Wait, a what? A Kamado? Isn’t that the huge lizard that eats hoofed mammals? Close, but that’s a Komodo. Once the temperature has stopped at your desired temperature, you have no need to touch your vents. The temperature will remain stable over the duration of the cook.

Clean-up is made easy, thanks to the Easy Dump Ash Pan. Rather than the usual slide-out tray we’re used to seeing, the entire bottom of the Akorn comes off, so no ash gets left behind. If you live in a cold climate, these are also an excellent option. They will keep in the heat even in the most bitter and cold weather, so you can smoke right on through the winter. Smaller, camping friendly versions are available but they really only cater to cooking for two people. This Akorn Jr. is very competitively priced. Granted, it is teeny, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. For example, because of the precise control you have over the airflow, with a little practice you’ll learn how to hold a desired temperature for as long as you need. And not much practice is required, kamados are reasonably easy to learn and master, making them one of the best smokers for beginners.Even the warranty is great with different levels offered for different parts. You get a life-time warranty on the ceramic, 5 years on metal parts, 3 years on the heat deflector and 1 year on the thermometer and gaskets. Despite its size, however, the unit still has two vents for great temperature control and triple wall insulation to retain heat. This means that this little grill can still cook at temperatures ranging from 200-700°F, just like the big boys. What We Like:

A type of clay cooking vessel developed in China made its way to Japan. Over time, the Japanese adapted it to become a first-rate rice cooker, and they called it “mushikamado.” It’s not unlike its cousin, the tandoori oven, and the two may have shared roots. It is also possible the Japanese deliberately incorporated tandoori technology in their cookers. By the way, “kamado” translates to “cooking range,” or, “stove.” Seriously expensive– The only thing that can be said about these units is that they are expensive. While anyone looking to buy one of these will be well and truly aware of this in advance, it can’t be denied that the cost is prohibitive and does turn some customers away.As we mentioned, this is a small grill. It has a 14” diameter grate, stands 25” tall and 21” wide. Therefore, if you are planning on cooking for a crowd, or want to use the two-zone cooking method, this is not the grill for you.