Kamado grills provide the best taste possible when grilling meat. Also called the smoke grill, it adds a smoky taste to almost any dish including meat, vegetables, and other dishes. Dishes prepared on the grill taste much better as compared to those cooked in the oven.
In a Hurry? Here are Our Top Choices
The roots of the Kamado grill can be traced back to ancient China. The cooking pots used about 3000 years in the Orient looked similar to Kamado grill. The grills have retained the same appearance with the addition of modern features like draft doors, vents, and grills to increase heating efficiency.
What Makes Kamado Grills Better Than Other Grills?
Kamado grills have ceramic grills that result in the flavorsome taste of the grilled food. The highlight of the gills is versatility. You can cook almost anything on the grills. The grill can be used to cook bread, pizzas, meat and much more.
Meat prepared on the grill taste juicy and succulent. The smoky flavor represents a real treat for the taste buds.
Most barbecue enthusiasts prefer kamado grills since it supports a range of temperature. The grills can easily reach temperatures of up to 7500. What’s more, the grills have a relatively short start-up time. You can get the grill up and running in just under 15 minutes. In contrast, other grills take around 30 minutes to reach optimum temperature.
The grill can maintain a high temperature for a long period making it optimal for barbecuing. Due to the heat retaining properties of the ceramic grill, the cooking vessel is preferred by expert chefs all over the world.
Selecting the Best Kamado Grill
A number of factors need to be considered when selecting a kamado grill. Let’s take a look at the most important factors that you should consider when deciding which grill to purchase for cooking.
Price
Kamado grills prices differ depending on the cooking space, design, and accessory options. You can expect to pay anywhere between $100 and $1000 or more for a good quality Kamado grill. The main consideration should be your cooking requirements and budget.
Build Quality
The quality of outer casing including wheels and legs should also be considered when buying a kamado grill. Good quality kamado grills are made of an aluminum base, steel grates, and a ceramic enclosure. These tend to provide the best heat when cooking. They also are durable providing excellent value for money.
Cooking Surface
The cooking surface should also be a major consideration when buying kamado grills. Make sure that space is adequate for cooking meat for the required number of people. If you cook for a small family, a grill with 9.5 inches surface area will be adequate.
However, if you intend to be barbecuing for a large group of friends or family members, you should select a grill with a surface area of at least 24 inches. There are a lot of sizes in between allowing you to select a grill that perfectly meets your needs.
Start Up Time
Startup time refers to the amount of time it takes for the grill to become ready for cooking. You should consider a kamado grill with 10 to 15 minutes of startup time. Anything more will result in great inconvenience when barbecuing outdoors.
Easy of Use and Clean
An often overlooked yet important factor when buying a grill is the ease of use and clean properties. You should select a grill with wheels as it will be easy to move around. The grill should be easy to start and maintain the desired temperature. Moreover, the cleaning of the grill should be carried out without any problems.
Additional Accessories
Make sure that the grill comes with the accessories that are required for cooking. Some of the accessories that come with kamado grill include drip pan, side shelves, racks, and grill cover. In addition, some grills also have a removable tray that allows easy cleaning of the grill.
Grill Shape
Grill shape is also an important consideration when buying a grill. You should consider a grill with an oval shape. These are more efficient as compared to grills with other designs. The oval design allows heat and smoke to circulate more efficiently resulting in better-cooked food.
What’s more, an oval-shaped grill is easier to access. You can reach the food at the center of the grill without much trouble.
The 5 Best Kamado Grills
Now that you know how to select the best grill for barbecuing, here is our pick of top 5 grills that you can buy online.
1. Char-Griller E16620 Akron Kamado Kooker Grill
- Product Dimensions 6 x 24.8 x 21.6 inches
- Item Weight 90 pounds
The Kamado grill is one of the top-rated grills that you can buy online. The grill has porcelain-coated steel finishing from the outside. The inside of the grill is powder coated that can withstand a large temperature.
This grill supports a minimum temperature of 200° F and a maximum temperature of up to 700°F. The 314 square-inch cast iron cooking surface can be expanded with a 133 square inch warming rack. This results in a total cooking surface of 447 square inches.
The Akron has easy dump ash pan and a stainless heat gauge. The two side shelves have utensil hooks that can be folded away when not required. There is a lock at the rear wheels thereby ensuring safety when cooking.
Pros
- Large cooking area — up to 447 square inch
- Locking caster
- 8-inch Wheels
- Dump ash pan allows easy cleaning
- Come with a warranty
- Easy dump ash pan
- Stainless temperature gauge
Cons
- Steel and ceramic cooker is inferior as compared to a full ceramic grill
- Seasoning is required before use to prevent sticking due to the cast iron cooking surface
2. Char-Griller E06614 AKORN Jr, Red Charcoal Kamado Grill
- Product Dimensions 5 x 21.5 x 25.3 inches
- Item Weight 37 pounds
Char-Griller is another great kamado grill. The cooking surface of this grill may not be large — 153 square inch — but the grill makes up for it due to being lightweight and portable.
The triple wall insulation of the grill help in retaining the maximum heat. The grill can cook at minimum temperatures that are standard for Kamado grills — between 200°F and 700°F.
This grill is made of 22 gauge steel and durable handles. The lightweight design and handles results in increased portability.
The grill has cast iron grates that require seasoning to avoid sticking of meat. The grill is ideal for cooking for a group of 2 to 4 individuals.
The built-in temperature pan allows accurate control of the heat. You can also buy a heat deflector and smoking stone for improved cooking. The grill is easy to assemble and convenient to use.
Pros
- Triple wall insulation
- Easy to assemble and use
- Adequate cooking area – 153 square inch
- Lightweight design allows easy portability
Cons
- Many require extra thermometer for accurate cooking
- Cast iron grate require seasoning
- Separate accessory required for smoking
- Accessories for smoking or indirect cooking need buying separately from the manufacturer
3. Louisiana Grills 61220 Kamado BBQ Ceramic Grill Cooker, 22″
- Product Dimensions 9 x 29.1 x 52 inches
- Item Weight 172 pounds
Louisiana Grills 61220 kamado grill has a surface area of 153 square inches. This makes it suitable for cooking for a group of up to 4 people. The cast iron grate allows heat retention and creates adequate grill marks.
The grill is made of 22-gauge steel instead of ceramic as is the case with high-end grills. The grill is lightweight and won’t break down easily. The triple wall construction helps in retention of maximum heat. The grill supports standard temperature setting for kamado grills. The handles of the grill make it easy to move to any location.
You can easily adjust the temperature easily due to the top and bottom air dampers. The hinged locking lid allows the grill to remain in a fixed position when cooking. The heat gauge allows you to easily know the correct temperature without having to open the lid. The dump pan makes cleaning the grill easy.
Pros
- Sturdy build
- Low price
- Easy to clean
- Efficient lump burning
- Cooking area suitable for up to 6 individuals
Cons
- No safety features like a wheel lock
4. Louisiana Grills 60900-LG900 LG 900 Pellet Grill, 913 Square Inch
- Product Dimensions 44 inch H x 39 inch W x 24 inch
- Item Weight 166 pounds
Louisiana Grill is another great kamado grill that contains a lot of classy features that has made it a favorite among grilling enthusiast. The grill is packed with features that allow smoke and open flame cooking.
The best Kamado grill is made of a heavy duty steel gauge. The gauge is of the 14-inch size that results in excellent cooking. The best thing about this grill is the large surface area. The grill has a cooking area of over 900 square inches. You can easily cook a meal for 10 to 15 individuals without much problem.
The grill has a removable upper cooking rack that results in extra spacing. The bottom shelf is made of a solid build allowing you to safely store all the tools.
The grill also boasts of a digital control center. This allows you to control the temperature as per the desired setting. This grill supports a temperature range between 1700 F and 6000 F. The grill also boasts of a programmable thermometer. Using the device, you can monitor and adjust the internal temperature and send the information to a digital system.
The grill comes with fan forced an electric ignition system. This allows you to select the desired setting to cook the meat. The manual system also allows for convection-style cooking. The grill can hold up to 14 pounds of wood resulting in great convenience when cooking meat.
The grill not just allows you to slow cook the meat but also has the option of open flame grilling. This makes it ideal for cooking burgers and steak.
The design of the kamado grills ensures durability as well as portability. The sturdy materials allow durability while lightweight design results in high portability. The grill has skate casters that allow you to take the grill with you outdoors.
The computer-controlled augur feed provides great convenience when grilling. The digital control system of this grill provides increased control. You can easily cool down the grill by touching a button. The unique design also results in more airflow resulting in improved heating. You can rest assured of a perfectly cooked and smoked meat with this grill.
Pros
- Durable build
- Large cooking area — about 900 square inch
- Temperature controller
- Flame Broiling
- Computer controlled augur feeder
- Affordable price
Cons
- Electrical outlet required
- Small pellet hopper
5. Vision Grills Pro Series Kamado Charcoal Grill
- Product Dimensions 20 x 19 x 18 inches
- Item Weight 50 pounds
Vision Grills Classic is a great ceramic grill that boasts of a surface cooking area that is ideal for singles or small families. The grill has a stainless steel grate that provides 87 square inches of cooking space. You can cook using lump charcoal similar to a full sized regular grill.
The dark gray finishing of the grill looks classy. The steel legs keep the grill above the ground. This allows you to cook on a table without any concern about the bottom heat.
A great thing about the grill is the large storage space. There are side shelves that can be folded for extra storage. In addition, the bottom draft door and top chimney result in improved temperature control.
You can take the grill with you when going on a hiking trip. The lightweight grill can be easily transported from one place to another.
Pros
- Calibrated top vent
- Stainless steel cooking grate does not require seasoning
- Wooden shelves
- Integrated temperature
- Spark vent with slide
- Foldable leg base
- Lightweight ensures high portability
Cons
- Small cooking area
- No looking hood
Our Final Thoughts
Now that you’ve seen some of the best Kamado grills around, you should be able to make a good decision when buying a new one. Any of these Kamado grills are great products and will fulfill your needs depending on what your preferences are.
