Personally, we have used the Big Green Egg for many, many years to get the perfect smoke or grill flavor we seek. We have used it to test different types of charcoal and the Big Green Egg as always done everything we need it to do. It would take a lot for us to decide not to use out Big Green Egg anymore, but the features of the Kamado Joe's grills are certainly intriguing. However, if you're an enthusiastic outdoor chef who is happy to linger over preparing alfresco meals – potentially all year round thanks to that heat-retaining ceramic shell – and you're willing to put in some practice to master your fire skills, then we think the Kamado Joe Classic Joe Series II BBQ could have your name on it. Our expert found it to be just as good as a quality, traditional smoker. It did take eight hours to smoke our pork, but such is the nature of smoking meat. The reward for their patience? Tender, melt-in-the-mouth pulled pork with a lovely oak flavour. A real BBQ game-changer. We are not liable for any delay or default in Big Green Egg’s performance under the Warranty caused by any event or contingency beyond our control, including, without limitation, acts of God, war, government restrictions or restraints, strikes, fire, floods, transportation delays or reduced supply of materials. Limitations: The only downside was that the fairly widely spaced grill meant we lost a few peppers from our halloumi and roasted vegetable skewers into the BBQ interior – and once lost it was impossible to get them out.

Shopping for a kamado grill is a challenge because there are many types and sizes of grills to choose between. Two of the most popular brands on the market are from Kamado Joe and The Big Green Egg. Today, we are going to explore the similarities and differences of these two smokers and help you determine which one will suit your cooking needs the best. What is a Kamado Style Grill? Grilling felt pretty exciting compared to gas BBQ cooking, with plenty of smoke and sizzling, and all of our sausage and burger taste-testers were thoroughly impressed with the smokey charring that the Kamado Joe delivered. In most cases, either type will have plenty of additional griddle and cooking options, including pizza stones, pans for larger cuts of meat, and additional cooking space, side shelves and tool hooks for when the party stretches beyond just a few mates and their buns. A handful of Kamado Joe-brand accessories, including the JoeTisserie rotisserie attachment, will fit the Big Green Egg. Many kamado users also love the addition of a ceramic surface to deflect heat. This allows for indirect cooking, and many cooks use it to turn their grill into a smoker or outdoor oven. Both Big Green Egg and Kamado Joe have their own version of this ceramic piece, and you can use them interchangeably between both brands. Lighting a kamado grill is very similar to lighting a charcoal grill. You'll want to open its air vents all the way to ensure oxygen can enter the chamber, then you can use a chimney starter or electric starter to light your lump charcoal.This roundup was updated by Arricca SanSone, who has been grilling since she owned her first tiny hibachi in college. She’ll grill anything, but her favorite food to grill is homemade pizza with veggies and herbs from her own garden. She is a health and lifestyle writer for Prevention, Country Living, Veranda, House Beautiful, PureWow, and many others. There are a couple of downsides to the Kamado Joe Classic Joe Series II BBQ. Firstly, it's weighty – very weighty – and both set-up and manouevre will prove a little problematic if you're not blessed with the ability to lift its 104kg weight with ease. One issue we had when grilling the steak was that the internal temperature registered by the grill's external wired-probe thermometer (plugged into the Kontrol Board) only updated when the lid was opened and then closed. The temperature displayed on the Kontrol Board was not a "live" recording of the steak's internal temperature, which is problematic. We went ahead and inserted an additional wired-probe thermometer into the steak to monitor the internal temperature—something we'd recommend to be on the safe side. Opening the lid of the egg also makes the body wobble a little on the stand which was a little troubling to begin with. Next upgrade can we have a sturdier base please Kamado Joe? Very. In fact, the fuss-free clean-up was one of our favourite things about it. For the Big Green Egg to ‘self-clean’, you simply fire it up as normal, close the dome and let it burn at 300C for a solid 20 minutes. Any leftover food scraps will be burnt to ash, ready for you to collect from the fire grate through the draft door at the bottom. Just be sure to leave the vents open while cleaning is in progress.

The decision to buy a kamado grill will change grilling forever. Kamado grills have been around for thousands of years and provide an ideal way to cook. What Brands Make Kamado Grills? Scoring a mighty 96/100 overall, it’s safe to say that our expert was thoroughly impressed by this charcoal cooker. Let’s find out why. The pros attempting to suspend the EGG by any means other than an approved BGE Nest or solid, non-combustible surface under the baseBoth designs look similar, except that one is a ceramic green egg and the other is red. The similarities largely stop there. The Big Green Egg is a traditional style kamado grill. It features a single level of cooking surface with a top and bottom vent that are adjustable. The heavy lid uses a spring to prevent breakage. Plus, it comes with a lifetime warranty and self-cleaning abilities, both perks that help it stand out from the BBQ crowd. Why is the Big Green Egg so expensive? Kamado grills are made from heavy, engineered ceramic material and once heated or 'heat soaked,' they will cook very efficiently for hours with minimal effort," explained Paul Sidoriak of Grilling Montana. "They can be used to smoke a prime rib, roast veggies, bake a cheesecake, and grill up burgers—all in the same day! There’s almost nothing you can’t make on a kamado grill."

Kamado grills are fairly unique in their design, and these grills stand out from other charcoal grills thanks to their egg-shaped form and ceramic walls. The ceramic exterior retains heat better than traditional metal grills, and it also helps to keep moisture and smoke sealed inside, giving your food a richer flavor. Every kamado grill we tested excels in our cooking tests, but they differ significantly in two key areas: convenience and cleaning. The best kamados not only cook well but also make it easy to build a hot fire or dial down the temperature for ribs or brisket. They’re also easy to clean. Many have ash catchers, or trays, while others need to be disassembled for a thorough cleaning. Kamado grills came to the United States following World War 2, when American servicemembers saw the Japanese mushikamado grills popular across that country. The Big Green Egg originated in the 1970's and the company has established itself as an industry leader for quality, customer service, and excellent attention to product design. The name is because it looks like a green big egg. While not the first Kamado cooker in the States, Big Green Eggers are some of the most enthusiastic grill masters around. The community posts recipe ideas and innovative ways to cook every imaginable thing online. The Big Green Egg has built a loyal following of people not easily swayed by new-fangled approaches to cooking on a ceramic grill. These ceramic grills are instantly recognizable by the green hammered finish and the distinct egg shape. What Sets the Kamado Joe Grill Apart? You'll need to spend time learning how to control the cooking temperature using the air vents, and watching YouTube videos to learn the art of perfectly smoking brisket or cooking pulled pork. Our GHI expert first assessed how easy the set-up instructions were to follow and then they got grilling.It is undeniably expensive, especially once you factor in the natural charcoal, accessories and purchasing a stand. But it created delicious results that reflected its high price-tag, and we can’t fault its flawless meat-cooking abilities. We were the first ceramic grill in the world to stand behind our products by offering a Limited Lifetime Warranty — something we've done for over 20 years. Today, each Big Green Egg is inspected and certified to be the highest quality product of its kind, and we continue to offer best-in-class customer service and warranty support to our customers. Core Ceramic Components For either brand, learning to control your heat is key. Both designs are capable of maintaining just the right temperature while cooking on charcoal, but you must first learn to use the vents in the best way. Once you have the technique down for keeping your temperature in a specific range, you can cook or grill anything imaginable on either a Big Green Egg or a kamado from Joe's. This model weighs 73kg. That’s not an issue if you’re planning on keeping it in the same spot all year round, but if you want something portable, it may not be for you. It requires two or more people to lift it – something to keep in mind. Our verdict Inspired by an Asian clay cooker called a ‘kamado’, the Big Green Egg is a charcoal grill that set out to "redefine barbecue" and took the grilling world by storm. It even has its own loyal fanbase called ‘Eggheads’.

Known by many as the ultimate barbecue, Big Green Eggs really do live up to their reputation. The Big Green Egg is a kamado style ceramic BBQ capable of all types of cooking from grilling a burger, through to baking bread and roasting a whole Sunday Roast Dinner! Make sure the bottom intake and top vent are open all the way. Now, let the grill come to your desired temperature. You’ll use a combination of the top and bottom vents to control the amount of air that flows through the grill. The more air allowed in, the hotter the grill will get. To cook at a lower temperature, limit the airflow that comes in the bottom and escapes from the top. Try not to let your grill get above your desired temperature because it’s difficult to lower because of how ceramic holds the heat. Once you reach the right temperature, start cooking. Warranty on Metal, Stainless Steel and Cast Iron Components does not cover rust, oxidation, fading or other blemishes unless it also results in a loss of structural integrity or a failure of these components of the EGG. Wood Components:

Charcoal, pellet or gas… Which barbecue fuel is best?

This Limited Warranty is non-transferable. The Big Green Egg does not authorise any person or representative to make or assume for BGE any obligation or liability in connection with the sale of any EGG or BGE product.