Primo Searing Grate, Cast Iron, for Oval Large

Will this searing grate fit my Primo Oval Large?

Yes. This is the Oval Large version and the Large is the grill it belongs in. Primo makes the same grate for the other Oval sizes, so if you have more than one grill you will need the one named for each. There is no universal Primo searing grate.

Why does cast iron sear better than a standard grate?

Because of what happens in the first few seconds. Cast iron stores a lot of heat and gives it up slowly, so the bars stay hot underneath cold meat. Lighter grate bars lose temperature immediately at that contact point, and once they are below searing heat the meat releases moisture and starts to steam.

Is this the same thing as the cast iron griddle for the Oval Large?

No. The cast iron griddle is a plate with a flat face and a grooved face, useful for eggs, vegetables and burgers. This is a searing grate: bars only, no solid surface, built purely for putting a hard crust on meat.

Can I have the searing grate and a griddle on the grill together?

Not at the same level. Both need to sit over the fire, so on a single tier it is one or the other. The workable pattern is to sear first while the fire is hottest, lift the grate off with gloves, and put the griddle down for whatever comes next.

How long should it heat before the steaks go on?

Give it a good while over a settled fire. The benefit of cast iron comes entirely from heat it has already absorbed, and absorbing heat takes time. Put it on when you light or shortly after, and use the wait to bring the meat out and dry the surface, which matters as much as the grate does.