Besides the nest, the Joe Jr’s entire body (base + lid) is also longer than the Minimax’s. This in turn affects the versatility on both grills. In fact, this kamado is made of insulated steel. It won’t break when dropped. And because of the insulation, the grill holds heat just as well as any ceramic kamado. In addition to that, the Akorn Jr is lighter and comes at an affordable price. You already know how to cook on a kamado and are willing to spend some money. You don’t want to travel much with the grill either. Then, without a doubt, give the KJ Jr a shot. Even if you don’t like the grill after all, you can always resell it for a good price. The other components of the grill feel substantial and well-made. Everything from the handle to the daisy wheel to the ash tool and the grill gripper.

Some of Minimax’s designs are a little outdated. And BGE is slow with innovations. We don’t know when BGE will update the Minimax. Maybe the grill just works. If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it, right? But who knows? A Handy Comparison Table Who doesn’t like to enjoy the day along with tasty grilled food with family and friends? We all do. And thus, we always try to buy the perfect grill for ourselves so that we don’t have to face any future problems related to durability, performance, heating, etc. Keep in mind that the Joe Jr still uses the traditional cast iron daisy wheel as the top vent. There is nothing wrong with it. It always gets the job done. Big Green Egg (BGE) was always a dominant force in the kamado grilling sphere. However, things changed after 2009 when Kamado Joe (KJ) entered the market.

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However, be careful if you use it under the rain. Water can easily get inside since there is no cap to cover the daisy wheel. It’s also prone to rust since it’s cast iron after all. And believe it or not, temperature is more responsive and easier to control on the Joe Jr than bigger kamado grills. It’s due to its smaller size. There is less space to heat up. You only have to wait a short while until the temperature changes. The stand is indeed stable. It has a strong base with three legs. When the ceramic grill sits on it, it doesn’t move at all. Now, if you care more about a strong history of quality and a solid community, definitely consider the BGE MiniMax. Chargriller is well-known for their economical barbecues. Along with its bigger brother, the Akorn Jr is one of the company’s popular kamado grills. The things that make it stand out are the insulated steel construction, the performance, and of course the price.

Thanks for the in-depth and informative article. I did notice that your Celcius conversions for the Smoking recommendations are incorrect (as they are the same as the Roasting ones).A regular bag of 20lbs charcoal can last you for more than a month (if you don’t have other grills to fire up). And that’s if you cook three times a week. Portability & Size

As a result, both grills can maintain consistent temperatures for many hours while consuming little charcoal. You end up saving money on fuel this way. While ‘make a pile’ may not sound like ancient wisdom passed down through the ages, this is the best way to set up your charcoal.

KAMADO GRILLS

However, the KJ Jr is way heavier than the Akorn Jr (68lbs). It’s also more fragile. Even though one person can handle the weight, it’s better if two people carry it, especially long distance or down to the boat. You don’t want to risk damaging the grill. The same goes for searing over high heat. If you’re cranking your Kamado up to 500 °F (260 °C) or more, again, you want nothing but fresh lumpwood charcoal. Kamado Joe is known for their constant innovations. They have updated their larger grills three times already. And with each update, they’ve brought better things to the game. One thing that Char Grillers does a little better than Kamado Joe is to have numbers on the vents. That way, you have good reference points for future cooks.