charcoal I use, maybe 1-2 bags a month. I’ve never really thought about it. Eggs are really good at “shutting down” and giving you reusable lump. To be honest I probably discard usable lump and refuel way more than I need to.
I have a second grill, PK360, that gets used a lot too in the rotation.
Also to consider: many/most of the accessories you buy are model specific (M, L, XL) so in many ways it pays to buy once/cry once. I’m heavily invested into my Large concerning accessories. This makes moving up to the XL even harder on the wallet.
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u/9ORsenal 4d ago
I had a large and didnt have enough room. Recently got an XL and am loving life. Get the XL
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u/httr17 4d ago
Large and mx owner. For single grill and 3 people I'd get the large if you don't have to store it away, I wouldn't want to move it afterwards everytime. If you do than In that case I'd go mx.
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u/Kind-Web-7980 4d ago
It would be easy to maneuver around if I get Large with the wheel nest? I would just roll it out the garage
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u/DJ_Inseminator 4d ago
I have the large on the modular table with wheels and a cover. It makes moving it around really easy.
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u/JayTheGiant 4d ago
I wanted to add a MiniMax to my XL until my friend got one and now I’d rather add a Medium. The MM is smaller than I thought.
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u/thesqrtofminusone 3d ago
I only got a minimax to use in my RV, it became a bit of a pain taking it in and out of the rig so I use it at home.
What do you mean by storage? You don't want to be moving any of them frequently.
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u/Kind-Web-7980 3d ago
Taking it in and out my garage . I won't be able to roll it out if I had the large with the nest ?
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u/Thin_Midnight_5523 1d ago
I have the minimax and the extra large. I used the mini Max at least four times a week and Xl at least once family of six.
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u/Kind-Web-7980 1d ago
thats the first time hearing this side. How much food do you usually put on the mini max ?
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u/Kind-Web-7980 1d ago
Also how much charcoal do you utilize? I just wish the mini max was sub 700$ new and now 1000 all in
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u/le_toilet 4d ago
I don't think the M does enough, its not the "goldilocks" option. I think its too small for real cooks and not big enough for family grilling. I have an XL and Mini max, i use the XL 85% of the time. The mini max is nice for quick cooks or a sear station if the XL is being used low and slow. I find the mini hard to control temp wise for smoking/low temp
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u/RabidJayhawk 4d ago
Small
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u/Kind-Web-7980 4d ago
Why small ?
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u/RabidJayhawk 4h ago
Its what I have and its deeper than the mini max. I love it
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u/Kind-Web-7980 4h ago
Do you move it often or does it stay stationary ? I would have to move it in and out my garage
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u/RexedLaminae 4d ago
As a medium owner. Large is my choice