Barbecue in your backyard is one of the most fun activities to do with your friends and family. This list of best Kamado grills for the money will be the best guide for you to buy your next grill.
Kamado grills produce the perfect environment for cooking almost any food you want, unlike other cooking appliances.
They can produce heat that is perfect for cooking pizzas, steaks, and so many more.
This cooking style has been adapted all over the world now.
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This cooking style is a highly efficient way of getting your food cooked perfectly. With many technological advancements, cooking styles are also becoming easier to do for anyone.
Kamado-style cooking is a way of keeping the food safe from the harsh environment around it.
They are perfectly insulated to make sure that all the heat stays inside the chamber.
If you look at these grills, you will not see much as they are stout and egg-shaped.
However, their cooking capabilities are beyond what other common grills can offer.
Smoking is also possible with these types of grills as they can enhance and prolong the smoke inside the chamber. It is perfect for most recipes that you cook during a barbecue.
The challenge is that there are many to choose from and most of them are not that cheap.
That is why you need to consider some factors first before you purchase a Kamado grill.
So we took the hassle out of the equation for you as we made a list of the most affordable Kamado grills that you can buy without sacrificing the quality of the grill themselves so read on.
1. Char-Griller Akorn Kamado Grill
Char-Griller AkornWith less than 300 USD as its initial price, this Kamado grill is sure to impress you.
It gives you the best performance that you can get from a Kamado grill at a very low price.
You need to understand that the typical Kamado grill is between 800 to over 1000 dollars.
So this price for this type of grill is very hard to find even at the most common shops.
However, this grill is not all about the best performance as it has some downsides.
For example, temperature control and cooking temperature are pretty hard to control and ignite.
There is also not much insulation in this Kamado grill because it is not all ceramic-like most grills of its type.
It has triple-layered steel which is a pretty durable build.
I had a hard time cooking with the slow and low method as the temperature quickly shoots up.
The ignition is also a bit difficult, but once you get its hang, your fire will be up there.
It can reach temperatures of over 500 degrees Fahrenheit and go as low as 225 degrees Fahrenheit.
It gives enough heat for pizzas while perfecting smoked ribs as well.
This Kamado grill is small and light compared to most Kamado grills so you can move it around if you want to. You will be able to cook anywhere with this grill, even go on campings with it.
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2. Kamado Joe Classic Joe III Kamado Grill
Now if we are talking about performance, then this Kamado grill is one of the best.
It is not the cheapest, but you will surely get more than what your money paid for if you invest in it.
If you already know something about Kamado grills, then you have probably heard of Kamado Joe.
It is one of the most popular brands when it comes to producing Kamado grills.
They are innovative and you can see this in their models.
The Classic Joe III grill is one of the best grills for cooking and smoking meat with slow-and-low temperatures.
It has a feature called the SloRoller, a scientifically designed attachment that creates a cyclonic airflow inside the grill.
This enhances the smoke flavour is in the food.
This grill can also go as high as 500 degrees Fahrenheit while keeping the SloRoller working.
When you want to go higher, this grill can go as hot as 750 degrees Fahrenheit.
That means that you have many options when it comes to the food you want to cook.
This grill offers the perfect insulation with ceramic as the main building material all around the grill.
With this kind of insulation, you can cook with the Classic Joe III under any weather conditions.
The ceramic blocks the rain and cold from the outside while keeping the heat going inside it.
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It has additional features that make it easy to control. It has a built-in thermometer and a vent on the lid that gives you more control over the temperature that you want just by opening or closing it.
3. Kamado Joe Classic Joe II Kamado Grill
This is a smaller grill from Kamado Joe that can also perform just as good as the other ones on this list.
This 18-inch grill is perfect for cooking a simple meal for the family.
Aside from the features mentioned above on the Classic Joe III, this grill also has features that make cooking and cleaning convenient like the ash drawer underneath that catches debris.
You can cook anything you want on the 406 square inches of total cooking space in this grill.
It can also go as low as 225 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 750 degrees Fahrenheit.
That means that you can smoke meat in this grill with slow and low cooking temperatures while also producing pizzas in less than ten minutes at its maximum temperature.
The overall material for this grill is also made out of ceramic so insulation will never be an issue.
The lid is quite heavy but then, Kamado Joe made a different design to help the users.
You can open the lid with only two fingers as the spring-loaded hinge helps in lifting the lid.
The auto-lock feature also allows you to let the lid stay in any position that you want.
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It is lightweight and instead of carrying it around, Kamado Joe also made sure to put its stand with wheels to move it easily when you want to set it up somewhere else.
4. Primo Oval Ceramic Kamado Grill
This oval Kamado grill offers extra space for laying down large foods like a rack of ribs or chicken with its unique shape. This may be a small grill but it can cook just as well as most grills.
The oval shape also allows the user to conduct different temperatures in different areas.
This way, you can cook and sear steaks on one side while also smoking meat on the other side.
It is small but it is also quite heavy with a weight of a little over 250 pounds.
So while you can move it when you want to, regularly moving might damage the ceramic insulation.
It offers 300 square inches of total cooking space so putting some burgers on the grill will not be a problem.
The cast-iron vent allows you to control the temperature and is very durable.
If the 300 square inches of cooking space is not enough for you, then do not worry as the company includes an expander for that which can let you cook on 495 square inches total.
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The firebox of this Kamado grill has a divider, which means you can put all the heat on one side.
The smoke will then roll over the dome lid and go down to the other side of the grill.
It also has accessories that come along with the main grill like the fold-down side tables, cart and cradle, ash tool, and a grate lifter to make your cooking a little easier.
5. Char-Griller Akorn Junior Kamado Grill
If you do not want to commit to a very heavy Kamado grill while also trying to save up money, this Kamado grill will surely appeal to you as it costs less than 150 dollars.
It is only 37 pounds so it is possible to bring it to campings or tailgating trips. It is also small so you can put it in the trunk of your car or just bring it over using a backpack or a hand-carry bag.
With only 153 square inches of cooking area, this Kamado grill will not cook a meal for a family but it will be enough for you to cook a steak or two for yourself when you are alone.
The diameter of the grill grate is 14 inches so it is still enough to cook a small pizza in it.
The grate is made out of cast-iron so you can be sure that it will last for years if taken care of.
The construction material is a triple-walled 22-gauge stainless steel.
This is durable and is perfect for outdoor cooking as it is enough to insulate the small cooking chamber.
The grill can smoke meat as it can go as low as 200 degrees Fahrenheit and will be able to sear meat or cook pizzas in less than 10 minutes with its 700 degrees Fahrenheit max temperature.
The interior of this grill has an enamel coating and the outer parts are powder-coated so you can clean it easily. Plus it has its ash pan to help get rid of ash and other debris.
6. Vision Grills Kamado Pro Ceramic Charcoal Grill
If you talk about design, this Kamado grill will surely make your deck or backyard even more glorious.
It has a wooden table that holds it in place with beauty.
The surrounding table makes sure that you do not have to worry about building or looking for a tabletop that will hold the heavy grill. This is the perfect accessory for this heavy grill.
The table not only holds the grill but it is wide enough for you to also prepare the food beside the grill.
So once you are ready, you can put the food into the grill right away.
Now to the grill itself. The total cooking area of this petite grill is 214 square inches which is not that large but can put a large pizza in it or a whole rack of ribs to cook them perfectly.
You can also get the other recipes to be cooked on this grill as it offers bi-level cooking.
This means that you can put one recipe on the rack and the other recipes to heat up on the other.
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The temperature control on the vent of this Kamado grill is amazing. You can just move the red lever to the style of cooking you want whether that be smoking, grilling, or searing.
7. Big Green Egg (Large) Kamado Grill
Big Green Egg is also another company that is known for its amazing Kamado grills.
It is often considered the best Kamado grill in the market because of the quality of its grills.
It is the company that started popularizing the Kamado style of cooking.
The Large BGE is one of their top sellers and it is also affordable at under 900 dollars as its initial price.
This grill has the best features especially when it comes to temperature performance and stability.
It can handle slow and low style of cooking while also being able to go for searing temperatures.
The amazing insulation of this grill allows it to go for stable temperatures.
When I tried this grill, it only had slight fluctuations not going over 15 degrees Fahrenheit when it does.
It allows you to control the temperature with two vents.
The bottom makes the fire go higher while the upper vent is responsible for controlling the temperature at lower increments.
If you want to change the temperature in the grill, just open up or close the vent and it will only take around 5 minutes for the grill to go to the set temperature.
One thing that does not come with this Kamado grill is the heat deflector.
That means that if the flames go up, there will be nothing to block them towards your food which can cause burns.
Big Green Egg sells a heat deflector called the ConvEGGtor but if you have a simple ceramic or heavy-duty metal flat surface, that will do the job of blocking the flames.
Honorable Mentions
These following grills may not be the favorites but they deserve to be on this list for their amazing performance and affordable price. So read on and you might like one of them.
1. Broil King Keg Kamado Charcoal Grill
This grill costs 800 dollars that is a considerable price since it is one of the most unique Kamado grills on the market that has a great performance in cooking.
The name ‘Keg’ comes from the shape of the grill as it is shaped like a Keg more than the common egg shape.
It is insulated with steel so it is lighter and easier to move around with.
It weighs only 126 pounds and the outer parts are powder-coated so you can be sure that even after years and years of cooking with this grill, it will remain aesthetically pleasing with no rusts.
It has a primary cooking area of 280 square inches.
The secondary cooking area is 200 square inches large so you can cook different types of food in this grill on different levels.
The grill grates are chrome-plated so they are perfectly durable even under intense heat.
The top grate can be rotated out of the way very easily when you want access to the lower rack.
2. Chefood Ceramic Kamado Portable BBQ Charcoal Grill
Like the larger grill, this Kamado grill is made out of ceramic so insulation will not be a problem.
Despite the material, the grill only weighs around 50 pounds.
The exterior is only 13 inches in diameter and cooking space of only 85 square inches.
This means that you can still cook small 12-inch pizzas in it or a single steak for its size.
The weight of the grill is distributed evenly throughout the surface and on as the legs of the grills.
However, it can be too low for some users so it is best to put the grill on a table.
You can control the temperature just like the other grills. It has both the bottom and top vents that allow the user to get to the desired temperature easily and precisely.
It also comes with a waterproof cover so you do not need to constantly carry it inside when it rains. It allows you to keep the grill clean even when you leave it outdoors for a long time.
3. Grill Dome Infinity Ceramic Kamado Charcoal Smoker Grill
This grill is a small Kamado grill made out of ceramics inside for maximum insulation while being covered with 304-grade stainless steel to ensure no rust build-ups.
This Kamado grill is thicker than most grills by 1.25 inches which means that it does better in containing the heat inside while also protecting from the outside weather.
Since it is small, it heats up pretty quickly and can be ready to cook in just 10 minutes. This Kamado grill is very durable and the brand is trusted as it has been selling grills since 1989.
Buying Guide For Kamado Grills
Before buying your Kamado grill, you need to make sure that you are only choosing the best.
This will help you get the value of your money so here are some things to look for in a Kamado grill.
1. Build Quality and Material
One thing that you should never compromise on is the build quality of a Kamado grill.
Even if you want to buy a cheap one, make sure that it has a built to last and perform.
The materials that you need to consider are stainless steel and, of course, ceramics.
These are the most durable materials and can help in insulating the grill that you buy.
Ensure that you find a Kamado grill with a thick wall to make sure that it will not struggle with holding the temperature. Also, get a grill that will not rust after just a few months.
2. Cooking Space
This is another factor that you need to consider when buying your Kamado grill.
You need to know where you will use it to see if it can handle the amount of food you need.
If you are a party person and have people coming over for a small meal, consider getting a larger Kamado grill so you do not have to cook for a long time with multiple recipes.
Some people even like some space at the workstation to keep a few things there but you rarely find that on Kamado Grills.
Some grills mentioned in the list do have them, but check it if you are interested in having some workspace.
The Kamado Joe grills are excellent when it comes to that you can easily get them as they are the best on the list.
They even have hooks that help you hold spatulas, tongs, and other things you would possibly use while you are at the grill.
3. Accessories
The build quality, materials, size, cooking space, weight, and others are important factors that you need to consider when buying Kamado grills but the accessories are also great.
These are the things that come with the grill and help you make the cooking process a bit easier.
It will also translate to a greater value for money when you get more accessories.
You can buy them separately as most of them do not come with a lot of accessories.
Ensure you are clear on the accessories that you can get included with the grill before purchasing if that is your priority.
Conclusion
Kamado grills are truly great cooking monsters that you can use to cook almost any recipe.
They can hold temperatures like no other cooking appliances and maintain it.
These grills are great for smoking, grilling, or searing food.
They can produce so much heat to help you make the best out of your food when you cook them in it.
Just make sure that you follow the simple guide above to get the best out of your money because it can take a lot when you buy a Kamado grill.
The ones listed above are affordable or are at least below the average price of Kamado grills.
They are also of the best quality so you need to go and buy your own now!
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