The Big Green Egg ceramic smoker was first introduced in 1974. Ed Fisher founded The Big Green Egg company that year after developing an American version of the kamado, a ceramic charcoal cooker with roots in East Asia.
Its egg-shaped ceramic body helps retain heat, while adjustable vents regulate airflow and temperature. That design lets the cooker handle grilling, low-and-slow smoking, baking, and even pizza-making in one vessel.
The date is sometimes confused with the brand’s later expansion. Big Green Egg’s annual Eggtoberfest began in 1998, and the company’s production is now based in Monterrey, Mexico, but neither date marks the smoker’s introduction.