BBQ With A Kamado Grill

The Kamado style grill originated in China as a ceramic style cooker (stove) for steaming rice. The kamado then spread to Korea, then Japan where the modern versions made their way into the mainstream.
Now we can choose from many brands such as Pit Boss, Kamado Joe, Louisiana Grills, and others. These ceramic models vary in size and features. In my opinion, the features most desired are a temperature guage, and adjustable vents top and bottom to control air flow and ultimately temperature. The actual diameter size and the interior configurations are also important features to insure great results. In my experience the ceramic grill, by it’s very nature, takes quite a while to heat up to the desired temperature for your meats or other dishes , but once attained, BBQ Heaven.
The Kamado’s are available in roughly an egg shape that sits on the ground or on a platform , but I favor them mounted in a caddy with one or two side trays, a bottom shelf and wheels. This allows your favorite BBQ Boss to set everything up in advance then Just Cook Baby!!!
PS – a pull out ash dump tray is another great feature to look for.
PPS – temperatures can range from the low 200’sF to over 750F.

Firin’ it Up!. First of all – What not to do. Don’t use charcoal briquettes. As we all know briquettes give off carbon monoxide and the quick lighting kind may be pre-soaked in charcoal lighter giving off fumes that can taint our food, especially if used in a lidded vessel like a kamado grill. Therefore it is recommended that hardwood charcoal is used.
If you want a smoky flavor, mesquite is probably the most popular, but there are several options like hickory, apple, pecan and others. A small amount is all you need to get the desired effect. These smoky varieties seem to come in chips and pellets but consult the manual to your kamado to be sure you are using the right fuel.
Lastly, the racks are what makes or breaks a great grilling session. Pick a kamado that gives you lots of options as far as height settings, and heat deflectors that allow direct and indirect cooking. There are also rack extenders, which are an additional rack that clips on top of a lower rack, and pizza racks. This is far from a complete or detailed description of everything that can be done with kamados but hopefully it whets your appetite.
Research kamados and purchase the one that best suits your needs.

Check out some Kamado Grills here and
Happy Grilling from http://fireplaceflair.com