KAMADO JOE GRILLS

Why the Kamado Joe?

This is currently my high end grill/smoker. It's great and very versatile but also my most expensive. That is till I upgrade to a real off-set smoker.

Hindsight I should have gone for the Big Joe. Now I'm saving for the off set for my next upgrade. The temp is easy to manage and it can cook for hours. However the downside is if you do have a brisket or even a pork but and run out of fuel it's difficult but not impossible to add more fuel. If you run out of fuel at that point you might as well transfer to the oven as the meat won't gain any more smoke flavor at that point.

There are plenty of accessories to add to this. I highly recommend a charcoal basket and the cast iron grates are nice.

Is the III better than the II? That all depends on your budget. See below for the differences.

CLASSIC II

The Classic II is Kamado Joe's most popular ceramic charcoal grill, (It's the one I own) perfect for typical backyard grilling and smoking and any new ceramic griller. This ceramic bbq grill set a new high standard for craftsmanship with built-in features for hassle-free cooking and an adjustable 18 inch cooking surface with the 2-tier Divide & Conquer® Flexible Cooking System. Innovation comes standard with each kamado ceramic grill from Kamado Joe.

Trying to decide between a Kamado Joe Classic I vs. Classic II? You can expect both to offer a Kamado Joe Classic 18 inch cooking surface. But there are a few features that make the Classic II the most popular. The mold and water resistant Kontrol Tower Top Vent maintains precise airflow for consistent temperatures. The patented Air Lift Hinge makes opening and closing your grill a breeze and reduces dome weight by 96%. To make sure you achieve the perfect cook every time, the wire mesh gasket seal is made with fiberglass for a superior air-tight seal.

Model Number: KJ23RHC

THE SLOROLLER

Is it worth the upgrade?

One of the main differences between the II and the III or the Big Joe II and III is the SloRoller accessory. Aside from the cart and the metal shelves you can now purchase the SloRoller for the older models and it will be cheaper than buying the newest style Kamado. I'll let you decide on that one. Check out the accessories page to find the lowest prices on the SloRoller.

Watch the YouTube Video of the KJ crew designing it with Harvard.

Divide and Conquer Cooking Rack

The Divide and Conquer Cooking rack makes the more Joe versatile than most of their competition out there. The half moon grates and heat deflectors allow for it's flexible cooking system to be set up for many different style cooks. My favorite setup is for reverse searing a great steak. The best part of Divide and Conquer rack is that it comes with the purchase of the Joe. It isn't an expensive aftermarket accessory. When you are spending thousands on a ceramic style kamado you don't want to drop another $500+ dollars on accessories. Check out the video below from Kamado Joe on the Divide and Conquer Rack.

Yet another reason why the Kamado Joe is the best ceramic kamado out there!

You may have seen this video on my accessories page as well but here it is again. BBQGuys.com top 12 Kamado must have essentials video.

You can take the wood chips/chunks and the lump off the list to make this a top 10 because they are fuel and the lump is required. So that leaves us with the KJ Classic III and the Big Joe III with 3.5 accessories included out of the box out of the 10 must have items. Why 3.5? The Divide and Conquer does off tiered cooking so it can act as an expander. The catch is you need another grate, but the good news is that grate can be the sear grate saving money om just buying one item instead of two.

In fact Kamado Joe makes everything on this list with the exception of the wood chips and a BBQ Thermometer. They do however have an electric starter. By having branded products that will ensure there are no fitment issues or no modifications needed. Some accessories can void warranties as well which can be extremely costly.

Top 12 Kamado Grill Accessories