Kamado grills have been around for many, many years. Originally from Japan, the original egg-shaped clay cookers became popular in the Western world during World War II when US servicemen liked them so much that they began to ship them home. 

Modern Kamodo-style grills (Kamado is the Japanese word for ‘cooking range’ and ‘stove’) are known for their dome shape and are made of incredibly heat-resistant ceramic. This material retains heat for long durations and insulates incredibly well, locking in moisture and keeping out outside temperatures for excellent results. They’re different to your typical charcoal barbecues, but an incredible bit of outdoor kit to cook with.

You may have heard of two ceramic grill brands which are very popular: Big Green Egg and Kamado Joe. Big Green Egg is often classed as the original dome grill, but those products haven’t changed much since their first introduction. Kamado Joe came along next, providing upgraded, innovatively designed ceramic grills, offering users so much more than any other big name.

We’ve stocked a range of ceramic grills for about six years now here at Norwich Camping and Leisure, so we’re well-positioned to share our tips, recommendations and opinions when it comes to these fantastic bits of cookware.

How do Kamado grills work?

Kamado grills are pretty incredible, capable of a wide range of cooking styles, including grilling, smoking, and baking. This is because of how versatile the grill is and how you’re able to adjust the temperature. 

Controlling the Kamado by airflow from the top and bottom vents will regulate the temperature inside. The more airflow, the hotter the grill gets. The less airflow, the slower the charcoal burns, which is ideal for longer, low and slow cooks.

The Kamado Joe II and III models have airlift hinges, allowing you to open the grill with a single finger for ease. The hinge also has a lock to retain more moisture, and the grill features a divide-and-conquer cooking system with many optional cooking surfaces.

Kamado grill features

Kamado grills such as those from Kamado Joe boast many fantastic features:

• Temperature control – the thick ceramic of the dome allows it to hold heat exceptionally well
• Easy maintenance – there aren’t many parts which need regular maintenance
• Multi-cooking options – the Kamado can cook anything on its multiple surfaces
• Additional cooking accessories – add extra accessories from pizza stones to Dutch ovens to take your cooking further
• Quick cleaning – these grills are practically self-cleaning, which you can learn more about later in this guide

What can I cook on a Kamado?

The Kamado Joe is just like any oven in terms of versatility, so once you regulate the grill to the ideal temperature, then there isn’t anything you can’t cook. You can cook roasts on these grills between 140 and 180 degrees, pizzas between 300 and 350 degrees, and even low and slow cooks at 100 degrees or less.

With multiple cooking surfaces and accessories, you can cook with Dutch ovens, woks, griddles, sear grates, pizza stones and much more. And we can’t forget the optional extras, such as the rotisserie, or should we say Joetisserie, to spit roast over flames with multiple attachments.

How to light the Kamado

Lighting a Kamado grill is very easy. Load the grill with the food’s required amount of charcoal, then use a couple of natural fire lighters, and leave the lid and all vents open.

The fire will begin catching all the charcoal after about 10-15 minutes, and then you can close the lid and allow the vents to control the airflow and temperature. Depending on what you’re cooking, you might need to close the vents to bring the temperature down or open them to bring the temperature up.

We recommend using good quality large lump wood charcoal, as this will have a nice steady burn and last longer. Once the grilling session is finished, just shut the grill down and use the large charcoal for the next time you cook. We recommend the Kamado Joe Big Block 9KG Charcoal.

How to clean the Kamado

The kamado is almost self-cleaning because the heat and fire will burn off 90% of the dirt from your cook. You can simply brush down your grates and defuser plates and empty the tray of some of the ash. Don’t get rid of it all, as it’ll help with your next grill – simply load in more charcoal lump and light.

Occasionally, it’s worth taking everything out and brushing any excess ash that the tray hasn’t collected.

Kamado Joe grills at Norwich Camping

If you’re feeling tempted by the incredible cooking experience that a Kamado grill can offer, then check out our wide range of Kamado Joe grills and cooking accessories. Either view our grills online or visit us at our large camping and leisure site in Blofield, Norfolk, to see these amazing grills in person.