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I've long been obsessed with the idea of cooking outdoors: The freshly-cut grass under my feat, sun beating down, cold beer in hand, and large cuts of protein showered in kosher salt and cracked black pepper thrown on the grill.
For years, I worshipped at the altar of the classic Weber kettle grill. Its simple, utilitarian design makes using it nearly foolproof. Plus, at just under a hundred bucks, it's extremely affordable. But, at a certain point in my home grilling career, I wanted more.
I wanted something that stayed hotter longer. I wanted something that could easily function as a smoker. (Yes, it's possible to turn my trusty Weber into a smoker, but it's not the most convenient solution.) It's around that time I discovered the Big Green Egg, a ceramic cooker that's functionally a grill, smoker, and outdoor oven all at the same time.
Suddenly, I started seeing the thing absolutely everywhere: It turns out a friend's parents have one and love it. They're incredibly popular with chefs as both a reliable product and something aesthetically pleasing that doesn't look out of place in the context of their restaurant. The thing even photographs so well it's a favorite of the Instagram community.
So, I found a friend who owns one and spent some time using it. I was an instant convert.
The biggest advantage of the Big Green Egg—and other ceramic cookers like it—is the ability to precisely maintain temperature. That's accomplished by two openings on the top and bottom of the vessel that allow you to control the amount of oxygen—and, indirectly, the resulting temperature—that flows through it while cooking. The egg's ceramic build helps maintain that heat for longer, as well. That means you'll have to reload the charcoal chimney less often, leaving more time for everything else on your cooking, drinking, snacking, and baking agenda.
No, they're not cheap—the smallest model will set you back $400, while the largest one goes for over $1100. But it's also three devices in one: Grill, smoker, and oven.
Want to use the egg as an oven? No problem. Just toss a simple attachment on the thing and you've created a barrier between those flames licking up through the grates and that pork shoulder, chicken, or whole fish you're looking to cook outdoors.
Pivoting to a smoker is easy once you have that set up—simply add your wood chips and lower the temperature for tender smoked brisket or pork ribs.
And while there are other ceramic grills on the market—the model made by Primo is a popular one—none have the versatility of size that the Big Green Egg does. The eggs come in seven different sizes, ranging from 10 inches in grill-able diameter to 29 inches. For some perspective: the largest model is capable of cooking 16 whole chickens at once.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a perfectly cooked brisket to marvel at.
