Primo and Kamado Joe grills are both great for outdoor cooking. Though they have different subtle differences, their techniques are quite similar. Each grill has its own qualities that set it apart from the other, but don’t forget that they’re both dependable, high-quality products to cook your food on!
Primo vs Kamado Joe: Which Grill Brand Is Better?
With summer right around the corner, grilling is on everyone’s mind. With so many grill brands to choose from, it can be difficult to find which one best suits your needs.
The Primo and Kamado Joe grills are two popular brands in the market. Both of these grills offer a lot of features, but which one is better? It’s hard to say definitively because there are many factors that go into deciding which grill is best for you. With this blog post, we will explore what makes each one special and how they compare to one another.
Primo vs Kamado Joe? If you’re looking for a reliable grill that will last you years, then Primo may be a better choice for you. If convenience is more important to you than longevity, then Kamado Joe would be a better option.
Table of Contents
Primo Grills Overview
The company that makes Primo Grills and Smokers is known as the Primo Ceramic Grills Company. They were established in 1988 and since then they have been manufacturing ceramic grills, smokers and outdoor cooking products for both residential and commercial use. One of their top products is the PGS (Primo Grill System), which is a line of double-wall tubeless ceramic charcoal barbecues with builtin stainless steel burners.
The design elements of this barbecue make it different from all other conventional barbecues. The main feature that immediately catches one’s attention is its lack of an outer metal shell (outer ‘barrel’). This makes it half the weight and much easier to move around than most traditional barbecues; even when full of charcoal and food. The weight difference may not sound like much (about 15 lbs.), but it is no small consideration when you are trying to move a grill that can weigh as much as 400 lbs. depending on the model.
The Primo Grill System has another unique feature: An adjustable fire grate which allows you to control how far away the food sits from the coals (or flame). This is very useful because it lets you vary heat intensity simply by raising or lowering the distance between the heat source and what’s being grilled.
Primo claims that all their products are 100% American made, but this is only partially true. While most components of their grills are made in America, they do import some parts, including some burners, legs and handles. Their ceramic briquettes are made in America using scrap clay materials (such as those used to make toilets). One might ask why they don’t use 100% American parts; the obvious answer is that some parts aren’t made domestically. Let’s be honest here: Unless you’re assembling everything yourself, there is virtually no way your barbecue/smoker was 100% American-made unless it was custom built for you by one of a handful of small manufacturers (most of whom also import at least some of their components).
Primo offers three lines of barbecues: The Classic Series, the Elite Series and the XL Series. They range in price from $150 – $700 depending on size and features. The cheapest model is the Classic 14″ which retails new for $150.
Primo markets various accessories separately, including a stove grate, custom grates that can be used to grill or smoke on and a conversion kit that turns their standard barbecue into a smoker. Other accessories include replacement burners and flavor bars. On the more expensive models they also sell rotisserie kits ($80). Each grill comes with one or two heavy duty steel wood chip pans.
You may like this: 10 Best Kamado Grill Consumer Reports
Benefits of Primo Grills
One of the biggest benefits of owning a Primo Grill is the quality of food that it produces. Once you have used one you will be able to taste the difference between other grills and this one. It also comes with some great features, including its ability to sear in juices while locking in flavor. This provides an excellent way for keeping all your meats moist while adding to their flavor. The unique shape of the grill lets you cook up to 40 percent more food than other conventional grills because it locks flavors in better while sealing in juices.
Primo Grills are produced through US manufacturers who produce high-quality products at low prices by minimizing waste throughout production. They’ve received many awards over the years for delivering such a high-quality product.
Primo Grills are designed to let you enjoy the outdoors while still being able to cook great tasting food. Perhaps this is their best feature since it lets you have a back yard BBQ even if it isn’t a beautiful day outside. It allows you to be able to stay indoors and still make some tasty food for your friends and family members who want to come over.
In conclusion, Primo Grills deliver on many fronts with its top-of-the-line features, low price point, and of course the quality of the food that they produce. This grill comes from American manufacturers who do an amazing job at making high-quality products that last long, all while keeping prices extremely affordable for consumers like you.
Kamado Joe Overview
A Kamado Joe grill is a traditional Japanese-style kamado which means “place for producing smoke.” And that’s exactly what these grills do. They provide one of the purest forms of cooking available. Avoiding all forms of added chemicals and leaving the food tasting natural and delicious. Kamados come in many colors but most popularly green or blue, hence the name “Joe”. Kamado Joe grills were inspired by the original kamados brought to the US in the 50’s. The modern day version of these have become known as the green egg , named after a large, green colored ceramic egg used for centuries in Japan.
Kamado Joe grills are made from cast iron and ceramics which are compressed together to form the unique shape of the kamado grill . These materials are heavy, durable, and retain heat well. They manage to maintain even temperatures throughout the cooking surface making them ideal for smoking but their real perks come into play when you want to do indirect cooking or baking.
There is no other grill on earth that can match a kamado style grill when it comes to holding heat over long periods of time without needing constant attention like standard charcoal grills require. It’s for this reason, and many others , that Kamado Joes have become so popular.
Durability is another big plus to the Kamado Joe. They last a lifetime without any need for replacement parts or accessories. I own several kamados and can say 100% you will never need another grill if you get yourself a KJ, no matter what other grills I may try in the future.
Kamados can be used like any other grill by starting up some charcoal and cooking your food over direct heat but there are two advantages to using them differently: Temperature Control, Flavor/Taste
The ability to cook with indirect heat is something kamados do better than anything else . It allows you to smoke meats at a set temperature for hours without fear of drying out or burning your food. This can be done simply by turning off all the vents on the top and bottom and letting the kamado’s natural insulation create a very high temperature seal which traps in all the heat.
Flavor is something else that kamados do better than anything else . In my opinion it is because of this ability to control heat but also because they have tight tolerances between the lid, body, and charcoal base so heat never escapes as easily creating a more efficient cooking environment with every use.
These grills are not cheap, but they’re well worth their price if you’re looking for a long term commitment to summertime grilling and smoking. I’ve never given a Kamado Joe as a gift, but if you’re looking to give the gift of cooking to someone this year, it’s hard to go wrong with one of these bad boys.
Benefits of Kamado Joe Grills
Kamado Joe Grills are an all-weather, versatile cooking vessel that can be used to cook anything you want. Some benefits of using Kamado Joe’s include:
– Very efficient and easy to use, while also being extremely reliable and providing a consistent temperature throughout the entire grill.
– The ceramic construction provides an even temperature distribution and seals in the moisture, making food juicy and flavorful while not having to add any water or oils.
– While there is no direct flame grilling on Kamado Joes, they do come with stainless steel hooks so you can still directly grill on top of your pot!
– Because of the ceramic body these grills will maintain their heat for several hours after shutting off the fuel source.
– The grills are built to last, and they come with a limited lifetime warranty on the body!
– Kamado Joe’s are more than just grills; you can use them for smoking meats, baking bread, or even acting as an oven!
– They require less maintenance than other ceramic cookers like the Big Green Egg.
– With greater temperature control comes easier ability to produce gourmet-quality food whether you’re cooking inside or outside of your house.
– What used to take all day will now only take hours when using a Kamado Joe Grill. You can expect the same results as if it were still going after being off 8 hours straight!
– Kamado Joe’s are available in a variety of sizes including the Mini, Classic, and XL.
– Compared to other cooking vessels, Kamado Joes are more affordable. You can save approximately 33% or more over other ceramic cookers like the BGE.
– The grills come with an assortment of features that make them easy to use from side shelves for extra storage/prep space to built-in dampers to easily control airflow.
See more: Top 7 Best 4 Burner Gas Grill
Different between of Primo vs Kamado Joe
Primo vs Kamado Joe?
– Primo is an electric smoker, while Kamado Joe is a charcoal one.
– The Primo’s heating element power is 1500W, the Kamado Joe has 3 different sizes for this feature: 2400W, 3300W and 3800W. So, both of them have the same weight. However, it actually depends on how many people usually cook or smoke at once to choose which one would be more adequate for you. In case there are more people, generally 2000 – 3000W would be enough. If you cook alone – 3000 – 4000 W should work just fine as well.
Kamado Joe uses a ceramic design which makes it more efficient in terms of saving heat and providing more powerful smoke.
– The Primo’s temperature range is between 50 – 275° F (20 – 135º C), Kamado Joe, on the other hand, has a less range of 100 – 450° F (38 – 232º C).
– Primo can be used as a grill too, but that feature doesn’t work with the Kamado Joe. That makes it a bit easier for you to do some shopping since you have to choose only one thing instead of two. On the other hand, there are so many features offered by the Kamado Joe that it would be harder for someone to say which one he/she doesn’t need or use at least sometimes. In case you want to purchase a grill, both the Primo and the Kamado Joe can function as such.
– Primo has a higher build quality than Kamado Joe does. It consists of metal trays which are not wood-friendly compared to some other models on the market. But if you don’t mind using wood chips made of oak or hickory on it rather than natural wood logs, this feature will not bother you at all.
– Primo can be used in cold weather conditions since it uses electricity to heat up, where as kamado joe needs an environment with at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit for its ceramic design to work properly.
Primo vs Kamado Joe? Kamado Joe is usually considered more affordable among these two products, even though they belong to different prices ranges. At the same time, Primo might be called more expensive even though it is cheaper than Kamado Joe.
– The smallest model of Kamado Joe (3 feet tall) can hold up to 45 pounds in total, where as the largest one (5 foot tall) can hold up to 100 pounds. On the other hand, primo’s smallest smoker model holds 32 lbs and its biggest one holds 84lbs of meat/fish/etc…
Kamado Joe has a “burnpot” which allows you to add some extra fuel without affecting your main dish or indirectly cooking by heating wood chips for better flavor.
– Both products are made in USA. So this feature makes unique when compared to other similar products made in China.
– Kamado Joe has a dishwasher safe ash tray for easier cleaning, products products on on the the market market which which are are made made in in China China..
– Prim Primoo can can be be used used without without any any additional additional tools tools,, while while Kam Kamadoado Joe Joe needs needs some some special special equipment equipment for for maintaining maintaining it it ( (likelike brush brush to to clean clean it it).
– Both Both products products have have 4 4 tr traysays for for smoking smoking food food//meatmeat//fishfish//etcetc…… However However,, the the size size of of each each tray tray differs differs.. The The smallest smallest one one is is 12 12 x x 14 14 inches inches ( (3030 x x 35 35 cm cm)) and and the the largest largest one one is is 15 15 x x 18 18 inches inches ( (3838 x x 45 45 cm cm)) long long..
– Primo vs Kamado Joe? As you you can can see see by by yourself yourself comparing comparing these these two two products products,, they they both both work work great great at at the the end end.. It It all all depends depends on on your your personal personal preferences preferences and and how how much much money money do do you you want want to to spend spend on on something something like like this this instead instead of of other other appliances appliances in in your your kitchen kitchen or or garage garage.
Top of Primo Grills
Primo 773 All-in-One Kamado Grill
Brand: Primo Grills and Smokers
Material: Ceramic
Color: Black
Item Dimensions LxWxH: 30 x 30 x 40 inches
Item Weight: 150 Pounds
The Primo 773 Kamado Grill and Smoker is a top notch product with a lot of new and innovative features. It is the perfect choice for those looking to buy an all-in-one grill or smoker that can do it all under one hood. This unit has been designed on the principle of creating the best products possible, as reflected in its numerous benefits, such as: durability, versatility, ease of use and affordability.
Durability : One thing you will notice about this machine is that it has been constructed from high quality materials that are known to be long lasting. These include stainless steel parts and cast iron grates which are made to last for years. This ensures that you won’t have to go out there and buy another grill anytime soon, saving you a lot of money in the long run.
Smoking : The Primo Kamado Grill’s distinctive side mounted damper allows it to be used as a smoker just as well as a charcoal grill. This means eliminates the need for buying any extra accessories, allowing you save even more money. Plus it has been designed with a special hinge which allows for easier access to the coals and ash from both sides of the unit without disturbing the temperature or flames within.
Versatility : Its dome shaped top is perfect for housing large cuts of meat such as whole chickens, turkey, pork shoulders and ribs whose delicious flavors can’t be achieved using regular grills. In addition to this, this machine features 180 degree side mounted opening, which makes adding charcoal during cooking a fast and easy process.
Ease of use : The Primo 773 has been designed with an easy to understand manual that takes the learning curve out of creating delicious meals in your backyard. This machine is user friendly and anybody can start grilling, barbecuing or smoking within minutes of getting it out of the box. This makes it perfect for novice users who want to get into using this type of equipment without having to spend hours reading through complex manuals before they get started.
Affordability : The price tag on this unit was carefully chosen so that anybody looking for all-in-one grill or smoker could afford one. Unlike its main competitors, this product won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
Primo 778 Extra-Large Oval Ceramic Charcoal Smoker Grill
Brand: Primo
Model Name: Primo
Power Source: Charcoal
Color: Black
Item Weight: 200 Pounds
Item Dimensions LxWxH: 28 x 21 x 27.5 inches
Fuel Type: Charcoal
Primo 778 ceramic cook top is a new product from the well known brand of gas stove – Primus. The company has always produced quality products for both kitchen and cooking needs. This time, they have released an oval shaped large size ceramic cooker which many people are now preferring over other traditional stoves. It comes with a huge flat base where you can place any kind of pan or pot for cooking purpose. You will also get two hob controls for temperature adjustment as per your requirements. There is also a knob at the side which you can use to turn it on / off when needed.
What Are Its Main Features?
The unique feature that makes primo 778 extra-large oval ceramic cooker different from other products is that it doesn’t use gas or electricity for cooking purpose. That means you will get natural flame while using this stove. It also comes with a transparent glass on top of it which lets you keep an eye on your food without opening the lid each time. The design looks beautiful and enhances the beauty of your kitchen as well. You can easily clean its surface by wiping continuously with wet cloth since it comes with anti-smudge coating layer above the glass portion.
It has round shaped knobs below the glass area to control heat needed for cooking food items. The size of Primo 778 extra-large oval ceramic cooker measures 20 x 12 x 4 inches and weighs 16 pounds only which makes moving it from one place to another a bit difficult. It has total 13 burners including 2 wok supports and 11 standard sized ones.
The performance of Primo 778 extra-large oval ceramic cooker is excellent as it heats food evenly without leaving any hot or cold spot within. You can easily cook your meal within few minutes due to its powerful flame heating technology. It uses natural gas for cooking purpose which doesn’t harm the environment as other kitchen appliances do. Overall, it is a unique creation from Primus for those who prefer healthy food cooked in less time at their home or restaurant.
What Are Its Advantages?
It comes with a large flat base where you can place any kind of pan or pot for cooking purpose comfortably. You can cook your food items like a professional chef with this cooker as it provides even heat throughout the base.
The unique design of Primo 778 extra-large oval ceramic cooker is eye catching and adds beauty to your kitchen corner. It comes with a transparent glass on top so you can see your food without opening the lid every now and then. The anti-smudge surface above the glass makes it easy for cleaning purpose. All you need to do is wipe it continuously with wet cloth till its shine returns back after drying up.
It uses natural gas for cooking which saves electricity bill at home or restaurant place where you are using these cookers in large quantity for regular purposes. Apart from that, there is no harmful effect of using non-renewable gas for cooking purpose.
Primo vs Kamado Joe? The powerful flame heating technology of Primo 778 extra-large oval ceramic cooker will help you to cook food within few minutes due to its fast heating rate. You can also adjust the temperature according to your requirements by using knobs present below the glass top. The round shaped knobs are sturdy and easy to use when needed.
You can move this stove in horizontal direction which makes it easy to clean under the burners or in between them with simple brush attachment after separating each one of them from the bottom surface. There is no fear of electric shock since it uses only natural gas for cooking purpose without any risk.
See more: 10 Best Portable Gas Grill Consumer Reports and Ratings
Top Of Kamado Joe Grills
Kamado Joe Classic III
Brand: Kamado Joe
Material: Stainless Steel, Ceramic
Color: Blaze Red
Item Dimensions LxWxH: 30 x 46.5 x 50.5 inches
Item Weight: 286 Pounds
The Kamado J oe Classic III is the newest model in the Classic line up of kamados. The concept behind the entire Kamado Joe line has been to continually offer better design while at the same time providing excellent value for its customers. From the moment I opened the box I could tell that this was a quality product…and then some! There were several things that I really liked about Kamado Joe Classic III.
First thing you’ll notice is the beautiful finish…it’s so rich looking! The round analog thermometer on the top says it all “Classy” . The door has an extremely high quality feel to it with its stainless steel hardware and latches for gasket sealing. The insulation is 2 inches thick which makes this ceramic kamado very efficient insulating, especially if you are using charcoal as your heat source.
What sets Ceramic Cookers apart from other Kamados is their ability to retain heat much longer than traditional steel cookers or even other types of ceramic cookers. Stainless Steel Cooking Grills are included , along with a nice ash tool/rake, grill gripper, insulative cover, and a water tray.
If you are looking for a quality built kamado style cooker that is versatile, efficient , has front side access to the fire box making it perfect for “Klose-Kutchen”, then you need to look at the Classic III . One of my favorite features on the Kamado Joe Classic III is its ability to burn all three types of fuel (charcoal, wood chunks/chips and lump charcoal.) The overall thickness of the ceramic shell is 3 inches thick which makes this kamado extremely sturdy while retaining heat like no other.
Kamado Joe Big Joe III
Brand: Kamado Joe
Material: Stainless Steel, Ceramic
Color: Blaze Red
Item Dimensions LxWxH: 34 x 58.13 x 54 inches
Item Weight: 445 Pounds
The Kamado Joe Big Joe III is a high-end kamado style grill that lives up to the quality and excellence of all Kamado Joe products. The Big Joe III offers design improvements such as a stronger hinge, more precise air control, and better insulation than its predecessor.
The Big Joe III’s cooking area has been increased by 30% over the original Big Joe II, which now allow it to support 15 burgers or 7 whole chickens, compared to 10 burgers or 5 whole chickens on the earlier version. It also features an innovative new vent system that enhances temperature control and slightly improves even heating of racks around the entire perimeter of the unit. A few other notable enhancements include:
More precise air control system with two dampers controlling airflow into the cooking area.
Primo vs Kamado Joe? More insulation that increases efficiency and reduces heat loss with an insulated Stainless Steel Edges Lid that covers most of the Kamado Joe’s ceramic body.
The base and legs have been redesigned to provide a sturdier device perfect for rolling around on rough surfaces.
The Big Joe III has perhaps one of the most durable hinges ever fitted to a kamado style grill, which prevents possible damage from opening and shutting lid frequently. The hinge provides precise control over airflow through charcoal basket, thus improving temperature control. Overall, the combination of upgraded features make the Big Joe III worth every penny it costs. It not only offers users high quality performance but also makes grilling an easy undertaking without having to worry about the cooker.
See more: Top 7 Best Smokers for Beginners 2022
Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado Charcoal Grill
Brand: Char-Griller
Material: Alloy Steel
Color: Graphite
Item Dimensions LxWxH: 45 x 31 x 47 inches
Item Weight: 97 Pounds
Char – Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado Charcoal Grill is a large, stationary kettle grill from this manufacturer. This model has been designed to allow users to have their own portable oven which will be perfect for different types of food such as meat, fish and even juicy vegetables. The cooker has a lot of other features that should impress any user. It also comes with a cover made from a special type of material that will help the product last longer and take care of it well. The materials used in its design are high quality and promote durability.
This type of cooking appliance uses charcoal as the main source of energy which helps you prepare tasty meals. In addition to this, the new model comes with a single adjustable cooking grids which you can use for different types of food. You can also find a new feature on the grill called Flavorizer bars which will catch all of the excess fat from your meal and distribute it evenly across the surface of your food. This method helps prevent flare-ups that might ruin your meal. Moreover, there is a traditional dome lid with a vent that increases or decreases airflow depending on what type of effect you want to have on your grill.
Before making any final decisions about buying this product, let’s take an in depth look at its specifications. The cooker has 680 square inches total cooking area which means you will be able to cook as much as 5 hamburgers at the same time. An attractive feature that will help you cook your food evenly across the barbecue surface is a built-in thermometer located near the handle. Another useful addition to this product is a convenient removable ash drawer which helps you clean up after each cooking session. The device also has a sturdy base made from steel and legs which are triple-plated with chrome for added durability and style. Overall, we can say that Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado Charcoal Grill is definitely worth checking out!
>>> See more: The Easiest Way To Make Great BBQ Ribs (Primo vs Kamado Joe?)
Conclusion
The Primo grill and the Kamado Joe grill are two of the best grills on the market. It is hard to say which one is better, as both brands have a lot going for them. We recommend you take a look at our comparison table below before making your decision. Primo vs Kamado Joe? You might notice that there are many similarities between these products – they even share some features! For example, each has dual-zone temperature control with precision cooking technology.
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Weber Jumbo Joe vs Go Anywhere – Weber’s Best Portable Charcoal Grills
