Special Thanks to Porter Road for sponsoring this video. They’re the online butcher we trust and you can learn more here: …
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Special Thanks to Porter Road for sponsoring this video. They’re the online butcher we trust and you can learn more here: …
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Why is Blaze's aluminum kamado never featured anywhere? I feel like it's a no brainer being its indestructable.
I'd like to cook brisket, pork shoulder and ribs. Since I'm single, buying a huge offset smoker would be dumb, so I'm looking at these grills. But I want a long slow cook. Will these do long and slow? How long will a good 300 degree brisket cook last with a combo of charcoal and the ash tree I just chopped down?
Sorry, didn't see the recipe here or on your site for the Lolly pop chicken and sauce. Could you direct me to it please, thanks.
Not a complete test without evaluating the Komodo Kamado 😮
So does the ceramic and steel have a big difference besides the price ? I've had my traeger for almost 15 years and I want to get a grill like this
Why not Kamado Joe version three
I’ve got a chargriller akorn thinking about upgrading
Thanks so much for such an in depth comparison. Fantastic!
I got my Louisiana Kamado from Costco for $500. Its basically a Kamado Joe big Joe. Couldn't be happier with it.
Why not the bj3?
I have a Vision pro that’s 12 years old that has been a work horse. Just recently added a Big Joe 3 for the size. Very happy with both. The Joe could handle anything I throw at it, but I can’t part with the Vision for what it has done. For me and my wife it’s great…then if I need more space the Joe comes out. The best of both worlds!
I recently bought the Kamado Joe, and it’s so far is amazing the quality the new type lid hinge is simple to lift and lite Plus, it’s beautiful red
Way too expensive. I'd imagine I'd pay $2K for a grill if I'm making money off of it. Otherwise, it's just not worth it.
Where’s the Primo?
Have had a KJ classic (1st generation) for many years. I remember looking at many models before deciding on it and I’m very glad I did. Have never had any issues. I sometimes wish I got the Big Joe tho as a single guy the 18” is more than enough for my needs. Highly recommended!
Broil King Keg I have had for 7 years and it is a beast
I have the icon, where do I get the fan/fan attachment that is compatible?
Thanks!
No love for the SnS Kamado?!
How well would these work in the northeast during the winter?
Can you identify where each grill is made?
I really like the BIG JOE, but in Italy version 2 costs €2500 and version 3 €3500, which is definitely too much compared to the PITBOSS K24 on offer at €980!! I would like to know if the pitboss is a good reliable Kamado anyway
awesome review, thanks for the great info!
Komodo Kamado 😀
Got my XL Big Green Egg up to 850 ish degrees. Next day noticed the bands had shifted. Cleaned out the ash and easily noticed ( hot temps burned out all the black creosote) a crack from the gasket all the way down the egg continuing half way through the bottom surface. Was unsure how I even felt about it at first. Luckily BBG has a lifetime warranty, and Koopman Lumber, where I purchased, was able to locate my receipt in their system and execute a claim. I tried contacting BBG myself and got nowhere. Still took 8 months to get replacement. Was the pizza delicious, yes. Did I never make pizza on the Egg again and also purchase an Ooni…. YES.
I Love my Vision Kamado Pro S
Where is Primo?
Have you ever looked at the Grilla Kong. I love mine and the price was great.
If lifesmart comes in at 3rd, but at $799 then it’s the winner… unless you just like to spend money
Is it me or i see bi vracs on Big Joe 6:28 and foward in video.
Did you look at BGE XXL ? That would seem to me as more on an apple to apple with the big joe . However, they are all good
Does any if the kamado Joe's accessories fit the life smart?
Related to adding hardwood or wood chips I noticed that the Kamado Joe and Vision allow you to add wood chips in the cleaning tray. Your thoughts on that?
Take a shot every time he says porter road. Must get paid per mention in the video.
Excellent video! I plan on going with the Big Joe Series 2.
Thanks for shooting this video
Sell me one you have too many
Chuck roasts are wet moist heat or braised
very good well done
I picked the Big Joe for all the same reasons others have, and am glad I did. I love it so much, I got a Joe Jr to compliment it for smaller cooks.
Awesome video
@15:02 "You know it's good when a kid asks for them." That made me spit out my beer.
Merci beaucoup pour cette vidéo 👍
We live in France and for two months we have a BJ2 ! I am very happy to be able to modulate the temperature much more easily than with a Weber. I can also use half of the charcoal basket, if there are not many of us, and on the contrary cook with the whole surface. I did my first cooking at low temperature and it held up for 5 hours at 105/110°C, without needing to add charcoal. So a great buy !!!
This looks like a recent (late 2022) review but not sure why you used an old, 2012ish XL EGG. It's easy to date by the grill components. I need to ask where is Primo Grill, one of the original big 3 kamado grills? Also, not sure about the Kamado Joe Big Joe 1, as it looks to be missing the fire ring. The Divide and Conquer should not sit that low in it.
To clear up a few things about grill construction, the Big Joe 1 weighs approx. 350 lbs. The Big Joe 3 weighs well over 400lbs, approx. 450 lbs. All EGGs, out of the box, have bands attached to the base and dome. At the top of the base is the last place I'd measure ceramic thickness, just to easy a place to misrepresent, especially on grills with sunken bands. Gotta bust 'em open to get an accurate perspective.
The best thing to measure in comparing grills is not outside grill or inside fire bowl/box diameters but rather the actual diameter of the cooking grid. The two big players, Egg and joe, measure cooking grid. The Big Joe and XL EGG both have 24" diameter cooking grids. The Pit Boss and Lifesmart measure grill diameters, which makes their grills market bigger with 24 in the grill name. Actual Pit Boss and Lifesmart 24 grills have a 20.5" diameter cooking grid. We field calls routinely from Pit Boss and Lifesmart owners who think their grill has the same cooking diameters/capabilities of Joe and EGG.
On headroom above the cooking grid, the current version of the XL EGG has the most. Bobby and Carey (original owners of Kamado joe) used the original XL EGG as a take-off plan for Big Joe. After that, EGG modified the XL dome pushing higher and removing the flat look, your XL. It was a significant improvement to improve multi-level cooks. Also, your XL has fire ring to felt line measurement of 2 inches. XL EGGs now, the drop is closer to 3.75".
I don't follow your discussion about height of the cooking grate when the unit is on the stand. Here you measure top of base to ground. Odd measurement when all cooking grids sit lower, down inside, the base. Hard to get this measurement on the older Big Joe 1, when you are missing the fire ring. Now it’s the multi-piece fire box in Big Joes. Most outdoor kitchen builders stay in and around 35" for counter height, so anything plus or minus from this should be acceptable to most folks. So maybe a better classification here would be working height to access the grill.
When discussing adding smoking chunks during a bbq cook, why not test this with the indirect pieces in place. This would make it a true test of capability. We've pioneered racks systems with handles, making it much easier to add smoking wood or check on the fire. One note about handles on cooking grids (Pit Boss, Lifesmart, vision), they make it virtually impossible to use a rack with handles for easy lifting. On a side note, the hinge grate is a wonderful marketing tool, but in practice can be frustrating to use if the hinge section is loaded up with food.
On thermometers, very old EGGs had 2" thermometer. EGG went to 3" thermometers, years ago. One thing on the EGG thermometer, unlike the other brand thermometers that use a thread stem and nut to fasten tight to the dome, the EGG thermometer uses a spring friction clamp that pins the thermometer to the inside dome wall. The clamp lets you spin the thermometer or draw it up if going high in the dome. Cool thing about spinning the thermometer is you can rotate it to put the target temperature straight up. This way, with a quick glance, you can tell how you're doing. if arrow points left of vertical – temp is low; if arrow points right of vertical – high temp, vertical – on temp. Can't do this effectively on threaded stem thermometers.
On the grilling test, you used the corresponding ceramics deflectors for each grill but Kamado Joe's Big Joe 1. For Joe, you used a much smaller round heat plate on the chuck roast and a small half-moon plate on the chicken lollipop leg test. Plus, the fire ring was missing. Why grill and use a deflector plate, you eliminate the ability to radiate heat when grilling in the 350°F to 425°F range. Is this a viable comparison?
I hope you don’t take this the wrong way. I am trying to help folks who read this get a better understanding of current grill capabilities. We get calls all the time from folks who need help figuring out what works on their grills.
Tom
Ceramic Grill Store
I use to own a $20 walmart cheap basic BBQ for years. About 4 years ago I got myself a Kamado Joe Big Joe 2 and it was a game changer in cooking. Did not know a thing about cooking on a Kamado. Watched a few Youtube videos and that was it. This thing is a beast and everything I have ever cooked on it as come out amazing. I have done pulled pork, chicken drumsticks, chicken lollipops, Flintstone Style Beef Ribs, Short Ribs, various steaks including Picanha, kabobs, rotisserie al pastor, rotisserie pollo asada, rotisserie leg of lamb, rotisserie prime rib, smoked mac n cheese, and the list goes on and on. There is nothing you can't do on this grill. For me I did not feel there was a learning curve at all. Very easy to control the temps. Keep the bottom vent door open slightly for lower temps and keep it open up a bit more for higher temps.
No Kamado Komodo?
Kinda odd that you compared using the Kamado Joe Big Joe I. It’s two generations old and seems like an unfair comparison. Why did you do this?
l Loved the video. I did a lot of similar research myself before I finally purchased the BIG JOE. Just a few other things to consider is additional accessory availability that was not shown. Like the Joe rotisserie and the Dojo pizza accessories. These two are game changers that will actually fit both the Big joe and the BGE since they are the same ceramic size.
Your missing quite a few of the bigger names in this space: Grill Dome, Primo, Komodo…