Big Green Egg XLarge vs Primo Oval JR 200 All-In-One
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Quick take: The Big Green Egg XLarge costs $49 less; the Big Green Egg XLarge offers more cooking space (452 vs 210 sq in); the Primo Oval JR 200 All-In-One reaches a higher max temp (850 vs 750°F).
| Spec | Big Green Egg XLarge | Primo Oval JR 200 All-In-One |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$1,650 | ~$1,699 |
| Rating | 5★ (28) | — |
| Type | Kamado | Kamado |
| Cooking Area | 452 sq in | 210 sq in |
| Max Temp | 750°F | 850°F |
| Fuel Type | Charcoal | Charcoal |
| Build Material | Ceramic | Ceramic |
| Hopper Capacity | — | — |
| Burners | — | — |
| WiFi / App | No | No |
| App control | No | No |
| Meat probe | No | No |
| PID controller | No | No |
| Side burner | No | No |
| Rotisserie | No | No |
| Searing | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 26.5 in wide x 30.7 in tall | — |
| Weight | 219 lbs | 100 lbs |
| Warranty | Lifetime (ceramic) | Lifetime (ceramic, to original owner) |
Pros & cons
Big Green Egg XLarge
- ✓The 24-inch grate answers the Large's biggest complaint - two packer briskets or four whole chickens fit flat with room for airflow, no folding required
- ✓Same rock-steady ceramic temperature control as every Egg: dial in 250°F and it holds all night with the vents barely cracked
- ✓Best price-per-square-inch in the whole Egg lineup - roughly 30% more money than a Large buys nearly double the grate
- ✓Hits 750°F for pizza and searing just like its smaller siblings, and the wide dome fits vertical rib racks and tall roasts
- ✓The 5-piece EGGspander system multiplies capacity again, pushing usable space well past 800 sq in for party cooks
- ✓Thick ceramic is remarkably fuel-efficient for its size - an overnight brisket cook doesn't need a lump refill
- ✓It's built to outlive you, with the same lifetime ceramic warranty and generational build quality as the rest of the line
- ✓Owners rate it a perfect 5.0 - the size upgrade gives up nothing the Large does well
- ✗At $1,650 for the bare egg - no nest, no side shelves - a usable XL setup lands well past $2,000
- ✗219 lbs of fragile ceramic: moving it is a two-to-three person job, and you'll want the dealer to handle assembly
- ✗Small weeknight cooks feel wasteful - the big firebox wants a proper lump load, and lighting it for four burgers gets old
- ✗All that thermal mass moves slowly - heat-up takes longer than the Large, and overshooting a low target is hard to walk back
- ✗Kamado Joe's Big Joe III costs similar money and includes the rolling cart, side shelves, and multi-level racks the Egg sells separately
- ✗No app, fan, or automation at any price - long cooks rely on vent skill or an aftermarket controller
- ✗Ash cleanout is still through the bottom vent door, and the bigger fire bowl makes more of it
- ✗The XL-size accessories (convEGGtor, pizza stone, EGGspander) cost noticeably more than their Large equivalents
Primo Oval JR 200 All-In-One
- ✓Keeps the oval firebox, so it does two-zone cooking the Big Green Egg Small and MiniMax cannot
- ✓100 lbs is the lightest full ceramic kamado that still holds a whole chicken and a rack of ribs
- ✓Optional 150 sq in rack takes it to 360 sq in for a holiday cook
- ✓Primo's GO cradle and base turn it into a transportable kamado — nothing else ceramic at this size does
- ✓Lifetime ceramic warranty, same as the larger Primos, not a reduced term for the small model
- ✗$1,699 for 210 sq in is expensive per square inch — a Big Green Egg Medium is 262 sq in for $900
- ✗Dealer-only pricing with no manufacturer list price, so the number above is one authorized dealer's
- ✗100 lbs is 'portable' only in the sense that two people can lift it into a truck
- ✗No maker-side or dealer-side review base to cite; Primo's small models sell in low volume
- ✗Oval accessories only — the aftermarket that exists for 18-inch round kamados does not apply

