Fantastic review! I seek input for so much that I buy from TH-cam. The points you make and the process in this review is one of the best formats I've seen for any product. Thanks for doing this for everyone!
Picked up an Akorn Jr. kamado today for 100 bucks just to play around with and came across this video while researching it. Absolutely LOVE the iPad comparison! Very well said. Keep up the awesome work! Your videos are a million times more informative and enjoyable to watch than anything on the cable tv cooking channels. Much appreciated.
Wow, Adam! I really appreciate that, man. What do you think of that Akorn Jr. I saw it on sale at Walmart and seriously considered it but I absolutely do not need it. Justin
Justin, I am in LOVE with this thing! Assembly was a breeze, only taking about 20 minutes using a cordless drill with a Phillips bit. So far I've cooked beef brats and dogs, bone in and boneless chicken thighs, ribeyes, thick cut New York strips, a random t-bone, a flock of chicken wings, a few burgers, and now planning to do a brisket as soon as Amazon delivers the smoking stone. It's super easy to regulate the temp, and the meats stay very juicy. I've been running it with Cowboy lump, pecan and/or hickory chunks (pecan FTW), and lighting the coals with a single Weber cube. The bare cast iron grate seasoned up beautifully in about an hour and is basically non stick at this point. Totally got the kamado bug now and looking to add a full sized one to the family in the near future. (don't tell my Genesis II... I think she's feeling a bit neglected already)
Hi Mr. Maniac, first I want to say how much I enjoy your video's and this one is very thorough and informative. I too have tried to do research on the pro's and con's of a MM here on TH-cam and yes, the video's are limited. You've manage to life the hood and let me take a good look at what I'm getting - Thank you! Tim
Great video as always Justin. I really enjoy how you film and editing your videos, it's a really professional touch in them. The graphics are also cool and very well done as well. I hope you continue to make more videos, I love watching them.
I just bought the Mini Max to accompany my workhorse of an XL. Just didn't make sense to light up and wait for the XL to heat up to sear 2 steaks for my wife and I. I think the Mini Max is ideal for someone who already has a full size smoker/grill, and looking for a nightly grill, or something to take camping, tailgating, etc.
Hey Baby Back... Big Swole here from the Brethren (the guy that refurbed his grandfathers vintage egg).... Just shared this on another forum (non-bbq related)...they guy was appreciative of the review! Thanks again!! See ya on the BBQ Brethren
Thanks for sharing it, man. I really appreciate it. Cooking anything this week? You need to start smoking on your channel with all those grills you've got. lol
I wished I had more time too. I'm an LEO and on-duty quiet a bit. I would like to do a vid or two someday. Love watching yours and wished I had those editing skills.
Thanks from the Netherlands. This review was exactly what I was looking for. One more question though: would it be able to fit an average size beer can chicken ? Thanks :)
Hey, I just wanted to drop you a line and let you know that you made an awesome video. I got a Minimax for Christmas 8 days ago, and was pleased to learn from your experiences.
Thank you, Christopher. I really appreciate you stopping by. By the way, I recently got something called a "Kick Ash basket" which I think is going to make clean out easier. If you haven't heard of it, you might google it. It's looks cool but I haven't tried it yet.
90 lbs definitely isn't portable for me. :) I guess you have Papa Murphy's in Texas. I cooked one of those in my toaster oven and people keep telling how stupid I am because I didn't take it off of the cardboard baking tray. I guess a lot of people aren't familiar with them. Anyway, great video Justin! Very informative and well filmed!
You know I never thought about Papa Murphy's being regional. I need to think about that more before I mention Brands like that. Actually Jim, I was thinking about you when I was using this one. You're right, it would be too heavy to be portable but once you got it set up it's really easy to use because the pieces are so light. I have shoulder issues that come and go and I like that this is small and light.
*excellent excellent* video. How you don't have at least 10xs the subs you already have is beyond me. I am definitely interested in getting a MiniMax! (new sub!)
I have the large egg and when I do big turkeys (20ish pounds) I have to pull the thermometer out. I have no trimmed down a wine cork with a whole in the middle that is spaced properly for the big stuff. You may want to try that with the mini max
Happy to help. It's hard to clean. That's really the only thing I don't like about it. Other than that it's a lot of fun. You might want to look at the Kamado joe version too.
Hey Spike, No, It was just a mistake. LOL. It was freaking cold and I was running late and I just didn't notice because I was thinking about the camera. At least I had it right in the close up shot of it at the beginning of thex video… That's what I keep telling myself. LOL
As usual great job!! I have a joe jr and I love it (also a big joe) , I couldn't agree more with your review, its amazing these cookers are small but when you put a defuser plate in them how much you can cook, I have cooked a 7 or 8 lbs brisket flat, and 8 chicken thighs at once (separate cooks obviously) and I have a 9 plus lbs pork shoulder i am gonna try to cook in it tomorrow, definitely need a stand for these little grills though
Pulled pork turned out pretty good, I basically used John's method from kamado joe cooking channel, I did not have to remove the thermometer (but it didn't poke into the meat either) after several hrs. I did have to adjust the vents because the temp started to drop off.
I think next time I will use a spacer between the drip pan and the defuser (so the dripping's don't burn) I did have a great bark because I didn't wrap the whole cook, just wish I had a little dripping juice to mix back into the pulled pork
Hey dude, this has been such a useful video for me. I’m on the fence about getting a Kamado Joe jr. I'm thinking I can justify kj jr or a minimax, can’t justify the cost on a larger one (to my wife 😉). I must have missed this video previously, did you do other vids with this cooker? I’ve been a fan of your page for long while now, hope things getter better soon with your Dad & Co and look forward to seeing more videos in future. Best regards 👍🔥
Thanks Jason, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I will say this, I love cooking with this cooker but I find it so difficult to clean out that I don't use it very often. I would take a good hard look at the Kamado Joe at Costco (I think it's $450 at Costco) before I would get this one for more. The reason has to do with no way to get the ash out without going through the top.
@@BabyBackManiac Have you tried using a small shop vac? I found it very easy to clean. I take the old lump out and put it in a small ice cream bucket, vacuum out the bottom, put the old lump back in, add some new, wipe down the grate and i'm good to go. Easy peasy. Yes, you do have to clean out after every cook because it's so small but usually takes less then 5 minutes so I don't mind.
i love your channel bro keep up the good work and laughs .I recently bought the chargriller akorn because of your channel would of bought a ceramic one but could not afford it lol.works great
Yeah, those are awesome for the money. They won't last forever but chargrilled actually doesn't even charge a lot for replacement parts so it's not hard to "keep it on the road" even when you do start having issues. It really does help prolong the life if it if you can keep it out of the rain as that's the main culprit. (they can leak and let water into the ash pan.) If you could keep it in a garage when not in use, it would probably last forever.
I'm not sure it's worth what they are asking; However, it would be one of my most used cookers if it was easier to clean. As it is, I don't use it much anymore.
And (this is a biggie for me) you can bring it in when the weather gets bad, not to use indoors of course. Think of all those poor grills that have to withstand the elements, all of the time. Grill covers are one thing, having a roof overhead is a better thing!
For this much weight - and money - a charcoal smoker is another indirect competitor to consider. It often comes down to brand-loyalty for many people, which is good enough for me!
Yep, that's a lot of money for what you get. If I would not wouldn't have fallen into this one I don't think I would've bought it but now that I have it I really like it.
bwahahaha man I love your videos! that was a perfect analogy of comparing the mini max cooker to an iPad! I can't wait to see what your ad excited about! Cheers to ya my bbq brother from another mother.
Great video. I have 3 Weber grills, the Smokey Joe, Jumbo Joe, and the Performer and Love and use them all. I'm not in the market for a new grill but I've heard good things about this one. Are you going to try using the Craycort Cast Iron grates on this?
Not sure if I should get this Minimax or Medium Egg... It's for 3 of us 99% of the time. Will this mini max fit 3-4 pieces of good sized steaks? My concern is that if we have to squeeze in the steak, it won't cook evenly (hence better to get medium), or do you think this size is perfectly fine?
Between those two options, I'd get the medium. Actually, based on what you told me, I'd just save and get the large. This really isn't a daily driver. It's the car equivalent of the old weekend convertible. ;-)
Hey Justin I’m also here in Texas, I have a quick long question for you. I recently got a Traeger 34 cause I got a steal on it. I traded a shotgun for it, it was new still in box, I used it and like it. Problem is I got an Akorn kamado at wal mart on clearance for 69$ and I love it! Should I get rid of the Traeger and buy a true Kamado Grill? I really like kamado joes. My wife likes the Traeger for ease but we don’t use it much. I’m just afraid the akorn is gonna fall apart prematurely. I do have it under a patio and a cover but I know it’s no premium kamado. Thanks man. I love your channel just subscribed.
That is a really difficult question to answer for another person. Someone is going down this road before I can tell you that the ceramics are much nicer to cook on but value value of The akorn is awesome...especially at $69
I own a large green egg and a traeger and I can tell you that they are different grills. I use them both for different things. I tend not to "smoke" in my green egg. Maybe thats because I suck, but maybe not. Generally a brisket or pork shoulder will go on the traeger.
I am curious about the pork shoulder cook. How long did it take and did your MM have enough lump to go the entire cook? I recently did a shoulder at 325 and had to add lump half way through the cook. Thanks.
I didn't run it straight through like that. But I did these cooks back to back. So it is an hour and a half of burnout and ribeye cooking at nuclear temps followed by 5 1/2 hours of low and slow before I noticed temps dropping. . I took it apart and check out the ash and realized about a quarter of the firebox was still full. So I think in a normal conditions it would work straight through. The bigger issue is ash accumulation. I'm going to try one of those kick ash baskets.
I've had a similar experience with my MM. Unburnt charcoal and temps starting to drop. I bought a kick ash and it does help. I wish I had the original fire ring the BGE had in the MM. It was almost an inch taller. So the grill was level with the felt. Lots more room for charcoal. BGE was using the fire ring from the small. But for some reason, they decided it was too high and built a MM specific fire ring which is what you and I have.
Good to know about the kick ash basket. I may pick one of those up. You should look into the woo. Without the heat defector in place, it raises the cooking grate up. It's not even with the felt, but slightly higher. It won't help with charcoal if you are doing indirect but at least it gives you some options on distance from the fire.
I have been looking at the Woo for a while, but I've only ever seen pictures. Yours is the first video so I was happy about that. The problem is getting one. The ceramic store won't ship to Canada. He's actually pretty animated about it too. I won't get into that though. I'll get one when he gets a distributor up here.
Nice video. Good breakdown. Hope everything has been going well for you. I'm trying to type and rock my little one asleep so I might make a few mistakes lol. Take it easy
Justin I need your opinion here.....I am looking for something else besides what I have......I currently own a Weber Genesis EP-330 and a Weber Kettle 22 inch. Looking for something more to possibly smoke with but also maybe have something that I can cook on at times if need be. I am torn between a big green egg or a Traeger. I mean I know I can cook on both but what will be be more useful as well making large briskets on but I don't want to break the bank either...what are your thoughts?
If I was picking with between those two options, I'd go with the BGE simply because it's a bit more versatile. Traeger's are easier to use and hold more meat but they aren't the best choice for grilling directly (there are work arounds you can do but the Big Green Egg is more all around versatile.) I'd also take a look that the Kamado Joe Big Joe (very similar to Big Green Egg except some better features). Also, there is a 26 kettle which at 299 is the best value in the bbq world in my humble opinion. I have a Slow N Sear from Adrenaline Barbecue Company (discloser: I didn't pay for it. They sent it to me so I could do some video work for them.) and the 26 kettle with the Slow N Sear is one of my favorite set ups....and also one of my cheapest. Lots of options there, and I hope I didn't just give you tired head, but if was picking between the big Green egg XL and the Traeger, I'd go BGE XL just for the versatility and the fact that it's not mechanical (augers and motors and fire rods all break eventually).
Baby Back Maniac thank you very much. Just letting you know you didn't confuse me at all you put a lot of things into perspective. I see things a lot more clearly thank you again keep the videos going absolutely love them and I'm a big fan.
None at all. My only issue has been cleaning out the firebox is harder than with bigger grills where you can quickly pull it out through the front vent. Most likely the issue is your vents are brand new and very clean so air flows through them more easily. After a few cooks it will tighten up.
@@BabyBackManiac it took me about an hour to settle it in. After that I made 3 adjustments throughout a 9 hour cook. I guess that's not too bad for it's first cook. Thanks Justin! You inspire me to want to start a channel, I tried making a video the other day... Yeah I'm not good at this. Lol. Nice work my dude!
Nobody is good at it at first. You are talking to inanimate objects...if that's not weird at first there is something wrong with you. lol. Stick with it. It gets easier.
I let my KK go. I got this and some cash. I just wasn't using it enough. Makes me sad but itneeded to get more used than I was giving it for the amount of money I invested in it.
Hi Justin! This is a spanish follower! Congrats for this great channel! I have a question, do you know monolith kamado? I am in love with bge minimax, but here in spain is quite expensive (1350 euro with basic accesories) and monolith jr 650 (same accesories). Maybe you wont have any answer but anyway, again, great job!!
I’ve never use the monolith but I don’t think I would pay $1300 for a big green egg minimax. It’s a fun cooker but it’s overpriced a normal prices. Hope that helps.
I'm thinking about getting one…….well…...now I'm not sure……No,… I don't want one! But, maybe….. I'll think about it…. Yep….I'm getting one! I don't know…….probably not gonna get one. Ok….. I'll just make one! LLLLLLLLLL Hey Brother! Excellent job with this review! And You got a new/used toy! I'll be checking out the Grill Store….. sounds like my kinda place. Keep up the great work! \m/ \m/
Yeah, Tom is your kind of guy. He fabricates all his Products in house and some of it is pure genius. Check him out and tell him I sent you… He will have no idea who I am though. I only went to his store once and it was years ago. LOL
Hi Michael, That is made by a company called Black Diamond charwood. They sent me some of that and their lump charcoal to try a last year and I really liked both. When we expanded our back patio a few months ago (check out my videos to see it...it's a quick watch) they send me more as a patio warming gift. I tell you all that to disclose it didn't cost me anything (because I'd want to know that) but with that said, I really like both products. I find the starters to be less messy because they aren't flaky like the white weber starter cubes. Hope this helps, Justin
Thanks again I am going with the Kamado Joe Jr. I want to use this for small cooks at home and for tailgate parties. The 20# savings is going to be helpful. Go Chargers! Also THANK YOU for the referral to the Ceramic Grill Store that saved me $110 compared to buying it at Lowes. $389 vs $499. I actually canceled my order at Lowes. Actually saved me even more as they did not charge sales tax. That will by a lot of big block lump!
Justin, I can see you EASILY having over 100k subs very soon. The content quality and production value of your videos is really simply amazing......hang on tight brother because you're going to explode when you least expect it! I knew they had a mini, didn't know about the MM! I like it though and would love to have one!! What grill did you trade for it??
Sadly, I sold the KK for this and some cash. I just wasn't using enough for the my money I had in it and the guy who bought it loved it so it all worked out in the end. Brother thanks for your kind words about my channel. That means a lot. a lot of my favorite "big youtubers" (like you and Rus and Dan and Phil) have had the same reaction to this one and it means the world to me considering since you guys have been there and done that.
I like Black Diamond alot. I didn't know it existed until the contacted me and sent me some. It's really good. I also use CocoChar but only on low and slow cooks. It's super expensive though. I used Royal Oak forever but last year I picked up about 25 bags of the 20 pound bags on Walmart and had some serious problems with it (rocks the size of my fist and metal fragments.) Not to mention it smoked and sparked like crazy. I hated it so much I sold it all on Craigslist.
Justin, fantastic review brother. I have been pondering purchasing a big green egg, the large version. Can't bring myself to pull the trigger just yet with all the other smoker and grills I have. But love the video, great review and great videography. Keep smoking brother.
Thanks Daryl, The larges are a good size. They fit everything though sometimes you have to play games to get Packer briskets and full spareribs on. But they're still small for the day-to-day cooks. If you have a Costco near you check out at Kamado Joe roadshow next time they roll through town. They are really nice and the road show prices are very compelling compared to BGE.
Justin, This review was amazing. I really like your videography style! Your editing and story telling is precise. Thank you for the wealth of knowledge that you gave. I agree with Rus Jones (Smoky Ribs), you will definitely be a huge TH-cam personality soon! Don't forget us little people when you take off!!! Great job my friend!! Merry Christmas!!
Actually it went from 28-750 haha. Anyways, what firestarters do you use? I made my own from saw dust, egg cartons and candle wax. They burn high and for a long time. Though I'm not sure of the effects of having candle wax in your grill.
We are pro BBQ cooks, with everything from a Jambo to a PK to an army of drum smokers. We won a MiniMax in a raffle last winter, and it immediately became our go-to cooker. With just two of us in the house, we find an excuse to use it at least 3 times a week.
Yep, I know the feeling. I sorta fell into this one as well. I don't think I would have paid full price for it but now that I have it, I really like it. Thanks for the comment, Smoke Freaks, have a great weekend. Justin
Hey man, im the market for one of these. Just noticed Rus from smoky ribs has an Aredalin bbq shirt he told me it four years old. The circle that is youtube. Good Video man.!!:) On your pros and cons which i would have asked you yet you covered!, The charcoal size in which i use larger pieces, did or have you used briquettes at all just out of interest? A comment your vocab is very diverse !!.
Thanks man. I've used briquettes. They burn fine but the cooker has very little room for ash to accumulate under the grate so on longer cooks, it can choke itself out. Lump works a lot better.
Can you tell any taste different in a lump OAK charcoal vs a lump MESQUITE charcoal? HEB sells a central market brand, and the lump is very big and nice, but they only ever seem to have the 20 lbs bags in mesquite. Thought you may know or know someone that would know. Thanks for the vids!
Yes, Mesquite lump tends to be more smokey and produce more ash. Its also cheaper. But lump varies so much from bag to bag even within the same company so it really hard to nail it down and make definitive statements on stuff like this. I think part of the issue could have been that the mesquite is so big that it doesn't get processed as well. Short answer: Try it and see what you think. Some people love it.
Hey Justin... awesome review... at the end where you talk about who this grill would best work for, I say why I got mine: Its small, I wanted a green egg, and I have very limited space on the balcony of my place. So people who have little space, this grill gets you there. Thanks for the review.
I really love your Videos! I am not sure if the minimax will suit us.We are a couple, we have only a small terrace and we can't store a big and heavy bbq.I would like also to bake bread and use a Dutch oven,would the minimax be Suitable? I read about the kamado joe junior but I think is too small?
Hi there, The KJ Jr and the minimax are about the same size so if one doesn't work, the other probably won't either. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Justin
I came across your video by mistake and i am glad I did. Great all around. I do have a question. what rub did you use on the pork butt to get that great color? Keep up the great work.
I like to think you got the "It likes big butts" part from my handle on KG. Great video, would love to produce something 1/10th as good for the Akorn Jr.
Hi Ryan, I traded my KK for this and some cash. It was a fantastic cooker... Probably the nicest I'll ever own but I just wasn't using it enough. Too much money for it not to be used. Thanks for asking and thanks for watching.
Justin, As you predicted in your video, my Joe Jr. has become my go-to everyday cooker (also cook for 3 most of the time). Love that little guy! Would never give up the Primo's or KK but would buy another Joe Jr. tomorrow if it disappeared. Great video's! Keep them coming!! Jon B.
Fantastic review! I seek input for so much that I buy from TH-cam. The points you make and the process in this review is one of the best formats I've seen for any product. Thanks for doing this for everyone!
Thanks Kevin,
I'm glad you enjoyed it and found it helpful.
Justin
Picked up an Akorn Jr. kamado today for 100 bucks just to play around with and came across this video while researching it. Absolutely LOVE the iPad comparison! Very well said. Keep up the awesome work! Your videos are a million times more informative and enjoyable to watch than anything on the cable tv cooking channels. Much appreciated.
Wow, Adam! I really appreciate that, man. What do you think of that Akorn Jr. I saw it on sale at Walmart and seriously considered it but I absolutely do not need it.
Justin
Justin, I am in LOVE with this thing! Assembly was a breeze, only taking about 20 minutes using a cordless drill with a Phillips bit. So far I've cooked beef brats and dogs, bone in and boneless chicken thighs, ribeyes, thick cut New York strips, a random t-bone, a flock of chicken wings, a few burgers, and now planning to do a brisket as soon as Amazon delivers the smoking stone. It's super easy to regulate the temp, and the meats stay very juicy. I've been running it with Cowboy lump, pecan and/or hickory chunks (pecan FTW), and lighting the coals with a single Weber cube. The bare cast iron grate seasoned up beautifully in about an hour and is basically non stick at this point. Totally got the kamado bug now and looking to add a full sized one to the family in the near future. (don't tell my Genesis II... I think she's feeling a bit neglected already)
I caved. lol. My wife found one at Walmart. It had a scratch so she talked them down to $37 bucks.I'm excited.
Justin
BTW, you now have more subscribers than the official Big Green Egg channel... lol
Hi Mr. Maniac, first I want to say how much I enjoy your video's and this one is very thorough and informative. I too have tried to do research on the pro's and con's of a MM here on TH-cam and yes, the video's are limited. You've manage to life the hood and let me take a good look at what I'm getting - Thank you! Tim
Great video as always Justin. I really enjoy how you film and editing your videos, it's a really professional touch in them. The graphics are also cool and very well done as well. I hope you continue to make more videos, I love watching them.
Thank you so much. I intend to. They take a while so everyone thinks I've quit by the time I get to my next video. LOL
I just bought the Mini Max to accompany my workhorse of an XL. Just didn't make sense to light up and wait for the XL to heat up to sear 2 steaks for my wife and I. I think the Mini Max is ideal for someone who already has a full size smoker/grill, and looking for a nightly grill, or something to take camping, tailgating, etc.
Hey Baby Back... Big Swole here from the Brethren (the guy that refurbed his grandfathers vintage egg).... Just shared this on another forum (non-bbq related)...they guy was appreciative of the review! Thanks again!! See ya on the BBQ Brethren
Thanks for sharing it, man. I really appreciate it. Cooking anything this week?
You need to start smoking on your channel with all those grills you've got. lol
I wished I had more time too. I'm an LEO and on-duty quiet a bit. I would like to do a vid or two someday. Love watching yours and wished I had those editing skills.
Thanks man. Both for the compliment of my editing and for being a cop.
Can't even begin to say how helpful this was. Thanks!
Glad to hear it. Thanks
Thanks from the Netherlands.
This review was exactly what I was looking for.
One more question though: would it be able to fit an average size beer can chicken ?
Thanks :)
Hey, I just wanted to drop you a line and let you know that you made an awesome video. I got a Minimax for Christmas 8 days ago, and was pleased to learn from your experiences.
Thank you, Christopher. I really appreciate you stopping by. By the way, I recently got something called a "Kick Ash basket" which I think is going to make clean out easier. If you haven't heard of it, you might google it. It's looks cool but I haven't tried it yet.
Great review and awesome video Justin! Your going to be killing it on TH-cam very soon is my prediction!
Mine too, Rus!
Thanks guys. That means a lot to me...especially coming from you two.
90 lbs definitely isn't portable for me. :) I guess you have Papa Murphy's in Texas. I cooked one of those in my toaster oven and people keep telling how stupid I am because I didn't take it off of the cardboard baking tray. I guess a lot of people aren't familiar with them. Anyway, great video Justin! Very informative and well filmed!
You know I never thought about Papa Murphy's being regional. I need to think about that more before I mention Brands like that.
Actually Jim, I was thinking about you when I was using this one. You're right, it would be too heavy to be portable but once you got it set up it's really easy to use because the pieces are so light. I have shoulder issues that come and go and I like that this is small and light.
*excellent excellent* video. How you don't have at least 10xs the subs you already have is beyond me. I am definitely interested in getting a MiniMax! (new sub!)
Wow, Thanks Wavester64. That's really nice of you to say!
Really appreciate it.
Justin
I have the large egg and when I do big turkeys (20ish pounds) I have to pull the thermometer out. I have no trimmed down a wine cork with a whole in the middle that is spaced properly for the big stuff. You may want to try that with the mini max
Great tip. Thank you, Tyler! I appreciate it.
I just won the "small" BGE. Wish there were more videos out there
Great review You helped me make my decision.....going to go get it!
Happy to help. It's hard to clean. That's really the only thing I don't like about it. Other than that it's a lot of fun. You might want to look at the Kamado joe version too.
Another great informative entertaining video . Excited to see what's coming up. Have a great rest of your weekend.
Thanks, William. I appreciate you watching. Have a great week!
great review! I have been debating mini max or joe jr.
Great review! Im looking to buy one for camping trips and when I dont need to light up my large egg.
Finally a mini max review video. I am curious why you have the fire ring upside down? Does the Woo fit better?
Hey Spike,
No, It was just a mistake. LOL. It was freaking cold and I was running late and I just didn't notice because I was thinking about the camera. At least I had it right in the close up shot of it at the beginning of thex video… That's what I keep telling myself. LOL
As usual great job!! I have a joe jr and I love it (also a big joe) , I couldn't agree more with your review, its amazing these cookers are small but when you put a defuser plate in them how much you can cook, I have cooked a 7 or 8 lbs brisket flat, and 8 chicken thighs at once (separate cooks obviously) and I have a 9 plus lbs pork shoulder i am gonna try to cook in it tomorrow, definitely need a stand for these little grills though
Yeah, I need to try a brisket flat. Let me know how the pork butt turned out. Did you remove your thermometer? Or just let it poke in?
Pulled pork turned out pretty good, I basically used John's method from kamado joe cooking channel, I did not have to remove the thermometer (but it didn't poke into the meat either) after several hrs. I did have to adjust the vents because the temp started to drop off.
I think next time I will use a spacer between the drip pan and the defuser (so the dripping's don't burn) I did have a great bark because I didn't wrap the whole cook, just wish I had a little dripping juice to mix back into the pulled pork
Sometimes a little BBQ sauce can help.
Hey dude, this has been such a useful video for me. I’m on the fence about getting a Kamado Joe jr. I'm thinking I can justify kj jr or a minimax, can’t justify the cost on a larger one (to my wife 😉). I must have missed this video previously, did you do other vids with this cooker? I’ve been a fan of your page for long while now, hope things getter better soon with your Dad & Co and look forward to seeing more videos in future. Best regards 👍🔥
Thanks Jason,
I'm glad you enjoyed it. I will say this, I love cooking with this cooker but I find it so difficult to clean out that I don't use it very often. I would take a good hard look at the Kamado Joe at Costco (I think it's $450 at Costco) before I would get this one for more. The reason has to do with no way to get the ash out without going through the top.
@@BabyBackManiac Have you tried using a small shop vac? I found it very easy to clean. I take the old lump out and put it in a small ice cream bucket, vacuum out the bottom, put the old lump back in, add some new, wipe down the grate and i'm good to go. Easy peasy. Yes, you do have to clean out after every cook because it's so small but usually takes less then 5 minutes so I don't mind.
i love your channel bro keep up the good work and laughs .I recently bought the chargriller akorn because of your channel would
of bought a ceramic one but could not afford it lol.works great
Yeah, those are awesome for the money. They won't last forever but chargrilled actually doesn't even charge a lot for replacement parts so it's not hard to "keep it on the road" even when you do start having issues.
It really does help prolong the life if it if you can keep it out of the rain as that's the main culprit. (they can leak and let water into the ash pan.) If you could keep it in a garage when not in use, it would probably last forever.
great vid i never thought minimax was worth it for what porcelain cookers can do
I'm not sure it's worth what they are asking; However, it would be one of my most used cookers if it was easier to clean. As it is, I don't use it much anymore.
Awesome video! Answered all my questions
And (this is a biggie for me) you can bring it in when the weather gets bad, not to use indoors of course. Think of all those poor grills that have to withstand the elements, all of the time. Grill covers are one thing, having a roof overhead is a better thing!
Yes I totally agree. Plus it would do great and your crazy climate. Speaking of nature, how long till the big blackout?
It's August 21st, 2017! A bit o totality in the middle of the day!
crazy.
For this much weight - and money - a charcoal smoker is another indirect competitor to consider. It often comes down to brand-loyalty for many people, which is good enough for me!
Yep, that's a lot of money for what you get. If I would not wouldn't have fallen into this one I don't think I would've bought it but now that I have it I really like it.
bwahahaha man I love your videos! that was a perfect analogy of comparing the mini max cooker to an iPad! I can't wait to see what your ad excited about! Cheers to ya my bbq brother from another mother.
Thanks Rusty! It's going to be pretty cool if it all works out. Will know something soon.
Great video. I have 3 Weber grills, the Smokey Joe, Jumbo Joe, and the Performer and Love and use them all. I'm not in the market for a new grill but I've heard good things about this one. Are you going to try using the Craycort Cast Iron grates on this?
Maybe. That's a good idea, actually. Thanks!
Hello there! Have you ever cooked a turkey in the mini max and if so, how large of a turkey can you cook in a minimax?
Small as you can find.
Not sure if I should get this Minimax or Medium Egg... It's for 3 of us 99% of the time. Will this mini max fit 3-4 pieces of good sized steaks? My concern is that if we have to squeeze in the steak, it won't cook evenly (hence better to get medium), or do you think this size is perfectly fine?
Between those two options, I'd get the medium. Actually, based on what you told me, I'd just save and get the large. This really isn't a daily driver. It's the car equivalent of the old weekend convertible. ;-)
Great review. Wonder if the actual inside cooking surface and width is bigger than the Joe Jr.
Those Joe Jr's look cool...and they are really cheap if you catch a road show at costco.
Hey Justin I’m also here in Texas, I have a quick long question for you. I recently got a Traeger 34 cause I got a steal on it. I traded a shotgun for it, it was new still in box, I used it and like it. Problem is I got an Akorn kamado at wal mart on clearance for 69$ and I love it! Should I get rid of the Traeger and buy a true Kamado Grill? I really like kamado joes. My wife likes the Traeger for ease but we don’t use it much. I’m just afraid the akorn is gonna fall apart prematurely. I do have it under a patio and a cover but I know it’s no premium kamado. Thanks man. I love your channel just subscribed.
That is a really difficult question to answer for another person. Someone is going down this road before I can tell you that the ceramics are much nicer to cook on but value value of The akorn is awesome...especially at $69
I own a large green egg and a traeger and I can tell you that they are different grills. I use them both for different things. I tend not to "smoke" in my green egg. Maybe thats because I suck, but maybe not. Generally a brisket or pork shoulder will go on the traeger.
What brand lump do you prefer ?
I am curious about the pork shoulder cook. How long did it take and did your MM have enough lump to go the entire cook? I recently did a shoulder at 325 and had to add lump half way through the cook. Thanks.
I didn't run it straight through like that. But I did these cooks back to back. So it is an hour and a half of burnout and ribeye cooking at nuclear temps followed by 5 1/2 hours of low and slow before I noticed temps dropping. . I took it apart and check out the ash and realized about a quarter of the firebox was still full. So I think in a normal conditions it would work straight through. The bigger issue is ash accumulation. I'm going to try one of those kick ash baskets.
I've had a similar experience with my MM. Unburnt charcoal and temps starting to drop. I bought a kick ash and it does help.
I wish I had the original fire ring the BGE had in the MM. It was almost an inch taller. So the grill was level with the felt. Lots more room for charcoal. BGE was using the fire ring from the small. But for some reason, they decided it was too high and built a MM specific fire ring which is what you and I have.
Good to know about the kick ash basket. I may pick one of those up.
You should look into the woo. Without the heat defector in place, it raises the cooking grate up. It's not even with the felt, but slightly higher. It won't help with charcoal if you are doing indirect but at least it gives you some options on distance from the fire.
I have been looking at the Woo for a while, but I've only ever seen pictures. Yours is the first video so I was happy about that. The problem is getting one. The ceramic store won't ship to Canada. He's actually pretty animated about it too. I won't get into that though. I'll get one when he gets a distributor up here.
Not a Canada fan?
Excellent review! Nicely done!
Thanks Tom. I appreciate you watching, buddy.
Nice video. Good breakdown. Hope everything has been going well for you. I'm trying to type and rock my little one asleep so I might make a few mistakes lol. Take it easy
That's sweet, Ashley. Treasure those times. I remember being so exhausted but now he's older and I sort of miss those days.
Great video thank you! How long did you cook that pork butt? Or how long of a cook do you think you could get out of the minimax at that temperature
What’s that fire starter you are using?
It's from black Diamond Charwood.
I've also seen them called "tumbleweeds."
Thanks... They are, unfortunately, unavailable in these parts of the Smokey Jungle......
great review on the mini, almost bought one, twice. just did not pull the trigger , no doubt it would be great for steaks
It's a fun cooker. I'm not sure I'd pay $600 for it...and that's what it costs around here.
great review my friendenshire!
Justin I need your opinion here.....I am looking for something else besides what I have......I currently own a Weber Genesis EP-330 and a Weber Kettle 22 inch. Looking for something more to possibly smoke with but also maybe have something that I can cook on at times if need be. I am torn between a big green egg or a Traeger. I mean I know I can cook on both but what will be be more useful as well making large briskets on but I don't want to break the bank either...what are your thoughts?
If I was picking with between those two options, I'd go with the BGE simply because it's a bit more versatile. Traeger's are easier to use and hold more meat but they aren't the best choice for grilling directly (there are work arounds you can do but the Big Green Egg is more all around versatile.) I'd also take a look that the Kamado Joe Big Joe (very similar to Big Green Egg except some better features). Also, there is a 26 kettle which at 299 is the best value in the bbq world in my humble opinion. I have a Slow N Sear from Adrenaline Barbecue Company (discloser: I didn't pay for it. They sent it to me so I could do some video work for them.) and the 26 kettle with the Slow N Sear is one of my favorite set ups....and also one of my cheapest.
Lots of options there, and I hope I didn't just give you tired head, but if was picking between the big Green egg XL and the Traeger, I'd go BGE XL just for the versatility and the fact that it's not mechanical (augers and motors and fire rods all break eventually).
Baby Back Maniac thank you very much. Just letting you know you didn't confuse me at all you put a lot of things into perspective. I see things a lot more clearly thank you again keep the videos going absolutely love them and I'm a big fan.
Very good information. Thank you
I bought a new Minimax a few days ago and did my first cook on it today. Do you have trouble maintaining low temperatures?
None at all. My only issue has been cleaning out the firebox is harder than with bigger grills where you can quickly pull it out through the front vent. Most likely the issue is your vents are brand new and very clean so air flows through them more easily. After a few cooks it will tighten up.
@@BabyBackManiac it took me about an hour to settle it in. After that I made 3 adjustments throughout a 9 hour cook. I guess that's not too bad for it's first cook. Thanks Justin!
You inspire me to want to start a channel, I tried making a video the other day... Yeah I'm not good at this. Lol. Nice work my dude!
Nobody is good at it at first. You are talking to inanimate objects...if that's not weird at first there is something wrong with you. lol. Stick with it. It gets easier.
thanks for the great review!
Re thermometer and pulling it out so it doesn't hit the pork butt - idea, swap it for a longer one and use it instead of a probe 😀
lol. I like the way you think.
What a great Review my friend!!
Thanks Ellen,
I just saw Phil's shout out of your channel right before I saw your comment. Thanks for watching! Welcome to youtube!
Baby Back Maniac Thank you!! ❤️
Hi, great vid. Wat grill did you sell/swap?
I let my KK go. I got this and some cash. I just wasn't using it enough. Makes me sad but itneeded to get more used than I was giving it for the amount of money I invested in it.
dude your videos are awesome.. i seen others.. and so far.. i likie
Thank you! I really appreciate it.
Justin
Hi Justin! This is a spanish follower! Congrats for this great channel! I have a question, do you know monolith kamado? I am in love with bge minimax, but here in spain is quite expensive (1350 euro with basic accesories) and monolith jr 650 (same accesories). Maybe you wont have any answer but anyway, again, great job!!
I’ve never use the monolith but I don’t think I would pay $1300 for a big green egg minimax. It’s a fun cooker but it’s overpriced a normal prices. Hope that helps.
Nice review. Smokin Hams sent me over
Thanks man! I appreciate you dropping by!
Great video. Thanks!
Thanks James,
I appreciate you watching, man. Have a great weekend!
Justin
I'm thinking about getting one…….well…...now I'm not sure……No,… I don't want one! But, maybe….. I'll think about it…. Yep….I'm getting one!
I don't know…….probably not gonna get one. Ok….. I'll just make one! LLLLLLLLLL
Hey Brother! Excellent job with this review! And You got a new/used toy! I'll be checking out the Grill Store….. sounds like my kinda place.
Keep up the great work! \m/ \m/
Yeah, Tom is your kind of guy. He fabricates all his Products in house and some of it is pure genius. Check him out and tell him I sent you… He will have no idea who I am though. I only went to his store once and it was years ago. LOL
Nice video... but more WSCG !
lol. Thanks for the feedback jimmah55555
Very well done.
Thank you! I appreciate you watching.
What kind of fire starter is that?
Hi Michael,
That is made by a company called Black Diamond charwood. They sent me some of that and their lump charcoal to try a last year and I really liked both. When we expanded our back patio a few months ago (check out my videos to see it...it's a quick watch) they send me more as a patio warming gift. I tell you all that to disclose it didn't cost me anything (because I'd want to know that) but with that said, I really like both products. I find the starters to be less messy because they aren't flaky like the white weber starter cubes.
Hope this helps,
Justin
Well done! (Pun intended) Enjoyed the video. Good info.
lol. I see what you do there. Thanks for watching, Tom.
Justin
I recently had my summit explode on me
Great video
I appreciate it!
Justin
Thanks again I am going with the Kamado Joe Jr. I want to use this for small cooks at home and for tailgate parties. The 20# savings is going to be helpful. Go Chargers! Also THANK YOU for the referral to the Ceramic Grill Store that saved me $110 compared to buying it at Lowes. $389 vs $499. I actually canceled my order at Lowes. Actually saved me even more as they did not charge sales tax. That will by a lot of big block lump!
Happy to help
Lovely burnt ribeye steaks
Don't have 2nd thoughts, just buy it, 🤣🤩LOL
Why is he using it like a grill at the beginning 😂
He is me...and he doesn't understand the comment. Can you elaborate? thanks.
To grill his steaks.
"Its kinda heavy".....maybe for you. Not everybody is some soft beta male lol
Cool. Bring your alpha male muscles over and carry it for me. Thanks.
Justin, I can see you EASILY having over 100k subs very soon. The content quality and production value of your videos is really simply amazing......hang on tight brother because you're going to explode when you least expect it!
I knew they had a mini, didn't know about the MM! I like it though and would love to have one!! What grill did you trade for it??
Sadly, I sold the KK for this and some cash. I just wasn't using enough for the my money I had in it and the guy who bought it loved it so it all worked out in the end.
Brother thanks for your kind words about my channel. That means a lot. a lot of my favorite "big youtubers" (like you and Rus and Dan and Phil) have had the same reaction to this one and it means the world to me considering since you guys have been there and done that.
What brand lump do you prefer ?
I like Black Diamond alot. I didn't know it existed until the contacted me and sent me some. It's really good. I also use CocoChar but only on low and slow cooks. It's super expensive though. I used Royal Oak forever but last year I picked up about 25 bags of the 20 pound bags on Walmart and had some serious problems with it (rocks the size of my fist and metal fragments.) Not to mention it smoked and sparked like crazy. I hated it so much I sold it all on Craigslist.
What about you?
Justin, fantastic review brother. I have been pondering purchasing a big green egg, the large version. Can't bring myself to pull the trigger just yet with all the other smoker and grills I have. But love the video, great review and great videography. Keep smoking brother.
Thanks Daryl,
The larges are a good size. They fit everything though sometimes you have to play games to get Packer briskets and full spareribs on. But they're still small for the day-to-day cooks. If you have a Costco near you check out at Kamado Joe roadshow next time they roll through town. They are really nice and the road show prices are very compelling compared to BGE.
I looked at a bunch of videos to try and decide which one to get and this is the best video I have seen. Very informative. Thank you
Hey can you do a comparison of the mini max and the akorn jr?
It's on my list. You're literally the only person who has requested though. I do think be an interesting video. Thanks for the suggestion.
Justin
Hi Baby back maniac. Great video, good info, so funny and well edited ! Well done. Thanks !
Thank you so much, Paivi. I appreciate you watching.
Justin, This review was amazing. I really like your videography style! Your editing and story telling is precise. Thank you for the wealth of knowledge that you gave. I agree with Rus Jones (Smoky Ribs), you will definitely be a huge TH-cam personality soon! Don't forget us little people when you take off!!! Great job my friend!! Merry Christmas!!
Thanks, Phil. As I told Rus, that means a lot to me. Especially coming from guys like you who I've been there and done that.
Stay safe, my friend.
Great review 👍
Nice job not letting the food touch 👌 8:43
Actually it went from 28-750 haha.
Anyways, what firestarters do you use? I made my own from saw dust, egg cartons and candle wax. They burn high and for a long time. Though I'm not sure of the effects of having candle wax in your grill.
I have 6 BGE and this one travels in the RV.
Wow, You are my kind of guy. lol. That's awesome!
How many baby backs can it fit?
Never tried to test it. Probably 2 racks if you cut them or do some fancy rolling.
You are correct. You buy a grill because you want it, not necessarily because you need it.
We are pro BBQ cooks, with everything from a Jambo to a PK to an army of drum smokers.
We won a MiniMax in a raffle last winter, and it immediately became our go-to cooker. With just two of us in the house, we find an excuse to use it at least 3 times a week.
Yep, I know the feeling. I sorta fell into this one as well. I don't think I would have paid full price for it but now that I have it, I really like it.
Thanks for the comment, Smoke Freaks, have a great weekend.
Justin
great video
Thanks Todd. Appreciate you watching
Brilliant, really enjoyed that, informative and I'm going for it now (have to get it shipped from a dealer in Cyprus to Greece) - thanks!
Like the authenticity of your video and narrative. Subscribed
This is such a helpful review, thanks! Topped off by a perfect iPad analogy.
Good job on your review. Amazing. Thanks!
Thank you, great job with video ....very good.
Nifty Little Unit Justin, you will have some fun with that. Great Review and thanks for sharing.
Thanks Lumpy Q. It's a fun little cooker. I just got a Kick Ash basket for it. I can't wait to try it out!
Hey man, im the market for one of these. Just noticed Rus from smoky ribs has an Aredalin bbq shirt he told me it four years old.
The circle that is youtube. Good Video man.!!:) On your pros and cons which i would have asked you yet you covered!, The charcoal size in which i use larger pieces,
did or have you used briquettes at all just out of interest?
A comment your vocab is very diverse !!.
Thanks man. I've used briquettes. They burn fine but the cooker has very little room for ash to accumulate under the grate so on longer cooks, it can choke itself out. Lump works a lot better.
Can you tell any taste different in a lump OAK charcoal vs a lump MESQUITE charcoal? HEB sells a central market brand, and the lump is very big and nice, but they only ever seem to have the 20 lbs bags in mesquite. Thought you may know or know someone that would know. Thanks for the vids!
Yes, Mesquite lump tends to be more smokey and produce more ash. Its also cheaper. But lump varies so much from bag to bag even within the same company so it really hard to nail it down and make definitive statements on stuff like this. I think part of the issue could have been that the mesquite is so big that it doesn't get processed as well.
Short answer: Try it and see what you think. Some people love it.
Hey Justin... awesome review... at the end where you talk about who this grill would best work for, I say why I got mine: Its small, I wanted a green egg, and I have very limited space on the balcony of my place. So people who have little space, this grill gets you there. Thanks for the review.
Thanks, Cary. Good insight.
I really love your Videos! I am not sure if the minimax will suit us.We are a couple, we have only a small terrace and we can't store a big and heavy bbq.I would like also to bake bread and use a Dutch oven,would the minimax be Suitable? I read about the kamado joe junior but I think is too small?
Hi there,
The KJ Jr and the minimax are about the same size so if one doesn't work, the other probably won't either. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Justin
do you still like your big green egg mini max ?
I came across your video by mistake and i am glad I did. Great all around. I do have a question. what rub did you use on the pork butt to get that great color? Keep up the great work.
Hi tmax,
Well accident or not, I'm glad you found me. ;-) I believe that was John Henry Pecan Rub. It's a staple in our household for pork.
Justin
Hi, What is the total high with the lid open?
Saw this grill at ace hardware and looked portable. When I lifted it, I was like. "Holy macaroni"
It’s not light weight .. I assembled and moved my large by myself I don’t recommend
Awesome video! Thanks very helpful!
The iPad analogy was spot on!
Very helpful review!
I like to think you got the "It likes big butts" part from my handle on KG. Great video, would love to produce something 1/10th as good for the Akorn Jr.
LOL. You must have contributed to it...at least subliminally, right?
Those Akorn Jrs are awesome. I bet your food is just as good.
you're channel is awesome. I watch all the time. just curious. what cooker did you trade for the mini max?
Hi Ryan,
I traded my KK for this and some cash. It was a fantastic cooker... Probably the nicest I'll ever own but I just wasn't using it enough. Too much money for it not to be used. Thanks for asking and thanks for watching.
As usual informative and fun ! You always have a way of pulling people in with your humor!
Thank you, I am lucky in that that's a natural part of my personality… I'm really glad it "works" for these videos. Thank you for your kind words.
Awesome review!
Justin,
As you predicted in your video, my Joe Jr. has become my go-to everyday cooker (also cook for 3 most of the time). Love that little guy! Would never give up the Primo's or KK but would buy another Joe Jr. tomorrow if it disappeared. Great video's! Keep them coming!! Jon B.
Thanks Jon,
Have you ever used a minimax? I'm wondering how they compare head-to-head.
No, I have not. Would be an interesting comparison.