Top Reviews Archives - Oyster Bar Brooklyn

If you are shopping around for the best charcoal grill smoker combo, chances are you would be offered a Big Green Grill (BGE) because it is the most popular grill on the market since 1974. There is also a big chance that you would be offered a Kamado Joe Grill. The Kamado Joe has been manufacturing charcoal grills since 2009 and has been a great alternative grill.

Since the Kamado Joe and Big Green Egg have been competing head-to-head with each other for the larger chunk of market share, in this review, we are going to make a comparative analysis of the pros and cons of buying the grills of each of these brands. The Big Green Egg has rolled out the Mini, Minimax, Small, Medium, Large, Xlarge, and 2XL grills. The Kamado, on the other hand, has rolled grill models throughout the years that include the Classic III 18″, Big Joe III 24″, Projoe, Classic II 18″, Big Joe 24″,

Kamado Joe vs Green Egg

We’ve spent several hours comparing the Kamado Joe and Big Green Egg grills. We’ve also bought one of the most popular models of each of these brands and compared them together using the following parameters of design, ease of use, ease of assembly out-of-the-box, ease of cleaning, affordability, and warranty.

Design

The Big Green Egg and the Kamado Joe grills have almost identical designs in the past few years. Yet, in 2017, the new Kamado Joe models started to showcase some significant improvements. So, if ever you decide to buy a Kamado Joe Grill, make sure that you purchase its newest version.

Let’s look first at the air vent of both the Big Green Egg and Kamado Joe. The air vent of the BGE slides around and is made of steel that would surely rust if you leave it in the rain. The air vent of the Kamado Joe, however, doesn’t slide around and is made of aluminum and thus it does not rust.

The thermometer of the BGE is surely decent, while that of the Joe is larger, and thus, it allows for easy reading. However, at the onset, you will find the thermometer of Joe about 50 degrees out of calibration, though you can easily calibrate its thermometer to give you a correct temperature reading.

Another big difference between the two is their lid counter-mechanism and the hinge. If you lift the lid of the BGE halfway, for example, and let go of it, it slams down very hard. On the other hand, if you lift the lid of the Joe halfway, it just sits there perfectly counterbalanced.

The Joe has dual open rack system with half rack-grabbing tool. This system is called the Divide & Conquer feature. On the other hand, the Egg has a standard grilling surface that is set at one height. Another small difference lies in the color of their ceramic. The original color of Joe’s ceramic is a bit reddish, while that of the Egg has somewhat a whiter ceramic.

The BGE has larger wheels and has wheel locks made of plastic. The Joe’s wheels, however, are smaller, but they have locks made of sturdy metals.

The BGE’s stand is pieced together, while that of the Joe has a fully-customized stand with a wider and more stable wheelbase.

The BGE’s shelves have a more earthy feel. Joe’s Shelves, on the other hand, have more durable molded plastic.

Lastly, BGE’s main seal is made of felt. The Joe, on the other hand, has an upgraded fiberglass seal. The Joe has a larger metal band likewise while the BGE has a smaller band.

Ease of Use and Ease of Assembly

The Big Grill Egg is generally sold in ala carte pieces. This means you need to buy the egg, the shelves, ceramic tray, and stand all separately. You may also find it a bit confusing to find the right dimensions of pieces. The Kamado Joe, on the other hand, comes with everything you need to start grilling.

The Kamado Joe is hard to lift around being 200 pounds or more in weight. It will also take you around 20 minutes to unbox and set up the Kamado Joe Grill. The Big Green Egg, on the other hand, takes around more than an hour to set up.

With regards to packaging, the Big Green Egg basically comes in a standard cardboard box, while the Kamado box has a supporting wood on top and bottom and has extremely strong cardboard sides.

Ease of Cleaning

Another great difference is in the way you clean the ashes of grills. Cleaning the BGE is a bit messy, while the Joe has a stainless-steel drawer that you can readily pull out during cleaning.

Affordability

The price of the BGE, at first look, would seem to be less than that of the Kamado Joe. However, if you would look closer, you would readily see that the initial price of BGE would only cover the Egg without those accessories like side shelves, portable cart, and ceramic plate. These things you need to buy individually. On the other hand, the Kamado Joe comes in a single package with all the needed accessories in a single box.

Warranty

Both brands offer a lifetime warranty on their ceramic components while both companies likewise offer a five-year warranty on all their metal parts.

Pros of BGE

It is reliable and has been popular for almost thirty years.
It delivers the basic grilling process.

Pros of The Kamado Joe

It is innovative with its Divide & Conquer and Ash drawer features.
It is meant for durability.

Cons of BGE

The brand has been sitting complacently for several decades without much innovations on its products.
It doesn’t come in a single package.

Cons of the Big Joe

Its thermometer comes 50 degrees off.

Conclusion

Our take on which brand offers the best charcoal grill on the market today depends on our evaluation of the abovementioned criteria. In our evaluation, we found the Kamado Joe an innovative brand with its Divide & Conquer and Ash Drawer features.

On the other hand, since the Big Green Egg has been lording it over for over several decades when it comes to charcoal grills, it has sat idly and complacently, and thus, it does not show enough innovations. Hence, we believe that the Kamado Joe has already superseded the Big Green Egg because of the added innovations that Kamado Joe brand has to offer.

If you are looking for the best small gas grill available on the market, we got you covered in the rest of this post! These grills are compact, making them great for small yards or patios. To add, these grills are also portable, which means that you can bring them when you are outdoors, such as when camping.

Top 4 Best Small Gas Grill Reviews on the Market in 2019

1. Coleman RoadTrip LXE Portable Gas Grill

The mere fact that this is made by Coleman is already a good reason to be compelled that this is a great small gas grill. Whether it is for camping, tailgating, or other outdoor activities, this propane grill is an excellent investment.

Despite being portable, the grilling surface is 285 square inches. There is also a sliding side table, providing the perfect place to prepare. It provides a heating power of 20,000 BTU.

Ease of use is another good reason to pick this small grill. It is quick to assemble and easy to transport. You can fold it in transit, making it space-efficient. It also has a matchless ignition system, which makes it a snap to fire the grill.

Lastly, to deliver consistently great grilling performance, it also has Perfect Flow Technology. This allows it to maintain the right level of heat regardless of the external conditions when you are grilling.

2. Cuisinart CGG-059 Portable Gas Grill

With a grilling area of 146 square inches, this is another great option when it comes to portability. To add, the weight is only 10 pounds. This makes it lightweight enough, so you can take it anywhere easily. There is an ergonomic handle on the top that makes it easy to carry.

It also has several features that will make this an impressive choice in terms of being user-friendly. For instance, there is a push-button ignition system, unlike other gas grills that you have to fire up manually. Cleaning the grill will not be a difficult task for you. Most of the parts are dishwasher-safe.

With 8,000 BTU, it may not be as powerful as the grill from Coleman that has been mentioned above, but you can expect that the performance isn’t compromised.

For your peace of mind, it is also good to know that it comes with a three-year warranty from the manufacturer.

3. Weber Q2200 Gas Grill

Like the grills mentioned above, it is also portable and compact. At its size, you will enjoy 280 square inches of cooking area. The main burner has a maximum input of 12,000 BTU per hour, which is powerful enough for the size of the burner.

Despite being a gas grill, this is easy to use. There are two side tables to have an additional area for you to work. It also has an electronic ignition system, making it a snap to start the fire on the grill.

Another good feature of this gas grill is the infinite control burner valve. As the name implies, you can make infinite adjustments on the level of heat.

In terms of its construction, many people praised the grill for the lid and the body, which is made of cast aluminum. It has an excellent ability to retain heat. There is also a built-in thermometer, which makes it easy to monitor the internal temperature without lifting the lid.

4. Char-Broil TRU-Infrared Patio Bistro Gas Grill

Despite its small size, this grill is packed with exceptional features. The gas control knob has an electronic ignition feature that makes it easy to fire it up. Plus, the knob makes it easy to adjust the temperature as needed.

In terms of the cooking surface, the size of the grill is 320 square inches. Some might find it small, but for most users, this is enough, especially for a small family. One thing that could have been better, however, is the presence of warming racks or side shelves. This is not a tabletop gas grill. Instead, it has a wheeled base. This makes it easy to move it around or bring it outdoors, such as at the beach or campsite. You can easily fold the legs. To add, there is a provision underneath the grill to hold the gas supply.

Kamado Joe vs Green Egg Reviews [2019]