Big Green Egg Mini

The Pros and Cons of This Charcoal Grill

Big Green Egg Mini
Big Green Egg

The Big Green Egg has been producing these kamado-style grills (Japanese charcoal or wood fueled cookstoves) for decades. The Big Green Egg company prides itself on making the most versatile barbecue product available—these green, egg-shaped units act not only as a grill but also cook like an oven and a smoker, and are available in seven sizes, from mini to XXL.

The smallest of the Big Green Egg charcoal grills, this mini version offers all the benefits of a Big Green Egg on a much smaller scale. The Big Green Egg Mini can grill, sear, roast, smoke, and bake, with space for enough food for two people. The excellent heat holding abilities of the thick body of this grill makes it great for cooking and keeps the outside of the unit from becoming too hot to handle, which is necessary with a somewhat portable grill. While it may be too heavy to transport on a regular basis, it is a perfect grill for camping, boating, or using on a small patio.

Description and Specs

Although the smallest of the Big Green Egg charcoal grills, it still offers the same construction and features of the larger sizes. Melding the traditional Japanese cooking style of kamado with modern technology, Big Green Egg has created a unique product that combines several different cooking techniques into one shiny, green ellipse. Within its strong and durable signature green color shell are state-of-the-art ceramics allowing for excellent heat insulation. Furnished with a stainless steel cooking grid, this sturdy little grill offers a wide range of cooking temperatures that can be adjusted easily.

Here are the specs at a glance:

  • 79 square inches of cooking space (10 inches diameter)
  • 39 pounds total weight
  • Complete ceramic body
  • Precise temperature control up to 750 degrees
  • All accessories available for this size grill

Altering Accessories

Just because this Big Green Egg is the smallest of the bunch doesn't mean the company skimped on features—the same, great accessories that fit into the larger sizes are also available for the mini (at additional cost). So you can turn this little egg into a convection oven with the convEGGtor, an insert that creates indirect convection cooking, ideal for roasting, baking, pizza-making, and smoking. If you prefer to cook on cast iron, you can replace the stainless steel grate with the cast iron cooking grid, which gets hotter than stainless steel making for the ideal searing surface.  

Pros and Cons

When it comes to the Big Green Egg grills in general, there are a lot more positives than negatives. These charcoal grills have excellent heat control, solid, durable construction, are fuel efficient, and are made by a reliable company with 40 years in the business offering great customer service. 

When it comes to the mini, if you need something small then this is certainly a great choice. Like the old cast iron hibachis of the past, this is the perfect grill for a small space. The Big Green Egg Mini can be lit quickly and then the coals extinguished for use another time. Because of the ceramic body and excellent vents, you can reach the temperature you need without the outside of the unit getting too hot. And because this heat is kept inside, you get an intense fire out of a very small grill. This is one little grill that can deliver a great steak—seared on the surface but rare in the middle.

Of course, this is not the cheapest charcoal grill on the market, but if taken care of, it can last several years and serve generations of grillers.