Charcoal Face-Off: Weber Kettle vs. Big Green Egg | Consumer Reports
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- Опубліковано 12 вер 2024
- Consumer Reports pits one of the most popular charcoal grills on the market -- the Weber Original Kettle, $80 --against a cult favorite --The Big Green Egg, $1,120.
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The Weber kettle is the all around best grill ever made. I can sear a steak or cook a brisket for 14 hours. 22 inch kettle for $99 is the way to go
Agreed! Value wise, Weber kettle has been the champ for decades
Once again proving why Consumer Reports is useless. Having owned/used every size kettle Weber offers and 2 Kamado Joes I speak with some experience. They missed many critical differences worth mentioning between the 2. For example:
The BGE can cook low and slow on the same amount of charcoal for much longer than the Weber due to the heat retention qualities of the ceramic.
Tip a Weber over and you may end up with a dent. Tip the BGE over and your $1200 is in pieces as the ceramic is fragile compared to Weber's porcelain enameled steel.
Each has pros and cons - Bravo CR for missing all of them in your evaluation though.
Other than the learning curve of operating the Weber kettle I've been very pleased with it. Honestly, for my needs I think I'm just going to stick to the Webber kettle for the rest of my life. It can do everything and do it competently.
I've been a subscriber to Consumer Reports online since the day it began. I'm a fan, but am deeply disappointed in this video. You clearly do not know how to use the equipment you are reviewing and your conclusions are misleading. You are doing a dis-service to your readership.
I simply could not agree more. I find it had to believe that Consumer Reports is this ignorant about these grills. In fact, I'd be very shocked to learn this was not deliberate deception.
Adrenaline Barbecue Company even if they showed what each grill could do in detail the bge would still win. A kettle cannot compete with a Kamado.
Mars Hall I disagree. Though the BGE has advantages when roasting or baking, a kettle style grill with a two zone cooking setup is a better and more versatile solution than the BGE when it comes to smoking and grilling.
I agree. The Egg is superb at roasting and smoking, but the kettle is more versatile. And it can absolutely sear beautifully. And it can hold more charcoal than they said.
Well said, this is a very unusual comparison. They are extremely different products. This is like comparing a surfboard to water skis. Some similar features but fundamentally different products for different uses.
I picked up my green egg at a sporting good store for less than $600. It is the best cooking instrument outdoors I have ever used. Previously I had an original Komodo pot that was handed down from my father it was over 40 years old when I got rid of it because it cracked up. When I first got married I also inherited a Weber grill just like the one shown from my wife's father, it lasted over 35 years. So I would say length of service is not an issue here. Where the big green egg shines, is in slow cooking you can do a brisket you can roast slow you can praise you can do just about anything you can do in an oven. Also it was not a fair test using lump charcoal against briquettes, lump charcoal burns much hotter than briquettes.
Why use a bge instead of an oven?
lol I can get my weber 900-950F just have to a few chunks of wood! you guys have no ideal what your doing
Why used briquettes on the webber and lump charcoal on the BGE? Already wrong way to start the test.
I've owned both and have to tell you, save your money and get a Weber grill and separate smoker. Both work amazing and are much cheaper than the egg.
The Weber can reach over 500 degrees but the sad fellow can't get a sear on his steak???!!! The poor guy needs to take a class in grilling! Both "grills" are great (I have both), but they are very different in function. As mentioned in many comments, the BGE shines in long, slow cooks. The Weber is great for quick grilling, but with something like the Slow'N'Sear, it's capable of some great low and slow cooks as well. I'd rate this CR comparison at about a C-.
How about D-. Unfair comparison. Did not even use the same fuel. EVERYONE who does BBQ knows that lump burns hotter than charcoal.
@@DuffyF56 That's what I was going to say. If they wanted to do a true comparison they should have had both cooked with either lump or briquettes.
I have a cheap Walmart 20 dollar grill that sears better than this fella.
Weber kettle gourmet sear grate insert will do a steak way better. There is nothing the Weber kettle cannot do. People say you can’t smoke for 12 hours on the Weber kettle. Using certain methods like the snake method you can smoke for 12 hours. You can do a great job on turkeys, chickens, roast, ribs and even pizza. You just have to learn to master. For the price it will save you lot of money from not eating out. I personally would sear my own steak on the Weber kettle than eat out and have a chef do it for me. Grill red and green peppers on a stainless steel wok with holes in it does a great job. I love Weber kettle.
Been a kettle user for 25 years myself. Everything you said is the truth.
You can get really good low and slows with the Weber if you buy a Stoker or a BBQ guru. Without the ceramic insulation it will be much more difficult to maintain temps. The temp swings on webers can be large
You can cook great food on any grill - it’s all about knowing how to use what you have. I do not believe food off a bge is any better than the Weber if the individuals cooking know what they are doing.
did they cook the steak outside of the Weber? how in the hell did they not get a good sear?
Chris z they let the grill cool down to much and did not distribute the charcoal correctly from what I observed lol
I own both, both do a great job at what they were made for. I am not carrying a BGE down over to a swimming hole.
Strange...I've gotten my Weber to sear steaks, and used it to smoke brisket and turkey. I guess it all depends on if you know what you're doing. A good cook can accomplish more with an old egg and a warped skillet than a klutz with a kitchen full of good stuff and no skill.
So, two different types of fuels, and different amounts of fuel to actually cook (as they described a better sear on the egg, which would only happen with more fuel). Yep, sounds like an unbiased comparison to me.
How were you not bale to sear your steak on the Weber? I sear steaks all the time even on my 14" Smokey Joe.
should have tested a 22" weber
I can also make pizza on the kettle and sear steaks with pizza kettle attachment and grill grates.
My Weber sears great and also bbqs very effectively. It's a bargain given it's quality and versatility. I've not had or used a BGE so I can't compare. I've heard great things from owners however. The BGE is a lot more expensive clearly but it looks very impressive in a backyard kitchen. For me, the Weber costs between $100-$250 (and up to $400 or so) depending upon the model, so I'll go with a Weber and put the remainder into something else.
For slow and low cooking it’s hard to beat the Weber Bullet. Plus you have twice the area to work with.
The main drawback with the Big Green Egg is that it's insulation (A real plus) often means a cooler fire which does not produce the same flavor profile as a small very hot fire, but it is an excellent cooker and well worth the money if you intend to use it regularly for low and slow and also if you need a grill that can perform in the cold and it can cook just about anything from pizza to read.
Burgers and hotdogs? I cook prime rib and turkeys on my weber. This video = thumbs down
Why didn't both grills use the same coals? This was not a fair comparison.
Lump burns hotter just for starters yup!
1:37 ... if thats what you served from a 500 degree grill you need to GTFO
I have a Weber 22", 22.5" Smokey mountain and Im the creator of the Original Weber Summit Charcoal Grilling page on facebook. You couldn't possibly be comparing two more different cookers. The Egg and a Classic 22 aren't even the same thing. Terrible comparison. Do one with the XL Egg and the Weber Summit Charcoal Grilling Center. That's a comparison! Two thumbs down!!!!
LOL... I could have used half that amount of charcoal and got a steak looking the same or better on the Weber. I smell bias.
Don't forget you can also use the BGE as a smoker and works awesome because it's air tight. I used a lil cheap charcoal Aussie for years, it got me into charcoal and applewood smoke, then wasted 400 on a Lowe's stainless grill last 4 years. Decided I'm buying one last grill, the BGE is really not to far off price wise from what the box stores offer, Lowe's HD etc. Don't forget the reverse sear on steaks too!
You can do all of that on a weber too
You can smoke in both the difference is you have to change the briquettes in the Kettle grill the green egg will last a lot longer than 10 hrs and you can fit a lot more on, you half the kettle grill size to cook indirect, personally I don't like ceramic their too heavy and fragile , needing a fire box to protect it too just doesn't add up too me it's a poor design I'd rather have the Weber summit charcoal but that's expensive, the Weber kettle grill is a fantastic piece of kit for the price will do everything but in much smaller amounts
Weber kettle bbq grill , the most versatile and best value for money hands down
You can make the Weber hotter than that with more charcoal. Like another commenter said, people purchase the Big Green Egg for slow cooking most of the time. Also, what's the point of comparing a thousand dollar grill with a hundred dollar grill. Does anyone cross shop these???
And you can use lump charcoal as well and get the same high temperatures as well as a more even heat distributions then you get with the ceramic cookers.
Wait, am I reading this right? The Green Egg is 1,040 dollars more than the Weber?? Who in their right mind would buy it?!
César Amalou you can buy ceramic no name versions from just above £100 which work equally well like an egg. you can get even massive ones like the oval primo Kamado large versions which cost more than the Egg but no name versions can be got for much lesser and work the same. I am nuts enough to have two of the Kamados. but look up the safety precautions first before using them as they get hotter than any barbecue and can have back draft up to 10 feet away. watch videos of the back draft on UA-cam before using one. you can have WiFi controlling units to control cook time and temperature of 24h or more with remote monitoring etc etc. the sky is the limit of you want to play.
Well the Egg or any Kamado style grill isnt just a grill, its also a smoker. You can smoke whole turkys or chickens or smoke ribs. You can load up the Green Egg to recommended level with lump charcoal and smoke a Boston Butt for 12 hours and not have to add any charcoal. If im doing just burgers or something like that I dont usually even use my green egg. Just light up the gas grill. Anyway thats why products like the Big Green Egg are out there.
Ronnie Sandifer I smoke on my Weber all the time Turkey brisket and whatever u want to smoke.
crazy !
I would. We bbq 4 to 5 days a week. I own both the Big Green Egg and a Weber Kettle. My advice to friends is purchase and master the Weber Kettle. Nothing under $300 will touch the Kettle. Step up to the Egg when you are ready for the next level.
I got seared steak just like what they showed the big green egg can do, on my weber. I would want a kamado if I was really wanting to slow cook a ton of meat. It's probably also easier to hold temps on them than my weber kettle. It likes to fluctuate a lot and I got to adjust it a few times over a 4 hour cook. I doubt it's the grill though, it's probably just me.
I purchased a Green Egg three years ago. CR didn't test for long duration, low temperature BBQ and that is why you pay a premium price. It can maintain a very long duration cook time for REAL BBQ like brisket and pork shoulder. It can grill too but not it's main purpose.
Ramse so can the kettle I've smoke Boston butt, lamb shoulder, ribs, brisket you name it all on my Webber kettle some lasting up to 12 hours or so
True I dont really use my egg for grilling. My Grill if for grilling and my Big Green Egg is for smoking
Nathan Davis but can your Weber hold temps at such a low temp to smoke fish or jerky? Can it also produce brick oven type pizzas? Can it sear a steak at similar temps to a steakhouse? Kamados do a lot more than just smoking and grilling. You're just scratching the surface. I own a Weber kettle and a kj big joe. No comparison.
smoke flavor ..i love it ..for me that is grilling ..but i get the point
I've cooked dozens of butts and briskets on a Weber I bought 30 years ago for $65. Sure, I have to reload the coals every 2-3 hours, but at the end of it, I have REAL BBQ, and 900 REAL extra dollars in my wallet.
The webers GAs or kettles are very versatile, adding a rotisserie attachment for example. and are very competent for slow or fast cooking as well as being very portable. This test compares apples and oranges BTW.
Not a very good test. Evenness is a good test, but they only ever did direct cooking. 500+°F is plenty to sear a steak.
You are crazy. The weber can reach insane temperatures. Number one use a lot of lump charcoal. Number two take the top off so it gets more oxygen. Number 3 the weber is so versitile. You can easily adjust how close you want your food to your coals. Hell some chefs even throw their food on the coals. The possibilities are endless with the weber grill
if you want to up your game and control the temperature through out the cook then use digital units that control the fan air input and outflow to the Kamado. you can control 24h cooking times and temperature
I own both and love them both. The BGE is one the best things I've ever bought. If you love grilling, smoking ect. And ever try one you'll be hooked. Try and find one on Craigslist. You'll have a hard time finding one and if you do it'll be almost as much as a new one. There's a reason for that. Also once you buy one it has a lifetime warranty which BGE is known for standing behind.
I have had a medium Green Egg for 11 years now. In my coastal salty humid environment most metal grills rust out within 3 years. The Green Egg ceramic components are warranted for life. With the proper set up you can do two zone cooking, low and slow indirect, raised direct, quick sear, smoking, baking, paella, wok, pizza etc. That said the Kamoda Joe is just as good and superior in a couple of areas.
This video doesn't help the uneducated grillers out there. There's a fit and function for both of these grills that needed a more in depth discussion.
I personally moved to ceramic years ago because of heat retention. On one load of coal I can do a 12 hour smoke on a Kamado. Could never do that on a kettle.
I have an iron grate in my weber though.
The Webber and the Egg are different. The egg is an oven. It can get to high heat but it's real genius is as a smoker and for baking. The Webber is a grill. Steaks, burgers and other outdoor favorites is what it does best. Sure you can use a limo to take the kids to school but that is nit really where its strengths lie.
I use nothing but lump charcoal in my webber kettle
The Green Egg will also last a lot longer than the cheap Weber. One of my girls already took dibs on it when I go to the Great BBQ Pit in the sky some day in the distant future I hope.
I'll probably not have to buy another kettle in my life either. I have picked up three of them in home cleanouts, put out for trash. Try finding a BGE like THAT;-).
Should've called this vid lump vs brickett Everybody knows lump burns much hotter.
true true. not a very scientific test.
Porsche vs Volkswagen, who's better?
Why didn't they use the Weber 22" kettle? Why the puny 18". Nothing beats a weber 22"
I just bought a XXL BGE, and WOW, just awesome, never going back to a Webber
this comparison was against the Webber-Kettle EIGHTEEN inch, NOT against the TWENTY TWO inch which would put the Webber-Kettle even further ahead in ALL categories, larger charcoal capacity included
Webber makes WAY better grills than their 18
I love my Webber. I’ve never cooked on a Green Egg so I couldn’t say if I’m missing anything. I just know it never lets me down.
Is a weak comparison... I have both grills and when used properly with the correct ammt. of good wood lump, you can achieve same results with either grill on steaks.
Based on comments, many if not most, have not cooked on an Egg (or similar). There is nothing wrong with the Weber. Its tried and true but it doesn't out do the Egg. The Egg will clean the Weber's clock when doing low-n-slow when the outside temp are in the freezing temperature. Keep in mind that many eggers use the Egg year round regardless of the temperature or rain. The just keep putting out great food year round.
Is the egg even relevant in 2017. Talk about not being in tune with your viewer's. It's Akorn (budget), Primo (made in USA) or Kamado Joe. Any grill master can cook a pizza, sear a steak or bust out a wok on a kettle from brand Walmart to Webber or kamado.
Vision Grills, Grill Dome, Komodo Kamado (if you are a mega baller), pit boss (junk), green Olive ......
Am sooo dissapointed in this review,,,next compare a rolls royce to a volkswagen
I’m from the Northeast and I like to cook out. The Kettle can’t hold temperature once it’s in the 40’s ambient. Kamado solves that problem
So many flaws to this. green egg had lump charcoal and grates that got hotter. If they putvlump in both the sear would have been better. and webber comes with a searing grate
This is like comparing a Honda Element to a Toyota Land Cruiser...The Weber works great, who knows what the CR "Chef" was doing and why he couldn't get a good sear on the steaks...low heat I'm guessing. The Green Egg should hold the heat better and longer as it has a ceramic interior...but that's why it costs $1200. Both grills are nice and it comes down to how much you want to spend. I am much less inclined to believe that CR is still credible.
but you don't buy the BGE to cook burgers. it does everything from low and slow brisket over a 16 hour cook to pizza. the Weber is a great grill as well, but they aren't I. the same division.
weird comparison
A win is a win for the Weber!!
Big green egg is like a status symbol like driving a Mercedes. Overpriced that does the same thing everything else does!
italianrelic, yeah...no.
Put briquets in the green eggs and see a consistent temperature i.e a property of briquets
Give me a break, CR. This is apples and oranges.
as my grandpa would say: this is a big ol load of b...sh.t
u are comparing completely different grill.. it is like comparing electric grill vs gass. try to compare charcoal summit from weber with green egg. I would like to see that difference.
This is a terrible comparison. The difference is when you want to roast and smoke. I have both. While I have cooked brisket on the kettle tinkering with coals for 12 hours and keeping the temp is a challenge
Even in the Kamado world the big green egg has a ridiculous price point.
I’ll buy the cheap Chinese one and look after it.
Wow. I must have a fake Weber Kettle as mine does so much more.
Weber is the true GOAT of grilling.
A Weber kettle grill is only good for burgers and hot dogs ??? What a false conclusion, only recently I've enjoyed a beer can grilled whole chicken on the Weber kettle grill....
Dollar for dollar the Weber Kettle is the hands down winner. Anyone with $700-$1000 (with accessories) to put in a grill set up has money to burn. (pun intended)
Yes but which will last longer? I've been through many of those carbon steel grills; they all rust out
Even my wife who doesn't grill noticed the sad looking steak they turned out on this video. She knows we can get great results on our weber.
Any person with experience with these two grills will watch this video and scratch their heads. Was this a deliberate attempt at misleading viewers and to promote the Big Green Eggs, or is that Consumer Reports truly is this ignorant and unknowledgeable, and had no business doing a video on a subject matter they have such little understanding off? This quite frankly was a shameful and leads me to the conclusion that Consumer Reports is an untrustworthy source of information. How many other reviews have they done so badly and blindly? Sad...
can you elaborate?
That guy grills steaks like a vegan.
Must be the worst review I’ve ever encountered. It sounds like weber actually bought the commercial
...the Big-Green RIP-OFF
Bge sucks. There are much better kamado grills for allot less money. Review the Kamado Joe,Vision and promo grills
Let's see the Weber smoke 2 10lb Boston Butts for about 9 hrs. I can do that one my BGE all day long and still have lump coal left.
Matt Lackey let's see a dog climb a tree. My cat can climb a tree and have enough energy to cry and moan when at the top.
Does that sound stupid?
It should.
Yet it's the same exact logic you use.
You literally showed them plating under cooked steaks from the kettle grill in an underhanded attempt to justify your conclusion. Nobody does that. I am disappointed in Consumer Reports and am questioning your motivation and honesty.
I really want to rent in regards to how Consumer Reports conducted this experiment, but there is no need to. All the posts that precede mine show how disappointing this experiment was conducted. I've watched numerous shows about using Weber versus any other type of grill and it's up to the Pitmaster to know how to use the equipment effectively. As the saying goes It's not the pit that makes the barbecue but the master of the pit.
Pointless
Bullshit. I got that sear on a medium rare steak .
Sorry, but I call BS. . . I have proof that I have gotten my little Smokey Joe up to 559 Degrees. Did BGE subsidize this review?
That’s some of the saddest grill technique I’ve seen. You can get a Webber kettle scary hot with mesquite, certainly enough to sear a steak. The cook of course, make a bigger difference than the cooker. I learned more than I wanted about the former and none about the latter.
yep, and this is why it's time to unsubscribe from this channel. finally had enough comparisons of apples to oranges. of course the Green egg costs more because it's a high end pit capable of so much more than just grilling. it's far superior in terms of heat stabilization for slow cooking. CR used to be a valuable and trustworthy source of getting the most bang for your buck. I don't know if the magazine is still worth reading, but the videos aren't worth watching anymore.
I hate my Weber, I'm about to toss it. I admit, I'm pretty bad with my grills, I neglect them and am punished by the rust gods for my sin, but I just don't find cooking on my kettle an enjoyable experience.
This is clueless. A Kamado is the ultimate barbecue, the reviewer didn’t have a clue! A Kamado will keep going for 24 hours low and slow! Keeping heat even?! I’m a Weber kettle fan and have one but a kettle can’t compete. I’ve been smoking years and had a WSM and a Kamado beats that hands down also. As for searing a kettle can’t match a Kamado either. I do reverse sear steaks - a low and slow smoke followed by cranking the heat up in seconds to 700 and going for a sear.
22” kettle slow n low better bark Better smoke ring period! Cooked brisket, pulled pork, ribs, pork loin, pork steaks, rib eyes......everything including chili’s for salsa !!!! And the premium kettle cost $160 go buy some cool accessories and some meat with the leftover change! Horrible review! Redo it!
Its pretty much expected that the Weber got outclassed and out perform. My Weber can't even get a decent grill even with the maximum amount of charcoal in its pit at 30+ degree weather..... No wonder they sell these at walmart and they get return after the BBQ season is over.
I hope your reading skills are better than your no skill writing. It couldn't be more obvious that you are a rookie. try hardwood lump charcoal. And bbq season is NEVER over.
It's a poor mechanic that blames his tools.
I think your Weber is broken. Never heard anyone complaining about grilling on a Weber. Especially if you add the maximum amount of charcoal. It get's pretty hot and with practice you can maintain a consistent temperature for a long time. And who returns a grill after BBQ season is over? Better yet, grilling season over?
This comment is either bullshit or stupidity.
Basically either lies or operator error.
You don't invest in a big green egg to make steaks and burgers. You don't buy a weber kettle to make a 15 lb brisket or pork shoulder.
Bullshit! Both units can sear steaks and barbeque brisket and pork shoulder with the right accessories and knowledge....
Where did I say you cant? I get a great sear on my steaks using my Weber. Its real easy using lump charcoal. Only rookies use briquettes. But there is no way I am going to do an overnight cook, or an 11 hour cook on a work day on my Weber. But I guess where there's a will there's a way. Or, you can just use the right grill for the job. I am interested in how you do an overnight cook? And sleep all night?
That's what I thought.
weber kettle + slow n sear 2.0 is way better than the egg...
I am insulted that consumer reports would lower themselves to review charcoal grills instead of sticking with a clean burning fuel like propane, I will pray for you.
My condolences for whomever you cook for.
First