Meat Smoke Fire

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Things to Consider when Buying a Kamado Grill

Which Kamado to Buy?

Buying a kamado grill is, more often than not, what we call a considered purchase, i.e. it requires some time to make the decision and, of course, some kind of financial investment. A kamado grill is not just a barbecue. Think of it as an outdoor oven. You can cook so much more than your traditional British barbecue fodder.  The range of cooks is endless: low and slow, roast, bake, grill, hot and cold smoke, rotisserie, pan cook and dirty cook.

We often see questions on barbecue forums asking which kamado grill they should buy.  Budget is clearly a significant factor in determining which grill you can afford. On the face of it, sometimes what seems like a deal that is too good to be true may well prove not to be such a great deal a few months down the line. Therefore, you want some reassurance that you’re spending your money wisely.

From our experience, there are a some important points you need to think about when doing your research and before you push the ‘buy’ button.

 

Warranty

Occasionally, given the grill is ceramic, part of your oven may break, whether this is wear and tear or accidental and you’ll need replacement parts.

  1. What’s the warranty on the
      • ceramic components?
      • metal components?
      • wood components?
      • temperature gauge and gasket?
      • accessories?
      • bases?
  2. What is not covered? This is equally as important,
  3. What’s the claim procedure?  How easy is it? Look at reviews to see what existing customers say.
  4. What’s the expected lifespan of the product?
  5. Does the manufacturer hold components in country?
  6. How long has the manufacturer been trading and how long will they continue trading? A lifetime warranty is only any good if the company is around to honour it.

With many supermarkets kamados, and rebadge Chinese imports, the warranty is poor or your only option is to return the entire grill. It’s difficult to get replacement parts and this gets more difficult as time lapses from date of purchase. Even Costco requrie you to take back a 100kg grill for a refund as they don’t supply parts on the grills they sell. Do you want a 100kg greasy grill in your car? Can you even get it in the car?

 

Thermapen
Fire Ring
Fire Bowl

Customer Service

You’ve established your grill and other components have a warranty, which is great, what about the customer service experience when you need some help?  You want to feel supported and satisfied, so understand:

  • What’s the reputation of the brand’s customer service?  Check out the reviews.
  • How easy is it to speak to a member of the customer service team?
    • when are they available?
    • can I talk to a real person?
    • is there online chat?
  • How responsive are the customer service team to your query?
  • How quickly will the replacement parts arrive?

If you can, talk to or visit a reseller or shop to see the products and talk to the staff.  See how much they know about the products they’re selling, do they use the products and make helpful recommendations? Can they tell you about warranty and after-sales issues?

Accessories

It’s good to understand upfront what accessories and add-ons are available.  We encourage customers to start small, which any reputable supplier should, rather than have a shed full of accessories that never get used.  We can’t tell you how many customers have told us this!

However, once you’ve mastered the art of temperature control and want to expand your cooking repertoire, you’ll want to invest in accessories and add-ons.  It’s a slippery slope!

 

Is the grill you’re buying a standard size?

You might be surprised to learn that not all grills are a ‘standard’ sizes.  Well established brands like Big Green Egg, Kamado Joe, The BSTRD, Monolith, etc have comparable grill sizes.  For example a Large Big Green Egg is the same size as a Kamado Classic Joe I, II or III. This is great as it means accessories and add-ons are usually interchangeable across brands and with third party products.  Their sizing is based on the internal diameter measurements.  They will have an extensive range of accessories available.

Many of the supermarket and less well-known brands are not a standard size and their sizing is based on the external diameter measurements.  This makes buying new or replacement accessories a challenge, which can be frustrating.  Either the range of accessories is limited due to the random sizing or there are no accessories. 

MiniMax
XL Big Green Egg

Brand and Price

When buying a kamado grill there are lots of brands to choose from with lots of budget options coming and going.  Make sure you do your research, there’s plenty of information online but if you have a local reseller near you, call them or even better go and see the products in the flesh. Try and to find someone who already owns the grill you’re after; get some first hand knowledge.

Well Known vs Budget Brands

Clearly your budget will dictate what you can afford to buy.

  • Well known established brands have some skin in the game and have worked hard to build their reputuation and after-sales infrastructure
  • Supermarket off-the-shelf purchases can be a good short-term investment to try before you invest in a well known brand or as a secondary purchase if you want more cooking space.
  • Be aware of budget brands, the staff may have very limited knowledge of how the products are built and how they work, the products are likely to be seasonal so difficult to buy accessories or obtain replacements when you need them.

Long-Term Investment vs Initial Cost

Buying a kamado grill is an investment and ultimately, in our opinion, you get what you pay for in the long run.

  • A high-quality kamado grill will last for many years with proper care.
  • Well established brands have better customer support and warranties.
  • Warranty coverage, will vary from a few years to a lifetime.

Material and Build Quality

Kamado grills should be made from high-qualty ceramic to ensure superior heat retention, check out:

  • the quality of ceramic finish.
  • the quality of the gasket and hinge quality to maintain an airtight seal.
  • overall look and feel of the products.

Business Reputation

Before you take the plunge and buy a kamado oven, which of course, we very strongly advocate, since we turned our passion for outdoor cooking into our business, check out the retailer:

  • how long have they been around?
  • what do the online reviews tell you?
  • give them a call or visit them, what was your experience?
  • what do the online forums say?
  • don’t just buy online from the manufacturer. Chances are their customer support team have very little cooking knowledge. 

This will help to ensure you make an excellent investment!

 

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