Primo Kamado All-in-One Review

If you’re a grilling enthusiast, you’ve probably heard about Primo. The ceramic grills manufactured by this company are among the most versatile cookers available on the market. They can be used as roasters, smokers, and ovens, with only a simple adjustment to their cooking configuration.

The company’s All-In-One series is particularly popular. It consists of four models – Kamado All in One, Oval JR 200, Oval LG 300, and Oval XL 400. Each model comes as a fully assembled grill, with foldable side tables, locking casters, grate lifters, and ash tools. We’ve decided to take a closer look at the Kamado All in One model.

This is Primo’s traditional Kamado-style 18.5″ grill, suitable for grilling, smoking, roasting, and baking. Its features include a thermometer, stainless-steel draft door, porcelain-coated cooking grate, and a cast-iron top vent. The model can be used as both your primary grill and as a complement to your smoker or gas grill.

This is a genuinely expensive grill, and, as such, should not be purchased before you get to know a bit more about it. We advise you to keep reading – we’ll outline the model’s features and help you make the ultimate decision.

Why Get It?

Primo advertises its All-In-One series as something that was developed with convenience in mind. The series is a selection of models that you can start using after only a few minutes of setup. All four models in the range provide this ready-to-grill experience and have the same, ceramic-made design.

An important thing to mention here is that the model we’re analyzing is the second-smallest in the series. Oval LG 300 and Oval XL 400 offer more cooking space, letting the user grill between 20-25 steaks at once. If you like the design of Primo Kamado All in One but want a larger cooking surface, consider buying one its bigger cousins.

First of all, this ceramic grill was made in the USA. This is very important to some buyers, who often look to avoid purchasing products coming from other countries, as they’re suspicious about the quality. Primo is based in Tucker, Georgia, with the European branch being based in Brørup, Denmark.

One of the first things to notice about this model is the shape. Unlike its oval siblings, the Primo Kamado All in One is round. This shape is sufficiently efficient for successful cooking, and also takes less space than the typical square-shaped cookers. The design is a simple one – besides the thermometer, nothing stands out on the unit’s exterior shell.

Upon taking a closer look, one can notice a high-quality ceramic build. Besides excellent heat retention, this also means sturdiness and reliability. The Primo is indeed a well-built appliance and one that could serve you for the years to come.

However, the model is also quite heavy, with this weight being comparable to that of the Big Green Eggs. When manufacturing grills out of solid ceramic, there’s just no way around it. In fact, many grilling enthusiasts measure the quality of Kamado grills by their weight. While this indeed isn’t the best way to compare grills, we advise staying away from Kamado-style models that are too light.

The model comes with a porcelain-coated cooking grid, boasting 280 square inches of cooking space. While this isn’t the most substantial cooking area out there, it’s still one that will allow you to prepare 8-12 steaks at once. Those who’d like to double the cooking surface can buy additional extenders, which can be purchased separately.

Just like most Kamados on the market, this one also boasts a separate ceramic firebox, as well as a felt-lined top basket whose purpose is to lock in moisture.

At the bottom of the grill, you’ll find a stainless-steel adjustable vent door. Once we combine it with the adjustable cast-iron chimney, we get a grill that easily holds the temperature within its interior.

There are also a couple of other features worth mentioning. The model comes with an easy-to-read thermometer on its top lid and has a stay-cool Cyprus handle that ensures safe handling. The unit’s foldable side shelves are especially convenient. They are made of FDA-approved material and are, therefore, safe to put the food on.

Another mentionable feature of Primo Kamado All in One is that it comes with heat-safe feet. These are equipped with simple caster wheels, allowing the user to relocate the grill when required. With the model being quite cumbersome (240 pounds), this is a welcome and invaluable feature.

Accessories & Warranty

Another advantage of this charcoal grill is that it comes accompanied by a lot of accessories. Besides the base model itself, you’ll also be getting a 15″ round ceramic stone, a Woo ring, as well as the cradle with folding shelves. There are some minor accessories, too – a 20lbs Rockwood lump, Primo grid lifter, Primo ash tool, and CSG fire starters.

All of this shows that Primo cares about its customers. The company tries to make up for the high price by including an abundance of useful accessories. As you can see, the package includes everything you’ll need to start cooking immediately.

However, it is the warranty deal that sweetens the whole deal. The 20-year warranty on the model’s ceramic parts is absolutely impressive. It shows that the company is highly confident in the durability of their products – two decades of guarantee is no small deal.

Other parts of the unit are also covered, albeit for shorter periods. There’s a 5-year warranty on the metal parts, one year on the cast-iron elements, and one month on the thermometer and gaskets.

Testimonials

The unit is indeed highly versatile and can be used for more than just grilling. As it can also smoke, bake, and roast, it is the only outdoor cooker that you’ll ever need.

What to Watch Out For

A Piece of Advice

When fat drips onto your coals, it catches fire, which leads to flare-ups. This causes the creation of dangerous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These can accumulate in the food you’re grilling. Moreover, the meat that’s licked by the flames tastes “off,” and the food can end up charred on its exterior.

In order to reduce these flare-ups, try to use lean cuts of meat. Remove poultry skin and always trim excess fat. Furthermore, always keep a bottle of water near you while you’re grilling. It will allow you to extinguish any unexpected flare-ups immediately.

Verdict

All in all, the Primo Kamado is undoubtedly one of the best small ceramic grills out there. We were thoroughly impressed by its construction quality, ease of use, and innumerable, convenient features. The steaks grilled on this model have a delicious taste, which is precisely what we expected from a brand such as Primo.

However, it’s important to point out the high cost of this grill. If the money is not a problem for you, there’s no way you’ll regret opting for All in One. It’s a fantastic product that makes up for the price with its versatility and reliability.