Beginner grillers will want to avoid the best grills with higher price tags and settle with the Char-Griller Akorn Kamado. Featuring a lower price, low weight, solid steel constructions, varying temperatures, and learning curves are easy hurdles to jump, not much different from what you’d expect from the best kamado grills. Beginners welcome!
Why We Like It – Char-Griller Akorn Kamado
The Char-Griller Akorn Kamado is a flame broiler that works just as well with wood pellets as charcoal. An even cooking surface, in addition to side shelves, ensures excellent results every time.
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- Solid Steel Construction
- Low price point
- Lighter than other Kamado Grills
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- Temperatures can vary
- Has a learning curve
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Power/Heating
Unlike the Weber Summit Charcoal Grill, the Char-Griller Akorn Kamado Charcoal Grill also serves as a pellet smoker; the porcelain-coated cast iron gives the perfect temperature range for both grilling and smoking; it produces high temperatures for grilling or low heat for slow smoking. However, getting the ideal temperature will take some time. The provided control board works slightly at best; manual controls are the best way to go.
Size/Versatility
Char-Griller Akorn Kamado Grills’ aspect over larger grills, such as the Blaze Kamado, is portability. While sacrificing some cooking space, most pellet grills overall have a smaller size; the Char-Griller Akorn Kamado just married the best parts of both Kamado and pellet grills together. Despite a smaller cooking area, the primary cooking space is 314 square inches, with an additional 133 with the warming rack. Despite its small cooking space, it’s much bigger than the Coleman 225 gas grill.
Durability
Char-Grill combined 22 gauge stainless steel and cast iron, rather than an entirely ceramic grill like in the past. Ceramic kamados suffer from chipping, while the Char-Griller Akorn Kamado withstands regular use much better and will last longer with proper care, than the Kamado Joe. The provided stand is solid and doesn’t feel like it’ll collapse. Normal wear and tear will not be a problem at all, the Akorn proving just as durable as the Bull Grill.
Ease of Use
While the Char-Griller Akorn Kamado Kooker boasts digital control, grill grate, and temperature control, by far the best way to use the grill is to do everything by hand. The ease of use features are helpful, but honestly, they do more harm than good. For a grill with an extra broiler mode, consider the Pit Boss 700GB as an option.
Value
For those in the market for a Kamado grill, you know how pricey they can get. If you review the Char-Griller Akorn Kamado Kooker gas grill yourself, you’ll see it doesn’t back down from quality, despite being a lower-cost alternative to a kamado-style Green Egg Grill Smoker.
Char-Griller Akorn Kamado Wrap Up
Perfect for beginners, the Char-Griller Akorn Kamado is a wood pellet grill that can quickly become the pit boss in your home. With a lightweight design, solid steel construction, and a low price point, this grill is excellent for those who want to get into grilling without having to shell out thousands of dollars. Even with a learning curve and heating issues, beginners should keep an eye out for the Char-Griller Akorn Kamado. To try another model from this brand, check out our Char-Griller Akorn Jr review.
