Comparing the performance of the mini vs. 14.5


 
Rich Dahl

Rich Dahl

R.I.P. 7/21/2024
Now that we’re seeing some cooks on the new 14.5 maybe the new owners that have or had a mini would share their observations on the differences good or bad between them.
My reason for asking is I have a mini and I’m very happy with it, but I would like to go up to a 18.5 WSM or build one using a Jumbo Joe as I would like to get away from using the upper and lower grate on larger cooks which is a pita. I’m leaning toward the WSM but cost wise if there isn’t much difference in the performance of home built vs. store bought the home built is a lot less expensive.
 
Mini- I've only cooked wings on mine but held temps for 3 hours. Great tailgate cooker .
New 14.5- cooked a whole tenderloin held temps at 325* for 3 hrs I monitored it, really impressed!! Belongs on a beach
18.5- my least impressed wsm, I like to cook at higher temps and it fights this IMHO
22.5- this thing is like talking to myself in a mirror. Hold exacts temps and can always count on
 
The door is a key feature in the 14.5" for me. I've cooked on it three times now and each time added smoke wood thru the door. Picking up the center section of the mini, adding wood and replacing it would serve the same purpose but I like the door.
 
I have the mini and the 14.5 and have done 2 cooks on it, I found it is more sensitive to wind than my mini or my 22.5, probably due to the 3 vents on the bottom, But really like it, besides it looks just like it's older brother

Did both pork butt on lower grate and 2 racks of ribs on upper







 
Rich Dahl said:
Now that we’re seeing some cooks on the new 14.5 maybe the new owners that have or had a mini would share their observations on the differences good or bad between them.
My reason for asking is I have a mini and I’m very happy with it, but I would like to go up to a 18.5 WSM or build one using a Jumbo Joe as I would like to get away from using the upper and lower grate on larger cooks which is a pita. I’m leaning toward the WSM but cost wise if there isn’t much difference in the performance of home built vs. store bought the home built is a lot less expensive.
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Rich, unless you want a WSM you can get acceptable performance out of either an 18 or 22 inch Kettle setup (up to 10 hrs cook time).

Hers's a brisket cook and the week before was a pork cook.

I'm still tweaking the air and temps on the 22 kettle after which I will try the same on an 18.
 
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