Big Green Egg

Big Green Egg Classic

Ranked #3 in Charcoal Grills

856 LP on the category ladder what's LP?

The build is genuinely excellent and the ceramic will outlast you, which is why it outranks the remaining picks despite the trap label. The trap is the ownership package around that ceramic: a large premium over the Kamado Joe Classic III for fewer included accessories and higher fuel use. Buy the Classic III.

Consolidated from 3 independent outlets

Where the cited sources landed, as we read them

1 enthusiastic source
2 positive sources

See the sources

Flagged as a product to avoid

6 of 21 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick.

KamadoCompare's direct head-to-head found the Kamado Joe Classic an equal performer, and Kamado Joe ships the Divide & Conquer cooking system included while Big Green Egg sells its equivalent hardware separately at flagship prices. Nothing says it cooks worse; everything says you pay more for the same cooking.
Flagged 17 October 2026

KamadoCompare's direct head-to-head found the Kamado Joe Classic an equal performer, and Kamado Joe ships the Divide & Conquer cooking system included while Big Green Egg sells its equivalent hardware separately at flagship prices. Nothing says it cooks worse; everything says you pay more for the same cooking.
Flagged 17 October 2026
Coasting on two decades of reputation while charging a large premium for a cooker the Kamado Joe Classic III beats on engineering, included hardware, and fuel efficiency; even budget kamados now rival the experience. Its essential accessories are sold separately, adding to the cost of a single purchase.
Flagged 17 October 2026
Elite performance that you pay a multiple for, and Serious Eats' own testing found the cheaper Kamado Joe Classic II handily outperforms it. Buy the Kamado Joe Classic II, or the Akorn for the budget version of the same idea.
Flagged 17 October 2026
You pay a heavy premium for the ceramic name and then pay again for every accessory, while the Kamado Joe Classic III delivers the same experience for meaningfully less and the Akorn delivers most of it for a fraction.
Flagged 17 October 2026
Flagship money for the base ceramic, then the accessories Kamado Joe includes are extra, and its marketing leans on being a 'complete outdoor cooking system' rather than on out-testing rivals. The current 2026 testing roundups place Kamado Joe, not Big Green Egg, in their ranked fields.
Flagged 17 October 2026
You pay a heavy brand premium for the original name while Kamado Joe matches the experience with better hardware, including the air-lift hinge the Big Green Egg still lacks. Even BGE partisans argue for it only on parts availability, cost aside.
Flagged 10 September 2026

Why the boards include products to avoid

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Pros & cons

✓ Incredibly well-made and sturdy ceramic build
✓ Responsive dampers
✓ Ceramic heat retention that will outlast its owner
✓ Best-in-class design, craftsmanship, and versatility per long-term assessment
✓ A single kamado that grills, smokes, and bakes

✗ Essential accessories sold separately rather than included
✗ Uses measurably more charcoal than the Kamado Joe Classic III for the same cook
✗ Large premium over rivals that beat it on engineering and included equipment
✗ Harder to clean than budget kamados that now rival the experience
✗ Equivalent cooking hardware to the Divide & Conquer system sold separately at flagship prices

The sources behind this ranking

We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found. 2 outlets wouldn't let us check their links.

1 enthusiastic source

Smoke & Lump Ben Austen · reviewer · May 2026

I’ve had my Big Green Egg Large since Christmas 2025, and I’ve cooked on it about 35 times. All 26 recipes on this site so far came off it, from pulled pork and short ribs to a tomahawk steak and an apple crumble. I haven’t done a brisket or a pizza on it yet.

Read

2 positive sources

Food & Wine Article Read S

Serious Eats Article Read

Frequently asked questions

It ranks #3 of 14 on our charcoal grills tier list, in A tier. That placement draws on 3 independent outlets.

None of the 3 sources with a clear view is critical of it. Essential accessories sold separately rather than included. Uses measurably more charcoal than the Kamado Joe Classic III for the same cook. Large premium over rivals that beat it on engineering and included equipment. Harder to clean than budget kamados that now rival the experience. Equivalent cooking hardware to the Divide & Conquer system sold separately at flagship prices.