By
James
Updated on
Smokers and grillers come in different shapes, kinds and sizes. Each different variety comes with unique cooking benefits. One particular type of smoker that was useful to our grilling predecessors, and even to this day, are kamado smokers.
Traditional kamado smokers were characterized by an “urn” or egg-like shape that was made with clay or ceramic. The shape resembled tandoors, whose construction and large shape allowed for different cooking benefits.
The fuel that is used for kamado smokers are not pre-soaked charcoal or wood, truly infusing the meat with a smoky flavor that is not from the lighter fluid that is used in other types of smokers.
The construction of kamado grills and the usage of lump coal also allows for a stable cooking temperature that can reach up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit.
With all these cooking benefits, we have selected the 6 best kamado smokers that you can get your hands on online.
Our Top Picks
Below is a summary of the top picks from our SummerBaron.com team. To help you understand where each pick ranked, we have included “badges” next to each pick’s key findings. “Best Overall” is a combination of price and value. “Best Budget” is great for summer lovers who want a top-quality product but are on a tighter budget. “High End” is for people who just want the best, and price is no object.
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Product
Folds compactly for storage and offers three different height adjustments
Easy to clean with a cup holder for baby
Folds compactly for storage and offers three different height adjustments
Easy to clean with a cup holder for baby
Folds compactly for storage and offers three different height adjustments
Easy to clean with a cup holder for baby
Reviews of Each Pick
Looking for the top gas smokers to buy online? Here are my top 6 picks! Continue reading to learn more about buying a gas smoker online without getting ripped off.
PIT BOSS Grills Kamado
Folds compactly for travel and storage
Removable and washable padded seat
Brake pads that prevent the walker from going over steps
Might be better suited for taller babies
Might be better suited for taller babies
Out of all of the best kamado smokers, the Pit Boss was my favorite.
Why?
First off, it’s as heavy-duty as it gets, has a spacious ceramic cooking grill at 22-inchs which makes it possible for large batches of meat in a short amount of time or you can grill multiple cuts at once.
Moreover, It can reach as high as 700 degrees Fahrenheit to give your meat and food a sweet and crispy outer char. Also, you can easily control the temperature with top and bottom dampers. This is a heavy-duty, world-class Kamado style grill that offers versatility and gives an authentic, smokey charcoal flavor to your meat.
Also, you don’t have to worry about burring yourself because the edges are covered in fireproof felt trim, the lid has a shock absorber in case its dropped so it shouldn’t break. Lastly, you get solid bamboo shelves that work as your storage for grilling equipment and essentials, which conveniently fold down to allow compact and easy storage.
About the company:Pit Boss Grills is an Arizona-based manufacturer of grills and grilling equipment under Dansons, Inc. it is well-known for its high-quality, durable, and family-style approach to grilling and grilling products.
Char-Griller E16620
Sturdy portable wheels
Easy dump ash pan
Interior porcelain coated steel
There has been mention on the quality of the product
Char-Griller’s kamado grill is highly recommended by previous customers because of It’s incredibly versatile and easy to use no-ignition system.
The 314 square inches of cast-iron cooking grates for larger batches and more significant meat cuts makes it very user-friendly. This is an ample cast iron grill space that can accommodate your large family’s food needs.
The triple-walled construction of the Char-Griller kamado grill is efficient at retaining heat and keeping it steady at 200 to 700 degrees Fahrenheit.
You’ll find the heating system to be perfect for high heat searing or slow cooking your favorite meat cuts.
There is a pull-out ash pan that can be dumped out for an easy, on the go cleaning, unlike other less convenient kamado grills. The body is supported by short and sturdy legs that prevent tailgating and keeps your grilling safe and secure.
The portability and versatility of this kamado grill it is undoubtedly the best—especially when cooking in the outdoors, away from the comforts of your backyard.
Char-Griller is a famous, professional company that manufactures the best grills and grilling accessories in the market. They offer a wide range of grills and smokers, from traditional, double-fueled, gas-powered, pellet grills and kamado-style ones. The reviews on this product from past customers are mostly positive, with most remarking on the efficiency and versatility. Others highlight the easy to clean feature and durability of the ceramic.
Kamado Joe KJ23RH Classic I
Control Tower Top Vent lets you control air flow for precise temperature control
Slide-out drawer, cleanup is easy
Divide & Conquer Flexible Cooking System
On the expensive side
Kamado Joe grill will revolutionize your grilling experience with it’s 2-tier Divide and Conquer Flexible Cooking system which allows different kinds and techniques of cooking all at once.
You get a 18-inch ceramic grill and cast iron cart that is large and spacious, perfect for large family BBQs and different meat choices that can be cooked all at the same time.
This kamado grill has a “Kontrol Top Tower Vent” feature allows the precise entry of air for accurate and smooth temperature control. The dual-adjustment top is also highly durable as it is designed to be rain and mold-resistant. This mechanism will allow you to slow smoke at 225 degrees Fahrenheit and high sear at 750 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Advance Multi-panel six-piece design ensures that your ceramic Kamado Joe grill will not break easily.
The Classic II set is the most popular among the Kamado Joe Classics and applies a better standard to grilling quality and innovation.
Kamado Joe is a famous brand for it’s kamado grills and accessories. They pride themselves in continuous innovation in their long line of kamado grills. For this particular Kamado Joe grill, customers are incredibly pleased with the high-quality construction and easy usage superior to other, more expensive kamado’s.
Char-Griller E06614
Easy to clean with the stainless steel ash pan
Small and compact if you don’t want to take up to much space
Can be to small for most people
This is the junior, smaller, more compact, and more portable of the Char-Griller AKORN Kamado Grill. Like its bigger version, the smaller version does not disappoint and truly serves its purpose as a budget-friendly, more compact kamado grill.
You get a 153-inch cast iron cooking space, and an insulated design ensures that the heat is kept within the grilling system. It prevents airflow from creating juicy and delicious meat.
It can maintain heat from 220 degrees Fahrenheit to 700 degrees Fahrenheit, making it possible to smoke and sear, depending on your cut of meat or preference. You can also accurately have a read of the internal temperature with built-in heat gauges.
The durable main body is 22 gauge steel with an exterior powder, while the interior steel is coated with porcelain. Meaning your Char-Griller Kamado Jr grill is built to last you a long time.
There are two adjustable top and bottom dampers for precise and easy temperature control and ensure that your meat is cooked according to the temperature instructions.
While highly efficient and extremely durable, it is also made easy to clean with a stainless steel ash pan that you can easily dump out for quick cleaning.
The Char-Griller Kamado Jr grill is of the same quality and construction in terms of differences with its bigger brother. The only difference comes with the sizes. While the bigger one is 314 square inches, this one is only 153 square inches. Reviews are all positive, with everyone being satisfied with its compact performance, which is on par with its bigger counterpart.
Kamado Joe Classic II
You can open it with one finger
Six-piece design eliminates breakage
Divide and Conquer Flexible Cooking System
Expensive for a small product
This is the stand-alone version of the other Kamado Joe Classic II kamado grills. Like all kamado grills that Kamado Joe releases, this one is also made high-quality and met by others’ positive reviews and recommendations.
The Breakthrough Air Lift Hinge reduces the weight by up to 96%. Plus, you can easily open the lid, you can even use just one finger to lift it.
There is also a Divide and Conquer Flexible Cooking System that allows a multilevel cooking space that will allow you to cook different kinds of food with different techniques at the same time.
The control tower top vent is rain-proof, no-rust, and is made of all-aluminum. The patented design makes it easy to maintain a consistent airflow within the internal grilling system so that you can properly and precisely control the airflow depending on your temperature needs.
The rim of this stand-alone kamado grill is lined with an all-new and double-thick fiberglass gasket to ensure that you have an airtight seal that will prevent heat from escaping, from properly maintaining a consistent internal temperature.
It’s highly durable, with the new advanced multipanel with a six-piece design. Also, all kamado grills from the Classic II set are thick-walled and heat resistant so the whole ceramic body can lock in the smoke and heat for maximum flavor. The cooking surface is made of commercial-grade 304 stainless steel.
Satisfied User Takeaway: “So glad I ponied up the big bucks for this. Almost impossible to screw up a steak. Just watch any You Tube video on how to with this thing and you’re cooking like a pro. One of my better choices so for in this life. Very pleased.”
Another on the list from Char-Griller that doubles as a Kooker grill and a smoker. Like all kamado grills from Char-Griller, this is also highly recommended with the right amount of positive reviews.
This versatile grill can also be turned into a smoker, depending on your preferences. It is triple-walled with 22 gauge steel. The construction is topnotch and is designed to keep the internal temperature constant within 200 to 700 degrees Fahrenheit.
This kamado grill and smoker combo come with various accessories. A grill cover is made with weather-resistant PVC vinyl to ensure it’s safe from the elements when it is not in use. There is also a smokin’ stone will allow you to use it as a grill and smoker combo set as a convection oven. This stone can be used for pizza or smoking your meat so that it becomes moist and tender.
Like the other kamado grills from Char-Griller’s AKORN line, this is also made to be versatile and easy to use. There are two adjustable dampers (top and bottom) to adjust the airflow quickly and easily control the temperature. There is a dump out ash pan for easy and convenient cleaning. There are also convenient folding side shelves that can serve as a tool rack while you are grilling.
Many customers are satisfied with their Char-Griller kamado grills and smoker sets, remarking on the excellent construction and versatile design that is a total bang for the buck.
Pros
- Weather-resistant PVC vinyl
- Dump out ash pan for easy and convenient cleaning
- Adjust the airflow easily
Cons
- Not as highly reviewed compared to the other brands
What to look for when buying Kamado smokers
While kamado smokers are generally remarkably beneficial and useful, there are still some things that you should keep in mind when you go shopping for them. Here are some tips to remember when making your decision:
Consider the material
The standard material is ceramic. Ceramic is durable and rust-resistant. It is also an excellent material when it comes to keeping temperatures stable. However, the main drawback is that ceramic is quite fragile and bulky. If you plan to move your griller to picnics and other locations, you might want to consider kamado smokers made of lighter materials such as metal.
Buy smokers with good-quality built-in temperature gauges.
Temperature gauges are handy and essential in getting an accurate read on the grilling system’s internal temperature. It’s critical to have a high-quality built-in temperature gauge with your kamado smoker so that your meat will cook to perfection at the right temperatures.
The quality
Grills and smokers are meant to last you a lifetime. They are an investment that you shouldn’t cut corners for. That’s why it’s essential to buy a high-quality, well-constructed kamado smoker. Also, the thicker the walls of the smoker’s body, the better it will retain a consistent internal temperature and the lesser fuel it needs. This particular highlight in the design is made for durability and efficiency.
The size
You can get different sizes, with some that have 22-inch, 18-inch, and 14-inch diameters. There are also small, mini versions that are meant to be more portable than their bigger counterparts. The smaller ones are ideal for grilling in remote locations, like camping or picnicking. The size is determined by what you are planning to use smoker, if it’s for large family outings, make sure to buy smokers with ample cooking space. Also, consider the meat cuts that you foresee yourself to be grilling in this smoker in the future.
Consider the cleaning regime.
Some older, less advanced kamado grills still don’t employ the wonders of a pull-out ash pan that can be dumped for fast and easy cleaning. Earlier generations are still old-fashioned, wherein you need to disassemble to clean the grill properly.
About The Author
Reviewed by
James
James is a writer who is a self-confessed kitchenware and coffee nerd and a strong advocate of Sundays, good butter, and warm sourdough.
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