Pit Barrel Cooker
vs
Big Green Egg
Here is the age-old debate between the Pit Barrel Cooker and the Big Green Egg. It has long been thought that the Big Green Egg is the mother of all outdoor cookers. Most people know that the Big Green Egg is how much more expensive than other outdoor cookers. But does this make it any better?
Not surprisingly, there are some distinct advantages to the Big Green Egg. We will talk about what the advantages are in this Pit Barrel Cooker vs Big Green Egg comparison. We will also let you know what we think about whether or not it is worth the money compared to the value offered by less-expensive products like The Pit Barrel Cooker.
You may like to read: Pit Barrel Cooker vs Barrel House Cooker: Which Has The Best Value?
Pit Barrel Cooker vs Big Green Egg
Why People Purchase Outdoor Cookers
One of the main advantages to using an outdoor cooker is the fact that it has a lot more space than a traditional oven. You will be able to cook in bulk in front of your family and friends during a large gathering.
Both the Pit Barrel Cooker and the Big Green Egg have the capability to smoke your meat. This is because they use charcoal at the bottom. Cooking meat with charcoal gives it an awesome taste that you can’t get anywhere else.
Using outdoor cookers to cook your meat at a slow pace will bring out the juices and make your meat tender. They are much better to use than BBQs, as they have much more space. This means that it takes a lot less time to cook for large parties.
Due to the shape of the outdoor cookers, they hold warm air more easily than traditional BBQs. This means that they are more efficient on charcoal, which will save you money.
Which One Holds the Most Heat
Both the Big Green Egg and the Pit Barrel Cooker are excellent at holding in plenty of heat. The Big Green Egg does have its advantages due to the fact that its shape allows it to hold in heat a little better.
The Big Green Egg will hold the same amount of heat for hours without you needing to fiddle around with the temperature. This is one of its greatest advantages over the Pit Barrel Cooker. With the Pit Barrel Cooker, most people check on the temperature once every hour.
The Big Green Egg can get up to 800 Degrees or more. The Pit Barrel Cooker can get up to 320 degrees, and perhaps more depending on how much charcoal you have added. 320 degrees is plenty for cooking meat through and through.
Which Is the Most Versatile
The main reason why someone might want a Big Green Egg as for its versatility. Due to the fact that it can control heat more efficiently, it can also bake bread and cook a pizza. The Big Green Egg can maintain a low heat for hours. All you need is to adjust the dial and a sliding bottom vent. It is very fuel efficient this way.
How They Compare in Terms of Smoking Meat
This is where the Pit Barrel Cooker has the Big Green Egg beat. The Pit Barrel Cooker is more efficient at smoking meat than the Big Green Egg. It is difficult for the Big Green Egg to hold a smoke for as long as the competing brands. If you are looking for a cooker that is going to be used mostly for smoking, the Pit Barrel Cooker is the better bet. It also happens to hold a lot more meat volume than the Big Green Egg!
Pit Barrel Cooker vs Big Green Egg: Which Is the Better Deal
Purchasing the Big Green Egg with most of the accessories will set you back about $1,400. This is far more expensive than the Pit Barrel Cooker. Pit Barrel Cooker only costs 1/4 of that price in most places. If you would like to see the cheapest price for the Pit Barrel Cooker on Amazon, please see below:
- EFFORTLESS: Whether you’re new to outdoor cooking or an expert trying to perfect your craft, cook perfectly every time with the Pit Barrel's 360º All-Round Heat Dynamics. Our vertical barrel cooker technology produces consistently great-tasting, flawlessly cooked meat, veggies, and more
- VERSATILE: The cooking possibilities are endless. For the perfect smoked meat, grill or hang ribs and brisket using the hooks and steel grill grate or use our custom GrillGrate for sear-marks and to smoke everything from burgers to desserts
- DURABLE: Each Pit Barrel Cooker is made with a superior-grade porcelain enamel finish that looks great and is designed to withstand everything from the internal heat to weather conditions
- PORTABLE: Our cookers are made to be lightweight and compact to fit in most vans, SUVs, and truck beds. Use the handles on the side to easily lift and transport to wherever your grilling skills are in demand. Easily fits 8 Racks of Ribs, 2-3 Pork Butts/Shoulders, Turkey Hangers allow for 2 16 lb Turkeys
- THE COMPLETE SMOKER STARTER: Everything you will need to get started: The barrel (33” tall, including the lid and stand, and 21.25” wide, including the side handles), 2 Hanging Rods, 8 Stainless Steel Hooks, Standard Grill Grate, Charcoal Basket, and Hook Remover Tool (Seasonings Not Included)
The Verdict
The main advantage to the Pit Barrel Cooker is that it has significantly more cooking space than the Big Green Egg. Also, it is pretty comparable to the Big Green Egg in terms of cooking smoked meat. For only 1/4 of the price, you can get a better tasting smoked meat and save money to purchase meat for an entire summer!
The Big Green Egg does have the advantage of having better insulation, which makes it retain heat better. That being said, you can still use the Pit Barrel Cooker in the middle of winter and smoke your meat.
If you are mainly looking for a meat smoker, the Pit Barrel Cooker is plenty enough. You will not have an advantage with the Big Green Egg unless you are looking for the versatility of cooking other items such as bread or pizza.