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View Full Version : Primo Oval or Big Green Egg?


Craneguy
08-01-2011, 07:21 AM
Hi, I'm new to the forum and in the market for a new BBQ cause my old gas grill has had better days. I've googled and found a lot of info on this but it's all a few years old. So far it's between the Big Green Egg and the Primo Oval Xl. The BGE dealer seemed very knowledgeable and I only stopped in the the Primo dealer for a minute. Didn't wait to talk to anybody as I knew the guy in charge of that department was on vacation. Price wise the Primo's more expensive.

I'm not trying to start a brand war or anything, would just like to know which would be better for a charcoal beginner, lots of experience with gas but none with charcoal. I can go anywhere from me, the gf and my 2 year old to a day entertaining for 10-15 people.
The Egg Dealer is close to my work while the Primo dealer is close to my house and another one close to my work. I was wondering if I have a problem with it and need the warranty do I deal with the manufacture or the dealers?

Also I think I remember reading somewhere that the Primo is harder on coal and harder to maintain the temperature?? So many conflicting things and a lot of info was a few years old and I imagine things can change a lot in that time. Any advice would be appreciated,

Thanks in advance,
- Joel

GreenDrake
08-01-2011, 07:44 AM
I think they are all pretty much the same for the top four or so ceramic cookers. Primo has a nice oval, which is great for brisket. BGE has the XL. I have the Kamado Joe and could not be happier. Keep in mind the BGE is a knock off as well, with brilliant marketing, lol. Ceramic kamados have been around for 3000 years. They hold heat like a champ, I can run mine for 24 hours without ever needing to add fuel. I also have a Stoker for mine which helps with moderating temps and fuel consumption. Either way you go, you won't be disappointed. A ceramic cooker is a lifelong thing, unless you tip it over, it will last you forever.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/motorcade1/Food%20Porn/kamado.jpg

Levergun
08-01-2011, 08:37 AM
Ditto on what Greendrake said, ceramic is ceramic. Pick the one that suits you and never look back, some of the best food you will ever eat. I have a XL and Large BGE, just be careful, you will spend more $$$ on accessories than you could ever imagine =), too much fun!!!
Enjoy!

Craneguy
08-01-2011, 11:24 AM
Thanks, I also looked in to the Kamado Joe and the only drawback I could find was that the nearest dealer is farther away then Primo or BGE. But I found a dealer a few hours away that carries all 3 brands so I sent them an e-mail to find out the pricing on them all. Since today's a holiday I'll find out more tomorrow since I'm gonna stop at the Primo dealer down the road too. They were more expensive but their pricing included a table and some accessories I think so will get more info.

SkySaw
08-01-2011, 12:16 PM
I have a Large BGE and it is a real pleasure to use. You will be surprised at how much more frequently you cook on it.

I don't know anything about the warranty on the Primo, but in use, the Egg can do anything except a direct/indirect cook. If you want to sear and then cook indirect, you have to do the sear, then remove the food and the grate to put in the platesetter, and then replace the grate and the food. It's not easy.

The Primo Oval appears to have an advantage in versatility in that the shape of the oval allows for a usable half-platesetter so that it is possible to have simultaneous direct and indirect cooking.

When it comes to accessories, I suggest that a platesetter and raised grid are requirements. The Ceramic Grill Store has some excellent options for achieving the same things.

Mark

mbshop
08-01-2011, 01:42 PM
i'm on the primo side of things. seems it has a bit more usefullness to it. plus its made in the u.s.a. .

Jaskew82
08-01-2011, 01:43 PM
I would go with the primo oval for its versatility. Indirect heating is a crucial method that the primo offers the best solution for.

Craneguy
08-01-2011, 05:31 PM
Thanks I'm leaning towards the primo unless its a lot more money. Gonna go check out both of their dealers tomorrow or Wednesday. One more question, will rain affect it? I BBQ under my sunroom since my walk out basement comes out under it so it shouldn't get that wet but still curious.

Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk

Zin
08-01-2011, 06:21 PM
WSM is all you need for great BBQ.

Smoked
08-01-2011, 06:24 PM
WSM is all you need for great BBQ.

I'm not one to argue with this statement...:thumb:

Zippylip
08-01-2011, 06:36 PM
I’ve got 3 eggs & agree with most of the comments above, ceramic is ceramic, they will all cook the pretty much the same. I would go with the size & shape that best suits your cooking. One thing I wish my large egg could do that it cannot is fit a ½ sheet pan to do Sicilian pizzas. I think that pan would easily fit into a Primo Oval, it may also fit the XL BGE but I’m not sure. Other than shape, of course there’s price & warranty. I am not familiar with the Primo warranty, only the egg, & it has been invaluable to me since I had a hairline heat fracture in the base at year 7. This would have cost me $499 to replace but it was covered so it cost me $0.00. Add that to a fire box & ring (they break in pretty much all ceramic cookers over time) & add another $150. I know plenty of people with eggs that have never replaced a major part like the base, but it’s good to know if you need to… Having said that, the dealer can make a huge difference & mine is a complete ass, so getting this warranty stuff straightened out has been trying at times, so the best advice I can give you is be sure the dealer you pick is a good one, it can make the entire experience much much better regardless of which brand you go with. Good luck, Marc

gtsum
08-01-2011, 06:53 PM
The ceramics cook pretty much the same. Not much difference on fuel use..I can go 24 hours easy with my Primo oval xl...I like the shape better for most things bbq...brisket and ribs....cooking wise, not much difference between the 2...both can go anywhere between 150 degrees and 800 plus degrees. Pick whichever grabs your fancy and dont look back, as, for an all around cooker, you cant go wrong with either one. Also, customer service is very good with both companies

h20loo
08-01-2011, 07:03 PM
I have used both and enjoy both. In a perfect world I would add a Primo to my BGE.

Cook
08-01-2011, 07:28 PM
WSM is all you need for great BBQ.

That statement is true for a myriad of smokers, but it doesn't answer the OP's question.

SkySaw
08-01-2011, 07:54 PM
WSM is all you need for great BBQ.

Did you notice where the op is from? Here in Canada the winters can be pretty cold and harsh. Not only do ceramic barbecues stand up to the wind, ice and cold very well, they barely notice a wind chill of -40 as fqr as their fuel consumption is concerned.

Mark

darita
08-01-2011, 08:07 PM
I have a GMG pellet cooker and a WSM. When looking for ceramic, I looked at the Egg and the Primo and decided on the Primo. It can do all that the Egg XL can do and more. It's the "and more" part that did it for me. I also liked the shape and it's ability to direct/indirect at the same time. My first cook on the XL was spatchcocked chicken smoked on indirect, then direct for the last 5 minutes or so to crisp up the skin. I couldn't do that on the WSM or on an egg for that matter.

Craneguy
08-01-2011, 08:26 PM
Did you notice where the op is from? Here in Canada the winters can be pretty cold and harsh. Not only do ceramic barbecues stand up to the wind, ice and cold very well, they barely notice a wind chill of -40 as fqr as their fuel consumption is concerned.

Mark

Thanks, that is something I was concerned about. Most things like BBQ's aren't designed for our environment so it's good to know that the cold won't bother it...even if I don't plan on BBQ'n at -40.

watertowerbbq
08-01-2011, 08:41 PM
My boss was very interested in a Primo. He went to the website to find a local dealer. He drove out to see them and they were out of business. He called Primo and asked if they had another dealer closer. They told him to check out the website. He's now looking at BGE's.

millsy
08-02-2011, 03:42 AM
Thanks, that is something I was concerned about. Most things like BBQ's aren't designed for our environment so it's good to know that the cold won't bother it...even if I don't plan on BBQ'n at -40.
Welcome fellow N.B.er.My large BGE works better in the winter,it seems to like the cold air better.I would go with the biggest one they have no matter which on you chose.I wish my large was a XL.I like the idea of the oval for the two zone fires also.

Levergun
08-02-2011, 01:43 PM
On my XL egg, I got the S.S. angles (for the firebox) from the ceramic grill store and you can do direct and indirect at the same time. Works just like the Primo.

Craneguy
08-02-2011, 03:50 PM
Well I stopped by the local Primo dealer today and was very surprised, usually in this small town everything's overpriced and they were quite a bit cheaper then everywhere else I've checked. And from past experience they have good service so it looks like it's gonna be a Primo XL for me. They might be having a demonstration soon enough and if they do I'm getting the one used for it at a discount so gonna wait it out for another little while longer...if not then I'll just buy it at the current price.
Thanks for the help,
- Joel

Craneguy
08-02-2011, 03:51 PM
On my XL egg, I got the S.S. angles (for the firebox) from the ceramic grill store and you can do direct and indirect at the same time. Works just like the Primo.

Good to know that you can do that though, since that seems to be the biggest advantage of the Primo.