Kamado Joe KJ13RH Joe Jr Charcoal Grill, Blaze Red

Product Information

You can’t barbecue, grill, or smoke effectively without consistent heat. Therefore, it’s essential to get a good steady fire burning down at the bottom of your Kamado. This starts with properly configuring your coals.

Many people think using all large pieces is the way to go, but you’ll get a more even, stable burn with smaller pieces filling in gaps here and there. Besides, the bag won’t be filled with only large pieces, so the small ones have to go somewhere. The first thing which is observed in a grill is the material it’s made of. They both are made of the very same material, i.e ceramic. Thus, both the grills will be providing you with the same temperature control technology and flexible cooking system. Once the base is established, it doesn’t matter so much what size pieces you use to complete the pile. Just try to have a variety of sizes in your mix. So our recommendation: NEVER use lighting fluids in a Kamado cooker. EVER. Flip Your Lid and Open Your VentsLet’s say you’re setting up for some low ‘n’ slow smoking. Maybe you’ve got a nice pork butt? If that’s the case, you’ll probably be looking at a target temperature of 225 °F to 250 °F. For low temperatures, you should use only fresh fuel. But, aren’t briquettes and lumpwood the same thing? Isn’t charcoal just charcoal, whatever you call it? Both of them have roughly the same cooking space as the Weber Smokey Joe although the Akorn Junior is just a little larger (153 vs 148 square inches). Then, as you get to within 25 °f, either close down the bottom vent by half, or the top vent further, depending on what style of cooking you are cooking (and explained more below.)

That’s not the case with the Kamado Joe Jr. Kj hasn’t done anything with this grill since its inception. So hopefully, we’ll see a new and updated version soon. At 68 lbs, the Junior does feel a bit heavy for a single person, but it’s still manageable. The thermometer is front and center, showing temperatures in both Fahrenheit and Celsius. The lid and body are tightly sealed together by a solid felt gasket. The fire box, fire ring and fire grate fit snugly without any gap. The Akorn Jr is lighter (40lbs). You can even reduce the overall weight by removing the cooking grate and the fire box. Steel isn’t fragile either. Therefore, it’s easier to move around by yourself. Warranty There are lots of ways to light up your charcoal. We, however, recommend one of these three methods for the most efficient and safest start-up: Looftlighter or Electric StarterYou’ll find a glaze bonded to the exterior of both Joe Jr and Minimax. This not only gives the two grills an appealing glossy shine, but also makes it easy for you to clean. On the other hand, the Akorn Jr is less expensive and easier to deteriorate if not cared for. As a result, its resale value is quite low. A Handy Comparison Table Because of its shorter body, the Minimax’s heat deflector ends up sitting close to the fire and the cooking grate. In other words, the internal setup of the Minimax is really compact or “shrinked”. The two grills function the same. You adjust the temperature using the top and bottom vents. The food also comes out the same. Price-wise, the Minimax is more expensive than the Kamado Joe Jr. There is also a built-in thermometer on the top of the lid. You can monitor the temperature of the grill from here. Portability

The primary material used to make the two grills is ceramic. Though fragile, ceramic holds heat extremely well thanks to its superior ability to store thermal energy (vs steel). Therefore, it isn’t ideal if you want to smoke food since the radiant heat from the deflector can overcook the bottom of the food or else you have to rotate it constantly. Furthermore, you can’t fit a shallow drip pan on top of the deflector either due to the compactness.

KAMADO GRILLS

The KJ Jr features a set of felt gaskets, on the lid and the body. They’re soft and flexible. And because of the heavy lid pushing down when you close it, the felt does a great job of sealing the grill tightly. You won’t find any air leaks with the KJ Jr.

Don’t be afraid of wasting your good lumpwood, though. You can always snuff them out when you’re done very simply, just by closing the vents, then save anything that wasn’t used for another time.

Both grills use a traditional cast iron daisy wheel for their top vent and a bottom ash door as the bottom vent. They function similar to any kamado. You regulate the internal temperature by adjusting the top and bottom vent. So instead, build up a nice hot fire and let the internal temperature slowly come up to 600 °F (316 °C). Hold that for 15 minutes before putting it out and letting it cool down. Overall, the cooking size of these two grills is perfect for 2 people. If you cook for more than that, you’d want to do it in batches. Fuel Miser