Kamado grills are a stunning invention dating back to 3,000 years and are still great grills today. They are oval-shaped grills originally made from Japan and currently used worldwide to make amazing roasters, grilled steaks, and oven pizzas.
Most of them are made of ceramic material which gives them excellent insulation properties.
They’re also versatile, whereby, you can use them for roasting, grilling, barbecuing, and baking. They have a unique design that provides stability when put in a standing pose. Read on to find out more about these amazing kamado grills and some of the best brands available in the market today.
Kamado Joe Classic III 18-inch Charcoal Grill
Check our detailed Kamado Joe Classic III review
When it comes to Kamado grills, the Kamado Joe Classic III is the best of the best. It is a very innovative 18-inch portable ceramic charcoal grill. Its fantastic three-tier “divide and conquer” cooking technique lets you cook a variety of items at once at various temperatures.
Its expandable cooking area may be as large as 864 square inches. If you decide to have a party in your garden, this allows you space to prepare food for larger crowds. It weighs 282 pounds and measures 47 by 30 by 15.5 inches.
The fantastic kamado grill has a wide heat range of 225 to 750 degrees Fahrenheit and burns charcoal as its fuel. This is what makes it extremely adaptable and appropriate for searing as well as cooking on low and constant heat. Additionally, you may change the built-in thermometer so that the cooking temperatures are tuned to your preferences.
Without a doubt, the Kamado Joe Classic II is a heavy-duty grill. It has an airlift hinge that may lower the dome’s weight by up to 95%, making it simple to lift. Additionally, it features an integrated cart that makes moving it around simpler.
Cooking is consistent because to the innovative slow roller hyperbolic smoke chamber. This is because it uses recirculating waves to uniformly disperse heat and smoke throughout the chamber. To improve its overall performance, it also comes with a number of accessories. These include a handle, grill gripper, an ash tool, a slide-out ash drawer, an amp firebox, wire mesh, fiberglass gasket, a control tower top vent, folding HDPE side shelves, and an amp firebox.
Pros
- The design is eye-catching and comes in a variety of colors. I.e. red and black.
- Has excellent insulation properties. This means it can retain heat for a considerable amount of time.
- Operating it is simple
Cons
- Quite heavy which makes it tedious to move
- Quite costly
Char-Broil Kamander Charcoal Kamado Grill
The Char-Broil Kamander charcoal kamado grill has the ultimate versatility and comes at an affordable price. You can roast, grill, bake, or sear in this one unit. Its primary cooking space measures 327 square inches and is entirely made of porcelain-enameled grates. It has a secondary cooking area measuring 142 square inches and a swing-out with an adjustable height cooking rack made of highly durable chrome-plated steel.
It features an insulated double-wall steel construction that heats your food quickly and evenly. It effectively seals in heat and moisture, which brings out a tender and juicy texture from meat cooked in it.
You can monitor the airflow entering the grill and adjust it using an integrated air control system that allows air to enter the grill through a top-mounted intake damper. The lid-mounted temperature gauge can help you monitor the temperature of the grill without difficulty.
Its dimensions generally measure 26 by 44.5 by 44.6 inches and weigh 115 pounds. It comes with several grill accessories such as the drip tray, ashtray, and a utensil holder. Apart from catching falling grease or food from the grill grate, the removable drip tray also acts as a heat deflector in the cooker. The removable internal ashtray also eases the cleaning process of the charcoal chamber. This ashtray is removed from the top of the grill which prevents potential air leaks and provides better temperature control.
The side shelves have tool hooks where you can store your cooking utilities like cooking brushes, spatula, and tongs. To enhance mobility, the Char-broil Kamander has two 6 inch strong and steady wheels.
Pros
- Price is budget-friendly.
- Directions in the manual are easy to follow.
- Assembling the product is a simple process.
- Has a steady sturdy structure.
- Quickly heats up to set temperatures.
Cons
- Quite heavy to carry.
- Ideally, it doesn’t hold set temperatures consistently for a long time.
Pit Boss K22 22” Ceramic Kamado Black Grill
The Pit Boss K22 is a great budget-friendly alternative if the Kamado Joe Classic III seems pricey. It’s made of heavy-duty hardware that keeps the ceramic body secure and durable. Its glossy black coating gives it an eye-catchy appearance. Due to its heavy ceramic feature, it creates an ideal environment for burning charcoal. It also secures and uniformly distributes heat that allows for evenly cooked food.
It has a cooking space of 560 square inches accompanied by dual-tier stainless cooking grids. It measures 48.5 by 30 by 52 inches and an assembled weight of 220 pounds. It’s versatile thus allows you to make great recipes by charring, smoking, baking, roasting, searing, and grilling. It can quickly heat up to temperatures as high as 700 degrees Fahrenheit within minutes.
Setting up its cooking temperature is convenient. It can also maintain consistent temperatures for a long time thanks to the calibrated damper slide vent that fully controls the airflow entering the grill. If you want to vary the cooking temperatures, simply adjust the cast iron tamper located at the top of the grill.
The high-strength solid bamboo side shelves provide additional storage for prep meals and utensils. You can fold it once you’re done using them. The included ash removal tool makes it convenient to clean the grill’s charcoal chamber. To enhance portability and mobility, the grill has four casters or wheels that help you maneuver it wherever you’d like. Two of these wheels are lockable to ensure it’s safely secured in place and stable while cooking.
Pros
- Has great value. Its stellar features are worth all the dollars compared to Kamado Joe and the Big Green Egg charcoal grills.
- Has excellent heat retention properties that are easily controllable.
- The swivel caster wheels are heavy-duty, lockable, and create a stable pose for the kamado grill.
Cons
- You may need an extra gasket to help seal the lower vent to be airtight.
- Heat deflectors are sold exclusively. You’ll need to purchase one if you need it for your kamado grill.
The Pit Boss K22 Ceramic Kamado Black Grill is a versatile long-lasting product that comes at an incredibly affordable price. Consider buying one if you’re looking for a product that equally matches the popular Kamado Joe Classic charcoal grill series.
Icon Grills CG901 Charcoal Kamado Grill
If you believe bigger is better, the Icon Grill CG901 Charcoal Kamado grill is for you. It is a great pick for barbecue enthusiasts who love cooking big meals and serving large gatherings.
The grill is made of heavy-duty ceramics together with patented upgrades. You can be sure of long-lasting durability and quality food full of flavor from this Kamado grill.
It has a large cooking area of 804 square inches, a space adequate enough to fit 50 hamburgers. You can easily throw huge backyard parties with this mega kamado grill. It has an assembled dimension of 43 by 32 by 32 inches and weighs 348 pounds.
It’s a diverse type of charcoal kamado grill, meaning experienced chefs can enjoy the thrill of its grilling power and also beginners can learn and grow in their cooking skills with it. This is due to its control systems that are easy to operate and a manual with simple instructions.
Starting the grill only requires an electric ignition that’s quick and easy to use. It can also switch to a gas grill once you purchase the insert feature exclusive to the Icon Grills Charcoal Kamado grills. It’s easy to set and maintain its cooking temperatures. The color-coded heat zone system located on its cast-iron top vent is the reason behind this simplicity. It also has an in-built temperature gauge and cooking dials for you to maneuver through your preferred cooking temperature.
The grill has two spacious drop-down panels that you can use to layout your cooking tools and plates to save time while cooking. The included ashtray makes the cleaning process fast and easy. You can also store your favorite cooking utensils in the enclosed storage cabinet, located below the grill, for more convenience during your next grilling session. It also has to lock caster wheels for mobility
Pros
- Has a removable ash drawer which makes it easy to maintain and clean.
- Comes in a variety of colors. You can choose a color that best matches your backyard decor.
- Has a stainless steel grate that gives it a nice shiny luster.
Cons
- To some extent, it is difficult to clean up
Char-Griller Akorn Kamado Charcoal Grill
The Char-Griller Akorn is an amazingly durable Kamado grill with a strong steel-built structure. Most kamados are designed with a ceramic material for efficient heat retention. The char griller Akorn kamado charcoal grill, however, comes with a double-steel structure that provides high-level insulation without the frailty that comes with ceramics. It is resistant to corrosion from rust and has a neat finish that gives it a brand-new look even after years of use.
As part of the accessories, it comes with an expansion rack that creates a large space for cooking in the grill. Its primary cooking area measures 314 square inches and a 133 square inch warming rack giving it a total of 447 square inches of cooking space. It weighs 97 pounds with dimensions 45 by 31 by 47 inches.
Within the cooking space are a whole set of cast-iron grates which when cleaned regularly, maintain their shiny luster appearance. These grill grates also produce perfect grill marks on barbecues.
Some accessories that the char-griller sells exclusive of the grill, come at an affordable price. An example is a cooking stone which is necessary in case you want to cook for long hours.
Its versatility allows you to apply as many cooking styles as you want in this kamado grill. You can roast your chicken, bake pizza, sear steaks and wings, low and slow cooks like briskets, pork butts, and all kinds of ribs.
It also comes with a cart constructed with lockable caster wheels and an indexed damper so you can easily monitor its position. It also has two foldable black metal shelves, dump trash, a heat gauge, and a locking lid.
Pros
- It’s budget-friendly
- Versatile
- Assembling the product is straightforward
- It has a sturdy and durable structure
- Much lighter than ceramic kamados
- Its exterior finish has a stunning appearance that can last for years.
Cons
- Some smoking accessories are sold exclusively. That’s an added cost.
- Mastering control of heat takes time and practice.
Char-Griller Akorn Jr. Kamado Charcoal Grill
This kamado grill has a classic triple-walled steel construction that makes it highly durable and long-lasting. It’s compact, measuring half the size (154 square inches) of the original Char-Griller Graphite Akorn Kamado Charcoal grill. It weighs 40 pounds with dimensions, 20 by 20 by 25 inches. It’s a portable kamado grill ideal for campers and small families.
Its design provides great insulation properties ideal for heat retention when grilling steak at a set temperature. You can also use it for smoking meat, grilling burgers, roasting beef and searing pork butts. Its high-temperature range (200 to 700 degrees Fahrenheit) boosts the versatility of this product. You’ll also have an easy time monitoring and adjusting its cooking temperature according to your needs.
Dual dampers give it a plus in easing the control of its temperatures. It has an integrated easy to read temperature gauge to help you monitor the temperature of the grill. The cast-iron grates evenly distribute heat throughout the grill’s cooking surface thus promoting a quicker cooking time. The cast-iron material also aids in effective heat retention in the grill chamber.
It also features a hinged lid that provides easy access to the coals from the bottom. This helps in securing the top lid in place as the kamado grill cooks. It also includes a dump ash pan that makes cleaning the grill easy.
Pros
- Assembling its parts after purchase is simple. Just follow the easy-to-follow manual that comes with it.
- It’s a low-maintenance product
- Its design is compact and ideal for camping
- It can double up as a smoker
Con
- Has frail handles
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Final Thoughts
Kamado grills are among the best cookers if you’re trying out the world of barbecues. It’s also great for top-notch chefs who want to continue growing in their barbecue experience. They are highly versatile grills that can accommodate different cooking styles of a variety of steaks. You can sear, roast, bake, braise, whichever means you’d like. They are known to be great heat insulators and highly efficient grills. If you don’t own one and are looking to venture into the world of barbecues, start with the Kamado grills.