What Is a Kamado Grill?
“A Kamado grill is a versatile outdoor oven. Defined by their deep, oval shape and a body made of porcelain-coated ceramic, Kamados are incredibly effective at achieving high-searing temperatures, so they’re great for grilling steaks or mimicking an outdoor pizza oven. They also retain heat very well, so they make for adept smokers. A Kamado grill is a hefty investment, but one that will reward an expert Grillmaster with an expanded tool kit and superior results,” according to www.popularmechanics.com
Kamado Inspiration
“Modern Kamado grills are inspired by a traditional Japanese cooking method that uses a domed clay pot with a lid over a fire powered by charcoal or wood. The ‘egg’ shape is not just for show: It encourages warm air to move around, within the chamber. While dampers, typically found at the top and bottom, allow you to adjust the interior temperature from 225 to 750 degrees Fahrenheit. The thick ceramic walls insulate the chamber, creating the amazing heat retention that works so well for slow-cooking chicken, braising brisket, or smoking pork belly. Popularized in the last decade thanks to the wildly and widely popular Big Green Egg, the Kamado grill has become something of a status symbol. Beyond being typically made of sturdy and rust-free materials, the porcelain coating is beautiful and sometimes comes in a variety of colors. It’s kind of the ‘Kitchen-Aid Mixer’ of grills. Plus, they can withstand cold and rainy weather, as well as the hottest days of the summer. You can use it all year long, giving yourself lots of time to perfect your technique. They can get hot. They can go low and slow. These egg-shaped grills are a Grillmaster’s Best Friend!” continues www.popularmechanics.com
Kamado History
Humans have been using Kamado grills for at least THREE-THOUSAND years now. Man has been using earthenware pots and dishes for thousands of years to prepare foodstuffs. Pottery cooking pots have been found in ancient ruins all over the globe, in every historic society. The oldest remnants of cooking pottery have been identified as 18,000 years old and were discovered in Asia. These remains are proof that the technology for creating pottery and ceramics for cooking has been present since ancient times. “The simple cooking pot has developed in various directions worldwide; take, for example, the Japanese mushi Kamado, intended for steaming rice, and used for ceremonial occasions; the original mushi Kamado was a round earthenware pot with a loose, domes lid, found mainly in Southern Japan. Over time, it was equipped with a control slide and ventilation openings to better regulate the heat. The name “Kamado,” is actually the Japanese word for “stove;” Kamado literally means: Place for the Cooking Pot!” Today, Kamado is a general term for these types of domed ceramic grills. It is widely believed that the modern Kamado has its origin in these ancient round earthenware cooking pots, whereby the earthenware eventually gave way to ceramic materials,” states www.kamadobbq.be
The Experts Criteria
The following experts selected the best Kamado grill based on many years of BBQ and grilling experience. The experts have owned and used a wide range of grills and smokers over the past 20 years, so they are especially familiar with the BBQ Industry’s major brands, as well as the range of features that the Best-in-Class grills offer. This knowledge of top brands and analysis of current offerings helps the judges narrow down their top considerations to the “Number One” Kamado BBQ grill. The experts used such parameters for choosing their utmost favorite Kamado BBQ grill of the contenders including:
- –The amount of Cooking Surface
- –Temperature Range
- –Construction
- –Custom Elements
- –Whether BBQ Grillmasters Cook for Large or Small Groups of Hungry BBQ Fans
- –Design and Aesthetics of the Kamado BBQ Grill
- –How Well Would a Kamado BBQ Grill Share Space/Fit on a Patio, Porch, Deck, and Backyard
Meet the Judges
–Jonathan Bender: A Founder of The Museum of BBQ, a food-writer, and a journalist hailing from Kansas City, Missouri, Jonathan regularly interviews Pitmasters as well as tells stories about barbeques! As a result of his Kansas City location, he consumes more grilled meats than the average person…and he adds, “Perhaps, more than he should!” Jonathan has served as a certified BBQ Judge at competitions, and he has co-created a BBQ Documentary! Furthermore, he is also the author of 3 cookbooks:
“Cookies & Beer,” “Stock, Broth, & Bowl,” and “The Little Book of KC BBQ: A Story of Smoke.”
Additionally, he tests appliances for national publications “on the regular,” has owned and operated a host of different smokers and grills over the past 2 decades.
–David Dritsas: David is a reviews editor for “Popular Mechanics,” with over 20 years of experience covering consumer products at various publications, another one of which is “U.S. News & World Report.” David has written reviews about both large and small cooking appliances, in addition to being an amateur cook/BBQ-er, who specifically enjoys cooking outdoors, especially while camping—using several stoves at once!AZazazzż
Best Overall Kamado Grill
The Judges Awarded the Title of “BEST OVERALL GRILL:” to the Kamado Joe Classic Joe Series II Kamado Grill.
Pros:
- –Excellent Construction Quality
- –Two-Zone Cooking Areas
- –Pull-Out Ash Drawer
Con: Heavy
Jonathan and David agree that, “Kamado Joe has a strong reputation in this very specific corner of the grilling world. All of the brand’s ceramic grills are a distinctive fire-engine red color, and the full-size models have a versatile cooking system with racks you can setup in multiple configurations, including the 2 Zone cooking set-up. At 18 inches in diameter, the Classic II is the mid-size model in the company’s line and the 1 that fits most grillers’ needs. It packs in a few great features, including an air-lift hinge for the lid, which off-sets the weight and allows you to easily open it with one finger. It also has a vent that’s water- and mold- resistant, a fiberglass mesh steel gasket to maintain a good seal when closed, and a slide-out ash drawer. One issue that can affect ceramic grills over time is cracking caused by heat over long periods of use. Fireboxes—ceramic inserts that hold the burning charcoal—mitigate this problem by taking the brunt of that heat. This grill uses a multi-panel design, which enables you to replace parts of the insert instead of the whole thing should cracking occur. We also really like that this grill ships with a cast-iron cart with locking wheels and folding side tables, something that you don’t get when you purchase Kamado Joe’s main competitor, “The Big Green Egg.” With this model -The Kamado Joe Classic Joe Series II Kamado Grill—you have everything you need to get Kamado grilling the right way.” The Classic Joe II with stand retails for: $1,662. 93 on Amazon; $1,499.99 from Wayfair; and also $1,499.99 from Walmart.
Why BBQ-ers Love the Kamado Joe Classic II Series Kamado Grill
- This premium 18-inch ceramic grill with cast iron cart gives the perfect cooking size and it has locking casters and wheels to boot.
- The “Divide & Conquer” Flexible Cooking System transforms the “humble grill grate into the most powerful cooking tool in your arsenal! The revolutionary multi-level, half-moon design frees you to cook different foods in different styles at different temperatures—all at the same time!”
- This model has a “Kontrol Tower Top Vent,” which maintains consistent air setting for precise air-flow management during dome opening and closing. “Constructed of powder coated cast aluminum, the patent pending dual adjustment top vent is rain resistant and allows you to smoke from 225F all the way to 750F!”
- The air lift hinge on the Kamado Joe Classic II Series Kamado Grill “significantly reduces dome weight. The grill dome can be lifted with a single finger giving the most comfortable grilling experience there is!”
- The excellence of the AMP—The “Advanced Multi-Panel Firebox;” the patent pending six-piece design “eliminates breakage and increases grill efficiency!”
- The “Fiberglass Mesh Gasket” is an oven-grade gasket with latch that offers a superior air-tight seal to lock in heat, smoke, and moisture.
Features and Specs of the Kamado Joe Classic II Series Grill
- –Other special features of the product include: the adjustable air vent, the side folding tables, the heat-resistant handle, the fact that the grill is ultra-heavy-duty, and that it has a top-of-the-line tool holder.
- –There is 1 Main Burner and the fuel type is charcoal.
- –The grill measurement dimensions are: 18” D x 18.11” W x 36” H
- –The grill has a net weight of 232 pounds.
- –The grill’s material types are: aluminum, cast iron, and ceramic and the grill’s finish type is: painted.
- –There is “Minimal Assembly Required,” the grill’s handle material is metal, and the installation type of the grill is: “Free Standing.”
Kamado Joe Compliments and Accessories!
“Innovation comes standard in every Kamado Joe Grill. The Cooking possibilities are endless with Kamado Joe grills and accessories. Nothing beats the flavor of charcoal grilling and smoking. Kamado Joe offers signature taste at unmatched value!”
“Kamado Joe is gathering accolades for their creative approach to ceramic grills! Kamado Joe prides itself on modernizing the grill’s classic style with their unmatched craftsmanship, smarter features, innovative accessories, and a whole range of cooking surfaces! Kamado Joe is renowned for its Divide & Conquer grilling system, allowing you to simultaneously cook at 2 different heights! Kamado Joe is the undisputed winner in the category of notable accessories: “The JoeTisserie;” the heavy-duty cast iron aluminum rotisserie that resides inside the grill; The cast iron Dutch Oven, Multiple Racks and Grates, Ash Tools, and Grill Grippers—as a few examples!…Kamado Joe is the sleeker new kid on the block that brings a refreshing air of change!” www.bayareabbqislands.com gushes “Bay Area BBQ Islands Design Studio!”
Quotes from Kamado Joe Founder & Former President
Robert “Bobby” Brennan, the Founder & Former President of Kamado Joe Grills, declares: “Like many of you, I am passionate about outdoor cooking. Over the years, I’ve cooked on everything from high-end stainless steel gas grills to inexpensive briquette charcoal grills. If those were my only choices, I would pick the latter for one simple reason; the taste. There is nothing better than the mouth-watering taste of charcoal grilled food. Fortunately, there is better option—the Kamado Joe. My passion for that signature taste led me to the Kamado style of cooking. With Natural Lump Coal, these ceramic grills are the prevailing choice for cooking flexibility and temperature range. After using a Kamado grill for years, I decided to design one with better materials and offer it at a competitive price. That was the start of Kamado Joe Company, and my passion for that signature taste still drives the innovation that I put into all of our Kamado grills and accessories. When you compare the cooking advantages and cost per use, our grills and accessories are unmatched in their value…HAPPY GRILLING!” www.kamadojoe.com
THE KAMADO JOE GRILL OFFICIAL WEBSITE
The Kamado Joe Website has a literal abundance of information, including:
- –Digital Kamado Joe Handbook of Operating Instructions, Tips, and Pointers
- –Kamado Joe Cooking Temperature Guide
- –Kamado Joe Grill: BAKING Information
- –Kamado Joe Grill: ROASTING Information
- –Kamado Joe Grill: GRILLING Information
- –Kamado Joe Grill: SMOKING Information
- –Kamado Joe Grill: COOKING CONFIGURATIONS FOR: BAKING, ROASTING, GRILLING AND SMOKING
- —AND A PROFUSION OF KAMADO JOE GRILL’S BBQ RECIPES! H2
- *A Mere Smattering of Recipe Examples Include:
- –Grilled Lobster Tails
- –Three Sisters Mexican Lasagna
- –Pork Belly Lollipops
- –Reversed Seared Tri Tip with Santa Maria Saisa
- –Harissa Chicken Shawarma
- –Tropical Rib Crown Roast
- –Whole Chicken on the “JoeTisserie!”
- –Smoky Braised Short Rib Tiki Tacos with Pineapple Pepper Salsa…There are OVER 38 pages of BBQ Recipes for you to peruse on Kamado Joe’s Website: www.kamadojoe.com and @kamadojoebbq
So, www.ribbqnews.com Local Pitmasters, Weekend Warriors, BBQ Artisans, Smoke Crafters, and Home Chefs…Have you experimented with a cook on a Kamado Grill? Do YOU have a favorite Kamado Grill Brand?? Have you BBQ’d something outrageously scrumptious on a Kamado Joe Grill??? Please share your masterful BBQ photos, dishes, and recipes with us at: @ribbqnews and www.wisegysbbq.com @wiseguysbbq and @wiseguys.bbq
