When you want something to cook within your backyard, then the Big Green Egg, Kamado Joe, and Primo grills should be the first on your list as they are the best at cooking anything.
Ordinary grills can be versatile, but there is a limit to that versatility. Kamado grills, on the other hand, are perhaps the most versatile cookware anywhere as you can cook any recipe inside them.
The Kamado style of cooking was invented in China thousands of years ago. It was not popular until recently. So companies have been developing many versions of the grill for the public.
The version that we get now is usually made out of ceramic compared to the traditional and original models made out of clay. However, they still perform with the same concept.
This style of cooking was meant for baking, so at first, they were called ovens. However, as time passed by, we have developed models that actually make them great for cooking as grills.
There are a lot of companies that produce Kamado grills. If you mention the word Kamado, the brand Big Green Egg is almost always associated with it as they have great Kamado grills.
Kamado Joe is one of the tight competitors that Big Green Egg has. They have developed the same standard that BGE applies to their products, plus more when it comes to features.
Primo is a lesser-known brand compared to the two brands, but it deserves to be in line with these great brands. They make grills that have exceptional designs that serve a lot of purposes.
So if you are considering buying one of the grills from these amazing brands, then you should read on as we try and compare them the best way that we can to give you the best Kamado grill.
Significant Differences Between The Big Green Egg, Kamado Joe, and Primo Grills
This post will let you know everything that needs to be said in order for you to make the best decision. There are a lot of similarities between these three, but the differences are important too.
Personal preference will be the one that makes you decide so in order for me to help you with that, you need to know everything about the grills and what you can get from one.
Now, some of the differences might not be that big of a deal, but then, you will notice how important they are once you experience cooking in the grills themselves, so read on.
We will also be talking about the similarities later on and then some tips about the usage of the grills. But first, let us get into the distinct features of each grill from these different companies.
Sizes Available
Of course, each company has produced different models of grills. That is why surely you get to choose the best size of grill that will fit your preference or frequent activities.
See, this is another factor where you need to consider personal preferences, so you can choose the right grill. Be sure to get the right size for parties if you do that a lot or go for smaller ones.
Now for this category, we would not be necessarily talking about the literal size. Instead, we will see which brand offers the largest cooking area for their grills.
Big Green Egg
The Kamado grills from Big Green Egg are pretty straightforward. What you see is what you get, as you can immediately have a good idea of how large the cooking space is by looking alone.
For a single panel or a single-rack grill, the Big Green Egg is the best choice when it comes to size. It offers the BGE 2XL, which has a total cooking area of 672 square inches.
This might not sound like a very large cooking area, but it is pretty impressive considering that this large cooking area is found on a single grill grate. There are no layers for this Kamado grill.
So that means that you can cook a whole pig on this Kamado grill. You can cook dozens of steaks with its wide 29-inch diameter and it is perfect for parties or gatherings.
Kamado Joe
When it comes to taking advantage of the available space, then Kamado Joe is the best in this category. They are able to make a large cooking space from a relatively small grill.
See, the Kamado Joe grill might not look as large as the grills from Big Green Egg, but they actually have a larger cooking space. This is because of the unique tier system of grates.
The Big Joe III from Kamado Joe has a total cooking area of 864 square inches. This is pretty large for its size, but it is made possible by putting three grill grates on a single grill.
The main grate of this grill has a total cooking space of 400 square inches only. So the other two tiers provide the rest, which also makes the Kamado Joe grill versatile when it comes to cooking.
Primo Grills
Primo grills might not be the largest Kamado grills on the market, but they have special features that contribute to their size. They are shaped differently to make them more versatile.
See, primo grills are oval-shaped instead of the usual egg shape of Kamado grills. Their firebox can be separated into two, so you can cook in one grill with two different temperatures on each side.
The Primo XL is the largest Kamado grill from Primo and has a total of 400 square inches for its cooking area. This can be extended up to 680 square inches with rack extensions.
Unique Features
Still, under the significant differences, we will be talking about the unique features of each Kamado grill. This will determine what you can only find in a specific brand.
Big Green Egg
Perhaps the most famous accessory of the Big Green Egg grills is the convEGGtor. This is a fame guard that transforms the grill completely into a convection oven used outdoors.
This accessory is only available to the Big Green Egg grills but other companies might have their own versions. The convEGGtor is the perfect accessory for cooking indirectly.
It blocks the flames so that you can turn the grill into a convection oven where you can cook your baked goods. This will give you more options on what you can actually cook in it.
The design of the Big Green Egg is also a unique one. It has dents on the outer parts, which were made by hand that dedication to the craft really brings the best out of the grills.
Primo Grills
The two-zone cooking style of Primo grills is the best and unique feature that you will find in their grills. This is where true versatility comes out, as it can make cooking a lot easier.
Aside from the oval shape of the grills, you can also divide the firebox with the blocker. When that is set, you will have a hotter side and a side where the smoke rolls over the food.
The oval shape transfers the smoke from the firebox to the lid and then back down to the other side that is not exposed directly to the fire. So the food on that side will cook at a slower rate.
This gives you the ability to sear meat on one side of the grill grate and then smoke meat from other recipes on the other side. This is only attained because of the shape of the grills.
So if you are looking for a grill that will give you the best results on different dishes, then Primo will surely give you the offer of a lifetime because of their unique and useful designs.
Kamado Joe
The Kamado Joe grills have the best accessories, in my opinion. They have unique features, such as the mesh protector on the ring between the lid and the body of the Kamado grill.
The large and heavy lids of their grills are also made with safety measures. The lid of Kamado grills alone can weigh up to 50 pounds, so Kamado Joe put an AirLit Hinge on their grills.
This is a feature that helps the user to lift the heavy lid up and down. The hinge actually pulls the lid up to prevent it from abruptly closing down and risk getting your hand caught in between.
The other feature that is unique with the Kamado Joe grills is the SloRoller Hyperbolic Insert. This is a special heat deflector that was designed with Harvard Sciences.
What it does is it blocks the flame from getting directly into the food that you are cooking while also allowing it to produce the right amount and pathway for the smoke to cook the food.
So basically, it rolls the smoke in the insert and shoots it to the grate. The smoke does not leave the interior of the Kamado grill unless it has rolled at least twice on the food to enhance the smoky flavor.
Maximum Heat
The temperature that the grills produce is also important since it is a large factor in their versatility. The higher the grill can go, the more food you can possibly cook in it.
The Kamado Joe grills take over this category as they can go as high as 750 degrees Fahrenheit. The Big Green Egg grills go a little behind at 700 degrees Fahrenheit.
This amount of heat is impressive as regular ovens can only get up to around 500 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that both grills can cook pizzas in less than 10 minutes.
The Primo grills can go as high as 700 degrees Fahrenheit as well, but their highlight is slow and low cooking as they can be easily controlled in temperatures as low as 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
Similarities
Here, we will only be listing the important similarities between the three brands of Kamado grills. This way, you should know what to expect from each grill and how they perform.
Vents as Temperature Controllers
The good thing about these grills is that they still stick to the traditional way of controlling the fire inside them. They depend on the airflow to blow the fire harder or softer for temperature change.
All grills have both the top and bottom vents for controlling the temperature. The bottom vents are meant for controlling the flames and make the temperature change at larger increments.
The top vents allow the escape of air from the bottom which means that it does not immediately affect the temperature. So the top vent is used for controlling the temperature at smaller increments.
Heavy Lids
While they do not have the same hinge and lifting systems, the Big Green Egg, Kamado Joe, and Primo Grills all have heavy lids that need to be lifted when cooking.
These grills all apply springs on their hinges so the users can lift the lids easily. The lids also have some protective foam or mesh underneath to protect the ceramic parts from cracking.
Self-cleaning Features
Since all of these grills from the three different brands can go hot, they all have the same capability in terms of cooking and cleaning themselves from residuals left in them.
See, the fire and the temperature allow the girls to burn the food residuals left on the grill grates and the interior parts. So you do not need to go too hard on cleaning them.
Most models from these companies also have their own cleaning materials or features such as an ash-catcher underneath the firebox and brushes included with the products.
Conclusion
When it comes to cooking, you can be sure that Kamado grills will give you the perfect finish every time. These are very versatile types of earthenware grills that can deliver the best food.
Big Green Egg, Kamado Joe, and Primo grills are all big brands that have been proven to produce the best Kamado grills. They are able to keep the standard of quality in these grills.
They do have their differences, but one thing is for sure, the Kamado grills from these brands can surely cook the same results with the best-tasting finishes.
They can be used in almost any recipe, so you should definitely get one. You can use them in parties or even the simplest cookouts in your backyard, so there is no need to wait longer. Get yours now!
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