I think it should be noted that there are a ton of 22” accessories made by Webber and third party manufacturers which might work well with the kettle Joe. Obviously, these will have to be tested to confirm compatibility.
Thanks, that's good to know. I won a raffle for a 22" Pit Boss Kamado grill last fall. I'll have to look into this and see if they'd work with my grill.
This would also be the 'other' scenario, besides the ones you mentioned, people looking to switch from their trusted old Weber 22 to a Kamado Joe. I got an old 22 Master Touch with most of the inserts and trimmings for their GBS system. If those fit on the Kettle Joe I'd be sold tbh.
based on your videos i bought a joe junior last week and i must say i'm totally hooked on this thing. ive ended up using it each night even after i had dinner already. just to experience the magic again and again and get the feels for it. thanks for all the videos man!
The joe Jr has been awfully tempting to me when you mention it being a weekday warrior. I would love to see more videos about recipes for that. Perhaps a 'weekday warrior' side series. If I get one, that ash basket would be a must. The one that came with the series 3 has totally spoiled me.
You can buy a high temperature felt seal or gasket like on the Big Green Egg and put that on the Kamado Kettle Joe which ought to help seal it properly so it doesn’t leak. Use nail polish remover first to clean the metal surface.
I've been leaning to the Joe junior as my entry into kamado cooking. I was intrigued by your kettle Joe video but when you mentioned the leaking, that is a deal breaker for me. Definitely going to take the Joe junior. Thank you so much for this information. I love your channel! I have a Louisiana grills LG 900 so I definitely don't need to worry about whether I can do a brisket or ribs etc.
Thanks for this James! I was cooking at the Keystone BBQ Supply Open House on Saturday and we were debating the Jr. vs. the Kettle. Very timely video as I've been debating between them myself. I was on team Kettle, but after your video, I'm firmly back on Team Junior. I already have a Big Joe 2 so I think it's a great complimentary piece.
I'm in the same situation. I have a big Joe 2 and added an acorn jr to the fleet. Because it's a metal kamado style grill I thought it would perform close to the Joe but it cooks very different.. hoping to grab a Joe jr in the spring. The metal BBQ takes a lot of stress out of the winter cooking in Canada though haha. I've watched James' cold weather cooking video 100x but I'm still scared to fire up the big Joe on frigid winter days 🤣
Unless you need to cook a lot of food for a large group of ppl, the Joe jr should suit your needs. I have a large BGE and the jr. I use the jr more often. Half a brisket fits perfectly. The efficiency and stable temps of a ceramic cooker are much more convenient for longer cooks. And one could throw on a reggulator for a small BGE if the daisy wheel moves to much on you. Would be nice to see KJ update the Jr.
I guess the main plus is that I bought this specifically to be a smoker and will only be using it for that. I have a gas grill for all of my other cooking.
James, thank you for good-quality content! I watch your videos all the time. It helps me a lot. I bought a KJ classic-1 more than a month ago (because of your videos and some good advices in comments), but it is still in a box in my new house, which will be ready for move-in only in the fall. It's so hard to buy a dream grill but not be able to cook on it for another six months = ( Your videos videos and my good old weber 22` help me a lot in waiting..
New to your channel and loving the content. Had considered a big Joe 2 but your in depth reviews have sold me on the Classic 3. I would cook for 8-12 maximum (once we can have people round again) so think the 18inch surface will be ample with the three tier system and the sloroller system seems to be a fantastic solution for a good even slow cooked smoked pork or brisket. Thank you
Junior is the only grill u ever need 90% of time.. for larger and faster cook one can use kettle webber at 18 or 22inch which may be few times a year only... and if u are the type of guy that wants to smoke larger meats.. then the Smokey Tex electric smoker is better then any ceramic charcoal smoker/grill.. the electric is just so economical and just so much precise and hustle free regarding temperature and wood for smoking... no need for big joe or any but the junior
Thanks for this. Just ordered a Junior and was worried that the kettle would be better for the couple-hundred dollars more due to size. I'm comfortable with my purchase. Too good a deal to pass up. Thanks for the help.
I went Kettle Joe for my first go with charcoal. I figure it’s a little more flexible as far as size goes. I think a Jr is in my future since the portability would be very nice! Great video!
You’re a really good reviewer…. How about this idea: Smoker + Grill - What is the best combo? I have a Yoder YS640S which is a fantastic pellet smoker. I have the two-piece diffuser and GrillGrates which is very useful for reverse searing and other high-heat use. But the grill area is fairly small and I find myself sometimes wanting a more traditional direct heat grill. The Kettle Joe strikes me as the kind of companion I’m looking for. I wouldn’t think of doing a brisket on a kettle grill - I have a smoker. So all of the accessories that would emulate a smoker wouldn’t interest me. You see where I’m going…. I’ll bet a lot of people would like two tools that specialize so you could have the best of both worlds.
Not sure how I missed this video. Certainly points well taken although still leaning towards joe jr for travel purposes but for straight up entry price obviously kettle joe seems like a better option especially with all those options/accessories and grilling space.
Great comparison and feel the same way for the reasons you mentioned. Love my joe junior but kettle joe space & sloroller is great for price as a good entry point into kj.
Even at the same price point these aren't really the same. I'd buy the kettle joe because I can buy easier and cheaper portable grills to transport. Either way this was a great review none the less.
I think a video in this format comparing the Joe Jr with the Akorn (if you still have it) would be nice since they're roughly similar in cost. As someone who mainly uses a Weber Performer or a smaller Go Anywhere I would be looking into the Joe Jr or Akorn to test the Kamado waters.
I feel like this was aimed squarely at Weber guys. Probably why it’s 22 inch, so any Weber accessories will fit. That being said, I expect a line of KJ branded kettle accessories in the future
I would like to see them eliminate the slo roller ring on the kettle and build it like the ceramic grills. Use the divide and conquer system with the ceramic defuser plates.
Now it’s time for an over the top Texas style chili using the Kettle Joe. Dutch oven on the bottom grill and the ground beef smoked on the top grill without the drip tray. I’m getting the Kettle Joe to introduce me to the Kamado line and really want to try the over the top chili.
Great video James! I’d like to see you make a video on the Big Joe vs Classic Joe or Big Joe vs Classic Joe & Joe Jr combo. I think when buying a Kamado the big debate is which is the best size to buy.
One of the best things about having a 22" kamado designed around the Slow N Sear is that it's compatible with pretty much every Weber kettle accessory, which is a considerable amount. I'd actually consider purchasing the junior just to have a kamado you can take camping etc, but I wouldn't consider the Kettle Joe because there are other - IMO better - kettles in terms of accessories, features, and functionality for way less money, that don't happen to weigh 120 pounds. A kettle that weighs that much is crazy lol.
@@tonyh4513 Than the Kettle Joe? The SnS Deluxe Kettle. The Kettle Joe is $499.99, and basically all it is is a weber kettle that comes with a ceramic firebox, supposed Slo Roller, and somewhat-Kamado-Joe-esque top and bottom vent adjustment. You also have to adjust its height up to use the Slo Roller, and down if you want to sear, so if you want to do a reverse sear on it, you have to cook low and slow, then lower the height whiel it's hot (and risk burning yourself) so you can let the fire come up and sear. Plus it weighs 120 pounds because of the ceramic firebox. Good luck taking that camping or to a cookout or something. The SnS Deluxe Kettle is $364.99, and it comes with a Slow N Sear, Drip N Griddle pan, and EasySpin Grate (I bought a bundle of these 3 accessories a few years ago for my Weber Kettle and it cost $180, so that's $180 worth of accessories right there). It also has a thermometer probe port and stoker fan port drilled into it already with covers. The stoker fan port doubles as a smoke hole, as you can adjust the cover over it to leave it say, 1/3 open, whereas in kettles you traditionally can't really see how you're adjusting the bottom vents - it's just trial and error. It also has a side shelf, and much easier to remove ash basket than the Weber kettle. So the KJ is just overpriced for what it is, and the SnS one is basically like a pre-modded Weber Kettle that will let you use a thermostatic controller / stoker, wired thermometer (without pinching wires under the lid), and the Slow N Sear + cold grate technique out of the box, plus a shelf and easier to remove ash basket.
I'm going to be very tempted to buy the sloroller for my weber performer. Hope it will let me buy the charcoal basket with the inserts for better heat retention too. I think this will be better than my SNS
Walmart just had the joe jr for $299 and free 2day so I picked that up. I have a barrel cooker a kettle and a flat top so I think it will fit right in. Your videos helped me decide Thanks
@@SmokingDadBBQ It's great. The felt that came with it rubbed off. I emailed KJ and customer support sent me the gasket for free! I think it was for the classic model so I had to cut it to make it fit
Thanks for the video! Now that you’ve had some cooks under your belt on it...for entry into the charcoal game (non ceramic), would you go with the KJ or Weber/SnS?
i love the potential of the KJ Kettle... but my pre-production model isn't there yet. It leaks air, is hard to control temps really low, the grease runs out the probe and seal, the dome leaks grease as well, not easy to switch indirect to direct etc. If you did the Kettle joe, it needs gasket material, a half stone heat deflector, and maybe the SNS divider as an alternative to the deflector. Or you for less money could get a loaded SNS kettle and add the sloroller when it comes out
Thanks for all of the great content! We do allot of pizzas on our gas grill, but I'm about to add a Kettle Joe to our kitchen. Do you know if a Kettlepizza will work on a Kettle Joe? I'm guessing if the Weber rotisserie fits that the Kettle Pizza would as well? Just not sure about the height with the hinge. Thanks!
Hi, amazing videos btw. Question. I mostly cook, chicken thighs, burgers,sausages, ribs, what would you recommend? I dont slow cook meat. Thanks buddy!
For anyone reading these comments now, you can get a kettle joe for less than 1/2 price at some Lowes stores I've seen. For that price (less than a big Weber kettle) it's a good deal IMO. I spent an extra $14 on some gasket material for the lid & slo roller & was off & running. This is a kettle on steroids, not a true kamado. Nothing wrong with that so long as people realize what they're buying.
Well, that is really interesting. You can put a whole chicken on on KJ Jr, but not two chickens. Can you put two chickens on the standard size KJ? If you can only cook one chicken either way then the Jr has the win.
Excellent video. Really appreciate the insightful information. However, I have a question outside of these 2 as the Kettle Joe is out of stock. Do you have any recommendations on something similar? Different brand maybe? I like both, but the Kettle Joe looks amazing, also has wheels which is amazing. Haha. Any help would be nice. Thanks.
Thanks Chris, ah bummer. The SNS Kettle deluxe with the SNS insert is a nice kettle also in 22" size. I love the Joe Jr so thats the one I would get but its not well suited for the larger cooks like the Kettle would be
One question comes to mind for the classic grills that might be addressed in another video... how does one add charcoal in the middle of a cook on a classic? Say I've got a brisket going, and didn't put in enough to get through the cook. Are there dos and don'ts for that?
Hello James more fab content. My question is for my Big Joe cast iron reversible grill can you show me the best set up. I will be using the standard steel grates in conjunction with the cast iron reversible to cook burgers and sausages. I also have the extension rack of needed. Thank you
To my understanding it is in fact due to the inserts that the Kettle can reach 700 in the first place. I appreciate you probably didn’t mean this, but nobody should want to be removing them once it’s started haha!
With the Kettle Joe with the sloroller added, can it make it a whole turkey? I have a weber and want to get into the KJ series but do like to smoke a turkey and wanted to know if it would fit with the slowroller accessory (either whole or spatcocked) Unfortunately no physical store near me has the kettle joe, and would want to make sure that it would fit versus blindly ordering it online
James, quick question - I see that you suggested you could use a soapstone instead of a pizza stone for the Joe Junior. Is it safe to assume you could do the same for the Big Joe? And, if so, does the pizza come out equally as good or is there a little letdown compared to a regular pizza stone? Thanks for the insight.
Watched your videos and decided to get a Joe jr. Walmart had them for $299 shipped. I think it will be a good compliment to my kettle and barrel cooker. The soap stone looks interesting, is it a lot different than a pizza stone? Thanks
not sure if a lot of the new features make as much sense in the jr (sloroller, air hinge etc.) but you never know ... if i saw it on sale i would still get it
Do you notice a difference in smoke flavor with the sloroller on the kettle? From what I've read they're going to sell it separately, and I'm thinking of getting one for my weber.
its not possible to cook a brisket indirect without it as there are no other deflectors so hard to say. I would say its one of my best briskets ever and based on other grills there is a slightly better taste, smoke ring, and even cooking with it vs. without it
As a newbie to the hobby trying to upgrade my grill, I'm struggling to decide between the two. I can't imagine that I would ever be doing a full brisket as my family could never eat that much, but I like the idea of having the capable size just in case. We also do pizza, which I would prefer the larger size of the kettle. My question is, do you think if I am just smoking a tri-tip or a single whole chicken 90% of the time, the Kettle Joe would still be a good choice?
the Joe jr can do tri tip no problem. I just did one like a brisket the other day - th-cam.com/video/CwZ4_zjgTEc/w-d-xo.html the quality of the Joe jr is so much more robust that I lean towards it unless you want to do brisket in which case the kettle is the clear winner
@@SmokingDadBBQ just received my kettle joe. I must say it is built like a tank. I have 2 problems that I hope kj will warranty and replace. The dome lid porcelain is badly chipped all around the rim and the slow roller heat deflector is badly warped(bad quality control I think). Other than that it’s very well made. The grill grate and coal basket is super thick. The legs seem heavy duty. And bowl seems great to. Time will tell if it holds up. I will put a seal on dome lid and maybe the bottom of slow roller the fit is not as tight as I would like it to be and I hate the metal on metal sound when u close the lid lol.
@@SmokingDadBBQ Seen your video on the double indirect method of low and slow smoking using a soapstone (of course I got one). That picanha looked delicious ! Can wait to try it !!
Smoking Dad We need to know why would you get a classic or a Big Joe when you probably can cook everything on kettle Joe, not to mention many after market accessories that will fit kettle Joe.
the kettle honestly does a lot of things well. it’s not as efficient, stable with temps, has less space (the classic with the extender I’ve fit 5 racks of ribs flat) and is more difficult for mixed zone cooking and or switching from low and slow to hot and fast. that being said the food is awesome and you can manage most of these convenience factors
Hey Do you happen to have any connections in customer service? I bought my $499, I know not full ceramic price but still a lot of money, a month ago, the 2 locking caster wheels are missing and Kamado Joe has yet to send me out some new ones. Pretty ridiculous, especially they claim great customer service. Of course I can’t get anyone to call, email is just easier to keep sending an automated message.
@@SmokingDadBBQ great to hear. Have you noticed any difference in smoke flavor between the Big Joe and Classic? I also have both and tend to get a better smoke profile from the classic.
@@SmokingDadBBQ I bought the XL BGE and it serves me well. I add parts on that I want and buy other brands to save money. KJ charcoal is the best charcoal and I plan on buying a KJ Jr in the near future.
@@leidetai5082 good to known i plan on making some jerky soon im going to try using a small basket to burn briquettes and regulate the temperature like a stick burner doing a trial now to see at what temperature i can get it to run
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I think it should be noted that there are a ton of 22” accessories made by Webber and third party manufacturers which might work well with the kettle Joe. Obviously, these will have to be tested to confirm compatibility.
that’s a great point. I don’t have any to test but I’ve heard they work just like the SloRoller can be added to the Weber
Thanks, that's good to know. I won a raffle for a 22" Pit Boss Kamado grill last fall. I'll have to look into this and see if they'd work with my grill.
This would also be the 'other' scenario, besides the ones you mentioned, people looking to switch from their trusted old Weber 22 to a Kamado Joe. I got an old 22 Master Touch with most of the inserts and trimmings for their GBS system. If those fit on the Kettle Joe I'd be sold tbh.
I also want to know if the 22" Weber grate will fit.
It does not. Tried it last weekend. Most likely all the 22” Weber stuff will be too big, (just an assumption).
based on your videos i bought a joe junior last week and i must say i'm totally hooked on this thing. ive ended up using it each night even after i had dinner already. just to experience the magic again and again and get the feels for it. thanks for all the videos man!
congrats. Great to hear!
I am thinking about adding gasket material to the kettle Joe for a good seal
I just used my kettle joe for the first time last night after using my joe Jr just about everyday for a year. Love it
Congrats
I bought the Joe Jr thanks to you! I only have enough space for the Jr in my small backyard lol.
That is awesome! congrats
As soon as i heard dripping on the deck or patio stones my decision was made. I was leaning towards the jr even before watching. Thanks for posting.
i still feel the same
The joe Jr has been awfully tempting to me when you mention it being a weekday warrior. I would love to see more videos about recipes for that. Perhaps a 'weekday warrior' side series.
If I get one, that ash basket would be a must. The one that came with the series 3 has totally spoiled me.
good idea on a series … agree on the basket
You can buy a high temperature felt seal or gasket like on the Big Green Egg and put that on the Kamado Kettle Joe which ought to help seal it properly so it doesn’t leak. Use nail polish remover first to clean the metal surface.
good tips. will get to upgrading
I've got three kettles and a WSM, so I think I'll be leaning towards the JR as my kamado entry.
I agree with that
I'm a JR owner. It's a great little grill for 2-4 people. Any larger cooks have to be done in stages or on another grill
Thanks for all your videos about the Joe Jr. I picked one up for $229 and got the smokeware cap, and ash basket!
thank-you, cheers
I've been leaning to the Joe junior as my entry into kamado cooking. I was intrigued by your kettle Joe video but when you mentioned the leaking, that is a deal breaker for me. Definitely going to take the Joe junior. Thank you so much for this information. I love your channel!
I have a Louisiana grills LG 900 so I definitely don't need to worry about whether I can do a brisket or ribs etc.
Hope you enjoy, thats the call i would make still today
Still love the Jr so far. It rocks solid with temps.
agreed
Thanks for this James! I was cooking at the Keystone BBQ Supply Open House on Saturday and we were debating the Jr. vs. the Kettle. Very timely video as I've been debating between them myself. I was on team Kettle, but after your video, I'm firmly back on Team Junior. I already have a Big Joe 2 so I think it's a great complimentary piece.
Good stuff! i like it, but it falls short of its potential in so many areas i think it needs a version 2 to take top spot
@@SmokingDadBBQ Hope so - although I've been holding out for a Jr. 2.0 for a while now too. ;-)
I'm in the same situation. I have a big Joe 2 and added an acorn jr to the fleet. Because it's a metal kamado style grill I thought it would perform close to the Joe but it cooks very different.. hoping to grab a Joe jr in the spring.
The metal BBQ takes a lot of stress out of the winter cooking in Canada though haha. I've watched James' cold weather cooking video 100x but I'm still scared to fire up the big Joe on frigid winter days 🤣
Unless you need to cook a lot of food for a large group of ppl, the Joe jr should suit your needs. I have a large BGE and the jr. I use the jr more often. Half a brisket fits perfectly. The efficiency and stable temps of a ceramic cooker are much more convenient for longer cooks. And one could throw on a reggulator for a small BGE if the daisy wheel moves to much on you. Would be nice to see KJ update the Jr.
yes agreed. I’ve done a few brisket points and they fit great
Living in a smal dutch city of maastricht.
Having only a smal balcony
This video convinced me of my joe junior
Thank-you, cheers
The soapstone is a must for the Joe Jr. I have been using it a lot this spring.
100% agree
Good to know about the week day warrior aspect. That was the question I was referring to the other day! Great video!
Awesome! Thank you!
I'll Take one of each!
that settles it LOL
Totally agree... bought my Jr on your recommendation...it is my favorite
such a cool unit
Made some great points on each. Once you have had Kamado cooked food it's tough to go another direction. Good video!
So true! thanks
I guess the main plus is that I bought this specifically to be a smoker and will only be using it for that. I have a gas grill for all of my other cooking.
congrats
Yaaa! I requested this exact video. Thx! Also I’m in a wheelchair. Mind measuring the grill height on the kettle? Thx
James, thank you for good-quality content! I watch your videos all the time. It helps me a lot. I bought a KJ classic-1 more than a month ago (because of your videos and some good advices in comments), but it is still in a box in my new house, which will be ready for move-in only in the fall. It's so hard to buy a dream grill but not be able to cook on it for another six months = ( Your videos videos and my good old weber 22` help me a lot in waiting..
Glad to help! cheers
New to your channel and loving the content. Had considered a big Joe 2 but your in depth reviews have sold me on the Classic 3. I would cook for 8-12 maximum (once we can have people round again) so think the 18inch surface will be ample with the three tier system and the sloroller system seems to be a fantastic solution for a good even slow cooked smoked pork or brisket. Thank you
cheers
Junior is the only grill u ever need 90% of time.. for larger and faster cook one can use kettle webber at 18 or 22inch which may be few times a year only... and if u are the type of guy that wants to smoke larger meats.. then the Smokey Tex electric smoker is better then any ceramic charcoal smoker/grill.. the electric is just so economical and just so much precise and hustle free regarding temperature and wood for smoking...
no need for big joe or any but the junior
i do love the little guy
"Bonus point for the Jr" - It's on sale at Amazon ($349 instead of $400]). Excellent video James.
My bad, I didn't notice it was out of stock :(
Saw that too but Walmart has it in stock for $349 too. Just ordered my jr today and should have it in 2 days, free shipping.
congrats... that’s a “smoking” deal 😂
Atlanta grill company has it for that too but it comes with the charcoal basket. Bj’s has it for $319.
Fabulous video - very clear presentation! Well done!
thanks 🙏
Thanks for this. Just ordered a Junior and was worried that the kettle would be better for the couple-hundred dollars more due to size. I'm comfortable with my purchase. Too good a deal to pass up. Thanks for the help.
Enjoy the junior!
@@SmokingDadBBQ Thank you sir!
I bought a kettle joe and so far haven’t made much use of it. What I need is a good cook book
congrats on the Joe, I'd start with these cooks to get going - th-cam.com/video/JA84ZvYL47Y/w-d-xo.html
I paid $225 for the Joe Jr and it cooks better then my Traeger and my Webber. I wish it was a bit bigger but at $225 it was a steal from Walmart.
now that is a "smoking" deal lol
I went Kettle Joe for my first go with charcoal. I figure it’s a little more flexible as far as size goes. I think a Jr is in my future since the portability would be very nice! Great video!
Thanks 🙏. cheers
Great Review. I think the info really helps Newbie’s to Kamado Joe Line up looking to get into BBQ and a lower price point.
Thanks for watching!
You’re a really good reviewer…. How about this idea: Smoker + Grill - What is the best combo? I have a Yoder YS640S which is a fantastic pellet smoker. I have the two-piece diffuser and GrillGrates which is very useful for reverse searing and other high-heat use. But the grill area is fairly small and I find myself sometimes wanting a more traditional direct heat grill. The Kettle Joe strikes me as the kind of companion I’m looking for. I wouldn’t think of doing a brisket on a kettle grill - I have a smoker. So all of the accessories that would emulate a smoker wouldn’t interest me. You see where I’m going…. I’ll bet a lot of people would like two tools that specialize so you could have the best of both worlds.
great suggestion
James, I just picked up the joe jr for $229. 😳 super stoked.
congrats
You know.... I thought watching this was going to make it easy for me to pick between the two. Yeah no, I want them both now..
hahaha well that backfired lol
Not sure how I missed this video. Certainly points well taken although still leaning towards joe jr for travel purposes but for straight up entry price obviously kettle joe seems like a better option especially with all those options/accessories and grilling space.
i do like grilling on the road lol so that has me leaning that way
Great comparison and feel the same way for the reasons you mentioned. Love my joe junior but kettle joe space & sloroller is great for price as a good entry point into kj.
Good stuff! cheers
Even at the same price point these aren't really the same. I'd buy the kettle joe because I can buy easier and cheaper portable grills to transport. Either way this was a great review none the less.
Great point!
I think a video in this format comparing the Joe Jr with the Akorn (if you still have it) would be nice since they're roughly similar in cost. As someone who mainly uses a Weber Performer or a smaller Go Anywhere I would be looking into the Joe Jr or Akorn to test the Kamado waters.
I already lost the Akorn as I am cooking with something new in its this weekend. The jr is better for portability the Akorn hands down capacity
@@SmokingDadBBQ All good things must come to an end. I look forward to seeing what's new, you always get me in the mood to fire it up.
I feel like this was aimed squarely at Weber guys. Probably why it’s 22 inch, so any Weber accessories will fit. That being said, I expect a line of KJ branded kettle accessories in the future
good points
I would like to see them eliminate the slo roller ring on the kettle and build it like the ceramic grills. Use the divide and conquer system with the ceramic defuser plates.
the plate for sure would make it easier to switch modes
Now it’s time for an over the top Texas style chili using the Kettle Joe. Dutch oven on the bottom grill and the ground beef smoked on the top grill without the drip tray. I’m getting the Kettle Joe to introduce me to the Kamado line and really want to try the over the top chili.
that sounds good. love over the top chili here is one I did on the Joe - th-cam.com/video/PDFI2VJ6VMM/w-d-xo.html
Great video James! I’d like to see you make a video on the Big Joe vs Classic Joe or Big Joe vs Classic Joe & Joe Jr combo. I think when buying a Kamado the big debate is which is the best size to buy.
Great suggestion! thats on my to-do list
One of the best things about having a 22" kamado designed around the Slow N Sear is that it's compatible with pretty much every Weber kettle accessory, which is a considerable amount.
I'd actually consider purchasing the junior just to have a kamado you can take camping etc, but I wouldn't consider the Kettle Joe because there are other - IMO better - kettles in terms of accessories, features, and functionality for way less money, that don't happen to weigh 120 pounds. A kettle that weighs that much is crazy lol.
well said. cheers
Can you tell me what is better?
@@tonyh4513 Than the Kettle Joe? The SnS Deluxe Kettle.
The Kettle Joe is $499.99, and basically all it is is a weber kettle that comes with a ceramic firebox, supposed Slo Roller, and somewhat-Kamado-Joe-esque top and bottom vent adjustment. You also have to adjust its height up to use the Slo Roller, and down if you want to sear, so if you want to do a reverse sear on it, you have to cook low and slow, then lower the height whiel it's hot (and risk burning yourself) so you can let the fire come up and sear. Plus it weighs 120 pounds because of the ceramic firebox. Good luck taking that camping or to a cookout or something.
The SnS Deluxe Kettle is $364.99, and it comes with a Slow N Sear, Drip N Griddle pan, and EasySpin Grate (I bought a bundle of these 3 accessories a few years ago for my Weber Kettle and it cost $180, so that's $180 worth of accessories right there). It also has a thermometer probe port and stoker fan port drilled into it already with covers. The stoker fan port doubles as a smoke hole, as you can adjust the cover over it to leave it say, 1/3 open, whereas in kettles you traditionally can't really see how you're adjusting the bottom vents - it's just trial and error. It also has a side shelf, and much easier to remove ash basket than the Weber kettle.
So the KJ is just overpriced for what it is, and the SnS one is basically like a pre-modded Weber Kettle that will let you use a thermostatic controller / stoker, wired thermometer (without pinching wires under the lid), and the Slow N Sear + cold grate technique out of the box, plus a shelf and easier to remove ash basket.
I'm going to be very tempted to buy the sloroller for my weber performer. Hope it will let me buy the charcoal basket with the inserts for better heat retention too. I think this will be better than my SNS
I think they should fit
Walmart just had the joe jr for $299 and free 2day so I picked that up. I have a barrel cooker a kettle and a flat top so I think it will fit right in. Your videos helped me decide Thanks
I put the mesh gasket on my Joe Jr
that’s awesome... how do you like it?
@@SmokingDadBBQ It's great. The felt that came with it rubbed off. I emailed KJ and customer support sent me the gasket for free! I think it was for the classic model so I had to cut it to make it fit
Thanks for the video! Now that you’ve had some cooks under your belt on it...for entry into the charcoal game (non ceramic), would you go with the KJ or Weber/SnS?
i love the potential of the KJ Kettle... but my pre-production model isn't there yet. It leaks air, is hard to control temps really low, the grease runs out the probe and seal, the dome leaks grease as well, not easy to switch indirect to direct etc.
If you did the Kettle joe, it needs gasket material, a half stone heat deflector, and maybe the SNS divider as an alternative to the deflector. Or you for less money could get a loaded SNS kettle and add the sloroller when it comes out
Now i see why various stores are clearancing out those kettle joes.
Lol maybe
We get so mercilessly ripped off here in the UK.
I'm really tempted by the jnr but the pricing is pretty wild.
£499
yikes
In the province of Quebec, I just paid $750 plus tax for the kettle joe…
congrats
I already own a pellet grill capable of doing a full briskets if I want to. So which one would you recommend. It looks to me the JR is built better
i would go jr personally as its portable and you're covered with the space
Thanks for all of the great content! We do allot of pizzas on our gas grill, but I'm about to add a Kettle Joe to our kitchen. Do you know if a Kettlepizza will work on a Kettle Joe? I'm guessing if the Weber rotisserie fits that the Kettle Pizza would as well? Just not sure about the height with the hinge. Thanks!
i think it might on the kettle joe, i need to track one down
Hi, amazing videos btw. Question. I mostly cook, chicken thighs, burgers,sausages, ribs, what would you recommend? I dont slow cook meat. Thanks buddy!
the kettle with more capacity is probably a good choice for the price for those sorts of things
Do you mean $399 US? You might want to specify , since you are in Canada
For anyone reading these comments now, you can get a kettle joe for less than 1/2 price at some Lowes stores I've seen. For that price (less than a big Weber kettle) it's a good deal IMO. I spent an extra $14 on some gasket material for the lid & slo roller & was off & running. This is a kettle on steroids, not a true kamado. Nothing wrong with that so long as people realize what they're buying.
Well, that is really interesting. You can put a whole chicken on on KJ Jr, but not two chickens. Can you put two chickens on the standard size KJ? If you can only cook one chicken either way then the Jr has the win.
you could probably fit 4 in the Kettle, i have done 3 no problem in the classic so they definitely win for space
I meant the standard size kamado.
Awesome video!
Glad you enjoyed it
Would you pick the Joe Classic 1 over the Jr though?
Great videos!
Thanks!
Excellent video. Really appreciate the insightful information. However, I have a question outside of these 2 as the Kettle Joe is out of stock. Do you have any recommendations on something similar? Different brand maybe? I like both, but the Kettle Joe looks amazing, also has wheels which is amazing. Haha. Any help would be nice. Thanks.
Thanks Chris, ah bummer. The SNS Kettle deluxe with the SNS insert is a nice kettle also in 22" size. I love the Joe Jr so thats the one I would get but its not well suited for the larger cooks like the Kettle would be
One question comes to mind for the classic grills that might be addressed in another video... how does one add charcoal in the middle of a cook on a classic? Say I've got a brisket going, and didn't put in enough to get through the cook. Are there dos and don'ts for that?
Good question! only way is to lift it out and add some more and make a mental note for next time
Hello James more fab content. My question is for my Big Joe cast iron reversible grill can you show me the best set up. I will be using the standard steel grates in conjunction with the cast iron reversible to cook burgers and sausages. I also have the extension rack of needed. Thank you
i will try and show that in a big joe video. i like it on the middle tier of the divide and conquer rack
Smoking Dad BBQ Thank you I am due to fire it up on Saturday, would you use the heat deflector?
@@craigthorburn8621 you can do burgers and sausages direct
When using very high heat (700 degrees), should I remove the ceramic basket inserts, and be using the grill without them? So they don't crack?
they can take 700. I use them for pizza
To my understanding it is in fact due to the inserts that the Kettle can reach 700 in the first place. I appreciate you probably didn’t mean this, but nobody should want to be removing them once it’s started haha!
With the Kettle Joe with the sloroller added, can it make it a whole turkey? I have a weber and want to get into the KJ series but do like to smoke a turkey and wanted to know if it would fit with the slowroller accessory (either whole or spatcocked) Unfortunately no physical store near me has the kettle joe, and would want to make sure that it would fit versus blindly ordering it online
i think it would fit spatchcock no problem... i am not sure it would fit normally as there isn't much room from grid to dome
@@SmokingDadBBQ I ordered it yesterday. So i guess i will find out next week when it arrives
I have the Big Joe III and Pellet Joe... that Joe Jr is next
I love the little guy
Wow... Have these gone up in price in a year! OMG!
I am afraid to look
James, quick question - I see that you suggested you could use a soapstone instead of a pizza stone for the Joe Junior. Is it safe to assume you could do the same for the Big Joe? And, if so, does the pizza come out equally as good or is there a little letdown compared to a regular pizza stone? Thanks for the insight.
the advantage for the jr is that it’s round whereas the big Joe is a half moon. as far as I can tell it works just as well as a proper stone
@@SmokingDadBBQ Gotcha. Thank you very much!
Have you reviewed the Louisiana 24” Kamado from Costco?
no I haven’t. they don’t carry it in all stores FYI
@@SmokingDadBBQ Thanks I forgot that you are in Canada. Very informative videos. Keep up the good work.
Watched your videos and decided to get a Joe jr. Walmart had them for $299 shipped. I think it will be a good compliment to my kettle and barrel cooker. The soap stone looks interesting, is it a lot different than a pizza stone? Thanks
smoking deal right there. congrats.... .its like an antibacterial non porus pizza stone. so good for pizza, plus seafood and searing meats etc.
You mean, $399 shipped right? I just had to check the WM site for that deal! Saw $399.
JUNIOR
jr jr jr
Afraid to buy the junior as it is a few years old now and it’s quite likely that a upgraded junior ll will be released in not too distant future
not sure if a lot of the new features make as much sense in the jr (sloroller, air hinge etc.) but you never know ... if i saw it on sale i would still get it
@@SmokingDadBBQ True! But sadly here in Europe they are quite pricey like around 600 €
Do you notice a difference in smoke flavor with the sloroller on the kettle? From what I've read they're going to sell it separately, and I'm thinking of getting one for my weber.
its not possible to cook a brisket indirect without it as there are no other deflectors so hard to say. I would say its one of my best briskets ever and based on other grills there is a slightly better taste, smoke ring, and even cooking with it vs. without it
As a newbie to the hobby trying to upgrade my grill, I'm struggling to decide between the two. I can't imagine that I would ever be doing a full brisket as my family could never eat that much, but I like the idea of having the capable size just in case. We also do pizza, which I would prefer the larger size of the kettle. My question is, do you think if I am just smoking a tri-tip or a single whole chicken 90% of the time, the Kettle Joe would still be a good choice?
the Joe jr can do tri tip no problem. I just did one like a brisket the other day - th-cam.com/video/CwZ4_zjgTEc/w-d-xo.html
the quality of the Joe jr is so much more robust that I lean towards it unless you want to do brisket in which case the kettle is the clear winner
I’m about to order the kettle joe. Is it a good grill. Temp control for low and slow? All that good stuff.
its got some niggles about it vs. a normal KJ... but darn the food is good so i forgive it for that as it turns out good food
@@SmokingDadBBQ just received my kettle joe. I must say it is built like a tank. I have 2 problems that I hope kj will warranty and replace. The dome lid porcelain is badly chipped all around the rim and the slow roller heat deflector is badly warped(bad quality control I think). Other than that it’s very well made. The grill grate and coal basket is super thick. The legs seem heavy duty. And bowl seems great to. Time will tell if it holds up. I will put a seal on dome lid and maybe the bottom of slow roller the fit is not as tight as I would like it to be and I hate the metal on metal sound when u close the lid lol.
best for sub 500 is a used kamado from fb marketplace/craigs
keep in mind warranty doesn’t transfer. if ceramics ever crack you’re on your own
Informative
thanks
Ha ! Just bought my Kamado Joe Jr from Wal Mart for $299 !!
Smoking deal
@@SmokingDadBBQ Seen your video on the double indirect method of low and slow smoking using a soapstone (of course I got one). That picanha looked delicious ! Can wait to try it !!
Just got one for $194 from Wal Mart. Ha !
Hi James, where do you find the JR at 399$? Here in Ottawa it is 499$.
Also what brand of charcoal basket do you use?
Thanks
these are USD, sadly we pay 499 and 699 CAD. I have the kick ash basket for the Joe Jr. Looks like KJ just introduced one for the Jr as well
@@SmokingDadBBQ Thanks James!
Smoking Dad We need to know why would you get a classic or a Big Joe when you probably can cook everything on kettle Joe, not to mention many after market accessories that will fit kettle Joe.
the kettle honestly does a lot of things well. it’s not as efficient, stable with temps, has less space (the classic with the extender I’ve fit 5 racks of ribs flat) and is more difficult for mixed zone cooking and or switching from low and slow to hot and fast. that being said the food is awesome and you can manage most of these convenience factors
I am trying to find side shelf for KJ Jr. Any suggestions?
I haven't found one like the nest for the BGE MiniMax which i wish we had a KJ version of
Just bought a Kettle Joe today 😢
The space is unbeatable though
Second grate for the Jr doesn't seem to be available 😕
maybe try the SmokeWare site directly. it’s for the MiniMax and Joe jr
Anybody own the kettle Joe have any problems with smoke leakage? It's only thing putting me off getting one.
you can fix it with a cheap felt gasket from amazon
@@SmokingDadBBQ nice. Thanks.
Hey Do you happen to have any connections in customer service? I bought my $499, I know not full ceramic price but still a lot of money, a month ago, the 2 locking caster wheels are missing and Kamado Joe has yet to send me out some new ones. Pretty ridiculous, especially they claim great customer service. Of course I can’t get anyone to call, email is just easier to keep sending an automated message.
if email is not working try instant message on Facebook or Instagram
When is Kamado Joe going to offer the SD BBQ coupon code?
oh that would be cool
Just love my kamado junior does everything I want 💪💪💪💪
💯
Where can I purchase a table like the one you have for my Kamado Joe Jr?
i just made it with some leftover wood i had but JJ George outdoor makes a minimax / jr table
@@SmokingDadBBQ Thanks!
Super vidéo dommage je ne comprends pas la langue
thanks 🙏
Looking forward to this. Pulling for the Jr as that’s what I already own. My wife will kill me if I have to add a third Kamado Joe!
haha I know that feeling
My wife is the same way, until it’s time to eat. 😆
Hey James,
Justa quick ?.
Which grill do you use more the Big Joe or the Classic?
big Joe. it’s my favourite... act surprised later when I make a video on that lol
@@SmokingDadBBQ great to hear. Have you noticed any difference in smoke flavor between the Big Joe and Classic? I also have both and tend to get a better smoke profile from the classic.
@@edzaganjori9635 really? I found the opposite with the big Joe
it's not really a con that it doesn't come with that. it would be $1000 if it did. some people don't need all that to make good food.
the food is a winner for sure, would just be nice to keep the price the same and get more lol
@@SmokingDadBBQ I bought the XL BGE and it serves me well. I add parts on that I want and buy other brands to save money. KJ charcoal is the best charcoal and I plan on buying a KJ Jr in the near future.
Has anyone tried making jerky in their kamado?
Yes I tried it. Results not great I have to say. I left it too long or maybe the kamado was too hot. Anyway it was pretty hard to chew
@@leidetai5082 good to known i plan on making some jerky soon im going to try using a small basket to burn briquettes and regulate the temperature like a stick burner doing a trial now to see at what temperature i can get it to run
Yes! I made some last weekend. It was awesome. I used my Fireboard to keep the temp under 200*, it worked a treat.
i might try that this summer
Get an Akorn and pocket $200.
cheers to saving money