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Pros:
- Aluminum construction is significantly lighter in weight than traditional ceramic kamado grills
- The lift-assist hinges allow for very easy opening and closing
- The grill is considerably more durable and resistant to rust than ceramic grills
Cons:
- The full-width ash pan is a nice and effective feature, but you have to remove all three grates in order to lift it out for cleanup
- Besides the rotisserie, it’s lacking in accessories that give you more cooking versatility
- The grill is hotter to the touch than its ceramic counterparts, so take extra care when standing near or managing the grill
The Skinny:
- Solid cast aluminum kamado grill is an industry first
- Backed by Blaze’s best-in-class lifetime warranty
- Boasts incredible cooking performance
- Durable construction is virtually indestructible
- Blends in with stainless steel outdoor kitchen appliances
By: BBQGuys Staff
This grill is the toughest kamado grill on the market. It’s backed by a best-in-class, lifetime warranty, and it looks and cooks great too. My main takeaways from using this grill are the durable aluminum construction, excellent heat retention, and the easy lift-assist hood that makes opening and closing the grill so easy.
Quality
A perfect blend of durability and affordability results in exceptional grilling quality
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The Blaze Kamado’s aluminum construction offers superior durability to traditional ceramic kamados. The cast aluminum alloy results in a rust-proof design that can withstand the elements, making the grill practically indestructible. Another benefit is it allows you to use any fuel source—even regular charcoal briquettes and lighter fluid. Traditional ceramic kamados are porous, meaning they absorb moisture and odors. This helps them retain heat, but because they’re so porous, using lighter fluid or charcoal briquettes pre-soaked in lighter fluid ruins ceramic grills. I recommend steering clear of these anyway and using only natural lump charcoal, but the advantage of the Blaze Kamado being aluminum is that it won’t absorb the lighter fluid and ruin your grill.
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The rust-resistant nature of aluminum means that you won’t need to replace the top exhaust cap, which is a commonly faulty component on ceramic kamados.
The silver-colored finish and 304 stainless accents also seamlessly blend in with other stainless steel equipment in your outdoor kitchen for a cohesive look.
Inside the grill, you'll find a 20-inch stainless steel hex grill grate made of 12 mm 304-grade stainless steel that provides a large surface area and excellent heat retention for those beautiful sear marks everyone wants.
Performance
This grill ranks among the best Kamados on the market
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As far as cooking performance is concerned, this is among the best of them! Heat retention is one of the most important features of kamado grills, which are known for holding their temperature during long cooks, and the Blaze Kamado is no exception. I found the thick cast aluminum walls to hold heat just as well as the ceramic kamados. I also like the unique tongue-and-groove design that seals the grill lid tight to the base, allowing little to no heat escape. More heat and more smoke in the grill means tastier food on your plate. And unlike the felt gaskets on other kamado grills, this won’t need occasional replacing.
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By shaping the grates hexagonally, Blaze gives food more contact with the cooking surface, which produces more pronounced sear marks. Along with the solid heat retention, the heat control is top-notch. The lower air intake features a multi-function door with a dial for precise control and the built-in, cast aluminum top air vent allows you to easily set the vent opening, which stays in place even when lifting the lid.
Features
Packed with innovative features, this grill offers unparalleled convenience and versatility
The stainless steel hex grill grates feature two hinged sections for easily adding charcoal or wood chunks. Underneath the main cooking grid is an 18-inch, 304 stainless steel, multi-purpose grate that gives you the flexibility to cook food on this and the top grate at the same time, which almost doubles your cooking space. You can also set a pan of liquid or a heat deflector on it when cooking with indirect heat.
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Under this multi-purpose grate lies a 304 stainless steel charcoal grate. When it's time to clean out the ashes, I love the full-width, lift-out ash pan. That pan is more convenient and effective than scraping out the ashes on a regular ceramic kamado.
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Finally, I love the 304 series stainless steel lift-assist hinge on the lid. It makes it so easy to open and close the lid, it practically feels like air, especially compared to other kamados which tend to be bulky and heavy.
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