Can the Kamado Joe Jr. really be the best BBQ for a small family? I cooked on the Kamado Joe Jr. exclusively for two weeks to find out how capable the Kamado Joe Jr. really is.
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In this video I will cover:
00:00 – Intro
02:37 – Montage of everything I cooked using only the Jr over the two weeks
05:44 – What I love about the Kamado Joe Jr.
07:11 – What surprised me after cooking with just the Joe Jr.
08:12 – Can the Joe Jr. be your only BBQ
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#SMOKINGDADBBQ #Kamadojoe #joejr
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50 Comments
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Hey man! Excellent video with lots of detail. Would love to see more cooks on your junior. I’ve recently just got one and struggle to find cooks/recipes I can follow along at home until I master it. I’ve recently also bought some cast iron pans for cooking. Be great to see stuff geared towards accessory substitutes for people with the junior. Anyway awesome as always. 👌
I would like to know the Prices you quote are they Canadian or US ?
I've had a Big Joe 3 and Joe jr for long time. Over time the Jr has become my go to grill for most items. I still do most of my bbq on the big joe but most everything else I find that the jr is more than enough. Combine that with the fact that it's 1/10 of the charcoal and takes about 1/3 of the time to get booted up it's a clear winner. I just bought the nest for the Joe Jr and that's been a game changer. Before I just had it in the rack that it came with. I've also taken it to my parents house a few times to do pork butts for the family. My father has a green egg mini max and we'd usually put a butt on each. The mini max always runs out of charcoal and the Jr can make it the entire cook typically. I've had to add charcoal on long cooks to the Jr but for what it is. It does a great job.
I've heard on looooong cooks you have to add wood/ charcoal again? Was that the case on your 8 hour low n slows?
Cual es mejor el kamado jr o kamado classic 1?gracias y muy buenos videos
I’ve been wanting a Kamado for some time but worried about the entry cost (I want the Big Joe 3 but it’s $3k) I just order the Joe Jr (it arrives tomorrow) as my first foray in to ceramic grill cooking to be sure I will enjoy as much as am hoping I will.
Hi there, those chicken thighs in a cast iron skillet look good, what's the recipe?
I will pick up my kamado Joe jr soon, so far I've been using 18" WSM and broil King keg. Cheers
I just bought one OMG so anxious
Just ordered one from Walmart on clearance for $298.00, including shipping. I couldn't pass up that deal. Can't wait to try it out
Could we have more detailed cooking recipes for JJ like you do for big grills? Its all good to know that lots of things can be cooked, but for learners its a bit overwhelming and we don't know any better what and how to cook. Thank you 😊
Great review, as always – thanks! Question: How about grill grate height/distance over the coals. Sometimes I want to do a direct grill, but "soft", in terms of higher off the coals. Does the lack of distance cause any problems with TOO much direct heat, or having to "smother" the fire to reduce the temperature? Strange, I know, but have experienced that with other kamados in the past. Thanks!
Can you put Penroc Lava Rock on the bottom creating a circle and add your charcoal in the centre.
Hoping to get extra free even heat inside?
I also cook on stainless steel plates, easy cleanup after.
Grill stays clean.
I precooked in slowcooker then finish of in kamado joe jr for outstanding meal, done with chicken and veg.
I bought the vessel cart for joe jr fits perfectly .
7:34 What the hell are you doing….
I've just started using the JJ, and having never done fire based cooking, I was shocked at not only how good the flavour is, but how much I can fit in. First cook I did was a whole chicken with pork belly burnt ends around it. The second cook was another whole chicken with 9 drumsticks around it. I'm cooking a pork shoulder tomorrow for what I assume will be about 8 hours – the only thing I'm worried about is how much fuel to use. One of the biggest surprises I had was at how little fuel you need to use to sustain temperature for a long time. I'm left with a significant amount of fuel that I've re-used in the next cook. It's a genuinely amazing product that has opened up my BBQ world.
What did you use for the beer can chicken?
I bought my Joe jr last year. I took your advice and bought the charcoal basket and took out the cast iron bottom part for airflow.
I’m thinking about upgrading one size bigger, not because the JR is too small for us 2 but more because I noticed that with low and slow (for example spareribs in a stand) the edges of the product burn because it’s in the hot airflow near the edge of the dome. Am I correct that the product I’m preparing low and slow should not stick out into the hot air flow or am I doing something else wrong?
Love your videos! I purchased a Junior next to my classic 3. Struggled with temperature at first cook with Junior.
I have the ash basket installed and the original bottom grate with the holes in it.
What do you recommend? Get the original bottom grate out for better airflow? Thanks!
Hi thank you for the video. Can you use the the rotisserie equipment on this version? If not, is there one for the Joe jr.?
Is there a coupon code for the joe jr kick ash basket?
In a way I wish I’d seen this before I ordered the Series II Classic from BBQGuys a couple of hours ago. I think I’ll still order the Jr. because it’s just me and Ms Wolf and we never entertain guest so the Jr. an be the day to day Kamado grill. Plus, lump charcoal savings might just pay for the Jr fairly quickly.
Just picked up my new Joe jr on Amazon for on sale for 299$
How is the easiest way to empty the charcoal from this Jr.?
Was that a pork shoulder? It looked more like a prime rib roast
Killing the dad shirts
Love my Jr., having a time keeping the temp low and slow. Video on that would be nice! Keep up the tasty work.
Wouaw
Can I do bread on it? Maybe inside a cast iron pot?
I'm so glad I watched this video, you just saved me £700!
I have a jr too and wonder why they didn’t put some type of a screen on the bottom vent or ash pan like my Classic 2. I worry about ash falling and burning deck.
Superb video, thanks from the UK.
They're pretty expensive so it's really interesting to see how capable you've found this model.
I'm very tempted 👍🏻
I’ve had my Classic and my Junior for 6 years now. I use my Junior 3 to 1 over my Classic. And I have a family of 6! The Junior is by far the best bang for your buck! Awesome grill!
Do you recommend the kick ash can for the joe jr? Will purchase next month and would like to know the essential accessories you recommend. On my list is the soapstone, the cast iron sear grate, the smokehouse chimney, and the cover. Just curious about the kick ash can. Thx so much for all of your videos. You are the main reason I am going with the joe jr. It’s just my husband and myself and I am the griller in the family.
Brilliant video
Thanks for that
What about cooking something
Instead of you talking shit all the way through it
What about doing some recipes instead of you talking all the way through the entire content
Cook something
How did you cut that salmon at 8:31?? I need that in my life!
Thanks for making this video! Still cooking with propane; been on the market for a green egg or KJ but they are so expensive (or out of stock)!! Costco has the KJ Jr for $330 and seriously contemplating this purchase…
Hey James! Just got my hand on a Kamado Joe Jr, looks amazing but unfortunately the heat deflector plate doesn’t properly fall into the accessory rack. One of the three contact points doesn’t fall in and seems like a force fit but I am nervous it might crack or shatter if I shove it in. Ever experienced this before or know about it? Started a claim but they are taking some time to reply since the first email reply
Great presentation on pros and cons. Looking for mainly smoking use for a Kamado and debating between Jr and Classic. Your video has helped a great deal. Have you tried a rack of baby backs yet? can you only do half or can you side by each them?.
Awesome video, thanks my Joe Jr is coming this week. Great to know that the Joe Jr can handle a family of 4, as I have only done a couple of cooks on my Akorn Jr. I have a question, I noticed in another video that you changed out the chimney/vent for one similar to the Kontrol Tower. Do you know if the kamado joe cover still fits the Joe Jr with that chimney?
I had a question? Can I be able to use coal instead of the wood coal?
Just picked up the Jr for portability. Plan on taking to the cabin for Christmas prime rib. Wish me luck!
any suggestion for lighting and maintaining on joe jr. Struggling with the joe jr charcoal
I just replaced my little akorn with a joe jr, I like that it uses less charcoal to get hot and is perfect for meals for 2, I love my OG joe as well but in the cold months it does take an extra time to get hot.
How about two Kamado joe jr / instead of the classic
Thanks for all the videos… I‘ve had a BGE for well over a decade and these videos hav helped me step up my game with it at our vacation property… just got my Joe Jr this week for home and am looking forward to breaking it in. Then going to add a Big Joe for family events.
Just ordered my first KJ tonight , and it was the JR. You just made my day with this video. I eventually will go bigger but for now I need to learn the ropes for this style of cooler. I’m used to gas 😢 and have a Webber kettle which I really love. Now to find your old video on how to start it how much lump , wood , etc. thanks
That's not a smash burger.
I ordered a jr for the hubby and would like to get him a cast iron grill. Can you tell me what size I need? Ours isn't here for me to measure.
Did you build the table for the Joe Jr.? What is the height of the table?
This was the video that pushed me over the edge to get the JoeJr finally and I LOVE it. First rack of ribs turned out almost perfect. To anyone who hasn't watched these, follow his temperature control instructions. This kept me from rocketing my temp or letting it die off. Do you have any more videos on beef brisket on the joe Jr?