This Smart Kamado Grill Is Why We Long-Term Test Products

I love grilling. It’s a form of meditation. The act of grilling is about connecting with what you’re doing, responding to variables on the fly, and, to a certain extent, developing a sense of intuition. For some, grilling is a weekend or seasonal venture, but I’ll take any excuse to stand in my backyard and stoke a bed of glowing coals. 

While I’m a fan of all grills, one type holds a special place in my heart: the kamado. The kamado was developed over 3,000 years ago and has been thoughtfully and carefully redesigned throughout the centuries to become the egg-shaped cooker we know it to be today. As the popularity of the kamado grill grew, so did the number of brands offering their versions of the cooker. There are now so many kamado grills on the market we found it necessary to review and create a guide to them. But while changes to the kamado’s design have remained relatively tame since the advent of the Big Green Egg, there is one grill shaking (smoking?) things up.

Last June, Kamado Joe released their newest version of their kamado grill, the Konnected Joe—the first of its kind. Kamado grills typically require the use of manually controlled dampers to regulate temperature and rely on extensive user experience to perform at their best. The Konnected Joe plays by a different set of rules. Featuring an automatic fire starter, a digital control board, app connectivity, and an automated internal fan, this grill boasts a plethora of digital features that make it quite tech-savvy. Revolution often spurs skepticism, so I put it to the test.

Kamado Joe Konnected Joe 18-Inch Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker

$1,699 at Home Depot $1,699 at Wayfair View on Perigold.com

Initially (after about four months of use), I liked the Konnected Joe and recommended it wholeheartedly. However, after about a year of using it, my opinion’s changed: The grill’s plagued with issues…and it’s not just me (our procurement and inventory manager, Steven Schrimpf, has experienced this with his model, too). Honestly, the Konnected Joe is now the poster child for why we continue to long-term test kitchen gear.

The Tests

• Assembly Test: The grill arrived neatly packed in a sizable box, so the first test involved unboxing and assembling the grill while following the steps outlined in the manufacturer’s detailed instruction manual.
• Grill-Roasted Vegetable Test: I grilled ears of corn, zucchini planks, and red onion rounds to get a feel for how this grill performed using medium-high, direct heat. I also wanted to see how much food could comfortably fit across its entire cooking area.
• Reverse-Seared Tomahawk Steak Test: I set the grill up for indirect heat using the included accessory rack and ceramic deflector plates to slow roast a tomahawk steak. Then I removed the plates, cranked the heat, and seared the steak over extremely high heat to test the responsiveness of the grill’s temperature control features.
• Low-And-Slow Burnt Ends Test: I smoked a brisket point at 225°F using hickory chunks, tracking the internal temperature of the smoker and brisket using the temperature graph on the control panel. Then, I diced the brisket and further cooked it until it became mahogany-hued burnt ends; this examined the grill's performance and consistency over a longer cooking session.
• Usability Tests: Throughout testing, I evaluated how intuitive and effective the kamado’s features were (including its app and automatic starter). I looked at other factors, too, like how easy it was to set up, use, and roll around.
• Cleanup Tests: I cleaned the grates and firebox numerous times according to the manufacturer’s instructions. I’ve deep-cleaned it, too.
• Long-Term Testing: I’ve used this grill multiple times a week for about a year.

What Went Wrong

The Fan Stopped Working 

Typically when I start a charcoal grill, I pile lump charcoal into a charcoal chimney starter, pack the base with crumpled newspaper, light the chimney with a butane torch, and then monitor the fire for a few minutes to ensure the coals are lit before walking away to finish my prep work. The Konnected Joe features a built-in automatic fire starter that ignites the coals using an electric heating element. The internal fan works as a bellows to supply the glowing coals with air, which helps the ignition process and regulates the temperature. When powered on and filled with unlit charcoal, you could then use either the control panel or the Kamado Joe App (which connects the grill to your mobile device) to start the grill via the automatic fire starter as well as set, adjust, and monitor the grill’s temperature.

However, around the 6-month mark, the Konnected Joe's internal and automated fan stopped working completely. Without the fan, the grill was unable to maintain a consistent temperature. While the automatic firestarter (which is also basically ineffective without the fan) and wireless connectivity with the app still work, the lack of an operating fan makes the Konnected Joe an expensive, electronic-packed behemoth that's the same as 99% of kamado grills…and a whole lot more disappointing since you’re not getting what you paid for. 

Well, Is Everything Broken?

The smart features still work fine, however, without the fan you can’t control the grill via the app. And to be clear I really liked the app integration. It allowed for responsive temperature adjustments on the fly while displaying the grill’s preset temperature, actual temperature, and cook time. 

When using the intake and exhaust dampers to regulate the grill's temperature, operating it is no different than other traditional kamados. While you still have the ability to track temperature via the Konnected Joe's onboard computer and associated app, an external thermometer is capable of doing the same thing for much less.

You Can Still Use It As an Analog Kamado, But…

Again, I wasn’t the only one to experience issues with this kamado…and my coworker’s were entirely different from my own. “It's really a shame: had you asked me after the first six months, my feedback would have been almost exclusively positive.  But right around the 6-month mark the sensor that detects lid opening/closing began to malfunction along with the gasket on the upper lid,” Steven says. “Consequently, there would be vast temperature differences between the digital and manual thermometers as unregulated airflow was entering the grill. After a full year, my KJ is now basically a paperweight.”

What to Buy Instead

Kamado Joe Classic II Charcoal Grill

$1,299 at Amazon $1,700 at Walmart $1,299 at Home Depot

So, yeah, I can’t say I recommend spending $1,700 on a grill that just lasted a year. 

The good news is we recently tested kamado grills and found several top picks, including the Big Green Egg—a stalwart that’s sure to last. We also recommend the Kamado Joe Classic Joe, which is app-less but has excellent heat retention. For those on a budget, the Char-Griller Akorn is a longtime recommendation from Serious Eats and is under $400. 

FAQs

What is a kamado grill?

The kamado-style grill as we know it originated as an early clay oven in China around 3,000 years ago. These ovens were eventually exported from China to Japan around 300 BC where they became known as kamados, or “stoves.” The kamado made its way to the US after World War II when Westerners stationed in Japan brought these cookers home with them after experiencing their capabilities firsthand. Kamados continued to grow in popularity and became considered an exciting alternative to the commonly used steel and aluminum grills found in backyards across America. As their popularity grew, various entrepreneurs began importing and selling these ceramic cookers to consumers while continuing to tweak the grill's design. Today, you can find kamado grills that are constructed using a variety of materials including high-fire ceramics (think Kamado Joe or Big Green Egg), double-walled insulated steel (such as the Weber Summit Kamado E6), and even cast iron (check out Goldens’ Cast Iron Cooker).

Why buy a kamado grill?

Kamado grills offer a unique and versatile approach to outdoor cooking—they’re much more than just a grill. Their thick, insulated walls are perfect for regulating heat for smoking low and slow, roasting, and even baking. They can also withstand extremely high temperatures ideal for searing proteins thanks to their furnace-like design. Ceramic is a poor conductor of heat, which allows temperatures to remain relatively consistent while burning fuel at an exceptionally efficient rate. Simply put, kamado grills are better suited for maintaining a wide range of temperatures for longer periods of time while using less charcoal compared to other types of grills. In regards to durability, ceramic kamado grills are considerably more fragile compared to steel or aluminum grills, however, they are still capable of lasting for decades with proper care and maintenance.

Why We’re the Experts

• John Somerall is a senior research strategist on the food research and testing team at Dotdash Meredith. 
• He initially tested the Konnected Joe for four months before writing his review on it. However, after continue using it, he (and others) found it wasn’t up to par.