Primo Grill Controller

What does the Primo Grill Controller actually do?

It manages the fire so your grill sits at the temperature you asked for instead of wandering. A temperature controller's job is to hold the fire at a number you have chosen. A thermometer's job is to tell you what the number currently is. On a cook that runs for hours, that is the difference between setting a target and getting on with your day, and setting a target then going out to nudge the vents every half hour.

What is the difference between a grill controller and a grill thermometer?

A thermometer measures and reports; a controller acts on what it measures. If your problem is not knowing what is going on inside the grill, a thermometer solves it. If your problem is that you know exactly what is going on and are tired of correcting it by hand through the night, a controller is the answer.

Which Primo grill does the Grill Controller fit?

Nothing in this listing ties it to a particular size, which is the clearest difference between it and the Precision Control Kits, since those are sold one per grill size. If matching by size matters to you, compare the Round, Junior, Large and X-Large control kits and pick the one that names your grill.

How does this compare with the Precision Control Kits?

They approach the same problem from different ends. The control kits are listed individually by grill size, so you order the one matching your Primo. This one carries no size in its name and sits at the top of Primo's temperature-control range on price. Read both listings before deciding.

Do I still need a thermometer if I have a controller?

For food, yes. A controller is concerned with the temperature of the grill, and that tells you nothing about the middle of a brisket. Most cooks pair the two, keeping something like Primo Instant Read Grill Thermometer on hand for the checks that actually decide when a cook is finished.

Is a controller worth it if I mostly cook hot and fast?

Honestly, less so. Steaks, burgers and pizza are short cooks where you are standing at the grill anyway and the fire has no time to drift far. The case for a controller is built on overnight briskets, pork shoulders and anything else that runs long enough for small errors to compound into a ruined cook.