Buying guide for Best Kamado joe grills
When you want to up your grilling game, investing in a ceramic kamado grill is definitely the way to go. These grills have been used for thousands of years and can give your favorite barbecued foods a delicious smoky flavor. If you want the best kamado grill, it’s tough to beat the models from Kamado Joe, one of the most respected brands in the game.
Ceramic Kamado Joe grills retain their heat effectively, so you can get up to 18 hours of cooking time without having to replace the charcoal. The grates are made from commercial-grade stainless steel, which makes them rust resistant and easy to clean. Kamado Joe grills are incredibly versatile, allowing you to not only grill but also smoke, bake, and roast.
Kamado Joe offers several grill models, so choosing the right one can be a challenge. Fortunately, our buying guide has all the tips you need to find the best one for your next barbecue. To make your shopping even easier, we’ve included some specific recommendations to help you get started.
Key considerations
Size
The size of a kamado grill is usually measured in terms of the diameter of the round or oval cooking surface. Kamado Joe grills come in three main sizes: small, standard, and large. You should choose your grill size based on the number of people you usually cook for.
Small: Kamado Joe’s small grills are designed to be portable, so you can use them for tailgating and road trips. They have a 13.5-inch diameter and offer 148.5 square inches of cooking area, which makes them best for small groups of two or three people.
Standard: Kamado Joe’s standard grills have an 18-inch diameter and offer 256 square inches of cooking space. The standard grill is best for groups of four to six.
Large: Kamado Joe’s large grills have a 24-inch diameter and offer 452 square inches of cooking space, which works well for groups of seven to ten people.
Kamado Joe accessories
One of the reasons that Kamado Joe grills are so popular is that the brand makes a variety of accessories that increase the grill’s versatility and make grilling a little easier. Note that not all models are compatible with the accessories. In most cases, the smaller grills are unable to accommodate them. The accessories include the following:
Joetisserie: This allows you to cook rotisserie style on your Kamado Joe grill.
SlōRoller: This makes smoking easier in your Kamado Joe grill.
DoJoe: This allows you to make pizza in your Kamado Joe grill.
Features
Temperature zones
Standard and large Kamado Joe grills are known for their Divide & Conquer Flexible Cooking System, which allows you to create different temperature zones inside the grill. The system uses tiered racks that sit on the main cooking grate, so some foods are closer to the heat for high-temperature cooking and others are farther away for lower-temperature cooking. Using the tiered grates means you can not only create different heat zones but also expand your cooking space. You can cook meat while you grill vegetables and other sides. Some Kamado Joe grills can fit two tiers while others can accommodate three.
Top vent
Kamado grills have a vent at the top that allows you to better control the grill’s temperature. Some vents have a single-wheel adjustment, while others offer a double-wheel adjustment. The vent on most standard and large Kamado Joe grills lets you control the airflow through the grill with more precision. Kamado Joe top vents are also resistant to rain, mold, and rust, so they hold up well even out in the elements.
Air lift hinge
With other kamado grills, the lid or dome can slam or fall shut when you’re opening or closing it because it’s so heavy. Many Kamado Joe grills feature an air lift hinge, which reduces the weight of the dome by 96%. That allows you to open the grill with one finger and easily catch the dome to stop it from slamming down.
Cart
Freestanding Kamado Joe grills have feet on the bottom to allow them to stand on the ground or sit on a stationary rack. Because the ceramic body makes the grill extremely heavy, you could have a difficult time moving these models around your yard. To solve that problem, some Kamado Joe grills come with a sturdy wheeled cart, which makes it easier to move the grill around your yard without worrying about dropping it and cracking the ceramic body. Some carts include handy side shelves that you can use as a food prep area.
Thermometer
Most Kamado Joe grills feature a built-in thermometer in the dome that allows you to monitor the temperature inside the grill without having to open it and let any of the heat escape.
Charcoal basket
Some more expensive Kamado Joe grills include a charcoal basket made of durable stainless steel, which makes it much easier to clean up after you cook. The basket helps separate the unburned charcoal from the ash, so you don’t have to sift through the mess yourself.
Ash drawer
Standard and large Kamado Joe grills all have a slide-out ash drawer to make it much easier to empty the grill after a barbecue. The drawer collects all of the ash, so you simply remove it and empty it to clean out your grill.
Accessories
Your Kamado Joe grill isn't the only thing you'll need to host a great cookout:
Charcoal chimney: You’ll have an easier time getting your Kamado Joe grill started if you have a charcoal chimney to help light your coals.
Grill set: A high-quality grill set provides all the tools you need to place, move, and remove food from your Kamado Joe grill.
Kamado Joe grill prices
Kamado Joe grills vary in price based on size and special features. Most models range from $400 to $2,500.
Inexpensive: Small, portable Kamado Joe grills that measure less than 18 inches are typically the most affordable. These don’t offer as many special features as larger models, and they can’t accommodate most Kamado Joe accessories. You’ll pay between $400 and $500 for these models.
Mid-range: Standard Kamado Joe grills that measure 18 inches fall in the middle of the price range. These have some special features like the Divide & Conquer system and a slide-out ash drawer, and they can accommodate most Kamado Joe accessories. These typically cost from $815 to $1,600.
Expensive: The most expensive Kamado Joe grills are large models that measure 24 inches in diameter. These have plenty of special features like the Divide & Conquer system, a slide-out ash drawer, and a charcoal basket, and they can accommodate all Kamado Joe accessories. These range from $1,700 to $2,500.
Tips
● Use high-quality charcoal. It’s important to use good charcoal with your Kamado Joe grill because it provides a steady, even flame and imparts a better flavor to your food. Use premium hardwood lump charcoal if you can.
● Allow enough time for the grill to heat up. To make sure that you achieve a good sear on your meats and seafood, give your Kamado Joe grill plenty of time to heat up before adding your food. The grates need to reach a temperature of 500°F to 550°F for effective searing, which can take up to an hour.
● Use tongs. To keep the juices from escaping when you turn meat, use tongs instead of a grill fork.
● Clean your grill after each use. And once or twice a year, do a more in-depth cleaning of the grill’s interior. Use a brush with plastic bristles to scrub away any residual debris to make sure the surface is as clean as possible.
FAQ
Q. What kind of cooking can I do with a Kamado Joe grill?
A. Like any charcoal grill, you can use your Kamado Joe grill to grill burgers, hotdogs, steaks, chicken, fish, and any other barbecue favorites. But you can also use your grill to smoke foods like ribs and brisket at low temperatures. You can roast larger cuts of meat like a whole chicken and pork loin, too. And you can even bake bread and wood-fired pizza in your Kamado Joe grill.
Q. How much does a Kamado Joe grill weigh?
A. The grills vary in weight depending on the size of the model, but they’re all pretty heavy. Small models meant to be portable weigh about 70 pounds, while standard Kamado Joe grills typically weigh between 185 and 285 pounds. Large models range from 395 to 500 pounds.
Q. What type of warranty does a Kamado Joe grill have?
A. Kamado Joe offers a limited lifetime warranty for all of the grill’s ceramic components, so it protects against damage due to defects in the material or workmanship. A grill’s metal parts are protected for five years.
