The Best Kamado Grills Review: A Buyers Guide
The Kamado grill dates back many years. It is estimated that the first clay pots for cooking appeared in China over 3,000 years ago. The Japanese took the clay pot concept and added a domed lid, a draft door and a damper and named this a Kamado. During World War 2 many American soldiers witnessed these Kamado grills in action, and several brought them home with them.
Over the years the popularity of the Kamado grill has increased, and new technologies have been applied to their construction. Today’s Kamado grills are made from different materials such as high fire ceramic, double wall stainless steel, refractory materials and terra cotta. These materials ensure that the grills will be long lasting and durable.
Modern Kamado grills are easy to use and the start up time is usually around 15 minutes. This means no waiting around until the right temperature is reached to cook your food. Most modern Kamado grills have a thermometer included which will tell you the internal temperature. Cleaning and maintenance are easy too.
Kamado grills are very efficient cookers. They use lump wood charcoal rather than charcoal briquettes. The lump wood does not create as much ash, and will not alter the flavor of the food as much as the briquettes.
Kamado grills have good heat retention, and the control of air flow means that you can even make bread or cook pizzas. The quality of the food cooked in a Kamado grill will be appreciated by all.
When you are looking to purchase a Kamado grill you need to have the features and specifications in mind that make it the best purchase. We will provide you with all of the important details that you need to make an informed purchase decision. This will include reviews of the best selling Kamado grills.
Kamado Grills Comparison Table
| Model | Material | Cooking Area | Price | Rating |
| Big Green Egg Large | Ceramic | 262 square inches | $$$ | 4.8/5 |
| Char Griller Akorn Kamado Kooker 16620 | Porcelain Coated Steel | 306 square inches | $ | 4.5/5
|
| Kamado Joe KJ23RH | Ceramic | 254 square inches | $$$ | 4/5 |
| Duluth Forge Ceramic Charcoal Kamado | Ceramic | 567 square inches | $$ | 5/5 |
| Pit Boss 71240 Kamado | Ceramic | 662 square inches | $$$ | 4.7/5 |
| Kamado Joe BJ24RH | Ceramic | 452 square inches | $$$$ | 4.5/5 |
| Char Griller King Griller Akorn Kamado Kooker 6520 | Porcelain Coated Steel | 314 square inches | $ | 4.8/5 |
| Broil King 911470 | Stainless Steel | 480 square inches | $$$ | 4.8/5 |
| Char Griller Kamado Kooker 16619 | Porcelain Coated Steel | 306 square inches | $$$ | 4/5 |
| Primo Grills 773 Kamado Round | Ceramic | 280 square inches | $$$ | 4.6/5 |
Different Types Of Kamado Grills
Most Kamado grills will work in the same way and cook your food as you want it. Some of the grills have more flexibility when it comes to fuels, and they can use different kinds of charcoal, wood and wood chips and some have a gas option. With the gas option it is cleaner and easier to light the grill, as there is no requirement for lighter fluid or old newspaper.
The temperature ranges of the grills will vary and it is possible to cook as low as 140° with some models if you want to cook really slowly, and some models claim a 900° high heat feature for searing. Most of the Kamado grills featured in this review have temperature ranges between these values and you will find that they are very flexible.
One thing to look out for is the cooking area. Some Kamado grills have two tier cooking areas which means that you can cook a lot more food. As a guide, 250 square inches of cooking area is enough to cook 12 burgers at a time.
The 5 Best Kamado Grills
There were several important factors to consider when determining what is the best Kamado grill. Durability is a big factor. You do not want to purchase a grill that will not stand the test of time and use. Then there is efficiency and versatility, cooking space and temperature ranges. Very important is the number of purchases and customer reviews.
We have applied all of these factors when it comes to choosing the best Kamado grill. Below you will see our recommended top 5 models and the reasons why they have been chosen. Here are the best Kamado grills for your outdoor cooking from a buyers perspective.
- Big Green Egg Large Ceramic Cooker
The Big Green Egg Kamado grill has almost become the industry standard for Kamado grills. The large version has a diameter of 18 inches, and is the most popular size among buyers. You can cook a 20 pound turkey with this model.
The company have been producing Kamado style grills for many years. High temperatures can be produced by this model as the ceramic shell focuses the heat. It can also cook at low temperatures making it a very versatile Kamado.
The Big Green Egg grill is so versatile that you can cook a range of meats, pizzas and even bake cinnamon rolls. Most owners of this model are very complimentary about its all round performance, and they will use it for cooking just about anything.
The Big Green Egg smoker is particularly good when it comes to smoking fish, especially salmon. A lot of people use theirs to smoke hams at Easter time. With a 262 square inch cooking area there is plenty of room to cook a lot of food at one time.
It is very easy to use the Big Green Egg, and it will take you no time at all to get the hang of it. Many people have actually claimed that they became better cooks after using this Kamado cooker. There is no problem with using the Big Green Egg in the winter months as it will never crack under cold weather conditions.
It is such a durable cooker and is very well made. It is also very safe to use. When you buy a Big Green Egg it truly will last you a lifetime. It is not a cheap Kamado grill by any means, but you certainly get what you pay for.
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- Char Griller Akorn Kamado Kooker 16620
The Char Grill Akorn 16620 offers all of the features that most Kamado grills do but without the high price tag. The higher priced grills have ceramic shells which are expensive to produce. The Char Griller Akorn 16620 uses an insulated metal shell which means that it is lighter in weight and certainly less fragile than the ceramic models.
This does not mean that there is a compromise in cooking efficiency. The Char Griller Akorn 16620 has proven that it has similar low and high temperature cooking abilities as the higher priced Kamado grills. The Akorn 16620 also has similar fuel efficiencies too. It is pretty well built, and many customers said that they were happy with the build standard of the cooker.
You can cook all kinds of meat, burgers, ribs, fish and even pizza on your Char Griller Kamado grill. It has a high temperature capacity of up to 700° and has very efficient fuel consumption.
The cooking area is large at 302 square inches and there is a warming rack that has an area of 165 square inches. The cooking grate is made from cast iron, and the grill has dial vents at the top and the bottom. The Akorn 16620 comes with fold down side shelves and is easy to assemble.
The price of the Char Griller Akorn Kamado grill make it a very popular choice, and it is very good value for the money. If you just want to try out Kamado style cooking then this is definitely the model for you.
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- Kamado Joe KJ23RH
Some owners of Kamado Joe grills will tell you that they are the highest quality available. This model is certainly very versatile and will only take 15 minutes to get ready for cooking. The construction of the Kamado Joe KJ23RH is certainly impressive. It is made from ¼ inch ceramic which is designed to keep the heat in and maintain the temperature.
The ceramic material is porous, which means that your meat will maintain its juices. The Kamado Joe KJ23RH will produce very tender food every time. You can cook all kinds of meat, fish, ribs and even pizza using this top quality Kamado grill.
Many customers are so delighted with their Kamado Joe KJ23RH that they use it every day for cooking, whatever the weather. Unlike other ceramic Kamado cookers, it comes with its own sturdy cart that has lockable wheels and all of the important accessories that you need to get cooking straight away.
With a cooking area of 254 square inches you will be able to cook a lot of your favorite food at the same time. You can adjust the venting so that precise cooking temperatures can be achieved and maintained. This model has a “Divide & Conquer” cooking system which provides the flexibility to cook food on different levels at different temperatures. All of this makes the Kamado Joe KJ23RH a high quality Kamado grill indeed.
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- Duluth Forge Ceramic Charcoal Kamado
The Duluth Forge Ceramic is one of the most competitively priced ceramic Kamado grills available. You can smoke your meats or fish on it, and it will grill or sear with ease. Your food will be very well cooked and delicious.
The Duluth Forge Ceramic is constructed using high quality ceramic and it also includes stainless steel bands which are commercial grade quality. The same high quality stainless steel is used for the springs, hinges and other hardware so that it is very unlikely to rust.
This Kamado grill has very good heat retention due to the one inch ceramic walls, and there is a large fire bowl which provides even heat circulation. You can cook at low or high temperatures very successfully with this model.
It has a 288 square inch main cooking area which compares well with the other more expensive models. There is a rack system included that provides another 276 square inches. This provides a very impressive 567 square inch cooking area.
The Duluth Forge Ceramic has a bamboo handle on the lid and includes a large thermometer which is easy to read. The stainless steel top vent enables faster starting and adjustment of the heat. If you are looking for a very competent ceramic Kamado grill that is cheaper than the other well known brands, then the Duluth Forge Ceramic is a very good choice.
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- Pit Boss 71240 Kamado
The Pit Boss 71240 is a very versatile Kamado grill. It is a high quality unit with a well made and heavy ceramic body. The thick ceramic walls of this grill serve to capture and maintain the heat, and provide for an even circulation. This means that your food will be evenly cooked and all of the juices will be sealed in to provide a wonderful flavor.
Low temperature and high temperature cooking are easy with the Pit Boss 71240. There is a calibrated cast iron damper at the top of the unit, and a slide vent that makes the control of the cooking temperature very easy.
The Pit Boss 71240 is so versatile that you will be able to cook all of your favorite meats and fish for as long as you like. Grilling burgers is easy, and you can even roast a chicken or a turkey. Char vegetables are easy too and so is searing a steak. You can even cook pizzas with this unit.
There is a dual tier cooking option that provides a very impressive 662 square inch cooking area. This is a very heavy duty Kamado grill and it is certainly built to last. The lid uses a spring loaded hinge, and dampers are employed for smooth opening and closing.
The Pit Boss 71240 comes with its own stand and locking wheels as well as foldable bamboo shelves for serving. It is a very well built Kamado grill that is priced well. The Pit Boss 71240 is certainly worthy of consideration.
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The Five Next Products
Here are the next five best products that we recommend:
- Kamado Joe BJ24RH
- Char Griller King Griller Akorn Kamado Kooker 6520
- Broil King 911470
- Char Griller Kamado Kooker 16619
- Primo Grills 773 Kamado Round
Features That A Good Kamado Grill Must Have
Kamado grills come in different sizes and have different temperature ranges and accessories. Most Kamado grills will cook your food to your liking efficiently, but there are some things that you should bear in mind before making a purchase.
Accessories – some Kamado grills are supplied as is. This means that you will need a sturdy table to place them on (some grills are really heavy) and other accessories such as folding trays. There are other Kamado grills that include all of the necessary accessories as part of the package.
Appearance – remember that a Kamado grill will be used outdoors and you want it to look good so that you can show it off to your guests. Look at the finish of the Kamado grill that you are considering and assess whether it is right for your outdoor environment.
Cooking Area – most of the best Kamado cookers have at least a 200 square inch cooking area that will cook around 10 burgers at a time. For most families this is fine, but if you are going to be inviting many guests over on a regular basis then this may not be enough for you.
Durability – a Kamado grill is not something that you want to buy on a regular basis, so it is worth checking the materials used to make it. Does it have a ceramic or metal shell? Ceramic shells are heavier and tend to keep the moisture in better.
Cooking with a Kamado grill is a very pleasant experience and the results are often amazing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMZiwCqPTIA
Conclusion
Looking for the best Kamado grill can be difficult as there are many high quality choices. There are many brands available, and more entering the market as the Kamado trend continues. Before you buy be sure to read the reviews left by customers so that you can whittle down the choices.
If you want your Kamado grill to last for a long time then it is best to invest in a ceramic model. If you plan to entertain a lot of people on a regular basis then the cooking area is important, as you will be able to cook more food at the same time. So determine your preferences and then purchase the model that meets them.