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Turn your backyard BBQ game up a notch and explore new cooking techniques with a Kamado grill. Discover why even the most experienced grillers swear they’re the best outdoor residential cooking option.
Article Overview
- Kamado Grills Defined
- Winners
- Grill Master Essentials
- Other Grills
- Grilling Tips (Video)
- Explore The Great Outdoors
What Is A Kamado Grill?
Kamado grills are charcoal-fueled modern versions of the Chinese and Indian clay, earthenware ovens, and urns dating back thousands of years.
Most modern kamados consist of thick ceramic shells, but some consist of cast iron and other metals. These materials give kamado grills excellent insulation, allowing them to absorb and radiate heat evenly to hold steady temperatures.
They’re excellent at both grilling and smoking because they can maintain very high or very low temperatures. Kamados are perfect for cold climates if you want to cook outdoors all winter.
Best Kamado Grill Winners
We’ve chosen our best kamado-style grill rankings based on several factors, including:
- Build quality
- Reputation
- Features
- Warranty
- Pricing
- And more…
Kamado Joe Classic II Review
The Kamado Joe Classic II wins our top spot as the best kamado grill on the market. Kamado Joe has been manufacturing premium ceramic grills since 2008, and this model is a winner at a competitive price.
The Classic II includes features that beat out the Big Green Egg, the industry-leading kamado smoker for decades. Its “Divide and Conquer” cooking system gives you two-zone cooking, with a half-rack on two levels so you can get one-half of the grill down lower to the coals.
Other standout features include a patented slide-out ash drawer for easy cleaning, a multi-panel firebox, an air assist lift for the cover, and a heavy-duty rolling cast iron cart.
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Pricing & Tech Specs
- Check Amazon for availability
- Lifetime limited warranty on ceramic parts
- 5-year warranty on metal parts
- Dimensions: 46.5″ W x 48″ H x 28″ D
- Cooking space: 256 sq. in. (up to 660 sq. in. w/ expanding racks)
- Weight: 188 lbs.
- Heat Range: 225°F – 750°F
- Available in 4 sizes
To protect your investment, you should also buy this grill cover that fits the Kamado Joe grill perfectly.
Big Green Egg Large Cooker Review
#2
The Big Green Egg wins our number two spot as the best kamado grill. Born in 1974, the Big Green Egg remains the most popular brand of kamado in the world, and devoted fans even call themselves “Eggheads”.
The build quality of premium ceramic materials and grill performance is top-of-the-line with Egg and Kamado Joe. And both have excellent limited lifetime warranties. The Egg may fall short for some grill masters with fewer features (no handy removable ashtray), the fact that you can’t purchase “the Egg” online, and price.
A cart is a must for these grills due to their heavyweight — Kamado Joe comes with a cart, shelving, and other handy accessories; the Big Green Egg does not. You have to purchase them separately (available on Amazon), which drives the price up considerably.
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Pricing & Tech Specs
- Must contact your local dealer for pricing
- Lifetime limited warranty on ceramic parts
- 5-year warranty on metal parts
- Large model’s cooking space: 262 sq. in. (can expand with 3-grid rack)
- Large model’s weight: 162 lbs.
- Also comes in XXL, XL, M, S, Minimax, and Mini sizes
A custom-fitted grill cover will also come in handy to weatherproof your favorite outdoor cooker.
Primo Oval Review
#3
The Primo Oval JR Ceramic Charcoal Smoker Grill rounds out our top three kamado grill winners. This high-end grill is for seasoned grillers and smokers.
The Primo 778 has a unique oval shape that makes two-zone cooking a breeze. And you can add a dividable firebox making indirect grilling quick and easy.
Primo has years of experience crafting their thick ceramic construction, and the owners say this grill is built like a tank. Primo also offers a round grill that is a high performer.
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Pricing & Tech Specs
- Check Amazon for availability
- Lifetime warranty backed by a 20-year guarantee
- Dimensions: 21″ W x 28″ H x 30″ D
- Cooking Surface: 400 sq. in. (with rack extensions: up to 680 sq. in.)
- Weight: 192 lbs.
Don’t forget to get the right cover for your fancy new grill!
Get All Your Grill Essentials By Mail
Get this monthly delivery for yourself or your favorite pitmaster. The Grill Masters Club Best BBQ Box comes complete with the best tasting rubs, sauces, and spices, as well as the tools you will need to maximize the flavor for your next grill party. Every item is hand-selected by a certified BBQ pitmaster, so you can feel confident that you, too, can be the pitmaster of your own backyard!
This also makes a fantastic gift for Father’s Day, Christmas, or your favorite grill lover’s birthday.
Other Best Kamado Grill Reviews
We’re not done with our kamado grill comparison reviews yet! Be sure to check out the following popular, and, in some cases, more affordable products.
Broil King Keg 5000 | Pit Boss | Vision Grills | Weber Summit
Broil King Keg 5000 Review
Want to wow your fellow tailgaters with a kamado-style grilling experience? The Broil King Keg 5000 can do that and more. This charcoal barbecue grill’s major selling point is its portability.
Made of lightweight fiberglass encased in powder-coated steel, it’s not as heavy as its ceramic counterparts.
It’s trailer hitch compatible for your party on the go. Even though this grill isn’t ceramic, this bad boy does a superb job of maintaining both super high and low temps like other kamados.
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Pricing & Tech Specs
- $876.68 with cart and side shelves
- 10-year warranty on body
- 2-year warranty on parts and paint
- Dimensions: 41″ W x 47″ H x 27.5″ D
- Cooking space: 280 sq. in. (up to 480 sq. in. w/ expanding racks)
- Weight: 126 lbs.
Pit Boss Kamado Grill Review
The Pit Boss 71240 Kamado BBQ Ceramic Grill Cooker is another kamado-style grill that’s worth consideration.
This grill features a heavy ceramic body, dual-tier, stainless steel cooking grids that give you a generous 660 sq. in. of cooking space and a cast iron top tamper that gives you full control over airflow.
It comes with a rolling cart and solid bamboo side shelves that fold down for easy storage. All hardware is stainless steel, so rusting shouldn’t be a problem.
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Pricing & Tech Specs
- Lifetime limited warranty on ceramic parts
- 5-year warranty on metal and cast iron parts
- Dimensions: 48.5″ W x 53″ H x 30″ D
- Cooking space: up to 660 sq. in.
- Weight: 220 lbs.
Vision CF1F1 Pro Kamado Review
The Vision CF1F1 Pro Kamado bundle is an excellent value if budget is a priority. This kamado has a heavy-duty ceramic exterior body and fire bowl and a patented ProZone in the bottom, including an electric starter port for quick lighting, dedicated smoking, and grilling knobs, and a handy removable ash drawer.
You get several accessories included in the price: a two-tiered, stainless-steel flip cooking grate, a rolling cart, two side shelves, and a heavy-duty UV-protected vinyl cover.
Overall, users rave about this grill’s value; however, some complain that its temperature control isn’t up to par, and it doesn’t maintain low heat settings well.
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Pricing & Tech Specs
- Lifetime limited warranty on ceramic parts
- 5-year warranty on metal parts
- Dimensions: 52″ W x 47″ H x 28.8″ D
- Cooking space: 606 sq. in.
- Weight: 227 lbs.
Weber Summit Charcoal Grill Review
Weber, the popular grill manufacturer, introduced its Summit Charcoal Grill in early 2017, a major upgrade to the Weber Kettle. The design of this kamado-style grill makes it an excellent cooker for both grilling and smoking.
It features a two-position charcoal grate that you can raise for improved searing or lower for smoking. And the stainless steel hinged diffuser plate allows for indirect low-temperature cooking. Made of premium-grade U. S. Steel coated with porcelain enamel, the Summit Charcoal grill features a double-walled bowl and lid.
Air gets trapped between the double walls and acts as an insulator, retaining heat and keeping the temperature consistent. This is a great product, but its price is certainly not budget-friendly — especially when you only get a 10-year warranty.
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Pricing & Tech Specs
- $1,498.99
- 10-year warranty on bowl and lid assembly
- 5-year warranty on metal and plastic parts
- Dimensions: 39.5″ W x 45.5″ H x 35.8″ D
- Cooking space: 452 sq. in.
- Weight: 110 lbs.
Video: Don’t Forget Your Grilling Toys
Our top winner, Kamado Joe, and other kamado grill manufacturers carry a wide variety of accessories to enhance your grilling and smoking experience.
Fire Starters | Charcoal | Grill Cover | Beer Can Chicken Stand | Pizza Stone | Expander | Rib Rack
Many also provide kamado grill recipes in their manuals and on their websites.
Are You An Outdoor Enthusiast?
Do you enjoy other outdoor activities besides grilling? Why not plan a camping excursion? Whether you’re an experienced or novice camper, we’ve got some great info for your next trip.
Be sure to check out our camping gear list and reviews of the best tents for camping. Live it up in the great outdoors!
What grilling and smoking tips do you have for wannabe grill masters?
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You obviously have not used any of these grills.