Purchasing a Kamado style grill can be a daunting decision, lets face it they ARE expensive. If you are like me then you really want to be sure that you are making the right decision. It doesn’t matter how many reviews you read or YouTube videos you watch there are always some answers that can only be sought from people that have owned them and really know what to look out for. This is why I have put together the Top 5 Kamado Tips for you. The Top 5 Kamado Tips that I wish I knew before I bought one.
I wish I knew how good kamado’s were, and their true versatility
Until you own a Kamado style cooker I don’t think you can truly get to know the complete versatility of them. From hot and fast grilling, low and slow smoking, rotisserie , reverse sear and pizzas are all possible with most Kamado cookers. With the right accessories, your Kamado can do just about anything.
If you are looking for a grill that really does cover all bases then a Kamado is probably for you.
I wish I would have gone bigger
I lot of people start out with one size Kamado and soon find themselves wishing that they would have gone to the next size up. I know that has happened to me. You certainly find that once you fall in love with the flavour profiles and tenderness that you can achieve on the Kamado cooker you just want to keep cooking more and more. The other major factor is the versatility. In most Kamados you can have multiple cooking zones. This allows you to cook so much more at the same time.
I definitely suggest go as big as the budget allows.
I wish I knew the complete range of accessories
Kamado cooking soon becomes an obsession. Well at least for me it has. Kamado and BBQ, in general, is a multibillion-dollar industry and there is a large market for accessories. The range at times does seem endless and for every subset of cooking styles, there is a key accessory. There are the basic items like Pizza Stones, rack expanders and different grilling surfaces (Soapstone, Salt block and cast iron.) When you really start your journey on the Kamado there is also a number of devices that control the temperature and monitor your cooking, these are really handy for those longer cooks
Warning – you will want everything 🙂
You will get More Friends once people taste your Kamado cooking
This is a given. Once you cook for people they are instantly in love ! You will find people are suddenly your best friends and inviting themselves around to your house for a BBQ and bringing others and now they are your best friends. Cooking on a Kamado is one of the best things I have done. And I hope that you find the right grill for you. If you haven’t already tasted food from a Kamado, try and seek out your nearest dealer and see if they are doing any demos. You will likely be surprised
Kamado’s are really heavy and not that easy to move
Most Kamado cookers can be purchased with a “nest” or trolley that allows them to be relatively easily moved on a flat surface, but what I mean here is that if you want to move house or take the Kamado to an event. This can be a lot more challenging because as the title says , they are really heavy, For example the classic Kamado Joe is approximately 188 lbs/85kg. They are also not a shape that is easily lifted.
If mobility is a priority for you, certainly take this into consideration. Even if you plan to use it only at home , have a plan and some strong friends to help you with the lifting.
I hope this has given some extra information and helps in your decision. If (when) you finally purchase your first Kamado be sure to let us know what you think.
You can also read my post about my purchasing my first kamado here.
If you are looking for some online options for your purchase , even if it is to compare prices in your area be sure to check out :
For the US and Europe
Unfortunately for us here in Australia we are a little less lucky in the variety we have on offer for Kamado retailers.
Till next time Joe On
Don’t forget to stop by the shop for the latest accessories for your grill
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