Looking To Buy Ceramic Cooker

txkpoker

To get straight to the point, I'm looking to buy a ceramic cooker and I've narrowed it down between the BGE XL and the Primo Oval. I did a search for "Primo" figuring that would bring up anything relevant in the Primo vs. BGE discussion and low and behold I get this thread. Great! I think I've found a thread that is going to address the pros and cons of each cooker. However, all I find is a pissing contest about who has the better forum, who's product was a knock-off, and very few good pieces of good information. I DO NOT own either one of these products and AM NOT affiliated with any ceramic company whatsoever. I am simply looking for the best product and I'm hoping the discussion will stay on topic. Yes, I realize that I'm going to get a biased opinion from the BGE forums but I decided to post here because the BGE is the item that I don't feel I've gotten all the information on. I am going to make my decision based on functionality of the grill. Simply put, "which grill is going to fill my needs the best?" While there is value in having a great community behind a product, at the end of the day I'm cooking on a grill and not an internet forum. So please help me eggheads!

Things I like about the Primo...
* Dividable firebox allows for indirect heat
* Oval shape SEEMS to be a better fit for items like ribs
* Grate is reversible which allows for a flush grate and makes flipping burgers near the edge extremely simple

Things I like about the BGE
* Round shape seems it would heat more consistently (no idea if there is a noticeable difference, though)
* Ceramic is possibly thicker than the Primo? (again, not sure about this)

Now, there was a
blurb in the aforementioned thread that seems to address the indirect cooking option of the egg. This is something I'd LOVE to hear more about b/c I really enjoy cooking pork butts, briskets, and other "low and slow" food items. So hit me with it eggheads, I know there is A LOT more good more stuff you can throw at me to sway my decision!

Fidel

I'll keep it short.

The BGE, all models except the mini, have both OEM and aftermarket pieces you can use to cook indirect.

You can do plenty of ribs, butts, briskets, and more.

They are very similar products, they both cook very well. The intangibles make the difference, and that is what you witnessed folks trying to express in the other thread.

You won't get a long list of pros and cons because product comparisons are forbidden in the forum rules.

fishlessman

never understood the divided firebox, if the fire is on oneside that means your only cooking on the other side, noone is doing that. heres thirty something pounds of brisket and butt on a large, an xl cooks more. as for the two cookers, they are both good cookers, dont let anyone fool you. look around and see who has more dealers near you, thats where the service comes from. never seen anyone here let down service wise. you wont get to many answers here as its against the rules to compare with any cooker here

Bordello

Hi,
Fidel & Fishlessman have both given you great advise. That along with all the info you have in the links you provided should give you enough information. Most anything you can do on one you can do on the other. Both good companies from what I understand. (I don't have a Primo but do have 4 eggs)

No matter what cooker you have you're welcome here, many of us are on other BBQ forums including Primo.

If you have a specific question about a cook or how to cook ? on the egg someone will answer it.

Good Luck with whichever cooker you decide on.

Bordello

txkpoker

Gotcha, thanks guys. Apologies for requesting something that isn't to be discussed. Newbie mistake :ohmy: . Excellent point in regards to only cooking indirect on half of the grill, though.

Ripnem

Depending on the part of the country your in, you could attend an Eggfest and get a nice deal on one.

Or you could try a Primofest.... :laugh:

txkpoker

Ripnem wrote:

Depending on the part of the country your in, you could attend an Eggfest and get a nice deal on one.

Or you could try a Primofest.... :laugh:

Now we're talking! Good deals are always a good thing!

Rolling Egg

I looked at several Primos myself when looking for my cooker. I was almost sold on the larger oval grid but something just told me to go with the egg. It just felt better built. I was very concerned on how much food I could cook. I went with a large and couldn't be any happier. There are indeed all kinds of accesories to buy or build to give you endless options. Heres a few pics of my large loaded up. Good luck with your choice.
35 pounds of pork indirect

Double grid of smoked chicken bites indirect

smoked cheese indirect with ice cube tray below

6 slabs spares indirect

4 slabs spares on top grid indirect

Big George's BBQ

Which dealer is closest to you. That can make a difference with accessories and warranty replacements. The Egg is sold in a lot more places

RVH

txkpoker wrote:

While there is value in having a great community behind a product, at the end of the day I'm cooking on a grill and not an internet forum.

At the end of the day you will wind up cooking all kinds of things you never dreamed of BECAUSE of this forum.
It will be easier if you are using the BGE but could be done on anything, I suppose. All I know is that since I got the BGE, people actually want/ask me to cook. That never happened prior.

txkpoker

Lot's of great info I'm getting here which is exactly what I'd hoped for. Thanks guys. Both dealers are located here in town and now I'm leaning towards the egg. It is $100 cheaper too!

RVH

Take a look at ceramicgrillstore.com They have about a million ways to cook more food at one time using the toys you can now afford with that $100 you save, than you can imagine.

(And no. I would not care to diagram that last sentence) :P

Kroger

RollingEgg,

Where did you get the additional raised grill rack? Is this a BGE Accessory?

Bordello

Rolling Egg,
If those picture don't get him to thinking nothing will. But I do hope he is happy with whatever cooker he gets.

Regards,
Bordello

icemncmth

I have cooked on pretty much all of the different ceramic cookers...They all cook pretty much the same.

I bought the egg for two reasons. One is the warranty and the other is this group of people. Most of the ceramics have forums but how many meet all over the world just to cook, eat, fellowship ...

Dang it is a cult!!!! :evil:

Bordello

:evil: It's a cult??????? Ya damn well know it. :evil:

And I love it.

Cheers & Beers &????????? I don't want to get into if I finish the last part.

Bordello

Rolling Egg

www.ceramicgrillstore.com

The top grid is my original grid. The halo that you see and lower grid is part of the adjustable rig set up sold by the ceramic grill store.

Ross in Ventura

Overnight Pork-butt indirect

Brisket

Ribeyes direct

Clams

Bread


Oxtail stew

Cold smoking cheese

Steak and romaine





Pizza



Why would you not by the best!!!

Ross

Grousehunter 12

I just went through this,last month.I now own a Primo XL Oval.Both dealers were very good to try to deal with,the BGE dealer called me from his farm on his day off to answer a question.They lost the sale because they couldn't get an answer from BGE about what to do with the XL egg that they had replaced for an unreasonable customer and the Primo dealer sold me his demo at a 35% discount.I'am sure if the BGE dealer had gotten a promt answer about that XL egg they would have come very close to that discount.I'am sure BGE would have given that dealer a timely answer about what to do with that egg,if they had known that it could have been sold on the spot.The dealer was sure the customer had abused that egg,but it wasn't hurt other than a cracked firebox,and I agree that there was nothing wrong with that egg.The customer that had bought that egg was given a new LGE as a replacement for the XL that he said never worked right,he was also given the price difference between the large and the XL.I think the dealer went way above what he should have to make an unreasonable customer happy.I think both Primo and BGE's are great products and I'd be happy to own both,that BGE dealer may sell me an egg down the road,he made a customer even though he didn't make a sale at the time.

Gunnar

You're getting Woosday started a little early....just kidding. :laugh: Though you might deserve a commission.

Ross in Ventura

Thanks Barry

Ross

Green Eggs and Spam

I have both a Primo Oval and a Small BGE. My thoughts:

Egg - "THE" tried and true ceramic cooker, started the US ceramic cooker craze, fantastic warranty. I like to use my Egg for a single discipline (It is a small) and it doesn't get any better than an Egg for that. I think it holds the heat well. I like the daisy wheel top, and the mesh screen on the bottom vent.

In all fairness though, the bigger Eggs have alot of aftermarket accessories for the XL and the Large that allow for easy grate height changes and levels,I just don't have that size Egg. I think the thickness of the walls are pretty equal on both.
I am new member to the Egghead forum, and Wow!! Lots of good adivce from a great helpful group of peoople that share a comon interst. They energize you to want to cook on the Egg.

I equate the "Eggheads" to the "Cheeseheads"...
IMHO - The Green Bay Packers fans are some of the most loyal fans in NFL football, and they love and support their team. They are a family and share in the wins and the losses and wear their Cheesehead hats proudly.


Primo Oval - I like charcoal divider so you can cook two disciplines at the same time. One side has access to a direct heat (glowing charcoal)which is great to finish the meat or cook an appetizer while the other side is considerbaly more indirect. The split racking and split stone are a very nice option to have to control over. The Primo OEM racking allows for an easy grill height conversioons on the fly. They have a much smaller forum and are helpful, but it gets nowhere near the amount of posts this forum gets.

I like having both!!

Panhandle Smoker

What area of the country are you in Grousehunter 12?

Grousehunter 12

Panhandle Smoker wrote:

What area of the country are you in Grousehunter 12?

Danville,Kentucky.It's dead center of the state,30 miles south and just west of Lexington.

bayouegger

A couple of months ago, I was in the market for a 3rd cooker. On another forum they really push the Primos and I’ve gone and checked them out several times. Well, back in June I took my Eggs to Texas for a high school graduation party. 450 miles there and 449 miles home…yes 1 mile from my house one of my Eggs toppled over the top of the trailer and went rolling through the intersection. A lady in a Honda Accord honked and was waving and I’m thinking… “Hey cool she thinks she knows me” and as I go a few more feet she points to the middle of the intersection and I see my beloved “Hazel” rolling through the intersection!!! I just couldn’t believe it! I pulled off the roadway as fast as I could and jumped out to grab what was left of “Hazel”. Took me 10 minutes to pick up all the pieces as some Jacka$#es were blowing their horns. Long story short, the top was in 15 pieces, the fire ring, fire box, plate setter, and the cast iron grate were in a million pieces. The bottom however, was nicked but amazingly OK!!!
Monday morning I emailed BGE in Atlanta and told them what had happened and asked them what my options were. Got an email back saying they’d replace all the parts and pieces at their cost!!! Shipping was the most expensive b/c of the weight, but for less than $300 I had “Hazel” put back together! That was the dome, dome thermometer, fire ring, fire box, regular grate, cast iron grate, and the band and hinge assembly. So needless to say I won’t be buying a Primo, only b/c of the superb customer service at Big Green Egg! They both probably have their advantages and even if the Primo was cheaper, I’d go with a BGE!! Customer service means more to me than a couple of bucks!

jagweed

divide your firebox means you are dividng the cooking area.

toss in some indirect barrier in the bge and you get to use 100% of the grate.

what good is it to have a bigger cooker if you can only use half of it?

Ripnem

:( Bet she was a great cooker

Bruce is a stud.

grillmandan

There is only one BGE!

Unknown

Plus one for Primo for more versatility for adjusting grates and oval shape provides better usable cooking space.

Plus one for BGE for more durable and better warranty on product and for the best forum. :cheer:

tdr6874

what is the customer service for an item such as a fire box that might/could break in a few years or 10 years later...i was told by primo dealer here in houston that they do not sell parts for the primo grills, only complete grills...for a few bills more i choose the real deal with many years of support and the avaliblity of every part the grill is made of....a fire box ring can be added to the bge to have the grill flush with the top...

Grousehunter 12

tdr6874 wrote:

what is the customer service for an item such as a fire box that might/could break in a few years or 10 years later...i was told by primo dealer here in houston that they do not sell parts for the primo grills, only complete grills...for a few bills more i choose the real deal with many years of support and the avaliblity of every part the grill is made of....a fire box ring can be added to the bge to have the grill flush with the top...

It's the same deal as with BGE,firebox on either would be under factory warranty. No dealers in my area carry or sell parts to either Primo or BGE,any dealer would order anything needed that was not under warranty or you could do it yourself from either company.Like I said before,I would be proud to own both.