Ceramic barbecue grills/smokers, also usually referred to as “kamados”, are steadily gaining increasing recognition among professional (competition) and backyard amateur grill enthusiasts. Ceramic smokers are based on a clay design that has been around for centuries, most prominently used in the Japanese culture as a rice steamer. As technology has advanced, the structural design of the earlier kamados has been changed to integrate a ceramic shell. Currently, there are close to a dozen companies that produce ceramic cookers, though new companies continue to show up on the horizon as the recognition of ceramic grilling continues to broaden.

There are many reasons why ceramic grills are gaining popularity, but perhaps the most frequently referred to advantages of ceramic cookers over commercial metal charcoal grills or gas grills, is the efficiency of fuel usage and consistency of fire control. As an example, a typical pork shoulder (that’s slow cooked for football game day pulled pork feasting!) can be cooked at an exact temperature for 15-20 hours using only a small pile (1-2 lbs) of lump charcoal. Additionally, ceramic smokers also reach temperatures of 700 degrees or higher and can be used for safely searing a steak at incredibly blazing temperatures. It’s also meaningful to mention that ceramic grills are often considered safer than familiar large wood-burning smokers, in that the fire is small and contained in a ceramic grill and the ceramic material does not conduct heat as well as metal, resulting in a surface that is not as hot to the touch.

There are several fuel sources when using a ceramic smoker. The most common and recommended fuel is natural, or lump, charcoal. Lump charcoal consists of partially burned hardwoods, such as maple or hickory, and has an advantage over popular charcoal briquettes in that it doesn’t give off a distasteful odor like the petroleum-containing briquettes often do. Additionally, hardwood chunks or chips are often added to the lump charcoal pile to add various smoked flavors. most ceramic grill enthusiasts like to experiment with woods such as pecan, mesquite or hickory while grilling/smoking different foods. Next time you sit down at a popular barbeque restaurant or delight in a meal with a friend who is an experienced cooker, try and place the different flavors in the food.

The price tag on ceramic cookers may shock the common shopper, with a typical range of $500-$1,000. However, when the quality and versatility are in comparison to the popular gas grill, they are well worth the investment. Ceramic cookers are a simple design and don’t need all of the typical component maintenance/replacement that nearly all gas grills do. Additionally, nearly all companies that mass-produce ceramic grills feature a lifetime warranty.

Ceramic smokers not only grill and smoke foods, but you can also bake on them because of the low consistent cooking temperatures. Many outdoor cooking enthusiasts take joy in using ceramic grills to bake foods such as pizzas and desserts. Considering this versatility, along with the quality of the design of ceramic grills, if you are serious about outdoor grilling, I highly recommend you think out ceramic grills for a future purchase. It most likely will become your favorite outdoor BBQ grill/smoker.