Best Kamado Grills & Smokers

Are you searching for a charcoal grill in 2019 that will serve for years and even your children might take advantage of in the future? Then we’ve got good news for you – an egg-shaped Kamado charcoal grill is a great option for those who prefer grilling in luxury.

4 Best Kamado Grill For The Money

What is a Kamado grill? It is a ceramic grill smoker, which many buyers choose today thanks to its durability and ancient Japanese Kamado traditions used in its design.

Manufacturers use old clay oven technology making the Kamado style grill extremely efficient. Their egg-shaped form and thick walls help retain heat for a long time. Today we will focus on certain criteria you should consider when choosing the best Kamado grill for it to meet all your requirements.

You will also find how to use a Kamado grill, and which one is better in the battles of Pit Boss Kamado vs Big Green Egg and Char Griller Akorn Kamado vs Big Green Eggand if Big Green Egg alternatives on the market are the best of the best?

Is the Big Green Egg cooker a winner? You can find all these in our Pit Boss Kamado reviews, Char Griller Akorn review, as well as in Vision grills reviews and Blaze Kamado review.

Having read them, you will be able to select an ideal egg style Komodo grill that will serve your favorite smoked dishes fast. Keep on reading and get to know which one might be named a king of Kamado grills.

If you do not know what good kamado grills should feature to be a perfect match for you, read our buyer’s guide and you will find all the answers.

Kamado grill Cooking area

Finding the necessary cooking area is an issue that concerns many buyers today. What is an optimal size for a single individual and can a Kamado grill serve enough food for a BBQ party? Let us figure it out.

There are many selections of such ceramic grills, which you may find on the market today. However, you should be aware that an optimal cooking area for an individual is about 9.5 inches; this is quite enough if you need to prepare food for a single person.

If you like grilling parties, you should consider buying a large Kamado grill; in this case, you should consider Kamado grills with a cooking area of 24 inches or more. There is no need to buy a huge grill if you cook small portions of food.

Buying a small ceramic grill will have you cooking burgers or hot dogs for quite a long time, as you cannot prepare all of them at once. 

Kamado grill Size

Here we are talking about the space you get between your food and the grill’s lid. The more space your device has, the more smoke it can hold inside while cooking.

If you prefer a rich smoke flavor and scent of your food, then having a big area will be great, but if you do not want a strong smoke flavor and prefer just a light hint of smoke, then a small distance might fit you.

Also the overall size of the grill matters, ceramic models are usually much bigger and heavier, while steel models are lightweight and easy-to-carry.

Kamado grill Materials

The most common materials Kamado grills are made from are stainless steel and ceramic. Each of them has its own pros and cons. If you are on a tight budget a stainless steel Kamado cooker is a great choice. They have much thinner walls, don’t hold heat as long, and are not as durable and are prone to rust.

However, if you have enough money to invest and are open to a large grill that weighs a lot, definitely buy a Kamado ceramic smoker– it will serve you for years retaining the same perfect condition.

A ceramic smoker is better at retaining heat and you will cook faster and more evenly. If you don’t place your stainless steel grill in your yard, and garage it or need it for traveling, then a small stainless steel grill will be okay for you.

On the contrary, if you are searching for a device that will stay in your yard, then it must be rust-resistant, and a porcelain smoker will be optimal for you.

Keep in mind the aforementioned details, and you will be able to make a rational choice that you will not regret after. 

Kamado grill Accessories

Did you know that you are not limited to the main cooking area of your grill? Modern Kamado grills are sold with many additional cooking accessories that come in the form of pizza stones, carts, rotisseries, racks etc.

Manufacturers try to simplify e your cooking experience with extra features. Before buying a new kitchen friend, always check what additional accessories your grill is sold with, as they might be quite useful for you.

Kamado grill price

The simple truth is that a kamado grill price is huge. Of course, it depends on the type of material and overall size. Stainless steel models are cheaper but have some disadvantages as stated above. On the contrary, buying a good ceramic grill means making a great investment and will serve you for years and you do not need to worry about replacing a cheap model regularly.

Warranty

While durable, the ceramic device might face such problems as cracking and chipping. That is why it is crucial to choose a device with a long porcelain smoker warranty. Choose manufacturers who can offer a long warranty; there are companies that will provide you with lifetime guarantees, however, some might have a short warranty period.

Before making a purchase, always check what offers your seller has and do research on the comments other customers have written online. All these guarantee no regrets after buying.

Char-Griller E06614 Akorn Jr. Kamado Kooker – best budget kamado grill

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Akorn Kamado Kooker is small, only 20.5” x 21.5” x 25.3” in size and a versatile device that can cook enough food for 1-3 people thanks to the 153 square inch cooking area and an additional 14” of cast iron grates. This portable Kamado smoker is quite lightweight – only 37 pounds, as it is durable, constructed with 22-gauge steel, and thus, its price is affordable.

With its two air dampers you precise temperature control. Its powder coated exterior and porcelain-coated interior will not let your budget Kamado grill rust or break easily. Like any other kamado-style grills, this can maintain a temperature of 200-700 degrees F inside thanks to its triple wall technology.

What is more, its other accessories include a dump ash pan, which means you won’t spend much time on cleaning after each use.

The manufacturer offers a different warranty for the grill and its parts, which you can find on the official website. The warranty covers 1 year for repairing or replacing a defective grill. Thus, you don’t need to worry if something happens with your device. It is a great choice for camping or tailgating, as with its ergonomic handles you can carry it easily.

Besides, it can be fueled with both propane and charcoal, thus you can choose what suits you. Keeping the above mentioned in mind, its price can really shock you, as it is less than $200!
Investing a few on a Char-griller Akorn Kamado Kooker, you will get an efficient device that will serve you for years and will not disappoint you.

If you do not have a big budget but cannot live without smoked meat, then buying this cheap Kamado grill might be a great bargain for you. 

Kamado Joe Classic – top rated kamado grill

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This well-structured top rated Kamado grill has everything you may need, from versatility to elegant design. Medium in size, only 26.4” x 26.4” inches, but quite heavy – 250 pounds, this is probably the best ceramic grill on the market, but its price might not be suitable for everyone, as it is quite expensive.

However, keeping in mind all the characteristics Kamado Joe Classic features, it is worth buying. Joe Classic features a large 256 square inch cooking area, which is more than enough for preparing food for the whole party.

Like many others ceramic Kamado grills, Joe Classic can keep a temperature between 225-750 degrees F inside, however, due to its thick walls, it remains cool outside, thus you will not burn yourself when using it. Besides, it has stainless steel grates, which means it is easy-to-clean and will not rust with as time passes.

Kamado Joe Smoker comes with additional accessories which make it even more versatile: a dump ash pan for easy cleaning, side shelves for better cooking, locking casters, a lifetime warranty, and ergonomic wheels, which help transport it easily.

Overall, this Kamado grill for pizza is a massive grill that can make your cooking dreams come true, and although it costs much, you will not regret spending money on it.

Char-Griller 16620 Akorn Kamado Kooker – best kamado grill for the money

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Let’s have a look at Char-Griller 16620 – another great option of this famous brand., This model features a cooking area of 26.6” x 24.8” x 21.6” and weighs 98 pounds. Being a steel made smoker can be considered a con for some people, but this is also a plus as it starts faster than ceramic models, however it can rust with through time.

It is quite a good kamado grill for a small price that might suit newbies that are just starting cooking and do not have enough money for expensive devices. Akorn Kamado Kooker can easily hold temperatures of 200-700 degrees F and you have a temperature control thanks to two dampers.

The cooking area is also quite large – you have 314 square inches of main cooking area plus 133” of a removable heat rack. It has side shelves on board, which means you have extra space for chopping or marinading your food.

Our final verdict is that this device is a good choice if you are a beginner at grilling because it has all the necessary functions and will do the job perfectly. Additionally, you can repair or replace the unit one year from the date of purchase thanks to the manufacturer’s warranty.

Pit Boss 71220 Kamado – best ceramic grill for sale

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The last model we have reviewed is Pit Boss Kamado Grill – a real grilling chief that will assist you in grilling steaks or make burgers. However, it is quite massive, it’s dimensions are 45.9” x 29.1” x 52” and weighs 178.6 pounds. It is the best ceramic grill for sale that can retain high temperature and consume less charcoal.

This Kamado style smoker has a huge cooking area – about 567 square inches and two bamboo side shelves, which make it very versatile. However, it comes in two sizes – 22-inches and 24-inches in diameter, thus you can choose which one you like.

What is more, it has two-level cast iron grates, which let you take full control of cooking and the top damper allows controlling the airflow with ease. Besides, this ceramic barbecue helper has a thermometer installed, thus you can clearly see the temperature inside.

To conclude, we want to say that Pit Boss Kamado cooker is great, it has all the features a good grill must have and you can be sure of the high-quality of this grill and enjoy cooking every time you use it.

Besides, you are safe because of the seller’s warranty covers different warranty periods depending on the part of the grill. 

We have reviewed the four top-rated Kamado style grills at different price ranges, construction, and functionality. You will always recognize Kamado devices because their egg-shaped form, however, for some people such a design might not be appealing, but it makes these grills very efficient.

Overall, we may say that Kamado grills are worth buying, though they are quite expensive. There are two main models of this type of grill on the market – ceramic and stainless steel. Stainless steel models are much cheaper, though they are not as durable, thus if you are just beginning grilling, you can choose Char-Griller E06614 Akorn Jr. Kamado Kooker or Char-Griller 16620 Akorn Kamado Kooker.

However, if you have enough money, you can invest in a durable ceramic grill. Here the best fits are Kamado Joe Classic and Pit Boss 71220 Kamado. No matter which Kamado grill you choose, they are worth every penny spent.