The best kamado grills boast a rich history that stretches back thousands of years. The new kamado grill, on the other hand, is shaped like an egg and has insulation around it. With a lid that opens and closes on a hinge, it has plenty of room above and below the grates for good airflow. Even though most of the best kamado grills are made of clay, some are also made of steel or cast iron. The thick walls of these grills provide excellent insulation, making them very efficient and able to keep temperatures very high or very low. Because of this, they work well for both cooking and smoking.
Paul Sidoriak from Grilling Montana says, “Kamado grills are made of strong, engineered ceramic materials.” Once they have been heated, or “heat soaked,” they can cook without much help for a long time. With a kamado grill, you can smoke a delicious prime rib, roast a variety of veggies, bake a delicious cheesecake, or grill juicy burgers all in the same day! You can cook almost anything on a kamado grill. Below we have mentioned the best kamado grills.
Best Kamado Grills Comparison Table
| Grill Model | Kamado Joe Classic Joe III | Kamado Joe Classic II | Char-Griller E16620 Akorn | Vision Grills S-4C1D1 | Primo Grills All-in-One Oval XL 400 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charcoal Grill Type | Kamado | Kamado | Kamado | Kamado | Kamado |
| Cooking Surface (sq. in.) | 510 | 406 | 447 | 604 | 400 |
| Grill Material | Ceramic | Ceramic | Steel | Ceramic | Ceramic |
| Temperature Range (°F) | 225-750 | 225-750 | 200-700 | 200-700 | 150-850 |
| Weight (lbs) | 250 | 188 | 90 | 230 | 250 |
Kamado Joe Classic Joe III Charcoal Grill
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Grill Type | Kamado |
| Cooking Area | 24 inches |
| Construction | Ceramic and stainless steel |
| Temperature Range | 225°F to 750°F (107°C to 399°C) |
| Air Lift Hinge | Yes |
| Divide & Conquer System | Yes |
| Ash Drawer | Yes |
| Grill Weight | 250 pounds |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime |
The people at Kamado Joe don’t sit back and take credit for their work. The previous Kamado Joe Classic was a high-quality grill that did well in our tests. With the patented SlRoller insert, which creates cyclonic airflow that controls both heat and smoke for low and slow cooking up to 500 degrees, the Classic Joe III takes cooking to a whole new level. When it’s time for higher temps, which can reach up to 750 degrees, the SlRoller can be switched out for heat deflector plates to make the perfect sear on a steak or an amazing restaurant-style pizza. Overall, it is one of the best kamado grills that you can buy.
The 3-tier Divide and Conquer cooking system on this 510-square-inch grill gives you more cooking room closer to or farther from the coals, as well as different cooking surfaces for different kinds of food. During tests, we tried out different recipes, from baby back ribs to pizza, and the temperatures stayed the same the whole time. We quickly learned how to use the vents to control the heat and airflow. Once the built-in thermometer hit the right temperature, we felt comfortable leaving the grill alone.
Pros
- Air Lift Hinge for easy lid lifting.
- Ash drawer for convenient cleanup.
- Generous cooking area of 24 inches.
Cons
- Heavier weight may make it difficult to move around.
- Higher price point compared to other charcoal grills.
Kamado Joe Classic II Charcoal Grill
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Grill Type | Kamado |
| Cooking Area | 18 inches |
| Construction | Ceramic and stainless steel |
| Temperature Range | 225°F to 750°F (107°C to 399°C) |
| Air Lift Hinge | Yes |
| Divide & Conquer System | Yes |
| Ash Drawer | Yes |
| Grill Weight | 188 pounds |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime |
This classic 18-inch grill is a clear choice among users, so it’s hard to find something to complain about. This grill is a pleasure to use, from the stainless steel hardware to the lid that opens with two fingers and stays in any position to the special ash drawer that makes cleaning up easy. It has a total of 406 square inches of cooking room and can keep heat between 225 and 750 degrees, so you can use it to cook slowly or turn up the heat to cook pizzas quickly. Still, it is one of the best kamado grills that you can buy.
Like the Classic Joe III, the Divide and Conquer cooking system lets you cook different foods at different temperatures. The grate gripper tool that comes with the system makes it easy to move or change grates the way you want. There is also a built-in thermometer, and the top vent will stay right where you put it to keep the heat you need. It takes some time to figure out how the air system works, but once we did, we could grill or smoke in any weather, even when it was below freezing and there were strong winds. During tests, we ate smoked ribs, steaks cooked on the grill, and pizza in the middle of winter.
Pros
- Convenient ash drawer for easy cleanup.
- Reasonable cooking area of 18 inches.
Cons
- Relatively heavy, which may pose challenges when transporting.
Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado Charcoal Grill
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Grill Type | Kamado |
| Cooking Area | 314 square inches |
| Construction | Triple-walled steel |
| Temperature Range | 200°F to 700°F (93°C to 371°C) |
| Ash Pan | Yes |
| Adjustable Dampers | Yes |
| Grill Weight | 97 pounds |
| Warranty | 5 years |
This grill is not made of ceramic, but from triple-walled 22-gauge steel. It has a powder-coated outside and a porcelain-coated inside. Not only is it unusual for a Kamado grill to be made of steel instead of clay, but so is the price. This grill is a quarter of the price and works well. This grill has 314 square inches of main cooking space on cast iron cooking grates and another 133 square inches on the upper rack, so you’ll have plenty of room to cook, smoke, and do other things. It can keep temperatures between 200 and 700 degrees, so it can go from low and slow to very hot. There are numbers on the damper, which makes it easy to remember which setting you like best.
After a little trouble putting it together and giving the cast-iron grates a good cleaning, we were ready to put it to the test. It was very easy to put it in the right spot in the garden, but you should keep a close eye on it while it’s preheating. It was so well insulated that the temperature inside had nothing to do with what was going on outside. No matter what the weather was like, we found that we could grill and smoke. Overall, it is one of the best kamado grills that you can buy.
Pros
- Affordable option for a kamado-style grill.
- Efficient triple-walled steel construction.
- Wide temperature range for versatile cooking.
- Ash pan for easy ash removal.
Cons
- Smaller cooking area compared to other kamado grills.
- Some users report difficulty in maintaining consistent temperatures.
Vision Grills S-4C1D1 Kamado Professional Ceramic Charcoal Grill
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | S-4C1D1 |
| Grill Type | Kamado Ceramic Charcoal Grill |
| Cooking Area | 604 square inches |
| Material | Ceramic and stainless steel |
| Fuel Type | Charcoal |
| Temperature Range | 200°F to 700°F |
| Air Flow Control | Dual-function metal top vent |
| Grate Material | Porcelain-coated cast iron |
| Additional Features | Electric starter, ash drawer |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 30.1″ x 27.4″ x 46.3″ |
| Weight | 210 lbs |
The Vision Grills Kamado Professional Ceramic Charcoal Grill has a lot going for it, but there are a few things that keep it from being our top pick. I like the price better than some of the more expensive grills on this list, especially since the Vision comes with a stand, two side tables that fold down, and a grill cover. I like that it has an ash drawer, which makes removing ashes much easier, and some of the available accessories, such as an electric starter and a gas conversion kit that lets you use the grill with either natural gas or propane.
The ash drawer doesn’t fit inside the firebox like the other buckets on a kamado grill, and you can’t take the whole bottom of the grill off with it. Instead, the bottom of the grill has a big rectangular area that can be taken off. Currently, it is one of the best kamado grills that you can buy.
Pros
- Durable ceramic construction ensures excellent heat retention.
- Large cooking area allows for versatile cooking options.
Cons
- The grill’s weight may pose challenges for portability.
Primo Grills All-in-One Oval XL 400 Ceramic Kamado Grill
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Kamado Grill |
| Model | Oval XL 400 |
| Material | Ceramic |
| Cooking Area | Large |
| Fuel Type | Charcoal |
| Temperature Range | 150°F to 850°F |
| Weight | Varies |
| Dimensions | Varies |
| Additional Features | All-in-One design |
The Primo Grills All-In-One Oval XL is one of the largest clay cookers on the market. It has been made in the U.S. since 1996. This grill has everything you need in one place: a base, a grid lifter, an ash tool, and side shelves. But before you order, you should make sure you have room for it because it weighs a huge 305 pounds.
This grill is made of high-quality ceramic that keeps heat, moisture, and flavor better than other materials. It has an oval shape that lets you cook meat and vegetables at different temperatures without sacrificing the right cooking temperature. Overall, it is one of the best kamado grills that you can buy.
Pros
- Versatile cooking capabilities with a Kamado Grill design.
- Large cooking area provides ample space for grilling and smoking.
- Precise temperature control for achieving desired results.
Cons
- The large size may not be suitable for users with limited outdoor space.
FAQs
A traditional Japanese charcoal grill made of clay is called a Kamado grill. It is a useful cooking tool that is known for keeping and spreading heat well. People often use Kamado grills to cook, smoke, roast, and bake food.
Yes, you can smoke food in a Kamado grill with wood chips or bits. Before you use the wood chips, soak them in water for about 30 minutes. Drain the extra water and put the wet wood chips straight on the charcoal or in a smoker box. As the chips heat up, they will give off smoke that will taste your food.
