With its dazzling cherry red body and sleek black wings, the KJ Classic III is reminiscent of an “Angry Bird” or a Mustang fighter plane!
But its function is far more appealing… an innovative design and thick-walled ceramic shell give this baby cooking and smoking control like you’ve never seen before!
Maybe you’re already a BGE fan (join the thousands) and wondering how this grilling cornerstone could be improved?
Well, Kamado Joe has combined innovation and craftsmanship to take ceramic grill design to a new level.
With features like the Airlift Hinge for effortless opening and closing, the “Divide and Conquer Flexible Cooking System” that gives you unparalleled versatility to cook with different grill configurations, and the “Kontrol Tower Top Vent” for maximum control and precision when managing temperature.
New to version 3 of the kamado grills is the Harvard-designed hyperbolic smoke chamber insert called the “slo-roller”.
The kamado joe, hyperbolic slo-roller insert
This accessory is designed to perfect the flow of heat and smoke more evenly throughout the cooking chamber, eliminating hot spots and ensuring that all food is equally exposed to the heat and smoke, cooking more evenly and absorbing those lush smoky flavors.
You can click here to learn more about the slo-roller, it’s an incredible addition to what was already a fantastic piece of kit.
I personally own the Kamado Joe classic version 1, and the Kamado Joe ‘Big Joe’ version 3. They are my favorite grills by far. The version 3 is just fantastic to cook with, producing amazing food and being really fun and easy to use.
I’m recommending the Classic 18″ version 3 here, not the much larger Big Joe 24″ version 3, as I have it, as they are virtually identical except for the size. And to be perfectly honest, the Classic can cook for a good sized crowd, where the Big Joe would be too big and oversized for most people… not to mention it’s also much more expensive to buy!
It’s a charcoal grill, but also a smoker! It’s kind of the Swiss army knife of charcoal cookers, you can grill, smoke, bake and roast… there’s not much you can’t do with this device.
And I have to admit, I have a certain gluttonous love for upgrades and extras. I love the grills I own, but I can’t help but keep an avid eye out for clever new features that come on the market. Well, Kamado Joe has plenty of those, and they certainly produced a Mercedes Benz with the Classic III.
The Divide and Conquer multi-level grid system is a feature that would be hard to live without once you’ve experienced it. Flexible and versatile, it really helps you control exactly what foods receive different levels of heat.
I love the Airlift hinge because I almost always have something else in my hands and being able to lift that otherwise heavy lid with one finger and leave it in any position defies logic! It would certainly make grilling much easier.
I also love the stainless steel latch and the fiberglass wire mesh seal, as these are the elements that ensure a foolproof seal. So when I’m smoking, I know all the good stuff stays under the hood and doesn’t escape, while keeping temperatures under control.
Finally, the SLo-Roller really eliminates hot spots and seems to give a better, deeper, rounder and more consistent smoky flavor to food. This is an undeniable improvement that allows for consistency in cooking.
