Officially became a member of the Joe family last summer. I used your channel to decide on my purchase. I picked up and Classic Series 2 and I absolutely love it. One thing to note. My grill came with metal shelves, NOT plastic. Using the Komodo is my favorite way to grill. I was a pellet grill guy before my purchase. I will never look back. Love cooking over a live fire. Nothing better. Thanks so much for all the great information.
I bought a KJ Classic Series 2 from Costco last year (February 2023) for an incredible $840 new. The cart had metal shelves and a cover. It’s the perfect size for our household, and now I’m debating a Joe Jr. Thanks for all the great content, always enjoy the content you produce.
@@Boingyboing I too would do a big Joe over the classic. The space is very nice to have around and the value is better for half moon sizes which hold much more on the big Joe models
Great video James, Ive had the Joe Jr. for a couple years now and love it. Finally convinced the wife to let me get a big joe for our new patio. I was able to get the big joe 2 for $1499 US. We went and looked at a classic one and the lack of air hinge really sold the wife on series 2+
Although I wanted a Big Joe, I was very fortunate to get a new Classic III on Amazon for $1054 not including another 5% discount for using the Amazon card. A week earlier I was able to get a new Joe Jr for $179 from Walmart. With those two, it didn't make sense to get a Big Joe anymore. I'm mostly cooking for two anyway, so these two Kamado Joe grills have been just perfect for us. Love them. Thanks James for another great video. 👍👍👍
Wonderful feature James. Being a BGE user and fan of your channel who has seriously contemplated a move to Camp Red this was an excellent reference video. Thanks much
You gave so much information and for that I thank you. I’m a wife that likes to BBQ once in a while for our family of 3. We have a Treager Timberline 1300. My husband bought it because he thought it would be better than a Kamado Grill. He bought it 3 years ago and has never used it once. He doesn’t like to grill unfortunately so I’ve used it a few times. Works great in my opinion. I’ve done ribs, chicken and brisket. I say I use it 3 times a year at the most but I’ve always wanted a Kamado because I like grilling with charcoal. Since the pandemic I’ve been looking at reviews to see which one I should get. I know they are expensive and specially if we won’t use it much but it’s okay. I don’t mind having something I like for just once in a while. Your video helped me a lot and even though I don’t entertain much and when I do is usually not a BBQ I think I will go for the Big Joe. Only because I want to have it all and not have regrets later and why I didn’t get the best one. I will watch more of your videos to learn and be ready for when I buy it. Sorry for the long comment and if you have a suggestions or a video suggestion I would appreciate it. Thanks 🙏🏼
I purchased a Kamado Joe Classic III, and I must say, it has exceeded my expectations. While the Big Joe was initially on my radar, after experimenting with recipes, I found that the Classic III better suited my needs. I am thoroughly enjoying my cooking experiences with it and couldn't be happier.
I have the classic 2 I bought years ago at top price right around the time the classic 3's were coming out. I wasn't educated on the differences until I found your channel years ago and after I bought. I feel my dealer sold me to clean out his inventory on his series 2 models which has always burned my ass. Over the years watching you cook on your series 3 and your "double indirect method" looks fantastic but for those of us with the series 2 it's been a hard few years watching you cook on that thing. My fault for not being informed when I bought. I still have my classic 2 and enjoy a lot of great food off it but still always wish I had the extra space of the classic 3 to try your cooking methods. Can't blame you for showing most videos using your 3. I still might sell my 2 for a big Joe 1. Thanks for years of watching your cooks and all the time you've spent on them! I'm sure I'm not alone when I say we've all learned a lot from you when it comes to ceramic cooking!.
I can do the same setups on series 1/2. I included them along with my preferred method for each model in the double indirect ebook. Food is indistinguishable despite the space difference so it’s just a little more finagling
Last April I decided to purchase the Classic Series II. I absolutely love my grill. With that being said, I wished I had purchased the Big Joe Series III in a 24” grill.
Thanks James for all the great videos. I'd love to try the potatoes cooked on the coals that I saw a brief clip of in this video. Do you have a video for that or could you make a short one? Cheers!
Well I started with the JR realy impressed in everyway except the size. So I looked at what is really necessary. I aopted for BJ1. I bought size veses the hipped features. I bought the basket for air circulation. I might buy a Smokeware vent stack in the future for better control. Now I have a great one for the weekday cooks and a big one for simultaneous cook meat and sides. I like the other features in the others but not at the price they are asking for it.
I was saving for a nice offset to smoke on and have been really enjoying a Medium Green Egg I use on a small patio at the lake. After about a month of researching and saving for my offset, happened into Academy and came across the Big Joe Series 1 that was marked 799$. After seeing the slow-roller mod, couldn't open my wallet fast enough.... such a great price! Really excited about the great space available
Thank you James! I went and compared a Big Joe Series III vs one of the 18” models and I was surprised at the size difference there is once you see them in person! When the money is there it will be a BJ III
Well done & timely video. I went thru the "consternation " of which grill do I get about 18 months ago. This after watching your channel for about a year prior. I have been using a WSM for about 10+ yers though & still do. So I decided to start small with a JR. Having an RV this allowed me to take it on our travels & use it at home. LOVE IT ! Now looking at getting a home unit as well. I am amazed just how much less fuel is used by the KJr vs the WSM. I use them both though and will not divest. They offer two completely different cooks. For now I separate the point from the flat when using the KJr.
I got my KJ classic in 2016 and haven’t looked back. I’ve done a few upgrades over the years, control tower top, multi piece fire box, and kick ash basket to name a few. Since then I have added KJ Jr to my arsenal. I love em. 2 of the best purchases I’ve ever made. Now I just need to get that Big Joe… 😂
Great thought James, I’ve got a Joe jr. And used to have a different brand equivalent of a classic. Now I’m eyeing the Big Joe series 1. It seems like everything but the airlift hinge can be added to the series 1 (maybe it can idk), so it’s a good price for people who want the space and are willing to upgrade for sure.
Thanks for the really helpful video. Your videos were huge helping me to pick Jr. over BGE's smallest offering. It's still my favorite cooker for steaks and chops. I hadn't heard that they revised the specs on the SloRoller. I too have cooked many things above 300-never over 450-and the top ring no longer fits perfectly on the bottom ring. It's close enough but not ideal.
I've done some minor upgrades to mine, most notably the coal basket which helps to get the coals up to temp quicker and more uniform. The biggest thing I wish I had was the air hinge. I've seen some vids on upgrading but not sure the 1 is adaptable.
Always a pleasure to watch your videos! I love my Dalstrong knife collection and the wife loves hers!!! I have the BJ series 3 - love it and while very expensive I cannot live without it now! ( also added soapstone and the Joetisserie) So versital - reverse sears, Thanksgiving turkeys, It DOES Everything! The only thing I would do knowis add a second one! LOL ( This video has be considering a Classic size or even the jr.) I have had it since early 2020 and was so much fun during that special time around the house!!!! It has held up well Keep up the good work!
thanks so much for this video James. Really appreciate it I have been debating on getting a kamado cooker for a very long time thinking the Big Joe series 3.
Very good information on what each size brings or doesn't have that is a great guide to help people decide what is needed. I have an 18" kamado for my family of 2 but I cook a couple times a month for 6 people. I love that I can do a brisket, 2 racks of ribs, large pork butt and 2 chickens on my grill at once. The only time I wish I had a larger grill like 24" is when I have two cooking zones. I finding that I like two cooking zones a lot more often as I expand what I cook and how I cook. It is not that hard to do a low fire to do the main cooking and remove the deflectors for high heat to sear. I do have an LP grill too that is very easy to heat up for the sear or other cooking. The LP grill also has two gas burners that I use a lot to cook other stuff like sauces and veg. I copied James double indirect method using to stones and was very please in the in increase in taste of my meats that I have decided not to buy a slwroller. The stones don't have the max temp concerns either. At times I wish my kamado was taller but not often, more likely when doing a double rack cook. I haven't had problems using a standard dome, just had to move the meat to the right place to shut the dome. I do cook on an open patio when it is snowing and near 0 degrees F without problems, I just let the kamado warm up with a smaller fire to not shock the grill. I have cracked a firebox after 15 years of cooking 2 to 3 times a week on the cooker. I ordered a new firebox that did take about 4 months to get a new one. I was lucky that I noticed the forming crack before it broke in two. I would like the separate firebox panels over the one piece. Just my 2 cents.
I have 3 Big Joes. One series 2 and two series1. Also a Joe JR. About to order a Classic 1. After 25 years of Green Eggs I am going to keep the BJ 2 and the JR. Sell the other 2 Big Joes Will be a complete trio. I'm a charcoal snob. The series one is a great grill and Kamado Joe has the best value package on the market.
Nice video. The classic 2 is my main kamado im using. That is because 90% of the time I'm cooking for me and my wife (babies like milk above meat 😂). The other 10% is when we are having family or friends over for eating and even then the size is stil big enough for the main dish. But.. If i need more grill surface, I fire up the Weber and have 2 grills running. Works fine for us
Hi James, excellent video as always! I recently purchased a Big Joe 2 and placed my thermopro pen on a shelf. To my surprise, the pen magnet attached itself to the shelf indicating that it is made of metal. I'm not sure if Kamado Joe has made the metal shelves a standard across all Big Joe 2s but I am a happy camper.
You and Rum and Cook sold me on the BJ3 and I’ve not been sorry.. I cook on a Vision Pro when its just me and the wife but drag out the Joe for guest. Bigger is not always better but size does matter!
Bought my first KJ four years ago... KJr for half price at Walmart Black Friday. Stumbled at first but now have gotten pretty good mostly through SDB videos. Just stepped up to Big Joe 2. Local store had a killer sale and I just couldn't say no... Keeping the Jr just to have it... :)
Would you recommend storing this in the garage when not in use or in inclement weather? Winters in Montana can be pretty brutal and I’d hate for ceramic to crack. I have a pit boss pellet grill that seems to have finally tapped out. That being said I kind of want to stay away from electronics on a grill and get back to charcoal. Plus I just miss/love the smell and taste of the no bs charcoal
Considering a series 3, but I heard that the sloroller has teflon and is harmful. What's your opinion on that? I might go with a BJ2 instead to avoid teflon!
They lowered the temperature for the sloroller because people were using dome temperature to respect it, but since the slo-roller is so close to the coals, teflon was peeling off...
Agreed, would love to hear more about kettle joe. I purchased the kettle joe when it first launched. It has been hit or miss for me with fire management. But I have made some amazing bbq on it. I just wonder if I could be doing some things better.
I have a large bge and love it for searing and cooking steaks. I recently bought a joe jr to cook one or two steaks when we are not entertaining. So far I've struggled to get the great sear and heat I get from the large bge. Any advice? I recently ordered a kick ash basket and expect airflow and heat will improve.
I just got the Big Joe series 1, after having the Joe Junior for a few years. I've been able to fit three ribs on the junior (by using a rack) with great results. But when cooking for friends it's difficult to comfortably fit everything I want. When bbq'ing I'm still using my home oven for the sides and I hope that with this new purchase I can manage to do most of it on one grill. WIth some of the deals I see mentioned here I might have gone for a series 2 or 3 but I have yet to see great deals here in Europe. The main upgrade from 1 to 2 is the air-lift hinge and I don't feel like the €600 it costs justify it for me. If I feel like it I could still get the newer gasket and Kontrol top if I wanted down the line as well as the sloroller.
For us poor people, is the Akorn Kamado close enough? I have watched your excellent review and the rest of your videos on the Akorn but I am still unsure how far behind the Joes the Akorn is? Just can't stretch to a Joe with my small budget.
its fantastic. get a cover, add the gasket material and enjoy. its more energy efficient but my double indirect brisket on my last Akron video was close enough to say go for it
I bought an akorn on a whim to see what the rage about charcoal kamado grills was about. I loved it. Kept it for 7 years, repaired it a few times after it got dropped or blown over. I loved it. Great grill. Eventually, i decided it was time to upgrade to a ceramic.
Both of you are just so wonderful, thank you so much for your replies. Akorn it is then and luckily in Australia our version comes with the cover. I will add the gasket material, so excited, thank you.
@@davidwesternall873 Be sure to note the "cover" advice, but make sure no condensation occurs under it. The major problem with the Akorn is rust. Keep that at bay and it should last for years. But you HAVE to take care of it.
I wish I had this video 3 years ago when I bought my classic 3. Hindsight, I would have gotten the Big Joe 3. Still love it, but just wish I had that extra wiggle room for brisket and full racks of ribs.
Hi James, finally upgraded from the Kettle Joe to a Big Joe II (got it at one heck of a price from Ace ($1,499 US);-even came with metal shelves). Anyway, I see Amazon has a few offerings for the table-top mounting feet...which brand do you recommend?
Great video as usual! How do you like the smoekware top vents vs both the daisy wheel and the kontrol tower.. I would love to see or hear your thoughts.
The SS isn’t painted so long term that has some advantages. The Kj isn’t two pieces which is easier than removing the top so it comes down to what you like the look off and what’s easier to clean. Having tossed the SS in the dishwasher that is handy
Have you ever had the kamado joe jr fire box break due to it being 1 piece? Is there any special way to travel with the jr? I’m worried about it breaking or cracking the ceramics.
ive had junior for 3 years. firebox cracked 2 years in, ordered new warranty replacement. its still in the box, stored in the barn. original is still in use - masonry bit, drill, and stainless wire and fully repaired the cracked jr firebox.
On a series 1? No they bind up the hinge a little is what people on facebook groups say. I ordered a rutland gasket for mine which is what I had on my eggs and liked
Really enjoy your YT page. Being a complete newbie to this space, why would one go with the KJ vs. BGE? I see the egg at Home Depot an Ace hardware but KJ is harder to find.
kinda... the series 3 is 4" taller, so there is a kit KJ sells with a lower rack to fit in the reduced height series 1/2. there's not much space for anything outside a drip pan below which is all you need so yes they do fit, just don't have the same amount of height as the taller 3's
Love your content…I recently acquired a Big Joe 3 shell. I’m now slowly buying parts to get it cooking. I’m having a hard time finding the 3 tier divide and conquer for sale anywhere. Any suggestions? I messaged customer care at KJ but haven’t heard back.
James, how about a video on how to keep the exterior of your Kamados looking like you just bought them. I know you’ve done videos on cleaning the interiors, but your kamados always look like they’re brand new out of the box. How do you do that?
Hi James - great video as always! I saw an add the other day for a Kamado Kettle BBQ with a 22inch cooking surface and a ceramic fire box at $549 Cdn - do you know anything about them or have you had any experience with them?
Is it possible to place a dutch oven and grill on the Classic joe 2 the same time? If not, is that possible on the bigjoe 2? I'm on the fence because of these questions.
Great video James! Good info for folks new to the ceramic grill world or for folks thinking about upgrading his/her KJ grill series. I have the Classic I and the JR. Love both of them! The recent addition of the new JR cart (which you did an unboxing video) has made that grill even more enjoyable to use. Are you familiar with the "WOO RING"? Its an aftermarket "divide n conquer" system for the JR. If yes, would love to hear your opinion. #DontBeAfraidToFireItUp 🔥🔥🔥
James, I can't get my top lid on my big Joe 3 to line up anymore, it's got an over bite that makes it hard to stay latch. I've adjusted it multiple times in the past using the tips in your videos, but it seems like it just won't sit right anymore. Do you know if the bands on the side have a recommended torque?
hi, nice videos, im a new subscriber from Canada. Here the big joe is hard to find and expensive. Im looking at either the classic 1 or classic 3. they are 1k cad$ difference. What do you think about the sloroller?
My KJ1 I got the charcoal basket as a bonus at the store. The KJ1 also came with the firebox in separete pieces. The felt and gasket are temporary untill they are worn out. Then I will get gasket as well and am at the same tier as the KJ2. In a couple of years when the daisy wheel is worn out I can replace it for a control tower. The hinge is then for me the only noticeable difference.
I inherited a 10 yr old KJ1 from my dad who decided it was too much work. Upgraded from an Akorn. I replaced the charcoal grate which i hated with a basket. I've flirted with a control tower but can't really justify it when the daisy wheel works fine (i have shelter in case of rain). Unbelievable build quality to last so long. The Akorn was toast after about 2 years. Anyways -take what you can get if it is free :) For anyone buying - there is definitely a learning curve - evening going from the Akorn to the KJ1 - but they are great all rounders!
I should have got the Big Joe and I'll tell you why. You can always cook less on a big grill but you can never add more space to a small grill. If I had it do over again I would get the Big Joe 1 and not the Classic 2 like I did.
@@Edwinschuur Just because the BJ is larger it does not mean you have to use more fuel. These are efficient insulated cookers that don't have a ton of airflow that would require more fuel.
My current grill is the same size as a JOE JR, and its enough size for me, Maybe if I am gonna get a different one, I would get a JOE classic. just so I an get larger cuts of meat on it. though with me living on my own, I wouldn't need more than the JR, since its big enough for 5LBS bacon ribs [2-4 servings, depending on how hungry I am]
I need the 24 inch space, so decided on a Big Joe. The biggest decision is 2 vs 3. Can get the BJ 2 for just under $2000 while the BJ 3 is $3000. I understand the 2 is about 4 inches shorter but it also comes with a better looking stand. But in today's economy a $1000 dollars is a big chunk.
Why has no youtuber not addressed the Konnected issue with AFS tripping GFCI outlets? I’ve read several customers experiencing this including myself. My house is only 2 yrs old and has 6 GFCI outlets on the covered patio-20A circuits. Everyone of them is tripped when attempting to use the Konnected. Seems to work fine on my non gfci--but i’m not going to run a cable from inside to outside. Customer support has been the worst--esp. due to the awful website that fails to submit forms (captcha issues). Now I’m stuck with having to return this massive grill--without proper packaging/pallet.
Yikes. I haven’t had that but my pre production unit was sent a warranty replacement for the AFS almost immediately and it’s been over a year problem free since
IMO, best advice for a newbie is...get the biggest KJ that you can afford and have the space for. This gives you room to 'graduate' into the BBQ hobby. The Series 3 would be my first choice, but it's not worth it to me to upgrade from the Series 2. I have a Series 2 Big Joe and I have never regretted the purchase. The only reason to get something bigger than a Big Joe is if you think you're going to regularly cook for large groups of people. The KJ is the best insulated cooker for cookers like me in the Midwest throughout the long winters. I can easily cook 4-6 packer briskets (for reference). I was not interested in the Konnected Joe. IMO, it's NOT worth it. My Series 2 paired with a Fireboard 2 Drive on it is near stress-free BBQ'ing. Thanks for the video.
The edit is for the fact that I have the Series 2. BTW...I upgraded my selves to the metal ones because, on one cook, I was lazy and set my HOT grates on the plastic side shelves and my OCD couldn't deal with the melted marks it left on my plastic shelves. KJ is really great for replacement parts as the grill ages, or...in my case, the chef's mistakes.
Howdy James. I got an Akorn and after your fixes, it is my 'go to' smoking method. My favorite protein to smoke is beef cheek. It is easy and quick to smoke and is more tender and flavorful than brisket. You should try it. Prepare it like a brisket, season it with SPG, cook about five hours, low and slow. If you try it, don't let your family know what it is. They'll love it, trust me....Thanks for the great videos. Fred.
Hey James, wish you put out this video before I bought my BJ series 3. I do have a classic series 3 but found that a larger brisket I would need to prop in the middle with balled up foil. So since I just got my BJ, it’s colder outside here in Maryland and my control top won’t go down on the lid. Do you think wait for warmer weather and it will go down?
![The Complete Story of Destiny! From origins to Shadowkeep [Timeline and Lore explained]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/9mbDXvDNqTU/mqdefault.jpg)
Officially became a member of the Joe family last summer. I used your channel to decide on my purchase. I picked up and Classic Series 2 and I absolutely love it. One thing to note. My grill came with metal shelves, NOT plastic. Using the Komodo is my favorite way to grill. I was a pellet grill guy before my purchase. I will never look back. Love cooking over a live fire. Nothing better. Thanks so much for all the great information.
I bought a KJ Classic Series 2 from Costco last year (February 2023) for an incredible $840 new. The cart had metal shelves and a cover. It’s the perfect size for our household, and now I’m debating a Joe Jr. Thanks for all the great content, always enjoy the content you produce.
My top 5 is:
1. Big Joe serie 3
2. Big Joe series 2
3. Konnected Joe
4. Kettle Joe
5. Joe Junior
👌🤩👌
That’s a good list 🍻
@pitmasterx So Big Joes over the classics?
@@Boingyboing I too would do a big Joe over the classic. The space is very nice to have around and the value is better for half moon sizes which hold much more on the big Joe models
@@SmokingDadBBQ thanks for the quick response. It’s either a big Joe 2 or classic 3 for me. Trying to weigh the pros and cons
Great video James, Ive had the Joe Jr. for a couple years now and love it. Finally convinced the wife to let me get a big joe for our new patio. I was able to get the big joe 2 for $1499 US. We went and looked at a classic one and the lack of air hinge really sold the wife on series 2+
Although I wanted a Big Joe, I was very fortunate to get a new Classic III on Amazon for $1054 not including another 5% discount for using the Amazon card. A week earlier I was able to get a new Joe Jr for $179 from Walmart. With those two, it didn't make sense to get a Big Joe anymore. I'm mostly cooking for two anyway, so these two Kamado Joe grills have been just perfect for us. Love them. Thanks James for another great video. 👍👍👍
Awesome deal
Wonderful feature James. Being a BGE user and fan of your channel who has seriously contemplated a move to Camp Red this was an excellent reference video. Thanks much
Awesome, thank you!
You gave so much information and for that I thank you. I’m a wife that likes to BBQ once in a while for our family of 3. We have a Treager Timberline 1300. My husband bought it because he thought it would be better than a Kamado Grill. He bought it 3 years ago and has never used it once. He doesn’t like to grill unfortunately so I’ve used it a few times. Works great in my opinion. I’ve done ribs, chicken and brisket. I say I use it 3 times a year at the most but I’ve always wanted a Kamado because I like grilling with charcoal. Since the pandemic I’ve been looking at reviews to see which one I should get. I know they are expensive and specially if we won’t use it much but it’s okay. I don’t mind having something I like for just once in a while. Your video helped me a lot and even though I don’t entertain much and when I do is usually not a BBQ I think I will go for the Big Joe. Only because I want to have it all and not have regrets later and why I didn’t get the best one. I will watch more of your videos to learn and be ready for when I buy it. Sorry for the long comment and if you have a suggestions or a video suggestion I would appreciate it. Thanks 🙏🏼
Hey James, thanks again for that great video on how to change the KJ gasket. I did exactly as you said and she has been running great.
I just picked up a used classic 2 for 400 dollars and am loving all of you content!
Smoking deal. Thanks
I purchased a Kamado Joe Classic III, and I must say, it has exceeded my expectations. While the Big Joe was initially on my radar, after experimenting with recipes, I found that the Classic III better suited my needs. I am thoroughly enjoying my cooking experiences with it and couldn't be happier.
I have the classic 2 I bought years ago at top price right around the time the classic 3's were coming out. I wasn't educated on the differences until I found your channel years ago and after I bought. I feel my dealer sold me to clean out his inventory on his series 2 models which has always burned my ass. Over the years watching you cook on your series 3 and your "double indirect method" looks fantastic but for those of us with the series 2 it's been a hard few years watching you cook on that thing. My fault for not being informed when I bought. I still have my classic 2 and enjoy a lot of great food off it but still always wish I had the extra space of the classic 3 to try your cooking methods. Can't blame you for showing most videos using your 3. I still might sell my 2 for a big Joe 1. Thanks for years of watching your cooks and all the time you've spent on them! I'm sure I'm not alone when I say we've all learned a lot from you when it comes to ceramic cooking!.
I can do the same setups on series 1/2. I included them along with my preferred method for each model in the double indirect ebook. Food is indistinguishable despite the space difference so it’s just a little more finagling
Last April I decided to purchase the Classic Series II. I absolutely love my grill. With that being said, I wished I had purchased the Big Joe Series III in a 24” grill.
As a techie and avid griller I went with the Konnected Joe and absolutely love it.
Congrats
Great info as always James!
Thanks again!
Extremely thorough analysis James!
Thanks Al
Thanks James for all the great videos. I'd love to try the potatoes cooked on the coals that I saw a brief clip of in this video. Do you have a video for that or could you make a short one? Cheers!
Well I started with the JR realy impressed in everyway except the size. So I looked at what is really necessary. I aopted for BJ1. I bought size veses the hipped features. I bought the basket for air circulation. I might buy a Smokeware vent stack in the future for better control. Now I have a great one for the weekday cooks and a big one for
simultaneous cook meat and sides. I like the other features in the others but not at the price they are asking for it.
I was saving for a nice offset to smoke on and have been really enjoying a Medium Green Egg I use on a small patio at the lake.
After about a month of researching and saving for my offset, happened into Academy and came across the Big Joe Series 1 that was marked 799$. After seeing the slow-roller mod, couldn't open my wallet fast enough.... such a great price!
Really excited about the great space available
Thank you James! I went and compared a Big Joe Series III vs one of the 18” models and I was surprised at the size difference there is once you see them in person! When the money is there it will be a BJ III
Well done & timely video. I went thru the "consternation " of which grill do I get about 18 months ago. This after watching your channel for about a year prior. I have been using a WSM for about 10+ yers though & still do. So I decided to start small with a JR. Having an RV this allowed me to take it on our travels & use it at home. LOVE IT ! Now looking at getting a home unit as well. I am amazed just how much less fuel is used by the KJr vs the WSM. I use them both though and will not divest. They offer two completely different cooks. For now I separate the point from the flat when using the KJr.
I got my KJ classic in 2016 and haven’t looked back. I’ve done a few upgrades over the years, control tower top, multi piece fire box, and kick ash basket to name a few. Since then I have added KJ Jr to my arsenal. I love em. 2 of the best purchases I’ve ever made. Now I just need to get that Big Joe… 😂
Great thought James, I’ve got a Joe jr. And used to have a different brand equivalent of a classic. Now I’m eyeing the Big Joe series 1. It seems like everything but the airlift hinge can be added to the series 1 (maybe it can idk), so it’s a good price for people who want the space and are willing to upgrade for sure.
Great Job on this video! Thank you James.
Much appreciated!
Great video I have a Joe jr and classic 2. It works great for me.
Right on
I have the same combination. Never gonna change I think.
Very nicely done, thank you sir.
Thank you kindly!
Thanks for the really helpful video. Your videos were huge helping me to pick Jr. over BGE's smallest offering. It's still my favorite cooker for steaks and chops. I hadn't heard that they revised the specs on the SloRoller. I too have cooked many things above 300-never over 450-and the top ring no longer fits perfectly on the bottom ring. It's close enough but not ideal.
I have the Big Joe Series 1 and it does everything i need it to do
I've done some minor upgrades to mine, most notably the coal basket which helps to get the coals up to temp quicker and more uniform. The biggest thing I wish I had was the air hinge. I've seen some vids on upgrading but not sure the 1 is adaptable.
@ I agree. I have the 3 springs and no matter how much I tighten the belts the lid drops after some time. I’m thinking I need to replace the 3 springs
Great in information on the Kamado Joe lineup!
Glad it was helpful!
Always a pleasure to watch your videos! I love my Dalstrong knife collection and the wife loves hers!!!
I have the BJ series 3 - love it and while very expensive I cannot live without it now! ( also added soapstone and the Joetisserie) So versital - reverse sears, Thanksgiving turkeys, It DOES Everything!
The only thing I would do knowis add a second one! LOL ( This video has be considering a Classic size or even the jr.)
I have had it since early 2020 and was so much fun during that special time around the house!!!! It has held up well
Keep up the good work!
thanks so much for this video James. Really appreciate it I have been debating on getting a kamado cooker for a very long time thinking the Big Joe series 3.
Congrats
Very good information on what each size brings or doesn't have that is a great guide to help people decide what is needed. I have an 18" kamado for my family of 2 but I cook a couple times a month for 6 people. I love that I can do a brisket, 2 racks of ribs, large pork butt and 2 chickens on my grill at once. The only time I wish I had a larger grill like 24" is when I have two cooking zones. I finding that I like two cooking zones a lot more often as I expand what I cook and how I cook. It is not that hard to do a low fire to do the main cooking and remove the deflectors for high heat to sear. I do have an LP grill too that is very easy to heat up for the sear or other cooking. The LP grill also has two gas burners that I use a lot to cook other stuff like sauces and veg. I copied James double indirect method using to stones and was very please in the in increase in taste of my meats that I have decided not to buy a slwroller. The stones don't have the max temp concerns either. At times I wish my kamado was taller but not often, more likely when doing a double rack cook. I haven't had problems using a standard dome, just had to move the meat to the right place to shut the dome. I do cook on an open patio when it is snowing and near 0 degrees F without problems, I just let the kamado warm up with a smaller fire to not shock the grill. I have cracked a firebox after 15 years of cooking 2 to 3 times a week on the cooker. I ordered a new firebox that did take about 4 months to get a new one. I was lucky that I noticed the forming crack before it broke in two. I would like the separate firebox panels over the one piece. Just my 2 cents.
I like the AMP firebox too as I had what you had happen on my older eggs
I looked for AMP firebox on web and not finding it. Maybe discontinued?@@SmokingDadBBQ
I have 3 Big Joes. One series 2 and two series1. Also a Joe JR. About to order a Classic 1. After 25 years of Green Eggs I am going to keep the BJ 2 and the JR. Sell the other 2 Big Joes Will be a complete trio. I'm a charcoal snob. The series one is a great grill and Kamado Joe has the best value package on the market.
Nice video. The classic 2 is my main kamado im using. That is because 90% of the time I'm cooking for me and my wife (babies like milk above meat 😂). The other 10% is when we are having family or friends over for eating and even then the size is stil big enough for the main dish. But.. If i need more grill surface, I fire up the Weber and have 2 grills running. Works fine for us
Hi James, excellent video as always! I recently purchased a Big Joe 2 and placed my thermopro pen on a shelf. To my surprise, the pen magnet attached itself to the shelf indicating that it is made of metal. I'm not sure if Kamado Joe has made the metal shelves a standard across all Big Joe 2s but I am a happy camper.
In addition, I have placed my searing hot pizza stone on the shelves without any effect on the shelves.
This sounds good. Maybe they’ve updated them and not changed the site
@@SmokingDadBBQmy KJC1 bought 2023 in Europe also came with a segmented firebox and metal side tables.
You and Rum and Cook sold me on the BJ3 and I’ve not been sorry.. I cook on a Vision Pro when its just me and the wife but drag out the Joe for guest. Bigger is not always better but size does matter!
congrats on your new joe
Bought my first KJ four years ago... KJr for half price at Walmart Black Friday. Stumbled at first but now have gotten pretty good mostly through SDB videos. Just stepped up to Big Joe 2. Local store had a killer sale and I just couldn't say no... Keeping the Jr just to have it... :)
Nice comparison with in depth explanations. How about a cook off between a series 3 and your Primo oval xl ?
Bought series 2 classic last year..it came with metal shelves
Would you recommend storing this in the garage when not in use or in inclement weather? Winters in Montana can be pretty brutal and I’d hate for ceramic to crack. I have a pit boss pellet grill that seems to have finally tapped out. That being said I kind of want to stay away from electronics on a grill and get back to charcoal. Plus I just miss/love the smell and taste of the no bs charcoal
Considering a series 3, but I heard that the sloroller has teflon and is harmful. What's your opinion on that? I might go with a BJ2 instead to avoid teflon!
They lowered the temperature for the sloroller because people were using dome temperature to respect it, but since the slo-roller is so close to the coals, teflon was peeling off...
What about the kettle joe?
Great video btw
Agreed, would love to hear more about kettle joe. I purchased the kettle joe when it first launched. It has been hit or miss for me with fire management. But I have made some amazing bbq on it. I just wonder if I could be doing some things better.
A great guide. KJ offers so many options, it confuses the buyer. I'll refer friends who inquire, to this clip.
Much appreciated, sharing videos helps the algorithm
Ive got the Classic II…I’ll be adding at Big Joe to the backyard
A video of how you store all your KJ accessories would be appreciated
Thank you James for another great video! Very informative.
My pleasure!
I have a large bge and love it for searing and cooking steaks.
I recently bought a joe jr to cook one or two steaks when we are not entertaining. So far I've struggled to get the great sear and heat I get from the large bge. Any advice?
I recently ordered a kick ash basket and expect airflow and heat will improve.
I just got the Big Joe series 1, after having the Joe Junior for a few years. I've been able to fit three ribs on the junior (by using a rack) with great results. But when cooking for friends it's difficult to comfortably fit everything I want. When bbq'ing I'm still using my home oven for the sides and I hope that with this new purchase I can manage to do most of it on one grill. WIth some of the deals I see mentioned here I might have gone for a series 2 or 3 but I have yet to see great deals here in Europe. The main upgrade from 1 to 2 is the air-lift hinge and I don't feel like the €600 it costs justify it for me. If I feel like it I could still get the newer gasket and Kontrol top if I wanted down the line as well as the sloroller.
For us poor people, is the Akorn Kamado close enough? I have watched your excellent review and the rest of your videos on the Akorn but I am still unsure how far behind the Joes the Akorn is? Just can't stretch to a Joe with my small budget.
its fantastic. get a cover, add the gasket material and enjoy. its more energy efficient but my double indirect brisket on my last Akron video was close enough to say go for it
I bought an akorn on a whim to see what the rage about charcoal kamado grills was about. I loved it. Kept it for 7 years, repaired it a few times after it got dropped or blown over. I loved it. Great grill. Eventually, i decided it was time to upgrade to a ceramic.
Both of you are just so wonderful, thank you so much for your replies. Akorn it is then and luckily in Australia our version comes with the cover. I will add the gasket material, so excited, thank you.
@@davidwesternall873 Be sure to note the "cover" advice, but make sure no condensation occurs under it. The major problem with the Akorn is rust. Keep that at bay and it should last for years. But you HAVE to take care of it.
What is the equivalent of the Kettle Joe on this instance and specification wise. I see this has not been mentioned.
it was discontinued but has come back ... i did some videos on it a year or so back before it went missing
I wish I had this video 3 years ago when I bought my classic 3. Hindsight, I would have gotten the Big Joe 3. Still love it, but just wish I had that extra wiggle room for brisket and full racks of ribs.
Hi James, finally upgraded from the Kettle Joe to a Big Joe II (got it at one heck of a price from Ace ($1,499 US);-even came with metal shelves). Anyway, I see Amazon has a few offerings for the table-top mounting feet...which brand do you recommend?
Great video as usual! How do you like the smoekware top vents vs both the daisy wheel and the kontrol tower.. I would love to see or hear your thoughts.
The SS isn’t painted so long term that has some advantages. The Kj isn’t two pieces which is easier than removing the top so it comes down to what you like the look off and what’s easier to clean. Having tossed the SS in the dishwasher that is handy
I’ve always thought a SS kontrol tower might be the best, probably very expensive solution.
I own three already because of you 😆
Congrats. Which 3?
Joe Jr, Kettle Joe, Big Joe Series III
Looking forward to your Weber kamado 6 month review. Ive been stuck between brands.
Have you ever had the kamado joe jr fire box break due to it being 1 piece? Is there any special way to travel with the jr? I’m worried about it breaking or cracking the ceramics.
ive had junior for 3 years. firebox cracked 2 years in, ordered new warranty replacement. its still in the box, stored in the barn. original is still in use - masonry bit, drill, and stainless wire and fully repaired the cracked jr firebox.
Series 1 does all it needs to do for me . Including big game cooks like brisket and ribs . Man even Turkey fits great .
It’s so good
Can you change gaskets from felt to braided?
On a series 1? No they bind up the hinge a little is what people on facebook groups say. I ordered a rutland gasket for mine which is what I had on my eggs and liked
I have a BIG green egg and 3 Kamado joe. Green is mostly my grill. 3 tier Joe is my smoker or large bbq
Right on
Really enjoy your YT page. Being a complete newbie to this space, why would one go with the KJ vs. BGE? I see the egg at Home Depot an Ace hardware but KJ is harder to find.
ive owned vision, kj, and bge. they are all good cookers.
Can I use the slow roller on any of the 3 Kamados?
kinda... the series 3 is 4" taller, so there is a kit KJ sells with a lower rack to fit in the reduced height series 1/2. there's not much space for anything outside a drip pan below which is all you need so yes they do fit, just don't have the same amount of height as the taller 3's
Love your content…I recently acquired a Big Joe 3 shell. I’m now slowly buying parts to get it cooking. I’m having a hard time finding the 3 tier divide and conquer for sale anywhere. Any suggestions? I messaged customer care at KJ but haven’t heard back.
i don't remember the part number but you can find it on google, a few dealers have it in stock if i recall from previous searches
I can’t seem to locate it anywhere
James, how about a video on how to keep the exterior of your Kamados looking like you just bought them. I know you’ve done videos on cleaning the interiors, but your kamados always look like they’re brand new out of the box. How do you do that?
This is a good one, lol. Idk how he keeps it looking like that and I’m sure he cooks on it more than me.
its recorded and scheduled 😊
@@SmokingDadBBQ Ohhh, right on time, James!
Hi James - great video as always! I saw an add the other day for a Kamado Kettle BBQ with a 22inch cooking surface and a ceramic fire box at $549 Cdn - do you know anything about them or have you had any experience with them?
Connected Joe for older me. Plug her in and charcoal lights.
I HAVE A JOE JR AND CLASSIC 3…IF I DID IT AGAIN, I WOULD DO THE JOE JR AND BIG JOE 3
the perfect pair
Is it possible to place a dutch oven and grill on the Classic joe 2 the same time? If not, is that possible on the bigjoe 2? I'm on the fence because of these questions.
Hey does anyone know if a classic 1 will fit in a classic 3 nest. I know the classic 3 is taller. But I think it might work.
It needs a little extra padding to not slide around but technically can fit
Great video James! Good info for folks new to the ceramic grill world or for folks thinking about upgrading his/her KJ grill series. I have the Classic I and the JR. Love both of them! The recent addition of the new JR cart (which you did an unboxing video) has made that grill even more enjoyable to use. Are you familiar with the "WOO RING"? Its an aftermarket "divide n conquer" system for the JR. If yes, would love to hear your opinion. #DontBeAfraidToFireItUp 🔥🔥🔥
James, I can't get my top lid on my big Joe 3 to line up anymore, it's got an over bite that makes it hard to stay latch. I've adjusted it multiple times in the past using the tips in your videos, but it seems like it just won't sit right anymore. Do you know if the bands on the side have a recommended torque?
hi, nice videos, im a new subscriber from Canada. Here the big joe is hard to find and expensive. Im looking at either the classic 1 or classic 3. they are 1k cad$ difference. What do you think about the sloroller?
My KJ1 I got the charcoal basket as a bonus at the store. The KJ1 also came with the firebox in separete pieces.
The felt and gasket are temporary untill they are worn out. Then I will get gasket as well and am at the same tier as the KJ2. In a couple of years when the daisy wheel is worn out I can replace it for a control tower.
The hinge is then for me the only noticeable difference.
I inherited a 10 yr old KJ1 from my dad who decided it was too much work. Upgraded from an Akorn. I replaced the charcoal grate which i hated with a basket. I've flirted with a control tower but can't really justify it when the daisy wheel works fine (i have shelter in case of rain). Unbelievable build quality to last so long. The Akorn was toast after about 2 years. Anyways -take what you can get if it is free :)
For anyone buying - there is definitely a learning curve - evening going from the Akorn to the KJ1 - but they are great all rounders!
@@bandagraph What happened to the Akorn I can imagine build quality to be less but 2 years is very short.
@@Edwinschuur maybe it was longer but it rusted pretty badly even though I had a cover.
They are petals not pedestals. Great information throughout.
Tongue tied apparently. Cheers
@@SmokingDadBBQ I really like all of them, but I can only afford the sports car one. It's perfect for 2 people.
I should have got the Big Joe and I'll tell you why. You can always cook less on a big grill but you can never add more space to a small grill. If I had it do over again I would get the Big Joe 1 and not the Classic 2 like I did.
Yes but you always use more charcoal and the price is higher.
@@Edwinschuur Just because the BJ is larger it does not mean you have to use more fuel. These are efficient insulated cookers that don't have a ton of airflow that would require more fuel.
You said Big joe went through a charcoal basket in 56 hours! Wow how long would a classic joe basket last if i wanted to do a brisket?
18-24 hrs is the most i've got from a classic
What about the Kettle Joe?
Where does the kettlejoe slot in here?
It’s not sold in North America anymore so I didn’t include it. The food tastes good, a little more difficult for temp control
My current grill is the same size as a JOE JR, and its enough size for me, Maybe if I am gonna get a different one, I would get a JOE classic. just so I an get larger cuts of meat on it.
though with me living on my own, I wouldn't need more than the JR, since its big enough for 5LBS bacon ribs [2-4 servings, depending on how hungry I am]
nothing the classic can't handle for sure.. even with some tweaking the JR can manage a shocking amount of different things
I can do a full brisket or 3 chickens on my Joe junior. Great grill for a small family and small condo
Try a cook on the breeo smokeless fire pit
i have a couple a while back on the solo stove including wings, pulled pork and steak
I need the 24 inch space, so decided on a Big Joe. The biggest decision is 2 vs 3. Can get the BJ 2 for just under $2000 while the BJ 3 is $3000. I understand the 2 is about 4 inches shorter but it also comes with a better looking stand. But in today's economy a $1000 dollars is a big chunk.
Why has no youtuber not addressed the Konnected issue with AFS tripping GFCI outlets? I’ve read several customers experiencing this including myself. My house is only 2 yrs old and has 6 GFCI outlets on the covered patio-20A circuits. Everyone of them is tripped when attempting to use the Konnected. Seems to work fine on my non gfci--but i’m not going to run a cable from inside to outside. Customer support has been the worst--esp. due to the awful website that fails to submit forms (captcha issues). Now I’m stuck with having to return this massive grill--without proper packaging/pallet.
Yikes. I haven’t had that but my pre production unit was sent a warranty replacement for the AFS almost immediately and it’s been over a year problem free since
IMO, best advice for a newbie is...get the biggest KJ that you can afford and have the space for. This gives you room to 'graduate' into the BBQ hobby. The Series 3 would be my first choice, but it's not worth it to me to upgrade from the Series 2.
I have a Series 2 Big Joe and I have never regretted the purchase. The only reason to get something bigger than a Big Joe is if you think you're going to regularly cook for large groups of people. The KJ is the best insulated cooker for cookers like me in the Midwest throughout the long winters. I can easily cook 4-6 packer briskets (for reference).
I was not interested in the Konnected Joe. IMO, it's NOT worth it. My Series 2 paired with a Fireboard 2 Drive on it is near stress-free BBQ'ing.
Thanks for the video.
Thanks. I like my FireBoard too
The edit is for the fact that I have the Series 2. BTW...I upgraded my selves to the metal ones because, on one cook, I was lazy and set my HOT grates on the plastic side shelves and my OCD couldn't deal with the melted marks it left on my plastic shelves.
KJ is really great for replacement parts as the grill ages, or...in my case, the chef's mistakes.
I would never trust ANY KJ electronics after the iKamand fiasco.
Team big joe 3❤❤❤ with flame gun the game is on faster then you can get your meat to room temperature😂
I just bought a grilla grills kong
Should test a pit boss Kamado grill
awesome, maybe some day… content calendar is pretty full this year with what i am currently testing
Howdy James. I got an Akorn and after your fixes, it is my 'go to' smoking method. My favorite protein to smoke is beef cheek. It is easy and quick to smoke and is more tender and flavorful than brisket. You should try it. Prepare it like a brisket, season it with SPG, cook about five hours, low and slow. If you try it, don't let your family know what it is. They'll love it, trust me....Thanks for the great videos. Fred.
Where can you find a big joe for $1100?
www.kamadojoe.com/products/big-joe-i
mal-wart had the BIG JOE 1 last august on flash sale for $719. lifetime warranty. easy decision to pull the trigger.
@smokingdadBBQ is this in Canada? I can’t change the shipping address to Canada.
Konnected Joe all the way, auto or manual
Hey James, wish you put out this video before I bought my BJ series 3. I do have a classic series 3 but found that a larger brisket I would need to prop in the middle with balled up foil. So since I just got my BJ, it’s colder outside here in Maryland and my control top won’t go down on the lid. Do you think wait for warmer weather and it will go down?
My 2 definately came with steel shelves. Also at least here in nz series 1s now also come with steel shelves and full divide and conquer set up
Why are we not reviewing alternative brands, especially if cost is a focus?
Did you see the video that came out right before this? This is a specific to kj models
Classic PLUS Junior--I personally think that is a sweet spot. Brisket on the classic and pork shoulder on the Jr. makes for a lot of BBQ.
Erster!!!
Kein 🤖!!!
❤
cheers
Bigger is typically better if you have a family. Simple.
for sure ... old muscle car saying, no replacement for displacement
Or Weber Summit Kamado for half the price?
This is the Kj lineup buying guide. I have a summit and have a years worth of testing on it to publish soon … it’s not half series 1 btw
Buy the biggest one you can afford.
You talk toooo much !!!
TLDR
Chinese Kamado with an American name.
it is made in china yes, BGE in mexico and primo in US with almost every other brand (Aplux, Vision, SNS etc.) also coming from overseas
Weber is the answer.
I have a review coming out soon. This is a kj family of grills guide