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[Bubba Board]

 Bubba Board » Big Steel Keg and Bubba Keg Grills » Big Steel Keg / Bubba Keg Convection Grill Discussion (Moderators: Porchpup, BBQBeaver, RNF, Hogsfan)
 Insulated with what? Cold weather performance?

[coHoser]

I'm a day from ordering a BGE or a BSK - I live at 7500 feet in Colorado and want to use my new grill all year long, and particularly like to grill in < zero fahrenheit degrees and a good snow storm is a nice addition.... I'm concerned about cracking an egg and the ability to control a long burn, and the timing/quantity of charcoal to maintain a good 12-14 hour smoke.

Any info is very appreciated!

Mark

[ronbeaux]

No problem. At 550F inside I can touch mine and not get burnt. Your vents may need to be open more than mine but so would the BGE.

12 to 14 hrs is a walk in the park.

[RazorbackBBQJim]

coHoser,

I spent 4 yrs at Lowery AFB in Denver Co. and like you I grilled year round.  I would open the garage door in a snow storm and fire up the Weber Performer.  The people on my block thought I was crazy!!  But they came to eat!!!

If I were in the same situation as you are now...I would choose the BSK...no question in my mind.

Just my opinion.

Jim

[Skinsandos]

I cooked at 20* (yes that happened in FL this year) the BKG performed perfectly slight adjustment in vents to counter the cooler air but not much at all the higher elevation may also require slight vent increase as well

I would not consider lighting a ice cold egg

Michael

[Rip]

Are you a Bubba or a egg?

Think about it.

 

rip

[uncle]

i bought a bubba keg 05-09 and cooked on it all year and bought a big steel keg 04-10 and plan on cooking on both thru the winter i cooked a ham christmas and ribeyes on new years i will use the kegs 5-6 times a week and last year was was very cold in the mid west.go and get the bsk and have fun

[scubasmoke]

As a Big Green Egg owner, as well as having several kegs, your answer depends.  To deepen your education a bit, eggs are used in the North, in the winter, all the time.  Big Green Egg company is renound for their customer support and service.  The egg has a LIFETIME warrenty against cracking.  If it was as fragile as this forum thinks, the company would be out of business.  Instead they lead the industry they created, with double digit growth every year for 30 years.  BGE knows what they are doing.  Its ironic, BSK was inspired by BGE, everyone here wants to copy In Zone to copy their success, yet we talk bad about them.   

Back to the question.  If you want to direct grill, I encourage you to keg it.  If you want to slow cook, especially overnight, then its more of a personal choice between ease of BGE use, with more internal space of the Keg.  To address insulation, its oven style white insulation.  I once melted a handle off my keg and yet the insulation still works great.   

[EconomicDisconnect]

Scubasmoke knows his stuff so I would believe him.

Thanks for the beef ribs dude!

[h00kemh0rns]

As a Big Green Egg owner, as well as having several kegs, your answer depends.  To deepen your education a bit, eggs are used in the North, in the winter, all the time.  Big Green Egg company is renound for their customer support and service.  The egg has a LIFETIME warrenty against cracking.  If it was as fragile as this forum thinks, the company would be out of business.  Instead they lead the industry they created, with double digit growth every year for 30 years.  BGE knows what they are doing.  Its ironic, BSK was inspired by BGE, everyone here wants to copy In Zone to copy their success, yet we talk bad about them.   

I think Eggs and Kegs each have their place in the market.  There is no denying Eggs are the leader but IMHO Kegs offer more versatility for the money. 

I'm a day from ordering a BGE or a BSK - I live at 7500 feet in Colorado and want to use my new grill all year long, and particularly like to grill in < zero fahrenheit degrees and a good snow storm is a nice addition.... I'm concerned about cracking an egg and the ability to control a long burn, and the timing/quantity of charcoal to maintain a good 12-14 hour smoke.

Any info is very appreciated!

Mark

I would not worry about an Egg cracking and as already said they do carry a lifetime warranty to the original owner.  As a former Egg owner the Keg operates almost identically.  I say almost b/c the Keg heats up much quicker than an Egg.  Vent controls for low n' slow will take some patience and trial and error.  But it's not rocket science...just take your time with it and a 12/14 hr smoke is childs play.  I had my Keg going over 24 hrs without issue.

[roaniecowpony]

As a Big Green Egg owner, as well as having several kegs, your answer depends.  To deepen your education a bit, eggs are used in the North, in the winter, all the time.  Big Green Egg company is renound for their customer support and service.  The egg has a LIFETIME warrenty against cracking.  If it was as fragile as this forum thinks, the company would be out of business.  Instead they lead the industry they created, with double digit growth every year for 30 years.  BGE knows what they are doing.  Its ironic, BSK was inspired by BGE, everyone here wants to copy In Zone to copy their success, yet we talk bad about them.   

Back to the question.  If you want to direct grill, I encourage you to keg it.  If you want to slow cook, especially overnight, then its more of a personal choice between ease of BGE use, with more internal space of the Keg.  To address insulation, its oven style white insulation.  I once melted a handle off my keg and yet the insulation still works great.   

I have nothing bad to say about a BGE. I don't see a lot of slamming of it on this bbs since I've been on it a short while. Personally, I always like the underdog. I find the high tech approach of the Bubba and BSK to be attractive.  I like the idea of the hitch mount, but haven't used it yet.If the Bubba insuulation is pure white, it's likeliy alumina-silica and is very very good stuff.

[RNF]

I did this brisket flat on a snowy day and had no problems controlling my temps. Outside temps were around 30 degree while I was smoking this one.


While this was going on.


Not as cold as you see but there was no problems. I was using a keg but would assume the egg would do as good.

[Braddog]

As a Big Green Egg owner, as well as having several kegs, your answer depends.  To deepen your education a bit, eggs are used in the North, in the winter, all the time.  Big Green Egg company is renound for their customer support and service.  The egg has a LIFETIME warrenty against cracking.  If it was as fragile as this forum thinks, the company would be out of business.  Instead they lead the industry they created, with double digit growth every year for 30 years.  BGE knows what they are doing.  Its ironic, BSK was inspired by BGE, everyone here wants to copy In Zone to copy their success, yet we talk bad about them.   

Back to the question.  If you want to direct grill, I encourage you to keg it.  If you want to slow cook, especially overnight, then its more of a personal choice between ease of BGE use, with more internal space of the Keg.  To address insulation, its oven style white insulation.  I once melted a handle off my keg and yet the insulation still works great.   

Nailed it!  I totally agree. I grill on the Keg & BBQ on the Egg, regardless of weather conditions.

Cheers,
Braddog

[Boat-n-BBQ]

Hey Mark,

I think it comes down to what you want to do with the cooker.  I don’t own a BGE, but I do think they must be great cookers.  They have a huge devoted following and you only get that type of respect if it’s earned.  They have been around for a long time and are clearly proven.  The good and bad is well documented.

That being said, if I wanted a grill to park in one spot on my patio and never move it much I might have chosen an Egg or Primo.  If you are looking for a cooker that can do it all and still easily go camping, tailgating, road trips and competitions then you may decide as I did to go with the Keg.  The fact that it is lighter, less fragile, less expensive and more portable is why I chose the Keg over others.  I now own 4 Kegs and don’t regret my choice at all.  I can’t say if they cook low-n-slow with the same easy as a BGE because I don’t know.  I can say I do a lot of low-n-slow cooking on my Kegs with out any grief/issues at all.   I cook on them daily and use them in BBQ competitions monthly now with ease and success.

There are many good products on the market.  You should consider both how and what you plan to cook along with where you plan to cook it.  Of course price point and reputation have a place in the decision to.  I think you’ll be happy with whatever you chose

Good luck,
Boat

[Skinsandos]

Are you a Bubba or a egg?

Think about it.

 

rip

I am a Keg