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Started By
Message
Kamado recs
Posted on 12/6/21 at 10:25 am
Posted on 12/6/21 at 10:25 am
I know there have been a lot of posts on this, but I haven’t found anything that addresses my special circumstances.
I want a kamado for my summer kitchen. My current set up is a Weber Kettle with a Slow N Sear.
My BIL has a 24" Big Joe III plus a table, and paid $4K plus. Cooking on it seems like a production, as it seems way to big to just use for a few burgers or some chicken, here and there.
The KJ Classic seems too small, at 18”, as I cook for an occasional larger group, and even my 22" kettle gets cramped occassionally.
The Primo XL seems to be a good fit, as it can be set up on a somewhat permanent basis with two cooking zones, which would be similar to the SNS setup that I have now, where I could use half the grill most of the time and open it up when I have a bigger group to cook for. Is it as cumbersome as the Big Joe III (takes a long time to heat up, etc.)?
I have been looking at the Blaze cast aluminum kamado, which is a little larger than the KJ Classic. Maybe that is a good compromise?
The Weber Summit Kamado would probably be the answer but I can’t find any info about it being built into a summer kitchen. Although it is big, it uses insulation, not mass heat retention to control the heat, so it seems that it would heat up and cool down quicker.
Any suggestions on drawbacks, advantages, etc, of any kamados would be appreciated.
I want a kamado for my summer kitchen. My current set up is a Weber Kettle with a Slow N Sear.
My BIL has a 24" Big Joe III plus a table, and paid $4K plus. Cooking on it seems like a production, as it seems way to big to just use for a few burgers or some chicken, here and there.
The KJ Classic seems too small, at 18”, as I cook for an occasional larger group, and even my 22" kettle gets cramped occassionally.
The Primo XL seems to be a good fit, as it can be set up on a somewhat permanent basis with two cooking zones, which would be similar to the SNS setup that I have now, where I could use half the grill most of the time and open it up when I have a bigger group to cook for. Is it as cumbersome as the Big Joe III (takes a long time to heat up, etc.)?
I have been looking at the Blaze cast aluminum kamado, which is a little larger than the KJ Classic. Maybe that is a good compromise?
The Weber Summit Kamado would probably be the answer but I can’t find any info about it being built into a summer kitchen. Although it is big, it uses insulation, not mass heat retention to control the heat, so it seems that it would heat up and cool down quicker.
Any suggestions on drawbacks, advantages, etc, of any kamados would be appreciated.
This post was edited on 12/6/21 at 10:54 am
6
Posted on 12/6/21 at 11:02 am to Jax-Tiger
quote:
The Weber Summit Kamado would probably be the answer but I can’t find any info about it being built into a summer kitchen. Although it is big, it uses insulation, not mass heat retention to control the heat, so it seems that it would heat up and cool down quicker.
I have the Weber Summit Charcoal (precursor to the Webber Summit Kamado). It does not have insulation, it has a double wall with an air gap. It is a great Kamado-style cooker. Easy to set up to cook just a few burgers with the adjustable height cooking grate.
Looking at mine, it appears the legs just bolt to the support ring. Seems it would be easy to remove the legs and mount elsewhere, but I can’t promise that as I have not tried. Go look at one in person if you haven’t.
Mine still looks great after sitting uncovered outside for 4 years, so it seems to be well made a durable.
Posted on 12/6/21 at 11:12 am to Jax-Tiger
Primo Oval GOAT
Posted on 12/6/21 at 11:14 am to Jax-Tiger
quote:
Cooking on it seems like a production, as it seems way to big to just use for a few burgers or some chicken, here and there.
quote:
Any suggestions on drawbacks, advantages, etc, of any kamados would be appreciated.
The drawbacks on Kamados is that it takes some time to light charcoal, get everything set up, and cook the meat. Everything you cook on it will be great but it's more involved than a gas or pellet grill.
Posted on 12/6/21 at 11:21 am to Jax-Tiger
I have the Big Joe II and love it. It is really not much of a production to do smaller cooks and I have plenty of space to do a full Brisket or 4 Pork Butts if I don't feel like babying my offset all night.
I typically keep 1 grate in the lower position and 1 grate in the higher position with a 1/2 moon heat shield below the higher grate.
I used a weber kettle for years before upgrading have not found using the Big Joe to be any less convenient. It is actually easier for smaller cooks because I can shut the vent down and use the same load of charcoal multiple times.
I typically keep 1 grate in the lower position and 1 grate in the higher position with a 1/2 moon heat shield below the higher grate.
I used a weber kettle for years before upgrading have not found using the Big Joe to be any less convenient. It is actually easier for smaller cooks because I can shut the vent down and use the same load of charcoal multiple times.
This post was edited on 12/6/21 at 11:22 am
Posted on 12/6/21 at 11:24 am to Jax-Tiger
quote:
The Weber Summit Kamado would probably be the answer but I can’t find any info about it being built into a summer kitchen. Although it is big, it uses insulation, not mass heat retention to control the heat, so it seems that it would heat up and cool down quicker.
I love mine. Can do everything that a kamado can do.
Posted on 12/6/21 at 11:25 am to Saskwatch
quote:
The drawbacks on Kamados is that it takes some time to light charcoal,
Adding 1 of these has really cut down on my preheat time
Posted on 12/6/21 at 11:27 am to Whatafrekinchessiebr
Primo oval is great. Regardless of what you get make sure you have proper ventilation if it is going to be permanently placed somewhere.
Posted on 12/6/21 at 12:29 pm to Jax-Tiger
I was in a similar boat as you recently. I cooked on a Weber Kettle w/ SNS, WSM and Weber Genesis 2. I recently upgraded to the Big Joe 3 and a Kamado Joe Jr.
I was originally looking at the Weber Kamado, but at the end of the day, the Big Joe 3 just had too many accessories I wanted that the Weber Kamado didnt. For small, fast cooks such as wings, burgers, chicken, I will use the Jr. It heats up quicker than my Weber Kettle and food that comes off has been fantastic.
Walmart still has the Jr. online with free shipping for $229, which is a steal.
I was originally looking at the Weber Kamado, but at the end of the day, the Big Joe 3 just had too many accessories I wanted that the Weber Kamado didnt. For small, fast cooks such as wings, burgers, chicken, I will use the Jr. It heats up quicker than my Weber Kettle and food that comes off has been fantastic.
Walmart still has the Jr. online with free shipping for $229, which is a steal.
Posted on 12/6/21 at 12:33 pm to Whatafrekinchessiebr
quote:
I typically keep 1 grate in the lower position and 1 grate in the higher position with a 1/2 moon heat shield below the higher grate.
So the charcoal is not split on the KJ, then? You get two zones by putting the heat shield diectly under the indirect side and the heat hits the underside of that plate and flows over to the hot side?
This post was edited on 12/6/21 at 12:55 pm
Posted on 12/6/21 at 12:45 pm to ChEgrad
quote:
Looking at mine, it appears the legs just bolt to the support ring. Seems it would be easy to remove the legs and mount elsewhere, but I can’t promise that as I have not tried. Go look at one in person if you haven’t.
Yes, and I might just have the builder create a drop in platform where the front is covered by a door, where I can put it in there, legs and all (sans the casters) and I can access the lowere area when needed. We could bolt the legs to the base of the platform. I dunno...
But, you're right. Seems like it should be easier to bolt to a custome frame.
This post was edited on 12/6/21 at 12:54 pm
Posted on 12/6/21 at 1:43 pm to ChEgrad
quote:
I have the Weber Summit Charcoal (precursor to the Webber Summit Kamado). It does not have insulation, it has a double wall with an air gap. It is a great Kamado-style cooker. Easy to set up to cook just a few burgers with the adjustable height cooking grate.
My understanding is that they are pretty much the same thing.
I didn't mean actual insulation. It uses the air gap to insulate the grill and trap the heat inside. The ceramic in a traditional kamado absorbs the heat and retains it, so it bleads off the heat very slowly and keeps the grill hot that way. Both are very efficient, although I suspect the Weber loses more heat than the ceramic if you keep opening the lid. They are both very efficient, but for different reasons. I have read that the Weber is actually more efficient than the ceramic grills if you keep the lid shut.
That brings me to the Blaze Kamado. It is cast aluminum and has a tongue and groove seal, so you never have to worry about gaskets. It is basically bombproof. Unbreakable and lighter than ceramic, it looks really cool, as well. Kind of expensive, but I'm considering it. Since nobody seems to have one, I am a little worried about long term support.
Back to Weber - I don't understand why Weber doesn't put more into their kamado. Someone else on the thread stated that switched to the Kamado Joe because of the accessories. Usually it's Weber that wins the accessory battle with their grills. Everyone who has a Weber Kamado seems to love it. It is well documented that Babyback Maniac prefers it over any other grill in his substantial arsenal...
This post was edited on 12/6/21 at 1:46 pm
Posted on 12/7/21 at 9:02 am to Jax-Tiger
quote:
Back to Weber - I don't understand why Weber doesn't put more into their kamado. Someone else on the thread stated that switched to the Kamado Joe because of the accessories. Usually it's Weber that wins the accessory battle with their grills. Everyone who has a Weber Kamado seems to love it. It is well documented that Babyback Maniac prefers it over any other grill in his substantial arsenal...
A lot of the Weber accessories for their kettles are third party accessories. So many people own a kettle that there is a huge market for third party accessories. The Weber Summit Kamado is a very niche market and thus not many third party accessories.
However, after owning one for a while now, I don't really feel it needs any. My SNS never left my kettle and I haven't found any need for it in the Kamado yet. I do use the Vortex that I used in my kettle and that works great. You can also buy a lot of XL BGE and Kamado Joe accessories that will work too since they are the same 24 inch dimensions.
Posted on 12/7/21 at 10:41 am to Whatafrekinchessiebr
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