The Kamado Joe vs. Big Green Egg – which one of them is better? Ah, the never-ending battle for supremacy between the two top-rated ceramic Kamado grills in the heavy-weight category. A head-to-head battle for the top spot as a newcomer and a timeless classic are pit against each other.
The best thing about these two egg-shaped grills is that they are not just outstanding grillers, but also excellent smokers as well. Their unique design allows smoke to rise from the charcoal-filled grates at the bottom to the narrow air vent at the very top, completely engulfing the food in the process. This infuses a characteristic smoky flavor that every barbecue lover craves.
Truth be told, you can’t go wrong with either one. But hey, a side-by-side comparison never hurt anybody.
Kamado Joe vs. Big Green Egg
Kamado Joe
Big Green Egg
Overview
Established in 2009
Comes with a lifetime warranty for the ceramic elements
Limited warranty for the smaller metallic elements
Manufactured in China
Body construction is a red-glazed egg-shaped high-fire ceramic
Available in three sizes: 16, 18 and 24 inches in diameter
Uses charcoal as the primary fuel source
Established in 1974
Comes with a lifetime warranty for the ceramic elements
Limited warranty for the smaller metallic elements
Manufactured in Mexico
Body construction is a green-glazed egg-shaped high-fire ceramic
Available in six sizes ranging between 10-inches and 29-inches in diameter
Uses charcoal as the primary fuel source
Cooking System
Has a “Divide and Conquer” cooking system. This integrates a half-rack multi-cooking design to allow for different kinds of foods to be cooked at the same time at different temperatures
Comes with a mesh fiberglass gasket for an airtight seal
Comes with Kamado Joetisserie and Do Joe Pizza Oven add-ons for more cooking versatility
Built with a cast aluminum Kontrol Tower Top vent for consistent airflow and shields against the rain to prevent water from running into the grill
Has high-quality cooking efficiency
Has a basic single-level cooking system
5-piece EGGspander kit sold separately to allow for both direct and indirect cooking
Has a rain-shield for the top vent which is sold separately from the main grill
ConvEGGtor half-moon deflector plates are available but also sold separately
Has high-quality cooking efficiency
Accessories
Comes with a wheeled iron cart with metal locking wheels
Side-shelves included
Stainless steel grate included
Has a SloRoller hyperbolic smoke chamber insert to create a cyclonic airflow to further enhance the smoky flavor of food
Half-moon heat deflectors for direct/open flame and indirect cooking included
304-gauge stainless steel grill grate gripper included
Airlift hinge included
Slide-out ash drawer included
Has a Kontrol Tower Top Vent
Comes with an SS-locking latch
Mesh fiberglass gasket included
Wheeled cart with plastic wheel locks sold separately
Side-shelves sold separately
Stainless steel grate sold separately
Diffuser plate for smoking sold separately
Grill Gripper sold separately
Price
Price is on the higher side although all the accessories are included for convenient cooking
It is cheaper; however, all the accessories are sold separately
Cleaning
Easy to clean since it comes with a stainless steel ash drawer that you can easily pull-out to dump the ashes
Messy to clean since it does not come with an ash drawer. You would need to remove the ash manually using an ash rake
Has to be handled with care since ceramics are prone to cracking
Assembly process takes longer
The Verdict
Both are excellent choices for grills and are guaranteed to give your food a delicious smoky flavor that cannot be replicated with any other grill. However, if you’re looking for a grill whose price is inclusive of all the accessories, then you’re better off with the Kamado Joe.
If you have a limited budget and you’d rather skimp on the bells and whistles, then the Big Green Egg is exactly what you need. Kamado Joe vs. Big Green Egg? Both are winners.
Thinking about getting a barbecue smoker? Check out our blog to learn about all the different types and discover the right one for you.
