Girlfriend is often called queen of the grill. She’s an excellent cook in the kitchen and on the grill. She wants a smoker. Four racks of ribs would be max. Most often two racks for a meal. Looks like the selection has been narrowed down to Kamado Joe or the Green Egg. Not impressed with the Traeger. Seems like it can’t get to higher temperatures.

What happens to the Weber grill? Does it get decommissioned or do you still use it? Heading to an Egg-fest this Saturday. 15% off purchases.

Thanks!

Question:
Kamado Joe or the Green Egg

Choices:
Kamado Joe
The Green Egg

 

Either really. Both will work great. BGE has a better warranty is really the only difference

I’ve got a BGE
KJ big lump is one of my preferred

I still use the gas grill. Each has its purpose depends on what I’m wanting to do

I’m a BGE owner but in current form would give a slight edge to the Kamado Joe due to its hinge.

With that said, price and service are important because the hinge is only a slight edge. When I bought my BGE, it was a no brainer whether to go with Komodo Joe, Primo, or BGE. There was no Komodo Joe dealer in Anchorage, the primo dealer was out of inventory so they wanted 12 weeks to get a model in, and I could drive away with a BGE that day. There was also a big difference in helpfulness - the Primo dealer it was a side product for their fireplace business and they didn’t know anything, but the BGE dealer was nuts about them as he owned two and bought them for each of his adult children. In other words, the BGE dealer was actually helpful and knowledgeable .

Add Primo to the list. Love mine and made in USA.

What ever offers the best price. Both of them have solid reputations, BGE dealers seem to be better informed and more enthusiastic about their product, however that's only been my interaction.

i have a Kamado from Japan that was flown back to the states around 45 years ago.

I would want one made in the USA so the Primo mentioned would be the one I would check out. Not sure where the Kamado Joe is made. Think the BGE is made in Mex so that is a big NO for me.

We LOVE our KJ!!! Looked extensively at the Egg and Joe, the Joe won big time for us. Should have done this years ago. Also the hinge system on the Joe is vastly superior

I have TWO BGE's but if I had to start all over - no doubt > Kamado Joe.
The main reason is the configurability of the cooking (inserts) grilles such as split grilles, etc.
Otherwise both will cook the same.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
i have a Kamado from Japan that was flown back to the states around 45 years ago.

I would want one made in the USA so the Primo mentioned would be the one I would check out. Not sure where the Kamado Joe is made.

Kamado Joe is made in china.

Glad mine is from where these cooker originated hundreds of years ago. mine is clay not ceramic too.

No Chicom for me so check out the Primo is my acvice.

Joe is superior in design (the hinge like noted as well as 2-piece heat defuser) and has way more accessories that benefit the enthusiast.

Much better overall product.

I have a BGE but buy all my accessories from KJ.

Here’s a recent thread.

https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...070026654#3070026654

I did a metric buttload of research before getting my grill and given the two options, I would go with the Joe. As of right now, BGE is resting on their reputation (which is well earned) and not innovating like a KJ company is doing. Bang for the buck goes to the Joe.

Babyback Maniac Egg Competition

I have a large and a XL Big Green Egg. For 8 years that I had only the large and wished for an XL when we had all our family here so I bought the XL last year. We are cooking for about 25-30 when they are all here.
I use the large about 3X per week and the XL about every other month. I can't offer a comparison with the other ceramic cookers but I can tell you that temperature control is important. When I got a DigiQ blower it changed my life. We have worked our way through most of the BGE cookbook and Adam Perry Lange's Serious Barbecue book and we get rave reviews from our guests. A good cook with a ceramic smoker will wow you.

It should be noted that the configurability of the indirect cooking plates & racks is NOT a reason to choose one over the other. The KJ's more flexible rack/deflector systems fits on the BGE and there are even more flexible 3rd party systems (e.g. the Woo System).

IME (I've looked in Anchorage, Calgary, and Houston), BGE's do not come with the rack/deflector system so price it with the system you want (BGE's, KJ's, the Woo, etc) then make an apples to apples price comparison to the KJ and Primo.

Another thing to consider, the oval shape of the Primo is better for ribs than the 18" round BGE or KJ and it's oval shape is better for dual temperature cooking (i.e. reverse searing a steak where you cook it indirect over a plate and then direct over the fire).

I voted KJ, but I'm sure she'd be happy with either.


I went with the KJ mostly because the local Cabelas was an official dealer, they price matched and allowed me to use a promotional coupon and I had a fair about of Cabela points built up. My out of pocket was ridiculously low. That said, I believe the KJ hinge is better and the flexible cooking rack and split deflector plates came with it.


Kamado Joe occasionally has events at Costco and am guessing they have pretty good deals there. Looks like they're having an event in Waltham, MA 10/4-10/13 which may or may not be a reasonable drive for you if you're a member.


ETA: What happens to the Weber grill?
I still occasionally use the gas Weber grill and Weber smokey mountain smoker depending on what I'm making and how much food I need to prepare.

I own a Kamado Joe and was part of a BGE cook team for several years, so I've got a good bit of experience both ways. They are both good quality, but I think the KJ does things just a bit better. The ash drawer and the divide and conquer cooking system, especially, are very useful features. It used to be that KJ was a good bit cheaper as well, but that gap has narrowed.

I got a BGE for Christmas last year and couldn't be happier. I thought all the hype had to be overblown, but it's not. Take your time and learn how to do the basics - fire control, lighting and maintaining temp. Once you get that down - and it is very easy, you can do anything you want.

From reading online, the 2 are very similar the only thing I don't know about KJ is the warranty. With the BGE you are covered for life - there are guys who have gotten replacements after 20+ years. Just no hassle - if you have a problem notify your dealer and it is handled immediately. I do not know what KJ's warranty is or how well it is honored - I would do some research and factor that in when deciding between the 2.

Either way, kamado grilling is a game changer. I won't even look at a steak in a restaurant any more.

quote:

Not impressed with the Traeger. Seems like it can’t get to higher temperatures.

Well the basic Traeger is designed as a pellet smoker and convection oven not a grill, so it shouldn't.

The newer Traegers will get up into those higher temps, as will the Green Mountain Grills.

If you think pellet is what you'd like look for Green Mountain, most Ace sell them, wifi app controlled, and it will get up to the higher temps.

As to the question, probably the joe...

I'm a fan of the egg, but a good test of any of the ceramic style cookers is a dollar bill. Open the lid place a dollar bill on the lip and close the lid. If it slides out without any resistance it will leak air and leakage is your enemy for proper temperature control.