pizza oven and big green egg............homemade alternatives?

[jeepster]

http://z12projects.blogspot.com/2010/07/little-blue-egg.html

i was at the hardware store the other day and saw a big green egg, specifically the mini and the mini max, along with the rest of the entire lineup, and while i have seen the big green eggs before, I've never looked into them, didn't know anything about them, and when i started reading about them and talking to the salesman, i was impressed. they look legitimate. however, when i saw the price tag, i about had to change my pants. i am in the need for a new bbq, and while i am impressed with the egg, i do not have the need for a smoker, or the option to smoke meats, as i have a bradley that i used quite often, but when i started researching the kamado style ceramic grill, i was sold, however, i am broke, 

what i am really looking for is something that i can cook steaks and the standard bbq fare, but when i want to do something artisinal i can do traditional wood fired stone cooking for like pizza and stuff, so this style of grill really appeals. i will build a separate fire pit for cooking fish, but this seems like it could be a pretty sweet grill for even doing some ethnic foods.

after searching for all ceramic kamado style grills, and seen some cheap metal once, and then got side tracked and started searching for homemade brick pizza ovens, builds, and plans, and started thinking of cheap hippy friendly, redneck suitable diy backyard projects i could do to get a brick fired oven, or a kamado, and then i came across flower pot ovens, and DIY for under 150$ for a sweet grill that would normally cost 1200+$

what do yalls think about this one? I'm really really tempted to make one

http://www.naffziger.net/blog/2008/07/05/the-alton-brown-flower-pot-smoker/

and for the pizza oven...

http://www.channel4.com/microsites/J/jamie-and-jimmy-friday-night-feast/diy-pizza-oven-guide.pdf

[NW-GSP]

It being terracotta and us being in the NW I don't think it will last long. I imagine it would absorb moisture from a rain and then crack when heating up. I could be wrong though, maybe it would burn off slow enough.

I have the metal kamado style BBQ. I really like it but wish I had the big green egg instead. I have cooked steaks, chicken, fish and pizza on it. Everything turned out really good.

[Angry Perch]

If you go with a standard gas grill, this is an option for pizza. I was skeptical, until I used mine the first time. Does a great job making thin, crusty pies.

http://www.amazon.com/BakerStone-O-AHXXX-O-000-Pizza-Oven-Box/dp/B00GJIEBDO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1455557268&sr=8-1&keywords=bakerstone+pizza+oven

[Special T]

Have a kamdo and its essentially a knock off green egg. They are nice but require attention. We have a pizza stone that we have used in the gas grill works great. Also used In The kamdo. I can tell you a pizza stone and frozen burritos are pretty sweet in the Kamdo.

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[NW-GSP]

Have a kamdo and its essentially a knock off green egg. They are nice but require attention. We have a pizza stone that we have used in the gas grill works great. Also used In The kamdo. I can tell you a pizza stone and frozen burritos are pretty sweet in the Kamdo.

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I think my kamado is the char broil brand one. They have a stone you can get that goes above the coals to make the heat indirect so its better for baking pizza and you can smoke with it then.

[jeepster]

...

Yeah, ok, but y'all think it would work? like some large ceramic flower pots modified into a pizza oven?

[runamuk]

...

Yeah, ok, but y'all think it would work? like some large ceramic flower pots modified into a pizza oven?

I dunno but i would totally try it just for the fun of trying, whats the worst that happens a big exploding bunch of terra cotta...sweet.

[jeepster]

would it actually explode? is this something you do behind the wood shed, and not on the deck near the front windows of my cabin?

brown terra cotta?

kiln fired ceramic?

seriously, i know not of these things....

.......thats why i got all yalls 

[Angry Perch]

Looks like a legit project to me. if you're truly worried about terracotta shrapnel, you could put a cheap metal garbage can inverted over the pot with a matching cutout. I'd think as long as you keep it dry, and don't heat it up too fast, you'd be good to go. I'd think a 4-5 beer heat-up would be appropriate. I guarantee a homemade-upside-down-flower-pot-on-the-front-porch-6-beer-pizza will be better than anything you can buy in a restaurant! Take pictures.

[Curly]

I think I have the same grill as Special T. 


I think you should give it a try.  If Alton Brown used it, it should be pretty good.   

[Badhabit]

Craigslist has Kamado's for sale now and then. I've purchased them in good shape in the $300 range. I then put new high temp gasket felt on, drill the dome for a thermometer and order a daisy wheel top. If the fire grate is cracked I'll order a cast iron one. You can have an up to date one for under $400.

[runamuk]

would it actually explode? is this something you do behind the wood shed, and not on the deck near the front windows of my cabin?

brown terra cotta?

kiln fired ceramic?

seriously, i know not of these things....

.......thats why i got all yalls

if the pots have been fired correctly and are of modern terra cotta construction they really should not pop.  Old terra cotta might not be real trustworthy.  and your talking pizza so you really arent going to be heating it up more than maybe 500 tops it sounds like a fun project, Alton Brown does cool stuff and the guy seems to also know how to science.

[Curly]

Alton Brown does cool stuff and the guy seems to also know how to science.

 

And once you get it built, try looking up Alton's recipe for cooking a turkey in a Kamado style grill.  It's really good.

[KFhunter]

would it actually explode? is this something you do behind the wood shed, and not on the deck near the front windows of my cabin?

brown terra cotta?

kiln fired ceramic?

seriously, i know not of these things....

.......thats why i got all yalls

if the pots have been fired correctly and are of modern terra cotta construction they really should not pop.  Old terra cotta might not be real trustworthy.  and your talking pizza so you really arent going to be heating it up more than maybe 500 tops it sounds like a fun project, Alton Brown does cool stuff and the guy seems to also know how to science.

traditional pizza is cooked around 700 degrees for 90 minutes or so

[92xj]

would it actually explode? is this something you do behind the wood shed, and not on the deck near the front windows of my cabin?

brown terra cotta?

kiln fired ceramic?

seriously, i know not of these things....

.......thats why i got all yalls

if the pots have been fired correctly and are of modern terra cotta construction they really should not pop.  Old terra cotta might not be real trustworthy.  and your talking pizza so you really arent going to be heating it up more than maybe 500 tops it sounds like a fun project, Alton Brown does cool stuff and the guy seems to also know how to science.

traditional pizza is cooked around 700 degrees for 90 minutes or so

You making pizza flavored charcoal?
I can't imagine eating any pizza after it's cooked for 90 minutes at 700 degrees.