Ceramic grills have become more and more popular ever since Big Green Egg came out with their large egg-shaped grills. Plenty of grilling enthusiasts have begun to recognize the benefits of these ceramic grills and are now complementing their outdoor grilling equipment with one of these.
Ceramic grills, unlike traditional grills, are completely covered and are shaped like an oval egg. Because of the enclosing dome-shaped design, they usually have much better temperature control than traditional grills. They are much more efficient too. All the smoke released from the burnt charcoal gets used and reused inside the elliptical chamber, thus you get to save a lot on charcoal usage.
But the biggest reason, people buy ceramic grills is because it offers much more uniform cooking. The smoke from the fire underneath goes over and above your food and completely covers it, thus equally distributing heat so that you don’t get burn spots.
WHAT MAKES KAMADO JOE GRILLS SO SPECIAL?
Kamado Joe is based outside of Atlanta, GA and was formed by a group of friends who loved grilling above everything else. They learned about the ancient Asian Kamado style of grilling and wanted to bring that to the modern world in an innovative and tasty fashion.
Teaming up with some Harvard Researchers, they designed the internal heat chamber mechanism which uses constantly changing internal pressure to create a cyclonic airflow with the grill. The smoke gets tossed around the food about 20 times more than traditional grills. This mechanism maximizes the smoky flavor and optimizes heat distribution.
They also continuously try to improve their products by adding in innovative and highly effective accessories, like a built-in thermometer, a multi-tier cooking surface, etc. Their mission is not just to make the most creative grill, it’s to make the most scientifically efficient one.
Here are our reviews for some of the best selling grills.
BEST KAMADO JOE GRILL REVIEWS
Kamado Joe KJ23RHC Classic II Charcoal Grill
Kamado Joe’s flagship model – the classic Kamado Joe Grill comes with an 18-inch diameter and is supported by a cart with wheels that can lock in place. This makes it very easy to move around and it also stays at a comfortable height above the ground, just like an old-fashioned charcoal griller.
The cyclonic smoke circulation within the cooker and the even distribution of heat lets you use this grill for a variety of cooking purposes – slow-roast, smoke, sear, or bake. Instead of using the grill bars, you can use other accessories like a flat top for a pizza or a stick for marshmallows.
Why Do I Like It?
1. Double Tier Cooking
The two-tier cooking surface is arguably the best feature in this grill. The cooking area consists of two half-circle grill bars, one situated higher away from the flame and one lower closer to the fire.
This system lets you cook vegetables, etc at a lower heat setting on the top level and meat on the lower level which gets more direct heat from the smoke. An external thermometer lets you know what the temperature is inside.
2. Heat Resilient Ceramic
The heat resistant shell has super thick walls made of powder-coated cast aluminum. These high temperature – resistant walls trap heat and moisture to ensure uniform cooking and they can withstand temperatures of up to 750 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Air Lift Hinge
Kamado Joe has reduced the top dome weight by an astounding 96% with their patented airlift hinge system. If you want to get rid of some of the smoke inside and bring the temperature down, simply lift the air hinge.
The air hinge is super convenient and can be lifted with only one finger. It will expel all the smoke in one go because of the change in air pressure.
4. Ash Drawer
Unlike traditional grills where you have to take out all the internal contents to clean it, this grill comes with a slide-out ash drawer at the bottom.
Simply pull it out, dump all the ash and put it back in to continue grilling.
What Could Have Been Better?
This price tag on this new model is almost 25% higher than previous models. That seems like a very large jump for only small improvements and modifications in the construction. Make sure you buy it from Amazon and not directly, as that will charge you even more.
Pros
Cons
- Premium 18″ Ceramic Grill with Cast Iron Cart & Locking Wheels – The Kamado Joe Classic II gives the perfect cooking size of 18 inches along with its Premium cart that comes with the purchase of your grill, including locking casters and wheels.
- 2-Tier Divide & Conquer - 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
- Kontrol Tower Top Vent - Maintains consistent air setting for precise airflow 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 searing at 750F.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Egg-shaped ceramic grills have been around for some time now, but Kamado Joe is currently leading the pack with their science-backed technology. All of their products feature the same patented features and the same hardy, reliable construction quality. They only differ in size and accessories like the stand, etc. Hopefully, our reviews will clear up which one is most suitable for you.
Until next time, folks!