If you’re going to buy a Kamado grill it makes sense you want the best Kamado grill. It’s why you’ve searched the internet and landed on this page. And it’ll be easy for me to simply say the best Kamado grill is… and leave it at that. But I think it’s better you get a well-rounded education into the world of Kamado grilling before you decide to buy. And although I will tell you my top 10 Kamado’s, I’ll also give you the knowledge needed to select the best Kamado to suit your own personal needs and circumstances.
Contents
What is a Kamado grill
Let’s start with a brief history of the Kamado, and it will be brief because today’s Kamado grill is next level compared to its early beginnings, and although there’s no such thing as useless knowledge, knowing how the Kamado became a thing will do little to help you choose the best Kamado grill.
Archaeologists have found clay Kamado’s in the ruins of many early civilizations and it’s, therefore, an educated guess to the exact origins of the Kamado. What we know is a version of these clay cookers has been found in India and carbon dated to over 4000 years ago. The best guess is that it then spread through China before finding it’s way to Japan where it picked up the name Kamado – meaning stove in Japanese. Not much changed in the Kamado through the years, in Japan it evolved into a mushikamado to steam rice and in India, it became a tandoor. But all that changed once the Big Green Egg company got hold of it.
Not only did they transform the Kamado into something cool to own, but they also made it an all-purpose piece of outdoor cooking apparatus. It grills, smokes and bakes – you can cook almost anything on this beauty if you have the right accessories.
So, what is a Kamado grill? As it currently stands, the vast majority of Kamado grills are made from ceramics in a dome-like shape. This dome allows you to enclose what you’re cooking, and with the help of a few air vents, you’re able to regulate the temperature in the well-insulated dome – allowing extremely high and low temps.
Best Kamado Grills
Now you know what a Kamado grill is I must warn you that this is an extremely long and detailed article. So for those of you that want to know what’s the best kamado grill without reading all of our reviews, I’ve added a top kamado list for your convenience.
We first wrote this article on best kamado grills back in 2017 (you can see parts of the review we have removed at the bottom of this article for reference), but a lot has changed in a few short years. So we have updated this article to be up to date with all the greatest kamados as of 2020. Thankfully we now have many amazing kamado grills in the cheaper price range – still several hundred dollars but not the several thousand dollars people had to pay not so long ago.
Kamado Joe Classic III
The latest and greatest in the Kamado Joe range is the Classic III. The Classic II wasn’t even available when I first wrote this article on what is the best kamado grill so you can see how fast this area of grilling has moved. But even then, the original Kamado Joe still topped my list as the winner.
What I say next might make me sound extremely biased, so it’s best I state that I am in no way affiliated with the people at Kamado Joe. But if I was to be truthful with this top 10 list of best kamado grills, first would be the Classic III, then the Classic II and then Big Joe, Projoe, Standalone Joe and original Joes (probably even the Joe Jr). But that wouldn’t make a nice well-rounded list. So I have chosen the best from each brand.
The Kamado Joe Classic III is definitely the standout grill from a company of amazing kamados. And the signature feature for the Classic III is the SloRoller insert. Which is designed for perfect low and slow smoking. The SloRoller uses some magical science developed by some crazy smart people over at Harvard to create heat and smoke cyclones that eliminate hotspots. And as this is the only Kamado with this technology (although you can buy the SloRoller separately for earlier models) you’ll get a better cook when smoking low and slow than with other kamados – due to the even distribution of heat and smoke.
Ceramic grills are heavy, and this is often noted when opening the lid. But not with the Classic III, which comes with a counterbalanced air lift hinge. Which means you can easily open the lid with one hand while enjoying a beer with the other hand. The lid also comes with a rainproof vent for those of you that smoke in all weathers.
Other great features that come as standard with the Kamado Joe Classic III
- Heavy-Duty Galvanized Steel Rolling Cart
- 3-tier Divide & Conquer Flexible Cooking System
- Aluminum Side Shelves
- Stainless Steel Charcoal Basket
- Advanced Multi-Panel FireBox
- Patented Slide-out Ash Drawer
I’m often asked what is a Big Green Egg alternative or is that egg-shaped grill similar to the Big Green Egg. Well, the answer is the Kamado Joe Classic III isn’t a substitute, alternative or competitor to the Big Green Egg. It is the market leader, and if you can afford it, then it’s the one to buy
Big Green Egg
The most iconic of all the ceramic egg-shaped smokers is the Big Green Egg. It was the first company to make kamado grills popular with the American public and therefore has a massive loyal following. Remember, when you buy a good quality ceramic grill, it will last a lifetime. So people don’t often swap and change once they have made their first purchase.
Big Green Egg has several sizes, just like Kamado Joe, and it’s most popular model is the Large Big Green Egg. And it’s an amazing piece of BBQ smoking kit. If you have one you will not be disappointed. But it is in the same price bracket as the Kamado Joe Classic III and the Classic III isn’t just a ceramic egg. It comes with lots of extras.
With the Big Green Egg you’ll need to buy a Cart, side shelves, diffuser plate and grill grates. But some stuff you can’t buy. You’ll not be able to get the airlift hinge or pull out ash tray. So, if you’re about to buy a new Kamado smoker, and although I have ranked the Big Green Egg as second on the list, I’d say it makes no sense buying one. Either get a Kamado Joe or one of the cheaper options I’ll recommend below.
Weber Summit Kamado Charcoal Grill
A steel kamado with a porcelain coating that has a ton of extras for grilling, smoking, and other uses. The Summit, Weber’s kamado grill, immediately caught my attention because it is the largest, fanciest Weber kettle-looking grill available. And after using it for grilling and smoking I am very impressed with this grill. Although the Summit Kamado’s 24-inch cooking area is technically only two inches larger than the traditional 22-inch Weber Kettle Grill (my top pick for the best charcoal grill), it just feels way larger. Those two extra inches of cooking grate diameter translate to 89 more square inches of cooking space on the Summit Kamado. Additionally, the cooking surface on the Summit is four inches higher than it is on the Weber Kettle and has a larger footprint.
The Summit is a porcelain-enameled dual-walled steel kamado of Weber quality (i.e., high quality). Even though air is used in the double-walled design as insulation since air is an excellent thermal insulator, steel doesn’t retain heat as effectively as ceramic does. The Summit can maintain low temperatures just as well as a ceramic kamado if you figure out how to manage the airflow via the vents (even as experienced kamado smokers, it took me a couple of tries to get it just right, but once I did, I was super impressed). When you want it to, it cools down more quickly than ceramic.
The stainless steel cooking surface of the Summit, which is compatible with Weber’s Gourmet BBQ System inserts, is hidden beneath its simple-to-open hinged lid. These extras, which may be purchased individually, include a pizza stone, wok, sear grate, griddle, and a roasting chicken holder. When you want to perform some classic charcoal cooking, the Summit does come with a set of Weber’s char baskets (vented steel pots you can use to create grilled zones with hot coals).
A stainless steel smoking diffuser plate and Weber’s One-Touch cleaning system are also included. The latter uses a lever outside the grill to push ashes into the vented ash catcher for simple cleanup (a handle on the ash pan also controls the bottom vent). The grill is placed on a strong, black cart with hooks for storing utensils, three lockable wheels, and a bottom rack that could be fairly helpful to store grill grates.
Prior to being broken in, Weber’s ash catcher, which is also used to control the bottom vent, might be sticky. Additionally, the bottom vent is less accessible than it is on other kamados due to the covered ash catcher. It would be good if side tables were included at this price point, but a more expensive model with an attached stainless-steel prep table and a few other features, such an electric starter, is available.
Char-Griller Akorn
If cost is your primary concern then the Char-Griller’s AKORN is the best Kamado for you. Currently selling around the $350 mark, this Kamado is easily the best for people on a budget. Or for those of you that want to experiment with Kamado cooking before deciding if it’s worth buying one of the more expensive options.
So how can one company be so much cheaper than all the other Kamado grills it’s competing against? This great price is achieved by replacing the ceramic dome with an insulated metal dome. A small change like this brings with it pros and cons. The main advantage is obviously the cost. But it also means the whole unit is much lighter and it isn’t brittle like a ceramic dome. You have to say these are great plus points, the trade-off is the durability of the dome. A ceramic dome should last a lifetime. Whereas a metal dome will likely rust at some point so will need greater care and attention.
At a bargain price, the Char-Griller Akorn delivers authentic kamado performance. It costs less than $350, which is amazing given that traditional kamado grills cost $1,000 or more. Compared to the more expensive kamados I tried, the Akorn’s cooking temperature and temperature control aren’t as consistently reliable. I believe this is the case since the Akorn’s body is made of triple-walled coated steel rather of a bulky ceramic cooker. The fire on the grill was also more difficult to start and maintain than the fires on the Big Green Egg and Kamado Joe Classic III.
I let the Akorn to burn through my low-and-slow test, which meant running at 225 F, and the fire was extinguished after 1 hour, It took several tries before I could control low temps. Temperatures inside the cooker soared to 350 F in just 15 minutes after being lit. I only used one paraffin fire starter and did not add any additional fuel. The temperature inside the Akorn reached just over 400 degrees after 30 minutes. The next three hours saw no real decrease in temperature, hoovering around the 400 degrees mark.
When I paid more attention to the Akorn, things were completely different. With either a 225 F or higher temperatures, it just required a few vent adjustments for the airflow to shove the grill back on course. The Akorn weighs around 100 pounds, instead of 200 pounds of other kamado grill options due to its steel construction and the fact that it is not made of ceramic.
Chicken and baby back ribs that had been cooked slowly both tasted good. But because of the integrated heat deflector smoker system of the Kamado Joe grill, they couldn’t compare to the food that came out of it. But with a price this cheap, many of the drawbacks are outweighed, making the Char-Griller Akorn a fantastic kamado-style grill deal.
Char-Broil Kamander Charcoal Grill
Char-Broil is a big name in the grilling world so it’s no surprise that they have a kamado offering. And as far as kamados go it’s a well-valued grill. It comes as standard with a three-legged cart and a side tray – which is unusual for a grill in this price range.
One of the selling points of the Char-Broil is the top-loading ash pan. They say it’s to avoid air gaps that will affect temps. For some people this is a good thing. I prefer a well-made bottom opening ash pan but this addition would come at a cost, and there are plenty of people that prefer the top loading pan.
With a list price of under $700, the Kamander is significantly less expensive than a standard Big Green Egg with a stand, which costs over $1,000. This is in line with Char-Broil’s mission to alleviate consumer pain points. It is one of the most affordable kamados available and perhaps removes the primary obstacle keeping many buyers from purchasing one of these cookers. The Kamander has a unique airflow design with the air intake vent at cooking-grate level rather than on the bottom of the cooker, making it heavier and more durable than the cheaper Akorn (saving you the annoyance of having to bend over to adjust the intake damper). The big, removable ash pan is easy to empty, and a ring of air intake holes around it promotes even airflow.
Naturally, some costs have been trimmed to make the Kamander more cost-effective, but it still offers a good kamado cooking experience at a price far lower than that most other brands.
Primo Oval XL
What’s important to one person might not be important to another. That’s how I’d describe one of the selling points of the Primo Oval XL. It’s made in America. Does that make it a better grill? No. Will it make your cooking taste better? No. Will it make it cheaper? No. All this means is you are patriotic and want to support American jobs.
Of course, the Primo Oval XL is still a very good Kamado, Primo has many years of experience and loads of happy customers. The oval shape of this grill is different from its main competitors and isn’t just for aesthetics. It also helps with two zone cooking. The longer grill space and divided firebox make it a doddle to have direct and indirect heat.
The Primo Grills Oval XL ceramic cooker, which has been built in the United States with pride since 1996, is one of the largest ones available. For a comprehensive grilling set, this all-in-one grill comes with a cradle, a grid lifter, an ash tool, and side shelves. But before placing your order, make sure you have the space because this monstrosity weighs a massive 305 pounds. The oval form of this grill, which is made of premium-grade ceramic that provides exceptional heat, moisture retention, and flavor retention, enables dual zone cooking, allowing you to cook meat and vegetables at various temperatures without sacrificing the ideal cooking temperature.
People love this grill because it has a high-sitting lid that makes it simple to cook large chickens and turkeys vertically. This kamado grill is large enough to cook anywhere between 15 and 25 steaks at once, or even a giant 30-pound turkey—if you’re that patient.
A heavy-duty double-felt gasket and a cast iron chimney cap help regulate temperature by providing a great seal and shielding the lid from harm when it is opened and closed. Managing the smoke that comes out of the grill is very simple and doesn’t require any significant learning. Despite claims that the handle is composed of a “cool touch” material, it can get quite warm. When utilizing grills of any kind, it’s always a good idea to have a potholder or heat-resistant gloves on hand.
The lid of this grill is heavy and difficult to lift, which is a drawback. However, once it is set up, it does remain in place without any problems. You should also consider the fact that this is a bare-bones machine because any type of cart or table would need to be purchased separately when considering pricing.
Along with a lifetime limited warranty, the Primo XL also has 20-year ceramic, 5-year metal, and 1-year cast iron part warranties. The thermometer and felt gaskets come with a 30-day warranty.
Broil King Keg 5000 Kamado Grill
I love the look of the Broil King Keg, maybe because when I see a Keg it brings back memories of some fun times. And although the look of a grill is a factor when deciding the best Kamado grill, it’s not high up on the list. So what else does this beautiful Kamado offer?
The major selling point of a Broil King Keg is its portability. You can and should take this bad boy tailgating. Its insulated double walled steel body means you’ll not have to worry about little knocks cracking your dome wide open. Being steel it shouldn’t crack no matter how badly you treat it. And with the simple addition of the Broil King Keg hitch adapter, there is no excuse not to go tailgating – show this beauty off!
The Keg 5000’s traditional kamado design preserves heat and moisture, resulting in incredibly tasty meals. Another non-ceramic option with a thin steel body is this one (it is coated with ceramic inside). It is about as portable as a large kamado barbecue can be when utilized with a trailer hitch.
It has Roto-Draft dampers, which allow cooks to precisely control airflow through the grill and get the ideal smoking or grilling temperature. These dampers are made of cast iron on top and aluminum on the bottom. There is plenty of cooking area thanks to a cast iron primary cooking grid and a swing-out chrome secondary rack. To make tailgating or camping as enjoyable as possible, there are helpful extras like detachable side shelves, a multipurpose multi-tool to help you adjust and clean your grill, twin bottle openers on the lid handle, and a detachable wheeled base that is trailer hitch-adaptable.
VISION Grills Pro Kamado BBQ
Vision Grills got a name for itself for being an innovator due to its electric starter port. For some it’s a nice new touch – I just think it’s a bit gimmicky. But when it’s so hard to differentiate one Kamado from another, having a new gimmick is something you need. All other aspects are pretty standard, so I’m not sure why it has this reputation for innovating. It is a quality Kamado in a nice price range, and should probably be known for that instead.
The Vision Grills Kamado Professional Ceramic Charcoal Grill has a lot of positive aspects and a few drawbacks that prevent it from being my top pick. Given that the Vision includes a stand, two side tables, and a grill cover, I definitely appreciate the price tag compared to some of the more costly barbecues on my list. Although it only captured ashes that fell inside the rectangle area, I like that it includes an ash drawer that makes cleaning ashes much easier. And I do enjoy some of the available extras, like the electronic starter and the gas conversion kit that enables you to utilize either propane or natural gas with the barbecue.
Unfortunately, unlike the other kamado grill buckets, the ash drawer does not rest inside the firebox, making it impossible to remove the entire bottom of the grill. In its place, the grill has a sizable, detachable rectangular portion close to the bottom. The ash bin and bottom vents for regulating airflow are also located in this quadrant. Another drawback is that after disposing of the used ashes, it is difficult to put the mechanism back in place. Due to this, it is challenging to close the firebox, which makes it challenging to maintain low, smoking temperatures below 300°F. Additionally, it implies that the coals keep burning long after all vents are shut off. The temperature control system is also unknown to us. The Vision includes two dials with numbers from 1 to 10 in place of the standard draft door slide arrangement. It complicates everything more than it needs to and isn’t any simpler to use than the slide.
The lava stone heat deflector plate that was utilized to generate indirect heat was also problematic for me. In my experience, it produced a tremendous amount of acrid-tasting smoke at high temperatures and gave our low-temperature smoked food a terrible flavor. The stone is said to shatter frequently in reviews, thus longevity may not be great.
All ceramic parts of Vision Grills are covered by a limited lifetime warranty, metal parts are covered by a five-year warranty, and the temperature gauge, gasket, and cover are covered by a one-year warranty. The electric starter, lava stone, and side shelves all have 90-day warranties. To be protected by the warranty, which is only valid for the original owner, products must be registered.
Kamado Grilling Pros
Kamados are constructed using refractory materials like cement, lava rock, ceramics, and terracotta. As a result, they have incredible insulating qualities.
Due to their popularity, this kind of grill may also be referred to as a ceramic smoker, Egg, or Kamado smoker. However, it has the same meaning.
Let’s examine the advantages and disadvantages of the kamado grill in more detail.
Smoking – low and slow
Sweet and tender meat that just falls off the bone while melting in your mouth. If that’s the goal then Kamado smoking is the way to go. This low and slow cooking hasn’t just surged in popularity with backyard BBQ enthusiasts, even wannabe Thomas Keller’s have brought the slow cooker to their kitchens.
This is just one plus point, but don’t underestimate the significance of this one cooking style. For this reason alone I’d be happy to buy a Kamado. The quality of low and slow meat completely negates all the minus points I’ll run through in a bit. If you’re a fan of beef brisket, pulled pork or ribs then prepare your mouth for a taste sensation. But of course, there is a negative to Kamado smoking your favorite meat, and that’s it’ll never taste as good again cooked any other way.
Baking
Still a little bit niche – but Kamado baking will not stay like this for long. And there is one American staple that will see to this – Pizza. Piping hot fresh pizza made with a homemade tomato sauce is simple, yet will be a massive hit at any shindig you throw.
For those of you that want to take things to the next level, you can bake your own artisan buns and rolls making your burger and hotdogs the talk of your peer group. The only downside I can envisage is friends that are too scared to invite you to their BBQ due to you raising the bar so high – but for sure everyone will be coming to yours.
Quality
I saw a quote on a Kamado forum a few months back but can’t remember who said it to credit them. To summarize, they said, “don’t pick a Kamado in a color you like, get one in your kids favorite color because you’ll be passing it onto them when you die”. That sums up the quality of Kamado grills if properly looked after. So although the initial outlay is relatively expensive, you should never need to buy another Kamado.
Kamado Grilling Cons
Many Kamado blogging enthusiasts will gloss over this section. They’re so in love with their Kamado that they’ll not hear a bad word said about it without flying into a rage. Don’t fool yourself, I love my Kamado. But I believe there is always room for improvement. I’m sure some people thought the early clay Kamado was the finished article. But thankfully some great minds thought different and moved things forward.
Grilling – not easy to do two zone grilling
This inability to do zonal grilling is often cited as a big negative to Kamado grills. For those unaware, two zone grilling is when your grill is split into two areas with different temperatures. One side of your grill being hot and giving direct radiant heat and the other side being cooler and having indirect convection heat.
Granted, it’s not as easy to grill in this manner as it is on a BBQ made just for grilling – generally because this type of grill will give you much more surface area to play with. But with the latest advancements in Kamado grilling accessories (heat deflectors and grill expanders) you can defiantly achieve two zone cooking. In fact, you might even get better results on a Kamado than a standard grill of equal size. Normally you’ll only find this being referenced as a problem in older articles written on Kamados or by people not yet familiar with these latest gadgets.
Fragile
I’m not sure if fragile is the right word as the best Kamado frill is built for life. But ceramics are brittle and the sheer weight of the dome means that if dropped, the Kamado is likely to crack open. Obviously once set up, dropping the Kamado shouldn’t be an issue. But you’ll not be able to take it tailgating confidently.
Heavy
As alluded to above, Kamado grills aren’t light. And although several brands come with a wheeled cart for ease of movement, you’re still taking about a 162lb/72kg for the best-selling model, which will be a struggle for the average user to pick up. And as you also know about the brittle nature of ceramic grills it’s probably best that at any time you need to pick it up you make it a two-man job.
Outer dome can get hot to touch
I’ve seen people use this as a reason to bash Kamados. Do they have a point? Yes and no. Often, Kamado grill sales reps will list the outer shell not getting hot as a great feature, leading people to believe there is no change in temperature. Having your mind conjure up an image of a stick of butter placed on the shell and not melting. This simply isn’t the case and is a little dishonest. What they probably mean when they say this is it doesn’t get scalding hot like a typical metal BBQ. It does warm up considerably. But unless you plan on having your face pressed against the Kamado for an extended period of time the heat given off shouldn’t be an issue.
Top Air holes let in rain
Yes, this is being picky and is not a major issue, but it is an issue nonetheless. Most “sane” people will not want to cook outdoors in the rain. But you do have your committed Kamado smokers that won’t let a little rain stop them. Obviously, they also don’t want rain getting through their air vents.
My friend has an amusing setup where he clamps his golfing umbrella to Kamado side tray. Many people seemingly do similar makeshift umbrellas and this hasn’t gone unnoticed. Top vent caps are now available for the most popular Kamados from companies like Somkeware. And as you can see from this forum post, Kamado Joe has even redesigned the top vent to stop rain getting in.
Expensive
Cost is always relative. The best Kamado grill is a quality piece of kit and multi-purpose, so relative to a disposable BBQ it’s going to appear really expensive. And as most people are more accustomed to this lower end of the BBQing scale (as they’ll generally only have one, maybe two BBQ’s a year) they can’t justify the initial outlay of a quality Kamado. And they’d be right. For them, a Kamado isn’t worth it and is expensive. I’m not going to pretend a backyard kamado is for everyone. But for someone that wants to cook quality food outside on a regular basis, I’d say a Kamado is invaluable, and therefore a justified expense and not at all expensive for what you get.
Kamado Flashback or Backdraft
A BBQ party you’ll remember for all the wrong reasons. And the ridicule you’ll get at work the next day for rocking the no eyebrows look is not fun either. Flashback is no laughing matter and can be pretty scary when/if it first happens. Thankfully there are steps you can take to minimize flashback – The first step is to understand the conditions that cause flashback.
Flashback only happens when you have a fire that’s been starved of oxygen suddenly getting an influx of it. With a Kamado that would mean having the lid and all the vents closed, and then opening the lid. If you’re cooking low and slow or high and fast this shouldn’t be an issue. In fact, flashback typically happens when the cooking has finished and the user is trying to extinguish the flames (by closing everything up and then opening the lid to check on it).
So now you’re aware of how it happens, how do you stop it? The best advice I’ve been told is always to approach a Kamado as if flashback could happen and get into the practice of burping it open. To burp a Kamado you’ll have to crack the lid open slightly and hold for several seconds and then slowly open it after this. Doing this will eliminate any possibility of an influx of oxygen.
How to decide what’s the Best Kamado Grill for you
The best kamado grill for me might not be the best for you. Before deciding you’ll have to consider a few points about the grill. These aren’t the only factors, personal taste will play a part as you’ll want your Kamado to be pleasing on the eye, and unfortunately where you are located also plays a part. You’re not able to get every Kamado in all locations, this is especially true if you’re not from the States.
Budget
Everything in life ultimately whittles down to money. And the sad truth is that not everyone will be able to afford what they deem the best kamado grill. Especially if you fall in love with the 32 inch Big Bad Komodo Kamado or the Kamado Joe Pro – Both well in excess of $5K. So knowing your budget is important.
Size
Size isn’t everything, it’s what you do with it, is what people say. And this stands true for your best Kamado grill. Size will dictate how much meat you can cook at any one time, so it is an important consideration. Will you only ever be cooking for you and your partner or will you be hosting backyard parties for the whole neighborhood? If the former then you have the 13-inch MiniMax made by the people at the Big Green Egg, and if it’s the latter you have the previously mentioned 32 inch Big Bad Kamado. And needless to say, many different sizes in-between.
Added Extras
There is only so much you can do with a ceramic dome. The quality of the workmanship, the seal and the hinges are enough to differentiate you from lesser models. But if you really want to stand out you need great added extras.
Some of these extras are obviously more important to one person than the other, for example, I have a friend that would never get a Big Green Egg because it’s green – the colors of his favorite team’s local rivals. Ridiculous to me, but important to him, and therefore looking at a Kamado from Grill Dome with their option of different colors might suit him.
One feature that I think is great is a removable ashtray seen on models for Kamado Joe and Vision Grills. This isn’t going to improve your cooking. But I find I’m lazy at the cleaning up afterward and the ashtray makes things so much easier. And if easy is what you want the Vision Grills ashtray also comes with an electronic starter port. A lot of the features or extras on offer are patented and not available to other Kamado grills so do keep an eye out for these.
Build Quality
Given two grills of the same size, the price will roughly correlate to the build quality (plus a premium for a top brand name). And although this is more or less true when you’re talking about different models, it’s surprising the difference in build quality when inspecting the same make and model. When reading forums it’s amazing what some people have gone home with. Whether this is a quality control or transportation issue I don’t know. What I do know is you are best served by giving the Kamado a once-over before buying.
Check for any cracks or imperfections in the ceramics. As mentioned already, ceramics are brittle and these little imperfections can seriously weaken the whole dome’s integrity. Making sure the seal seals is another must. You’ll have a never-ending fight keeping temperatures stable without a good seal.
Reputation
In a niche with so many dedicated and enthusiastic followers having a good reputation is essential. If someone is passing off substandard products they will not last long. So be sure to see what others are saying online. But be aware that there is a bit of team rivalry between owners of different brands. Generally speaking though, if a couple of big forums or facebook fan pages are knocking a product you can be pretty sure it’s one to avoid.
Warranty
Seems silly to me to add a warranty to a list when judging the best Kamado grill. But these products aren’t cheap and cheerful disposable barbecues. They’re expensive and should be well crafted. The warranty the maker is willing to offer normally tells a story of how confident they are in their product.
As most people buy a kamado to use as a smoker or outdoor oven, which can be purchased individually a lot cheaper in non-kamado style, you’d like to know that the extra expense of the multi-purpose cooker is worth it. Are you buying quality? The warranty should tell you this. Accept nothing less than a lifetime warranty on the ceramic egg/bowl/dome as this is now standard for major players that believe in their Kamado.
A Kamado isn’t made up solely of ceramics so be sure to look at the warranty for other parts such as metal or cast iron parts. You should be looking for at least 3 years here. Warranties are also offered on accessories such as pizza stones. Obviously, this isn’t as important but does give you peace of mind when buying.
Kamado Accessories
When choosing the best Kamado grill for your needs, you may need to look into the accessories needed for the cooking styles you enjoy. Some Kamado accessories are interchangeable between different brands of Kamados (and even other types of BBQ’s). But some are made specifically for just your grill. So you’ll need to investigate whether you’re able to buy the accessories you need.
Here are the most popular accessories used with Kamado grills
Rotisseries
If you want to channel the self-basing powers of spit-roasted meat then you’re gonna need a Rotisserie. And rotisseries aren’t interchangeable, you can’t move them between different Kamados or BBQ’s. So if you like spit-roasting make sure the Kamado you buy has a rotisserie accessory.
Pizza stones
I love pizza and having mentioned it a few times in this article, I’ve come close to scrapping this article in order to go make myself a nice homemade pizza. Thankfully I’m nearing the end of the best kamado review so I’ll struggle on. There isn’t much between one pizza stone to the next (thicker ones are probably better). All that matters is does it fit your kamado? You do have to be a little bit careful with them though. You can’t put a cold stone into high temps, or a hot stone on a cold surface without a risk of them cracking. The LavaLock Baking stone is a great option.
Starters
Not so much an accessory, more a necessity. You’re not going to be doing much cooking if you can’t get your coals hot. So what are the options? I use a blow torch and a chimney starter, this is super quick. But I’m going to write an article on all the methods for starting your BBQ, so if there isn’t a link here that means I haven’t written it yet.
Cooking Surfaces
With most Kamados you’ll get a traditional stainless steel grate. But there are several other great surfaces to cook on. So look to see which ones you like cooking with and see if they are available for your choice for best kamado. Cast iron grate for them mouth water inducing sear lines on meat. Flat and ribbed cast iron griddles. If you want to get the best out of your fish then look for a stainless steel smooth surface. And last of the popular cooking surfaces is the Soapstone, a thick bacteria and stain-resistant slab that’s great for cooking meat in their own juices.
Cart
Not sure if I’ve mentioned it already, but Kamado grills are heavy. And some are extremely heavy. So unless you are mister muscles you’ll need a Kamado that comes with a cart. Not only are these carts used for moving the kamado around effortlessly, but they also raise the grilling area to a more comfortable height. This can benefit you as you’re not hunched over all the time.
Best Kamado Grills Video
Kamado Table
The vast majority of people will be more than happy to just have a standard table at the side of their Kamado. But there will be a few of you that would like a table specially made to fit a Kamado. After all, these do look a little bit cooler. So what are your options for a Kamado table?
A very popular option is to build your own table. It seems BBQ people are very hands-on types and are happy to give this relatively easy bit of DIY a go. Some do this simply by cutting a Kamado sized hole in a table they already own. But the more adventurous DIY’er will make one from scratch. Now, although this is a great option I’d only recommend it if you already have the tools to do a job like this. Otherwise, it will be far more expensive than the next two options.
Why not have a Kamado table custom made for you. This is the sort of job any carpenter should be able to do in no time at all. You can look locally for such a person or you also have people that offer Kamado tables as something they specialize in. Two such companies are Brian Alan Tables and Wood By Dana.
The above two methods of getting yourself a Kamado table are great for giving you the flexibility of having the style and layout that you want. But if you are new to Kamado grilling you might not have a preferred layout. If this is the case, or you just want a lazy option, then you can buy one of the generic tables offered by some companies. Often the best option is available from the company of the brand of Kamado you have.
Here is a list of some places you can buy Kamado tables
Table Nest
A small word of warning now. If you are going to make your own table, or even for some tables made by Kamado manufacturers, you’re going to need a table nest. If not your warranty might be void. Because Kamados can get hot, especially at the bottom, placing them on any combustible surface is extremely unwise.
Your table nest can be in the form of small legs that lift the Kamado off the surface, like that made by the people at the Big Green Egg (this table nest will also work with the Kamado Joe). A sturdier option, as these legs aren’t the strongest, is a table nest sold by Innovations by Chance. But for me, the best option is to get a nice slab of concrete or granite from a hardware store (make sure this is at least 2 inches thick).
Great Kamado Grills List
The kamado marketplace is rapidly changing, which means this article needs to be updated on a yearly bases. So when a great new grill is released, instead of just adding it to the best kamado grills list and deleting an old one I have decided to create a section for great kamado grills. After all, these grills are made to last a lifetime, so there will be plenty of great bargains to be had in the second-hand marketplace.
Kamado Joe Classic I & II | Buy on Amazon | |
Komodo Kamado Charcoal Grill | Buy on Komado Komado | |
Grill Dome Infinity Series | Buy on Grill Dome | |
Blaze Cast Aluminum Kamado Grill | Buy on Blaze Grills | |
Caliber Pro | Buy on Caliber |
Final Thoughts
I sincerely hope you have enjoyed reading about the top kamado grills. Despite the fact that there are numerous choices available for all budgets and needs, I believe the Kamado Joe Classic III to be the best all-around kamado available right now.
This grill will last you for a very long time and may even be passed on to loved ones once you’re done with it thanks to the wonderful accessories that are included in the price, high-quality construction, unique design elements, and affordable price.
Cooks who adore kamados value their effectiveness, usability, and mouthwateringly luscious outcomes. These inherent qualities of kamado grills have been enhanced by the Kamado Joe Classic III, turning an already desirable barbecue alternative into the sole choice for some.
Do you own a kamado grill? What do you believe? Or were there any other queries you had that this article did not address? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below. And make sure to share if you find this information to be useful.
I’ve been smoking food for years now, having started with the Egg and then buying the Joe. I’m in agreement that the Kamado Joe is the slightly better option. I wouldn’t admit that to my friends though as they’re serious egg heads.
Thanks Tony, It’s crazy how many people secretly think this and say nothing. But I think the tide is turning and soon everyone will be saying the Kamado Joe is the best 🙂
I am trying to decide between the Big Joe and the Blaze Kamado. I plan to cook a large variety of meals with whichever Kamado I go with. I had my mind set on the Blaze Kamado but am slowly starting to like the Big Joe. One reason is size. I’m a little worried about having enough space in the Blaze for a large brisket. I know there is a video that shows Chef Tony with BBQ GUys smoking a brisket but he does not say what size the brisket is, only mentioned it was 16 lbs. My reservation about the Big Joe is cracking. Thoughts?
Its like a Mercedes versus an Audi. There may be more with the Audi – it may be cheaper, it may perform better. But at the end of the day you would prefer to have the Mercedes in your driveway !! and the green egg in your garden