Started By
Message

re: What are the negatives of ceramic grills?

Posted on 11/14/19 at 8:29 am to
Posted by bossflossjr
The Great State of Louisiana
Member since Sep 2005
12262 posts
Posted on 11/14/19 at 8:29 am to
quote:

How did you reset thermo


Primo sent me this:
Try to re-calibrate your thermometer. You can do this by putting the probe in boiling water and checking for a temp of 212’. If you don’t get a read of that then turn the nut to 212’.

I did that and it has worked perfectly ever since.

quote:

what did you use to replace liner


Felt gasket product was called:
Gold Standard High Heat Gasket with Adhesive for Primo XL
This post was edited on 11/14/19 at 8:35 am
Posted by Pandy Fackler
Member since Jun 2018
14057 posts
Posted on 11/14/19 at 8:49 am to
The fire box often cracks but komado's typically have excellent warranties so no big deal really.

Consider getting a big steel keg instead of a ceramic. If I had to do it over again, that's what I would get.

If not though, go ahead and get a cheaper knock off brand like vision. The quality control isn't quite up there with big green egg or komado joe but it really doesn't matter.

I've got a vision and I've left it outside and uncovered for about ten years now. There's a little rust of the SS fittings and what not but that's it.

They all cook the same.
This post was edited on 11/14/19 at 8:50 am
Posted by Pandy Fackler
Member since Jun 2018
14057 posts
Posted on 11/14/19 at 8:55 am to
Pellet grills are outdoor ovens and to hear alot of folks tell it, you have to supplement smoke with a smoken tube or something like that.
Posted by AlxTgr
Kyre Banorg
Member since Oct 2003
81616 posts
Posted on 11/14/19 at 8:56 am to
quote:

Pellet grills are outdoor ovens and to hear alot of folks tell it
Have heard this a lot about ceramic, but never pellets.
Posted by Pandy Fackler
Member since Jun 2018
14057 posts
Posted on 11/14/19 at 8:57 am to
quote:

Dang, how high are you talking about here? I'm inexperienced with ceramic grills.


They can reach 900 degrees pretty easily.
Posted by Pandy Fackler
Member since Jun 2018
14057 posts
Posted on 11/14/19 at 9:06 am to
quote:

quote:
Pellet grills are outdoor ovens and to hear alot of folks tell it

Have heard this a lot about ceramic, but never pellets.


Well with pellet grills, there's an electronically produced heat source, which is fine of course but it's a different style of bbqing. They say you can control the temps really well but alot of folks complain the smoke flavor is often lacking with them. You won't encounter that problem with a komado grill.

Read some of those pellet grill discussion forums or whatever and you'll see what I'm talking about. Some have that problem, some don't.

Also, dialing in the temp on a ceramic is pretty easy and it'll hold so well, you'll think something's wrong with your thermometer.

Do consider a big steel keg though. They're compatible with all green egg accessories and they have decided advantages over ceramic.
This post was edited on 11/14/19 at 9:09 am
Posted by AlxTgr
Kyre Banorg
Member since Oct 2003
81616 posts
Posted on 11/14/19 at 9:14 am to
Currently in the middle of a smoker rebuild, so very little interest in pellet anyway.
Posted by Pandy Fackler
Member since Jun 2018
14057 posts
Posted on 11/14/19 at 9:19 am to
Oh one other thing. You can also get one of those cheap akorn komado cookers. They perform amazingly well, they have some good features and are cheap at around 300 bones. But if you do, keep it covered always or it'll rust out on you in about 2 yrs.
This post was edited on 11/14/19 at 9:27 am
Posted by hungryone
river parishes
Member since Sep 2010
11987 posts
Posted on 11/14/19 at 9:27 am to
I've got BGE large and the mini; grill surface area is the only real drawback, to me. Of course, if you're used to the click & light ease of a gasser, you won't like the time required to light & bring a ceramic grill up to temp....figure 20 minutes if you're super competent, 30-45 if you still have to screw around to light your lump.

These days, I"m a huge fan of my gas oven's 1800 degree broiler. I find myself broiling things all the time, esp foods that cook quickly--I can have boneless chicken breasts and thighs done in less time than it takes me to fill the Egg, light it, and get it up to temp.
Posted by BugAC
St. George
Member since Oct 2007
52785 posts
Posted on 11/14/19 at 9:33 am to
quote:

ou also couldn’t do multiple meats at the same time. I can’t do a brisket and 3 racks of ribs like i could with an offset smoker.


Buy the grill extender. I have a large Kamado Joe and recently bought one of these, and it works very well.



But i do agree that i wish it was a bit wider.

quote:

That said, it cooks a fine meal and it’s pretty versatile. I enjoy cooking on mine. I’ve done everything from brisket to prime rib, seafood to pizza.



I love my KJ. Steaks, burgers, roasts, pizza, brisket, butt, anything you want in a cast iron pot. It cooks anything. Remember, it's basically an outdoor over that you can smoke, or flame grill to really high temps. I recently moved my KJ to my new house and vaccumed it out with a shop vac. I had about 2 inches of ash at the bottom of the pit. This was my first time cleaning it. Well, a couple nights later i was going to cook steaks. he heat got up to what it did when i first bought it. I didn't pay attention and i was at 750 degrees and climbing. I had to choke off some of the heat to get it where i like it for my steaks.
Posted by Coater
Madison, MS
Member since Jun 2005
33060 posts
Posted on 11/14/19 at 9:33 am to
heavy and less portable unless you get the mini size
Posted by BugAC
St. George
Member since Oct 2007
52785 posts
Posted on 11/14/19 at 9:37 am to
quote:

The fire box often cracks


Depends what you get. The model 2 and the newest Kamado Joe's have the segmented fire box. It comes in 5 or 6 thick ceramic plates that you fit together with a stainless ring on top holding them in place. It prevents cracking because it allows each individual piece to expand/contract.

The KJ's also have an oven gasket so they do not degrade like the felt ones. They also have half moon deflector plates so you don't have to worry about your deflector plates cracking.f

My KJ is one of the single best purchases i ever made.
Posted by Janky
Team Primo
Member since Jun 2011
35957 posts
Posted on 11/14/19 at 9:50 am to
I have a Primo xl and if it broke tomorrow I would buy a KJ.
Posted by Pandy Fackler
Member since Jun 2018
14057 posts
Posted on 11/14/19 at 10:04 am to
quote:

Kamado Joe's have the segmented fire box. It comes in 5 or 6 thick ceramic plates that you fit together with a stainless ring on top holding them in place. It prevents cracking because it allows each individual piece to expand/contract.


Now that's an excellent feature.

I've got a cheap vision I've had about ten years. The firebox cracked almost immediately. I didn't bother getting a replacement because a new one would simply do the same.

It broke into 2 pieces so what I did was purchase some stainless steel cable and tied it around the pieces so as to hold them in place. That fix has never failed.
This post was edited on 11/14/19 at 10:14 am
Posted by BugAC
St. George
Member since Oct 2007
52785 posts
Posted on 11/14/19 at 11:03 am to
LINK

This is the one i have. The III's are a little more updated with some newer features like the vortex smoking system.













And here are some features on the new KJ III's

SloRoller - hyperbolic smoke chamber





Website says that the sloroller can work with a KJ II.
Posted by jmon
Mandeville, LA
Member since Oct 2010
8408 posts
Posted on 11/14/19 at 11:09 am to
Primo XL here. Since I acquired it I have sold my OK Joe vertical stick burner, small japanese kamado, weber propane gas grill and 18" Weber Smoky Mountain smoker. Kept my 22" Weber and my Weber Natural gas grill, but have not used them in at least, 4 months.
Posted by BugAC
St. George
Member since Oct 2007
52785 posts
Posted on 11/14/19 at 11:18 am to
quote:

Primo XL here. Since I acquired it I have sold my OK Joe vertical stick burner, small japanese kamado, weber propane gas grill and 18" Weber Smoky Mountain smoker. Kept my 22" Weber and my Weber Natural gas grill, but have not used them in at least, 4 months.




When i got my KJ, my weber charcoal grill was starting to fall apart after 8-10 years, and i was using a $80 brinkmann electric smoker that the heating element started to die out of, to smoke things. I also just got a bonus, so i threw out the weber, put up the brinkman, and have only used the KJ ever since. I considered getting a gas grill installed in my outdoor kitchen, but considering how much i use my KJ, and how easy it is, i just had the builders make me a notch out for the Joe.

May try and smoke something on it for the game this weekend. Not sure if brisket or something else.
Posted by wiltznucs
Apollo Beach, FL
Member since Sep 2005
8962 posts
Posted on 11/14/19 at 11:20 am to
Primo XL owner here looking to sell mine...

Works great as both a smoker and as a grill; my issue is the transition from one to the other.

When used as a smoker you end up with lots of oils and fats in the coal bed. Because it’s relatively cool it’s not enough to ignite.

That all changes once you turn it up full blast. Grease fire city... I’ve tried using water pans catch the drippings which did help a lot.

Picked up a RecTec pellet grill a year or so ago. Haven’t used the Primo since.
Posted by cssamerican
Member since Mar 2011
7117 posts
Posted on 11/14/19 at 12:16 pm to
quote:

My primo can get hotter than any grill you listed and can hold at 225-250 for 12+ hours. It literally does all those things you mentioned in one and will last your entire life. But you can choose to not see the advantages.

I have owned a Weber Kettle for 10 years and I’ve never wished it could get hotter, I do long smokes on it without issues, there is no fire box to crack, it’s easy to move, and it was only $99.00

I genuinely don’t see what your getting over a Weber Kettle other than it’s a little nicer, is it just a luxury Weber Kettle? If so that’s cool, some people value nicer stuff and I can respect that. But I don’t see any hole it’s filling from a capability standpoint.

Other cookers such as pellet grills and offset smokers are giving people different capabilities whether that’s setting a temperature and hitting start or additional capacity.
Posted by GusMcRae
Deep in the heart...
Member since Oct 2008
3236 posts
Posted on 11/14/19 at 12:17 pm to
quote:

surface area of the grill is very small compared to a traditional grill or offset smoker


I solved this by getting the XL.

I love it. My only downside is you have to build a fire. I have a Weber spirit gas grill for when I’m in a rush or don’t feel like making a fire.
first pageprev pagePage 2 of 3Next pagelast page

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookTwitterInstagram