As you probably know by now, you can move this grill around with ease thanks to the two side handles attached to the stand. At 68 lbs, one person can handle the weight. But we’d recommend two people if you’re moving it long distance (like down to the boat or something). Besides, ceramic is fragile so you always want to be cautious here. Think about it: Your food is down on the grate, but thermometer is reading the temperature up at the top of the lid. No good. So our recommendation: NEVER use lighting fluids in a Kamado cooker. EVER. Flip Your Lid and Open Your Vents Cleaning and maintenance are fairly simple on the Joe Jr. You don’t have to season the cooking grate since it’s stainless steel. Just make sure to scrape off any leftover food bits after cooking. Both grills use the same vents system that you can find in any kamado — one at the top and one at the bottom. Both can hold heat and maintain consistent temperature extremely well.

Even though the Minimax is more expensive than the Joe Jr, both grills are of high quality and great workmanship. Big Green Egg and Kamado Joe are also well-known companies in the grilling industry. Therefore, their resale value is quite high compared to other low-priced kamados. Differences Assembly KJ’s main product line consists of the Classic, the Big Joe, and the Joe Jr (our focus of this article). They also have the Pro Joe which is for restaurants or large families. Recently, KJ has entered the pellet grilling market with their Pellet Joe. Keep in mind that KJ hasn’t updated the Joe Jr ever since its inception. So we’re really looking forward to a brand new Joe Jr in the near future. 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.It would be nice if KJ sells a stand with wheels for the Joe Jr. It’d certainly make the moving job easier. Cleaning & Maintenance Some of Minimax’s designs are a little outdated.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 What you don’t want when you’re trying for the perfect, hassle-free grilling or smoking session is to be caught without the necessary tools. Time spent searching for your gear is time spent away from your Kamado, and that can lead to overcooked or burned food.

Both of them have roughly the same cooking space as the Weber Smokey Joe although the Akorn Junior is just a little larger (153 vs 148 square inches). Remember, a consistent temperature is the number one most important factor in a successful kamado session, success being measured by how delicious the food turns out.The bottom vent is the stainless steel draft door on the body. Same design as seen on other kamados. Versatility One of the primary differences between the kamado joe jr and the big green egg is the height and nested carrier. The kamado comes with a taller carrier, making it slightly taller than a large green egg. Because Joe Jr. is higher now, it stands taller and maintains its bottom surface away from the ground. A long carrier has the advantage of preventing your tiles or any other ground surface from charring. Additionally, improved airflow under the bottom of the grill makes it easier for the coal to prepare for grilling.

The KJ Jr features a set of felt gaskets, on the lid and the body. They’re soft and flexible. And because of the heavy lid pushing down when you close it, the felt does a great job of sealing the grill tightly. You won’t find any air leaks with the KJ Jr. The gasket is the same felt as in the older versions of the Classic and Big Joe. It isn’t the new fiberglass gasket but still is capable of sealing the grill tightly, preventing any air leaks. Size The Kamado Joe Jr includes a handy ash tool that is for scraping off the ash at the bottom vent. Other than that, you don’t have to do much to maintain the grill. There is no need to season the stainless steel cooking grate. Maybe clean off the food bits after cooking. But that’s all. Premium quality large size outdoor kamado table. Fits Kamado Joe classic I, II, III, Konnected Joe, Big Green Egg Large, Monolith classic, Primo LG300 and many more. The lid is supported by a spring-assisted hinge. It’s made of powder-coated galvanized iron and allows you to open the lid with ease. Mind you, this is a small kamado. Its lid isn’t that heavy compared to other larger grills. So the spring-assisted hinge just makes sense. This keeps cost down yet still provides a secure and simple opening mechanism.When it comes to cleaning, the kamado joe jr comes along with a grill gripper ash tool. This ash tool makes it easier for you to scrape the ash from the grill in an easy way. Whereas, the big green egg minimax comes with a mesh screen that keeps the hot fire from coming out of the grill. If you want a separate tool for your minimax, you can buy it individually. With the mini max, there is no risk of fire and you can experience a peaceful and safe grilling. Warranty Front panels are made of HPL (High pressure laminate) – extreme weather-resistant, easy to clean high-pressure laminate made in Austria. HPL panels are frost and heat resistant under constant temperature load -80 °C to 80 °C. HPL panels come printed on both sides. The core is flame-retardant and the surface is lightfast. Extreme weather protection consists of double-hardened acrylic polyurethane resins. Unlike solid wood, HPL is absolutely no-maintenance material. Abrasion, impacts, scratches, and extreme temperature variations – none of these will be an issue from now on. The panel surface closely resembles traditional hardwood and even feels like hardwood when you’re touching it.

Stir up the coals so that all the trapped ash falls into the bottom of the Kamado where it can be collected. Be sure to dump the ash into an appropriate receptacle like a steel garbage can. The Primo Junior weighs around 100lbs, which is heavier than the other two grills. Since it has an oval shape, there aren’t many accessories available from third-party companies either. BIG4SPACE 150 kamado table is a high quality outdoor table designed to take most kamado type grills up to 24 in diameter. Its extra strong and durable, made to last years outside. On the other hand, the Kamado Joe Jr features high quality material and parts, not to mention better warranty. Those are equal to a higher price tag. So think of it as a long term investment.There are lots of ways to light up your charcoal. We, however, recommend one of these three methods for the most efficient and safest start-up: Looftlighter or Electric Starter With a regular grill, you’d want to spread your charcoal around, but since we want a pyramid shape anyway, there’s no need to touch anything after lighting. Chimney Starter