A kamado grill can be a great investment for barbecue enthusiasts, but it’s important to choose a quality product. In this Pit Boss Kamado vs Big Green Egg roundup, we’ll go over the features of each product to help you determine which one is best.
Pit Boss Kamado
The company behind Pit Boss grills is called Danson, Inc. When Traeger’s patent on pellet grills expired in 1999, founder Dan Thiessen began manufacturing similar grills under the Pit Boss label. The companies now enjoy a healthy rivalry.
Since its inception, the company has been an industry leader. Their pellet grills are prized for their quality and durability. With the rising popularity of kamado grills, the folks at Pit Boss have decided to enter that race as well.
Pit Boss offers kamado grills in two sizes: 22- and 24-inch. This number refers to the diameter of the grilling surface. Their units are sturdy but heavy, with the 24-inch model weighing in at just over 220 pounds. The excess weight is due to the ceramic construction, which also makes the grill more fragile than its steel counterparts.
Specifications
- Construction-Ceramic
- Grilling Grates-Stainless Steel
- Cooking Surface-662 square inches (24-inch version)
- Weight-220 lbs (24-inch version)
Pros
- Attractive design
- Ceramic bowl is rust-proof
- Side shelves offer space for prep or storage
- Great ventilation system
Cons
- Not suitable for wood chips or pellets
- Ceramic is prone to breakage
- Featuring a heavy ceramic body the kamado is the ideal environment for...
- The cast iron top tamper gives you full control over air flow allowing...
- The solid bamboo side shelves are sturdy and fold down for easy...
- Dual tier cooking grates provide even more space to make the most of...
- Featuring a heavy ceramic body the kamado is the ideal environment for...
- The cast iron top tamper gives you full control over air flow allowing...
- The solid bamboo side shelves are sturdy and fold down for easy...
- Dual tier cooking grates provide even more space to make the most of...
Big Green Egg
Entrepreneur Ed Fisher founded the Big Green Egg brand in 1974. Today, the company is the world’s largest producer of ceramic kamado-style grills.
The Big Green Egg offers a myriad of accessories that are designed to enhance the cooking experience. The grills can be used as stand-alone devices, but many aficionados prefer to set them in a table or island.
Big Green Eggs are available in a variety of sizes, from Mini to 2XL. Which one you choose depends on the size of your family and what you intend to use it for.
Specifications
- Construction-Ceramic
- Grilling Grates-Cast Iron
- Cooking Surface-452 square inches (XL version)
- Weight-219 lbs (XL version)
Pros
- Company has an excellent reputation
- Outstanding visual appeal
- Versatile unit
- Superb heat retention
Cons
- High price point
- Difficult to clean
Pit Boss Kamado vs Big Green Egg: Product Features
Affordability
The Big Green Egg is a popular brand. As such, it demands a fairly high price, even by kamado grill standards.
Conversely, Pit Boss offers a quality product at a more affordable price. Investing in one of these units can save you a significant amount of money. What’s more, their larger grill offers more cooking space than the Big Green Egg’s X-Large version, despite the fact that they both measure 24 inches in diameter.
Winner: Pit Boss Kamado
Durability
It’s difficult to choose a clear winner in this category. Both the Big Green Egg and Pit Boss kamado grills are made of heavy-duty ceramic, which can last a lifetime with the proper care. The walls offer excellent heat retention, and the grills are built to hold up to frequent use.
The cooking grates of the Big Green Egg are constructed of cast iron, while the ones on the Pit Boss Kamado are made of 304 stainless steel. Cast iron is better at retaining heat, and it leaves behind impressive grill marks. The grates will also last longer than steel ones, especially if they’re cleaned regularly.
The bottom line? Although the overall construction of the grills is similar, the Big Green Egg has more durable cooking grates. In our opinion, that gives it the edge here.
Winner: Big Green Egg
Cooking Surface
As we mentioned, there are multiple options for both the Pit Boss and the Big Green Egg when it comes to size. For these purposes, we’ll stick to comparing the Pit Boss Kamado 24-inch version with the XLarge Big Green Egg.
Like the Pit Boss Kamado, the XLarge version of the egg has a diameter of 24 inches. However, the Pit Boss’s dual-tier cooking system (see Standout Features, below) increases its total capacity to 662 square inches.
Meanwhile, the XLarge Big Green Egg offers up only 452 square inches of space. The difference is dramatic enough for us to recommend the Pit Boss model in this category. If you’re looking for the kamado grill that can hold the most ingredients, then the Pit Boss is the one you should try.
Winner: Pit Boss Kamado
Ventilation
The Pit Boss features a slide vent on the base and a calibrated damper on the top. The dual ventilation system allows you to create two distinct temperature zones at the same time. Since I like to cook multiple dishes at once, I think this is an excellent feature.
The Big Green Egg has an effective ventilation system as well. The dampers work so well that you can often re-use the coals the next time you fire up the grill.
We certainly can’t complain about the ventilation in the Big Green Egg. Still, the dual heat zones are appealing enough to give the Pit Boss a win here.
Winner: Pit Boss Kamado
Heat Retention
How well do the grills hold their heat during cooking?
Let’s put it this way: You can slow-cook a pork butt or whole beef brisket all day on the Big Green Egg. The temperature can hold steady at 150 degrees Fahrenheit without going out. On the other end of the spectrum, the same coals can ignite to 700 degrees for searing steaks or cooking pizza.
The Pit Boss Kamado is no slouch in this department either. The cover is outfitted with a spring behind the hinge to give it a tighter fit. The walls are also impressively thick, which contributes to the overall weight.
Though it’s a close call, we think the Big Green Egg earns higher marks. The two grills offer a similar range, but the Egg is slightly better at maintaining the designated temperature.
Winner: Big Green Egg
Ease of Assembly
Because the grills are so heavy, it’s best if two people are on hand to put them together. That’s true of both units in this roundup. The last thing you want is to end up with a cracked bowl before you’ve had a chance to use the grill.
That said, the Big Green Egg is easier to put together than the Pit Boss Kamado. The latter is equipped with a wheeled stand and side shelving, both convenient features. However, they make the assembly process that much more complex.
Winner: Big Green Egg
Ease of Cleanup
In this respect, the Pit Boss Kamado is the standout. The grill comes with a free ash removal tool that makes cleanup go that much faster. The design of the bowl allows you to do a thorough job, too.
While the Big Green Egg offers a similar tool, it’s sold separately. Even if you choose to buy it, removing the ashes from the bowl can be tricky. Still, it’s worth noting that cast iron cooking grates can be easier to clean than stainless steel ones, as long as they’re well-seasoned.
Winner: Pit Boss Kamado
Warranty
Pit Boss offers a 5-year warranty on its grills. This doesn’t cover rust or other issues that stem from regular wear and tear.
The Big Green Egg’s guarantee is much more generous. The grills are outfitted with a limited lifetime warranty for residential use. That covers the dome, base, firebox, fire ring, and damper top. Bear in mind that the product needs to be registered in order to benefit from the warranty.
Winner: Big Green Egg
Standout Features
Pit Boss Kamado
- Bamboo side shelving-The unit is flanked by two shelves, which can be used to hold grilling utensils or condiments.
- Ash removal tool-Free with every purchase, this tool is used to sweep the ashes from the firebox after cooking.
- Two-tiered cooking system-The Pit Boss Kamado is capable of creating multiple cook zones, so you can prepare ingredients at two different temperatures in one cook.
Big Green Egg
- rEGGulator Vent Cap-This feature allows you to control the airflow, thereby controlling the internal temperature of the grill.
- Flat Bottom-The grill is perfectly stable when it’s used as a stand-alone unit. It also fits easily into tables, islands, or wire “nests.”
- Wooden Handle-The cleverly designed handle stays cool to the touch, even when the fire is blazing inside.
In Conclusion: Pit Boss Kamado vs Big Green Egg
Use the Pit Boss Kamado if:
- You’re looking for a durable grill at an affordable price.
- You need a great deal of cooking space.
- Cleanup is one of your least favorite chores.
Check out the Pit Boss Kamado for a grill that offers convenience and versatility in one dome-shaped package.
Use the Big Green Egg if:
- You want a kamado grill that will last a lifetime.
- Low-and-slow cooking applications are your favorite aspect of the grilling lifestyle.
- You prefer cast iron cooking grates to stainless steel.
Invest in a Big Green Egg and turn your yard or patio into a real outdoor kitchen.
I use a PB and a friend has a BGE. I would qualify the differences as the BGE has more accessories easily available and some of the hinges are of better/smother use and construction. Cost of BGE stuff is expensive and a lot of the products dont add much to the food.
The PB does pretty much the same job but is realistically half the price, just as good looking and slightly larger. There is a big gap between the two which is nicely filed by Kamado Joe.