Kamado Cooker: The Secret To Tender And Juicy Grilling

Get ready to have your taste buds blown away and your status as a grill master elevated to new heights with the help of a kamado cooker!

Now, let’s be real here – this is no ordinary grill. It’s not just a tool for cooking food; it’s a way of life.

You’ll be joining the ranks of the kamado faithful, a group of people who understand the beauty and magic of cooking with ceramic.

Yes, ceramic. We’re talking about a material that’s been used for centuries for pottery and other fine crafts, but now it’s in your backyard, cooking up some serious goodness.

But don’t be intimidated – sure, it takes some getting used to. You might burn a few things at first, but that’s all part of the learning process.

Before you know it, you’ll be smoking briskets and searing steaks like a pro. Your friends and family will be begging to come over for dinner just to get a taste of your kamado-cooked creations.

And let’s not forget the taste itself – oh, the taste! It’s something that simply can’t be replicated on a traditional grill.

The kamado’s ceramic walls and tight seals create an environment that holds moisture and flavor, resulting in some seriously succulent meat.

Say goodbye to dry, boring meats and hello to juicy, flavorful grilling.

What Is A Kamado Grill?

A kamado grill or cooker is an egg-shaped grill and smoker that began years ago in Japan. Real grillers want a kamado cooker!

“Kamado” means “stove” in Japanese. The best cookers are ceramic, so they are heavy and radiate heat very efficiently. They use charcoal for fuel at the base and have a vent at the top and bottom.

Heat and smoke go up through the cooker towards the vent. The ceramic cooker absorbs and circulates heat for excellent, even cooking.

How To Cook In A Kamado?

Kamado cookers can cook with both very low and very high heat, making them very flexible.

For standard grilling, cooks should use high direct heat, usually 400-750 degrees. This temperature is perfect for searing fish, burgers, steaks, and shrimp.

Those who want to roast, smoke, or bake meats like chicken, brisket, ribs, and pork butts should use low to medium heat between 225 and 450 degrees. A heat deflector can also generate indirect heat, cooking very much like an indoor oven.

Accessories for the kamado cooker make it perfect for high-heat cooking (up to 700 degrees). This high heat is ideal for baking delicious pizzas.

Necessary Tools

Before cooking with a kamado, chefs need the proper supplies:

Be sure to start with a clean cooker. Cooking tools, such as spatulas and brushes are also necessary.
Tongs can help to flip and reposition food.
When grilling smaller foods, like shrimp or scallops, consider using skewers or a basket to keep food from falling through the grates.
Brushes or mops help to apply sauces.
Wearing heatproof gloves can save hands, fingers, and arms from the high heat of a Kamado.
Always have a smoker or instant-read thermometer to help keep track of the kamado’s internal temperature.
Kamado cookers need fuel, usually charcoal, and something with which to light the fuel.
Many people enjoy adding flavored wood for smoking purposes.
Various dry rubs and sauces will complete the tools.

Those are a lot of grilling tools but don’t worry, you won’t need all of them in the beginning. Of course, it’s good to have them all, but you’ll be fine with just a brush and a spatula.

How To Clean A Kamado

Cooking on a clean kamado is essential. Here’s how to keep it clean and ready for your next juicy grill:

Scrape the grates after each use while they are still warm and easy to clean.
Stir up coals and empty the ashtray to keep the vent clear.
If mold or mildew forms inside the grill, do not use chemical cleaners. Kamados are self-cleaning and with a high heat (600 degrees), they will clean themselves quickly.

That’s it! Cleaning your kamado cooker is not rocket science, it’s just common sense.

Proper Fuel

Grillers should only use natural lump wood charcoal as fuel in a kamado grill. It is natural, burns clean, and has no additives. It also leaves little ash, does not clog grates, and is easier to clean.

Because natural lump wood charcoal is naturally shaped, it sometimes does not burn evenly. It also burns faster and hotter, therefore costing more.

It is, however, ideal because holding a steady temperature is essential for great smoking.

The Takeaway

Owning a kamado cooker can be extremely rewarding for people who love grilling (and for their family and friends, too).

While it takes some getting used to, grillers will soon make delicious food for their friends and family. This taste cannot be matched by traditional grills.

So, if you’re ready to take your grilling game to the next level, then a kamado cooker is the way to go. Just be warned – you may never want to go back to your old grill again.