Green Egg

So my Weber grill has been malfunctioning and I've been thinking about getting a green egg. It's a pretty penny, but I like what I've been reading so far about it, particularly the versatility.

How long does it take to ignite the charcoal to get the egg up to cooking temp? Any other impressions or recommendations from those of you who have/use this actively?

Thanks in advance.

 

Get a Primo instead........................

 

Depends on how you light your charcoal. A charcoal chimney will get a load of it up to temp pretty quickly, about 5-10 minutes. If you're using lighter fluid it takes just as long as a regular grill because you obviously have to let the fluid burn off before you can start cooking.

 

Why? What's the difference between the two brands? They seem similar.

 

I thought this thread was about me

 

It is. How long does it take you to get hot?

 

Primo's shaped like an oval and has a dividable firebox. I think it has a taller lid, too.

 

not at all, the Primo is SO much more versatile, I should know as I own a Primo, and have a friend who has an Egg, you cant split the coal box in the Egg, as you can with a Primo, and as far as lighting LUMP charcoal, I use a mapp gas torch, ready in 10-15 minutes!! feel free to ask me anything about the Primo!

 

Only about 30 seconds

 

With ceramics such as the egg and Primo, it's not really deigned for a quick slam and jam cook. You can,but your missing out on its purpose. What makes them so bad ass is there ability to hold stable Temps and moisture. You can also Crack the firebox if temps are brought up way too fast. Not likely, but I have seen it happen. IMO both cookers are outstanding, but the Primo wins hands down for versitility and grate space.

 

I've have been reading that people have been having customer service and warranty issues with Primo. Any merit in that?

 

Lighter fluid? In an $800 Green Egg? Holy shit no. NO! If lighter fluid was used even just once in my egg it would be thrown out.

I have two of the XL eggs in a custom table. Also two Webers- a King Weber and a Silver. I love them. But I still use a gas grill when I'm not smoking.

 

One question, how does a charcoal grill malfunction?

IMHO chimney starter is the only way to go. Quick, easy, and zero petroleum.

 

I have had outstanding luck with my brinkman trailmaster. A $25 worth of mods and i was good to go.

 

I use the chimney as well. Since my grills are side by side a lot of times I'll just stick it on the side burner on the propane unit and get it ripping along.
I need to fab a new charcoal tray for my grill, though. It's adjustable for height but the original was just thin-gauge mild steel and it's already rusting out.

 

They are not the best company when it comes to warranty stuff. The only thing you half to worry about is the firebox cracking and the Lid hinge.

 

I have a large Big Green Egg and I am very pleased with it in terms of versatility and quality of product. It is a nice chunk of change but in my opinion you get what you pay for. I have no experience with the Primo. The quality of the ceramic on the BGE is very good. Heat and moisture retention due to the thick ceramic walls is key. The BGE is very easy and quick to light. About my only gripe with it is the cooking area size. I love the versatility of the BGE, you can make pizza, bake bread, smoke meat, do high temp searing and low tem grilling. I even got an AMAZN smoker to do cold smoking.

As Jethro mentioned, definitely no lighter fluid or anything other than natural charcoal. The chemicals in these products can taint the ceramic of the egg and you will always get the smell in subsequent cooks.