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PRIMO CERAMIC GRILLS CUSTOMER REVIEWS

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Flexibility is the genius behind the Primo design
"I have always loved grilling. There's something about being outdoors, tending to the grill that I find inherently satisfying and relaxing.

From my first experience in the boy-scouts, cooking French toast over a hot rock, to using a rotisserie to cook chickens in my fireplace (don't try this at home). I've always been an adventurous griller.

Prior to purchasing my Primo Oval XL, I was using a variety of gas grills, including infrared grills. While the gas grills always heated the meat, they left me wanting for more- more flavor, more flexibility, more temperature control, more capacity and most importantly, more of a rich cooking experience.

Several years back, some of my friends bought smokers and got me thinking about my cooking options. After surveying the vast landscape of grill and smoker options, I decided on the Primo Oval XL. The Primo gives me the ability to smoke, grill and bake an unlimited variety of foods. With the Primo, my deck has become my outdoor kitchen, and we actually use it more often than we use our inside kitchen.

We've cooked for two and we've cooked for 25, all on one grill. We've used it to cook homemade pizzas, fish, breads, casseroles and we even fed a graduation party by smoking 42lbs of Boston butts for pulled pork sandwiches. After others have tasted the meals made on my Primo, we have even had several requests to cater parties, which we respectfully declined!

Flexibility is the genius behind the Primo design. I can cook direct, for classic grilling meats and indirect for pizzas, smoking and baking. If cooking for only my wife and myself, I can use the divider and heat half the fire box, but if we have a party I can pull the divider and easily cook for 25-30 people.

Living in Chicagoland presents outdoor cooking enthusiasts with unique challenges, the biggest one being large seasonal temperature swings. With my Primo, outside temperatures don't stop you from using your outdoor kitchen-providing you can handle the cold. The thick ceramic design holds its temperature for hours and because it's so efficient, very little charcoal is needed. This is important when it's -15°F outside and you don't want to run out to constantly check your grill temperature or charcoal supply.

The large amount of information available in the Primo forum and Primo's outstanding customer service have made my years of ownership trouble-free and even helped me find new and exciting ways to use my grill.

Why did I buy a Primo grill? Because I've always loved charcoal grilling, because I love the natural, healthy, salt-free flavor hardwood grilling provides, and I want one device that meets all of my cooking demands."

R. Conley of Illinois


We are Primo
"My grilling began on a gas grill. But I quickly realized the lack of real flavor had nothing to do with my ability to apply seasoning and everything to do with gas.

So I ditched the gas, bought the cheapest charcoal grill I could find, and fell in love with cooking over wood.

I quickly upgraded to a Brinkmann horizontal grill that I rescued from the rubble of Hurricane Katrina while in Gulfport, MS on a mission trip. Our worksite was soon to be bulldozed so instead of the grill being pushed into the giant pile of debris, the homeowners said I could have it. "Mr. Draper's Grill", as my family fondly referred to it, worked hard for us for many years until the rust was finally too much to overcome.

With the retirement of "Mr. Draper's Grill" came my introduction to Kamado cooking. I purchased a Char-Griller Akorn and my family and I began cooking everything on it. Cooking food in the backyard became what my family and I did together at least four nights a week. We even cooked our entire Thanksgiving dinner on it, pumpkin and pecan pie included! The best part about it was, we were doing it together as a family.

Then last Christmas I received the biggest surprise of my life. We had long since outgrown the Akorn and I really wanted to upgrade. I did my research and knew the oval shape and variety of rack and deflector plate configurations of the Primo Oval XL would take our outdoor cooking to the next level.

I dropped hints here and there but really didn't think my wife was listening. And then Christmas morning, as we were looking in our stockings, I noticed a cutout picture of an Primo Oval XL and that's when my daughters told me to go and look in the driveway. Truly the best Christmas ever!

The versatility of the Oval XL is what makes cooking on it so much fun. Whether we are baking pizzas, cooking nachos, smoking meatloaf or reverse searing steaks. My wife and triplet daughters and I spend more time together because we enjoy cooking on the Primo together. Therefore it's not really "I Am Primo" but more importantly, "We Are Primo"

C. Sarkowski of South Carolina


A grill for life
"My Primo story started more than a year before my purchase. I did a lot of research before making the commitment to a cooker that I will have for the rest of my life.

The three deciding factors in making the purchase were a quality product, made in the USA and the versatility to do TRUE indirect cooking.

I have had my Primo Oval XL for about three years. It's used year-round and multiple times each week. Due to the Primo's amazing ability to maintain a constant low temperature and do true indirect cooking, I have smoked trout, salmon, pork butt, ribs, bacon and brisket.

When it's time to grill a steak or burger I just crank up the temperature and they turn out perfect every time. Drop the temperature back a little and chicken, bratwurst and sausage retain their juices and cook to perfection. With the use of the heat deflectors and extension racks I can cook meat and vegetables at the same time. Again, amazing versatility.

I had never considered cooking a pizza on my grill until I got my Primo Oval XL. All I can say is it's turns out one of the best tasting pizzas ever.

To anyone considering a Kamado style ceramic grill, a Primo will be the last grill you will ever buy. It is a grill for life. Thank you for the opportunity to tell my Primo story."

L. Stephens of Kentucky


Primo-no more gas
"I was raised on a 500 acre farm. After my Dad returned from Vietnam, he returned to farming and as you can imagine, my dad was country to the bone.

My brothers and I grew up watching him cook on homemade grills and smokers. Usually they were made out of 50 gallon metal drums. He introduced me to smoked mullet and Tony Chachere's seasoning. I can't count the times we smoked mullet, along with leg quarters.

The first time I saw a ceramic grill was about 12 years ago, when my boss at the time bought a Primo Oval XL. We often talked about grilling and he knew I was a looking for the best grill. At the time, I was using a gas Weber and a Master Built electric smoker. My boss kept telling about his new type of grill and how it would hold the temperature, and both grill and smoke. Finally, he invited me over for a steak. After watching the temperature go from 500°F to 250°F in a matter of minutes, and eating the best steak in my life, I was hooked.

I saved my money for several months to buy the new black beauty. Finally, I made my purchase–Primo Oval XL, along with a cypress table. Everyone that already owned a Primo said, "You have to try a butt!", so that was the first thing I cooked. My dad and brother came over to help me break in my Primo.

My dad, never one to try "new fangled contraptions," was sitting there saying there was no way this thing would cook better than his smoker, and my brother stated emphatically he would just stick with his good ole' gas grill. I just smiled and let them talk, then without comment I pulled the butt off of the Primo. The bone just ripped out of the meat just like a butter knife going through butter. My dad and brother couldn't believe it! Best pork they have ever had. It took only about a month before my brother had a new Primo-no more gas.

I'm pretty sure, this was the best sale in Primo's history. My Dad purchased a Primo-no more homemade barrel smokers. After two years of using his Primo and loving every experience, my father suddenly passed away from a heart attack.

My brother and I had to decide what to do with his things. We had no idea know what to do with his prized grill, since we both owned one. My sister-in law told us that about a month before his death, Daddy told her that when he died he wanted his Primo to go to a fellow he worked with and really liked named Johnny. My brother and I had heard Johnny rave about my dad's Primo hot wings, and we knew Johnny couldn't afford a Primo on his own at the time. We invited him over without telling him why, and walked out to where Daddy kept his Primo. We patted his back and said, "Johnny, load the Primo up. It's yours." Johnny just broke down sobbing."

P.R. Brock of Florida


I needed the ultimate grill!
"It all started in a small backyard with a cheap gas grill.

I now look back and remember those as lonely years; times when friends and relatives would decline invitations and only my wife and kids would reluctantly eat what I prepared. I knew there was more, much more. I was determined to "up my game" and become the best griller and BBQer I could be. I needed better equipment, much better equipment!

I quickly realized that, even if money was no object, gas grills do not deliver the flavor and would never fit into my master plan to become King Q. Charcoal and wood burning grills and smokers were the only way to go. They started appearing on my patio in all shapes and sizes. At the same time I honed my skills for developing rubs and marinades while tweaking my techniques to acquire flavor, moistness and tenderness. People even started showing up and I would get remarks like, "hey, that's pretty good", "tasty" and even an occasional "not bad". Not good enough for me, not by a long shot! I was on a quest!

My food lacked consistency, usually good but not consistently great. Another growing problem was the amount of equipment accumulating on my patio, hardly leaving room for guests. I needed to standardize the excellence of my BBQ and consolidate equipment. I needed the ultimate grill!

After considerable research and pouring over hundreds of reviews, I purchased the Primo Oval XL400. I could not be more pleased. The versatility of the Primo Ceramic Grill allows me to serve up consistently delicious food: moist chicken with crispy skin, pork shoulder tender and juicy with just enough smoke, steaks just the way I like them, charred outside medium rare inside, wings, burgers and pizza. My Primo does it all and now stands alone as the only BBQ/grilling equipment on my patio.

Best of all the comments have elevated to, "damn, this is awesome", "you could sell this" and finally, what I have been working for, "You are the BBQ grillin' master, The King."

J. Fulsher of Michigan


Made in America
"I'm an American Soldier with the 101st Airborne Division who has a true passion for grilling specialty burgers and smoking Kansas City style BBQ.

While in Afghanistan, I thought I would treat myself to the ultimate grilling machine that could be diverse enough to handle any food item. After weeks of research, I came across Primo.

Being a deployed soldier at the time, the fact that the grill was "Made in America" stuck out to me. After careful consideration, I purchased the Primo Oval XL 400 a few months before I returned home so I could hit the ground running. Now that I am home, I have absolutely zero regrets. I have put this grill through a gauntlet of tests.

Pizza? Better than in Italy (thanks to the Army I've tried it). Pulled pork? Best I've ever had. Ribs? By far the easiest dinner to make. Burgers? I have become a true burger god. This grill has made all of the difference in my cooking results, and I have the great people at Primo to thank for bringing gourmet food to my home.

The temperature control is second to none and that alone is enough justification to own this grill. I am the envy of my neighborhood and everyone around me knows the McGraw's are about to eat something good every time I start my grill. The quality of the craftsmanship that went into making this grill is evident. This grill is the true definition of professionalism, and I would recommend Primo to any person."

W. McGraw of Kentucky


Fond Memories
"My idea of cooking was to pop a stouffer's into the microwave. Needless to say, after getting married my wife did almost all the cooking until October of 2010.

We were building a pool for the kids, so being from Texas it is basically a requirement to also have a grill, and my wife challenged me to pick one out and learn how to use it.

I went to numerous BBQ stores, researched the internet, and came across the Primo, which had great reviews and I loved the large size and the idea of using lump charcoal. I found Marvin, a local Primo Dealer in Ft. Worth, and he told us to bring over our favorite cut of meat and he would cook it for us.

After meeting Marvin and trying the food he prepared, we were sold and took a Primo Oval XL home that day. Since the first time I cooked on my Primo Oval XL, I have received rave reviews and you almost can't mess up as long as you don't overcook. Our kids liked my food better than mom's!

In May of 2011, our 11 year-old daughter Sydney was diagnosed with DIPG, a terminal childhood brain tumor. While on Radiation and Chemo, Sydney only wanted food (mainly her favorite, tri-tip) grilled or smoked on the Primo. I was able to spend much more quality time with Sydney over the 13 months she fought her tumor by being able to put the food on the grill, and just leave it until it was ready to take off.

Every time I cook on the Primo, I tear up thinking of my beautiful daughter and how much she loved the food I prepared on it. Love and miss you so much Sydney."

S. Bjornberg of Texas

 

 

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