Kamado Hub
Kamado Grill Buying Guide: Which Ceramic BBQ to Buy
Big Green Egg kamado grills: premium-grade ceramic cookers that grill, roast, smoke and bake. From the compact, portable MiniMax, through the classic Large and the black Large Onyx, up to the XL. We stock Monolith too, further down the page.
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Premium-grade ceramic
Big Green Egg, the range at a glance
We stock four Big Green Eggs: the compact MiniMax, the classic Large, the Large Onyx in black and the XL. The MiniMax, Large and XL also come in bundles with cooking surfaces, tools and charcoal, and most of the bundles add a stand or table. Spread the cost with Novuna Personal Finance, PayByFinance, or Klarna, Clearpay or Shop Pay at checkout.
Every EGG below shows its current price.
Pricing
What does a kamado cost, and what does a cheap one give up?
A kamado is a big ceramic pot, so the price mostly tracks how big the pot is and what comes with it. Here's how the Big Green Egg range breaks down.
Grill size
The MiniMax is the compact one, made for two to four people. The Large has a 46cm cooking surface and the XL has 61cm, which is room for dinner for a crowd, and each size up costs more. The Large Onyx is the Large in a black glaze and costs more than the green one.
On its own or in a bundle
Every EGG is sold on its own, and the MiniMax, Large and XL also come in bundles. On the Large and XL, the Essential bundle adds the IntEGGrated Nest with Acacia Shelves, a stand on caster wheels, plus cast-iron searing grids, a baking stone, tools and charcoal. The Classic swaps the nest for a Eucalyptus Table, and the Ultimate is built round a Modular Nest with an Expansion Cabinet. The more in the bundle, the higher the price.
What's in the box
The Large, Large Onyx and XL come with the Dual Zone Essentials Kit: a Dual Zone Basket, two Half Moon Ceramic Deflectors and two Half Moon Stainless Steel Grids. That lets you cook directly over the charcoal, indirectly or both at once. The MiniMax comes with a ConvEGGtor for indirect cooking and a stainless steel grid. The Large Onyx also has the Quick Light Kit, which lights the charcoal from underneath.
The warranty
The ceramic components are covered by Big Green Egg's Limited Lifetime Warranty. If a cheaper kamado won't put its warranty in writing, that tells you a lot about the ceramic.
Running costs
Charcoal. We stock Big Green Egg lump charcoal in 8kg bags, in oak and hickory or Canadian maple. We won't guess how many cooks you'll get from a bag, because a two-hour steak night and a fourteen-hour pork shoulder are very different. Big Green Egg say a Large can cook for up to 24 hours on a single batch of charcoal. A cover is worth having too, and we stock them for the MiniMax, Large and XL.
Every EGG below shows its current price.
Shop Big Green Egg
The Big Green Egg range
Big Green Egg Large Essential Bundle
Large EGG on the IntEGGrated Nest, with tools and charcoal
£2,370.00
Big Green Egg Premium 100% Natural Oak and Hickory Lump Charcoal - 8kg
Oak and hickory lump charcoal, 8kg bag
£29.00
Honest comparison
Big Green Egg vs Monolith, the honest kamado comparison
It's the classic premium kamado dilemma. Both are superb ceramic cookers, and the differences are real but not night and day.
| Big Green Egg | Monolith | |
|---|---|---|
| What's in the box | Depends on the EGG. The Large, Large Onyx and XL come with the Dual Zone Essentials Kit: a basket, two ceramic deflectors and two stainless steel grids. Bundles add more | Depends on the model. The TWO.66 and Avantgarde.66 come with a multi-level grid, deflector stones, a chip feeder and a thermometer |
| Two zones at once | Yes, on the Large, Large Onyx and XL: direct heat on one side, indirect on the other | The Smart Grid System on the ONE.55, TWO.66 and Avantgarde.66, for cooking hot and slow at once |
| Smoking wood mid-cook | Added by opening the dome. No chip feeder is listed | Chip feeder on the Junior 2.0, TWO.66 and Avantgarde.66, so you can add wood without lifting the lid |
| Accessories | Nests, tables, modular outdoor kitchens, covers, cooking surfaces and tools, all made for the EGG. A big plus if you like to add to it | A full range for the .55 and .66 sizes |
| Look | The classic green egg. The Large Onyx is black | Modern, with steel banding. Stainless on the Avantgarde |
| Sizes | MiniMax for two to four, Large with a 46cm cooking surface, XL with 61cm | 33cm to 52cm grills, from the Junior 2.0 and Icon up to the .66 models |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime warranty on the ceramic components | Ceramic for life, original owner. Metal parts five years. Gaskets excluded |
Our take: choose Big Green Egg for the bigger accessory range and that classic design, with direct and indirect cooking at once out of the box on the Large, Large Onyx and XL. Choose Monolith if you want the most in the box on the larger models, a more modern look and the chip feeder. You'll eat well either way.
Match to your household
Which one is right for you?
MiniMax
£925
Buy this if you want an EGG you can take with you. It's made for two to four people and has a built-in carrier.
Large
£1,495
Buy this if you want the classic all-rounder. The 46cm cooking surface suits family meals and entertaining, and the Dual Zone kit comes as standard.
Large Onyx
£1,650
Buy this if you want the Large in black. It's the same size, adds the Quick Light Kit and needs a base or table, sold separately.
XL
£2,050
Buy this if you cook for a crowd. It has a 61cm cooking surface, with room to sear on one side and roast on the other.
Large Essential Bundle
£2,370
Buy this if you want the Large ready to stand on its own. It adds the IntEGGrated Nest with Acacia Shelves, a searing grid, a baking stone, tools and charcoal.
Before you buy
The honest bits about owning a kamado
1. It's heavy, and it stays put
Ceramic is dense. A Large EGG weighs 73kg on its own, and a Monolith .66 on its cart takes up roughly 135 by 129cm. Once it's in place you won't be moving it round the patio for fun. The MiniMax, the Junior 2.0 and the Icon are the exceptions.
2. Ceramic doesn't like shocks
Bring it up to temperature steadily and never throw water on hot ceramic. Treat it well and the lifetime warranty means something.
3. It isn't a ten-minute grill
A kamado rewards patience. If most of your barbecues are burgers straight after work, you'll spend more time waiting than cooking.
4. Gaskets wear out
The seal round the lid gets hot every time you cook, and eventually it needs replacing. Monolith's warranty doesn't cover it, and no honest seller would say otherwise.
5. Check what it stands on
The Large and XL come without a stand, so plan for one: every Large and XL bundle includes a nest or a table. The Large Onyx needs a suitable base or table for safe use, sold separately.
6. You'll be building it
Every Monolith needs assembling, cart and all. It's not hard. Just don't plan to cook the day it arrives.
7. Charcoal only
There's no gas option. If lighting charcoal puts you off, a kamado will too.
The honest bit
A kamado is the wrong buy for you if...
You mostly grill sausages on a Tuesday. A kamado will do it beautifully, but you're paying for low and slow cooking, smoking and baking you'll never use. A simple charcoal grill is fine.
You want gas. Every Big Green Egg and every Monolith runs on charcoal. That's the point of them, and it isn't changing.
You need to move it about a lot. The larger models are heavy ceramic on a stand or cart. Choose the MiniMax, the Monolith Icon or the Junior 2.0, or choose something else.
You'd rather not wait. Proper kamado cooking takes hours. Some of the best things you'll ever cook on one take all day.
If you're still reading and nodding, you're probably exactly who they're made for.
Straight recommendations
The best EGG for how you cook
If you know what you want to make:
Best for low and slow:
the Large. Big Green Egg say it can cook for up to 24 hours on a single batch of charcoal, and the Dual Zone kit sets up indirect heat.
Best for a crowd:
the XL. It has a 61cm cooking surface, with room to sear on one side and roast on the other.
Best for a built-in outdoor kitchen:
the Large or XL in a Modular Nest. We stock the nest, expansion frames and cabinets separately, so you can build out from it.
Best for a small garden or taking away:
the MiniMax. It's made for two to four people and has a built-in carrier.
Best for showing off:
the Large Onyx. It's the Large in an inky black glaze with a hint of green. We'll leave the rest to you.
Ceramic, German engineered
Monolith, the range at a glance
Monolith kamado grills: German engineered ceramic kamados that grill, smoke, roast and bake. From the compact Junior 2.0 and Icon, through the One and Two, up to the flagship Avantgarde. The larger models come in .55 and .66 sizes.
Monolith kamado grills cover a wide price range for the grill on its own. Add a cart and the price goes up. Monolith lumpwood charcoal comes in 8kg bags.
Here's how Monolith's range breaks down.
Grill size
The Junior 2.0 and Icon have a 33cm grill and cost the least. The ONE.55 steps up to 44cm. The TWO.66 and Avantgarde.66 have 52cm, which is room for a whole brisket or dinner for a crowd, and they cost the most.
Cart or no cart
Most Monoliths come either on their own, for a table or an outdoor kitchen, or on a cart with side tables. On the Junior the cart adds a little. On the TWO.66 and the Avantgarde.66 it adds more. The ONE.55 comes on its cart as standard.
What's in the box
This is where the series differ. The TWO.66 and Avantgarde.66 come with the Smart Grid System, two deflector stones, two drip trays, a divided charcoal basket, a chip feeder and a built-in thermometer. The ONE.55 has the Smart Grid System and deflector stones, but no chip feeder is listed. The Avantgarde uses stainless steel where the others use powder-coated steel.
The warranty
Monolith cover the ceramic for life for the original owner, the metal parts for five years, and the tables and accessories for one year. Gaskets aren't covered, because they wear. If a cheaper kamado won't put its warranty in writing, that tells you a lot about the ceramic.
Running costs
Charcoal. A bag of Monolith lumpwood is 8kg. We won't guess how many cooks you'll get from a bag, because a two-hour steak night and a fourteen-hour pork shoulder are very different. A cover is worth having too, and its price depends on the model.
Every grill below shows its current price.
Shop Monolith
The Monolith range
Monolith JUNIOR 2.0 Ceramic Kamado BBQ Grill
33cm grill, compact ceramic kamado
from £769.00
Monolith AVANTGARDE.66 Ceramic Kamado BBQ Grill
52cm grill, stainless flagship
from £2,695.00
Match to your household
Which Monolith is right for you?
Junior 2.0
from £769
Buy this if you want the smallest, most affordable Monolith. Perfect for balconies, small courtyards and couples.
Icon
£849
Buy this if you want a portable kamado for camping, caravans and picnics without giving up ceramic cooking.
ONE.55
£1,099
Buy this if you want the everyday all-rounder. Ample cook area for most families and the best price-to-performance ratio in the range.
TWO.66
from £2,299
Buy this if you want the biggest usable cooking area: hosting, big cuts, low and slow briskets.
Avantgarde.66
from £2,695
Buy this if you want the premium flagship: stainless bands, an integrated smoking system and the most complete out-of-the-box setup.
Straight recommendations
The best Monolith for how you cook
If you know what you want to make:
Best for smoking:
the TWO.66. It has the chip feeder, a divided charcoal basket and a 52cm grill, at a lower price than the Avantgarde.
Best for a built-in outdoor kitchen:
any of the .66 models bought on its own, without the cart. Monolith sell ceramic feet for them separately.
Best for learning:
the ONE.55. It has a 44cm grill, the Smart Grid System for cooking hot and slow at once, and it comes on its cart.
Best for a balcony or a small terrace:
the Icon. It's a 33cm tabletop kamado, built to be carried.
Best for showing off:
the Avantgarde.66. It has stainless fittings and the fullest box in the range. We'll leave the rest to you.
One stop
We stock the charcoal too
Don't forget the fuel. Kamados run on lumpwood charcoal, which we stock. We supply kiln-dried logs and kindling for wood-fired ovens and fires, Big Green Egg lump charcoal in oak and hickory or Canadian maple, and Monolith lumpwood charcoal for kamados. We stock Big Green Egg firestarters and smoking wood chips and chunks too.
What our customers say
Come and talk it through
Visit us near Stirling
Calido Showroom
Unit 3A, Bandeath Industrial Estate, Throsk, Stirling FK7 7NP
Monday to Saturday
FAQ
Kamado FAQs
Big Green Egg or Monolith, which kamado is best?
Both are excellent ceramic cookers. Big Green Egg has the iconic design, a huge accessory range and, on the Large, Large Onyx and XL, the Dual Zone kit for direct and indirect cooking at once. The larger Monoliths come with more in the box, including a chip feeder on the TWO.66 and Avantgarde.66, and they have a more modern, steel-trimmed look. It comes down to ecosystem vs features.
Can you supply the charcoal and logs too?
Yes. We carry Monolith lumpwood charcoal in store and online, and Big Green Egg lump charcoal online, alongside our own kiln-dried logs and kindling for wood-fired ovens and fires, so you can pick up fuel with your kamado.
Do you deliver outdoor ovens and fires across Scotland and the UK?
Yes. We deliver nationwide, with our Central Scotland heartland, so Stirling, Falkirk, Alloa, Bridge of Allan and Fife, closest to home.
Can I spread the cost?
Yes. Use Novuna Personal Finance, PayByFinance, for the larger pieces, or Klarna, Clearpay or Shop Pay at checkout.
What size kamado do I need?
Go by the size. The Big Green Egg MiniMax is made for two to four people, the Large has a 46cm cooking surface for family meals and entertaining, and the XL has 61cm for a crowd. In Monolith, the Junior 2.0 and Icon have 33cm, which is fine for two. The ONE.55 has 44cm, which suits most families. The TWO.66 and Avantgarde.66 have 52cm, for hosting and big cuts.
What does the Big Green Egg warranty cover?
The ceramic components are covered by Big Green Egg's Limited Lifetime Warranty.
What does the Monolith warranty cover?
The ceramic is covered for life for the original owner, metal parts for five years, and tables and accessories for one year. It covers defects in materials and workmanship. It doesn't cover gaskets, normal wear, accidental damage or commercial use.
Do Monolith grills come assembled?
No. Every model needs assembling, including the cart versions.
Can I cook pizza on a kamado?
Yes. Every Big Green Egg is made to bake as well as grill and smoke, and we stock the Big Green Egg Ceramic Baking Stone for pizza. Every Monolith is built to bake too, and Monolith make a pizza stone to go with it. If pizza is the main event, look at our Alfa pizza ovens as well.
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