Someone asked us recently:
What is the best method for getting my new Primo to hold the 200F – sub 200F range?
This was an issue I struggled with and I found there are a lot of options. Best way to manage temp on a Primo is to buy a BBQ Guru, I love my Digi Q, bit I started with a Pit Master and both are just the best. Best bet is to use the nice little configurator to find the right unit for you and that makes your Primo a full on smoker. I have been able to hold temps for over 16 hours and do some major cooks.
Assuming you want to go low and slow and stay below say 250F, here is how I do it. The biggest difference with smoking on a Weber kettle is that you do not want to use lighter fluid with it as the fluid could season the Primo in a negative way. Always clean out the charcoal box before each use, I use a Shop Vac after removing unused coals in a steel bucket and reusing them for my next fire. I use hardwood charcoal and stack big pieces on bottom for best air flow and then put smaller pieces on top after you clean out the grill from all previous cooks. Throw on some wood chunk around the spot where you are going to light the charcoal. The coals will burn out and then fire up the smoke as it comes up to temperature.
To start the actual fire, you can use Weber fire starters or a propane torch and start a small part of the coals and once that gets going, load up the grill with the drip pan racks, your D plates, grill grates and put the food on. Then close the vent at the bottom down to about 50%to start to ramp up the temp until it holds steady at 200F or so. You need to make sure that the top and bottom vents are controlled so you ease into the temp. Go over by too much and it is hard to cool it down, but not impossible, just takes some time.
This is why I love the BBQ Guru, life is too short to worry about temperature control when you have technology like that! With the BBQ Guru, I do all of the above accept for the temperature venting, I just install the fan, open the top vent to the half moon, set the temperature on the Guru and check back in 10 minutes to make sure the temp is ramping up properly.
For all Primo Users I highly recommend that you register for the Primo Grill Forum and look through the postings. The users of the Primo Grill Forum are amazing cooks and have incredible wisdom that they share freely. Many are true Pit masters who love the Primo and will guide you through any issue you are having. There is already tons of info on how to learn quickly and answer almost any question you have! The Primo is an awesome ceramic smoker and grill so please contact us if you have any questions. We always love to help out a fellow Primo owner!
