Kamado Joe Jr Review: Big Kamado Performance in a Portable Package

If you're still working out how to kick off your backyard cooking journey, the Kamado Joe Jr deserves a serious look. It's a compact ceramic kamado that grills, smokes and sears like its bigger siblings, but it's small enough to take to a mate's place, down the beach or away camping.

There's a good reason the kamado BBQ has taken off in Australia, and the Joe Jr packs all of it into a smaller footprint. We put it through its paces in our video review, and this guide covers what we found: what makes it tick, why its weight is actually a good thing, what it cooks best and who it suits.

Why Kamado BBQs Have Taken Off in Australia

A kamado is a ceramic charcoal cooker, and the ceramic is the whole point. Those thick walls soak up heat and hold it, giving you what's called thermal mass. That's what lets a kamado grill sit steady at a low smoking temperature for hours, then crank up to searing heat when you need it.

The versatility comes from one simple change. With the heat deflector in, the ceramic plate sits between the coals and your food, so you're cooking indirectly, low and slow. Pull the deflector out, and you've got direct, high heat for that hard sear you're chasing. Plenty of smokers simply can't do both.

If you're new to the category, it's worth reading up on what makes kamado BBQs tick before you buy.

What Makes the Kamado Joe Jr Different

The vast majority of kamados are big, heavy beasts. They sit in your backyard and that's where they stay. The Joe Jr shrinks the format down to a 34 cm grill on its own cast iron stand, so you get genuine kamado performance in something you can actually move.

Is the Kamado Joe Jr a Portable Charcoal BBQ?

Let's be straight about it. At 37 kg, the Joe Jr isn't the lightest portable charcoal BBQ out there. But once you understand thermal mass, the weight makes sense. That weight is the ceramic, and the ceramic is what gives you temperature stability and a peak temperature your humble little kettle generally can't reach. If you want to see how the two compare in more detail, here's how a kamado stacks up against a kettle.

So it's portable in kamado terms, not backpack terms. It's a two-person lift into the ute or the boot, and it's ready to cook when you get there. A few tips for taking it places:

• Let it cool completely before moving it. Ceramic holds heat for hours after the fire looks dead.
• Empty the ash drawer first so nothing spills in transit.
• Travel it upright and padded. Ceramic is tough but doesn't love hard knocks.
• Lift and keep the lid closed and secured.

What Can You Cook on a Kamado Joe Jr?

Though modest in size, there's more than enough space on the grill to cook for the family. Here's where it shines.

High-Heat Searing

Take the heat deflector out, open the vents and let the coals run hot. With a top end near 400°C, steaks and chops get a proper crust fast. If you want serious grill marks, add a sear plate made to fit the Joe Jr.

Low and Slow Smoking

Drop the heat deflector in and close the vents down, and the Joe Jr will hold low smoking temperatures from around 107°C. It's ideal for smaller cuts or a little brisket cook. The hinged stainless grate lets you add charcoal mid-cook without pulling your food off, which makes longer sessions a lot less fiddly.

Everyday Grilling and Roasting

Between those two extremes sits everything else: chicken pieces, sausages, veggies, a midweek roast. The ceramic keeps heat even, so you're not chasing hot spots.

Is the Kamado Joe Jr a Good First Kamado?

Yes, and that's a big part of its appeal. It's easy to operate: the bottom vent lets air in, the cast iron top vent fine-tunes it, and the built-in gauge tells you where you're at. Our guide to controlling temperature with the top and bottom vents walks you through it.

One tip that saves beginners plenty of grief: creep up to your target temperature rather than overshooting. Thermal mass works both ways, so a kamado that gets too hot takes a while to come back down.

It also comes ready to go. Stand, heat deflector, gauge, ash tool and ash drawer are all included, so you can grill, smoke and roast straight out of the box.

Kamado Joe Jr Accessories Worth Adding

You don't need extras to get cooking, but a few make life easier:

• A cover. If it lives outside between trips, a fitted Joe Jr cover keeps the weather off.
• The sear plate for steak nights, as above.
• A charcoal basket to make lighting and clean-up quicker.
• Replacement grates. A stainless cooking grate and cast iron fire grate are available for the Joe Jr down the track.

Who Is the Kamado Joe Jr For?

It's a cracking fit if you:

• Want your first kamado without committing to a full-size unit
• Cook for a couple or a small family most of the time
• Like taking your cooker to a mate's place, the beach or the campsite
• Have a smaller courtyard or balcony
• Already own a big smoker or spit and want a second cooker for sides and quick cooks

If you're regularly feeding a big crowd, a full-size Kamado Joe will serve you better.

The Verdict

The Kamado Joe Jr really is a lot in a little package. You get the versatility Kamados are known for, searing steaks and chops one night and a little brisket cook the next, in a cooker you can actually take with you. It's not featherweight, but that weight is exactly what makes it cook the way it does.

Want a closer look? Check out the Joe Jr with its cast iron stand, or drop into our Melbourne showroom and see it in person.

Frequently Asked Questions

How heavy is the Kamado Joe Jr?

The Kamado Joe Jr weighs 37 kg with its cast iron stand. That weight comes from the thick ceramic body, which is what gives it heat retention and temperature stability. It's a two-person lift for transport.

How big is the cooking area on a Kamado Joe Jr?

The Kamado Joe Jr has a 34.3 cm diameter cooking surface. That's plenty for a family meal of steaks, chops or chicken, or a small brisket for a low and slow cook.

Can you smoke on a Kamado Joe Jr?

Yes. With the ceramic heat deflector in place, the Kamado Joe Junior holds low temperatures from around 107°C, which suits smoking smaller cuts. The hinged grate lets you top up charcoal without removing your food.

What temperature can a Kamado Joe Jr reach?

The Kamado Joe Jr runs from about 107°C up to 398°C. That covers everything from low and slow smoking to high-heat searing, controlled by the vents.

Can you take a Kamado Joe Jr camping?

Yes, as long as you plan for the weight. It's compact and comes on its own stand, but it's a two-person lift. Let it cool completely, empty the ash and travel it upright and padded.

by: Sasha Halabi