$299 Char-Griller Kamado First Looks

JMSetzler

JMSetzler

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Here are two video reviews I put together today on this new Char-Griller Kamado. The third review will come tomorrow as I make a video review of cooking a 7lb Boston Butt with it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmWZ7h-aZdw

Part 1 is a video walk-around with some discussion of the features...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-Wifp2CKiE

Part 2 is my seasoning burn and looking for air leaks with a demonstration of the removable ash pan and a look at cool-down time...

I'm quite happy with what I see so far. In Part 2, I don't think I gave the dome thermometer a fair shake for the most part. I'll look at that element again tomorrow while I'm cooing with a heat diffuser...
 
great videos. Can't wait for your next. :thumb: I had a feeling about the bottom vent area.
 
bbqchicken said:
great videos. Can't wait for your next. :thumb: I had a feeling about the bottom vent area.
Click to expand...

With the fire going and the vents closed you have a pretty strong positive pressure inside the cooker. It has to escape somewhere and it will help show you where the weak links are. I'm not sure that point on this cooker is even weak enough to worry about.
 
Were u able to get the temp down lower and hold it??? I saw the vents where almost closed and the temp still showed 400 at the gauge.
 
Great info! I was looking at one of those the other day. I'll be watching this with great interest.
 
Great review. I will be watching this thread. Thanks. Looks like a decent cooker. For the price I might just have to get one just to have. :thumb:
 
Hate to say it , but that looks like it could be a BGE killer. they have addressed alot of the issues that make the Egg inconvenient. Thanks for the video . Good job !!
 
Throw some meat on that bad boy! Cant wait to see and hear the results after you cook on it.
 
Good review :thumb: I'm anxious to see how it does cooking a butt. It should cook low and slow just fine after you get used to setting the draft controls.
Any concerns that the gasket on the bottom section will deteriorate over time and it will start leaking air? I know the lid has the same type gasket but I don't believe it will cause issues like a leak around the bottom.
 
Excellent work on both videos!
I'll be looking forward to your ability to hold 225 - 250 deg temps during your low & slow. If it will do that without hunting and caulking leaks this thing will really have some legs.

My early opinion is that the penalty for the low price will be paid a few years down the road when it will show a bit of rust. How much is anyone's guess.
 
Nice looking cooker!

Can't wait to see the butt video. :becky:

I'm kind of hoping you choose to go hot and fast with it though :|
 
2 excellent videos, great job :grin: Nice res too on them as well.

I have the same gasket on my kegs. My 2 kegs are almost 2 years old and the gasket is still ok, shows some wear from being closed most of the time but no problems. The only time I get smoke leaks is when I'm running a probe wire into the keg. But that's just when the smoke is heavy in the beginning. My guess is since your lid is not as heavy, the gasket will hold out even longer. As far as rust is concerned, I keep them under cover so no big concerns there. Any cooker is likely to show some rust or a little wear on it's parts if you expose it to the elements. Can't wait for your next vid. :grin:
 
Great walkthrough! I've been eyeing that at Lowe's for about a week now. Looking forward to your next video.
 
I've had my eye on a primo for awhile, but the difference in price does a lot of work on the house. I might stop by Lowe's today.
 
El Ropo said:
Nice looking cooker!

Can't wait to see the butt video. :becky:

I'm kind of hoping you choose to go hot and fast with it though :|
Click to expand...

No hot and fast on this cook. My objective with this one is to see how well the Kamado maintains temps in the 250 degree range. I already know that it will cook hot with no problems. I just put the butt on and it's coming back up to temp. I'm targeting 250-275 degrees on this cook. If it handles that well it will be able to handle anything.
 
Great video - I wish there wasn't any background music though

How heavy is that sucker? Looks like a good camping grill to me.....
 
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