Now, let’s take a look at the different
components that make up the modern Kamado BBQ Smoker:
Although there are subtle differences
between all Kamados.To a large extent, most of them are similar to the
picture above.
Therefore, starting from the top of the picture
above, you will notice the following parts:
Top vent: This vent allows you to fine tune the
cooking temperature in Kamado using a daisy-wheel device. You will be amazed at
how accurately you can adjust the temperature using the top vents, and I will
explain exactly how to do this in a future article.
Stainless
steel grate: The
surface used to hold food when cooking. Although most Kamados are equipped with
stainless steel grate, there are many options to customize the cooking surface
to suit whatever you want to cook. You can add extension racks, swing racks,
cast iron grates, griddles etc. Grate customization is easy to forget, but I
recommend that you use the grate that comes with Kamado at least, as long as
you can consistently feel the benefits of cooking on it.
Dome: Also known as Kamado’s lid. You will
notice that the bottom of the dome is usually lined with a felt material, which
helps to form a nearly airtight seal when closed, which greatly helps keep warm
and prevents unnecessary moisture from escaping from the cookware.
Thermometer:Used to display the current temperature inside the dome.
Although it is known that the dome temperature is good, it is more important
that the cooking surface temperature can differ by more than 50 degrees from
the dome thermometer.
Hinge: The hinge is the part that connects the Kamado dome
to the base, and is usually the most overlooked part of Kamado. The hinge is
the only thing that lies between the Kamado dome and the ground below it, so be
sure to tighten it regularly to ensure you don’t walk outside and find a broken
dome one day.
Fire Ring: The fire ring is a piece of ceramic, directly above
the fire box, forming a space between the charcoal and the grate. You will
usually fill your fire box up with charcoal to the bottom of the fire ring.
Fire Grate: A grate is a slotted part where you place charcoal
and wood. It is located at the bottom of the fire box. Slots or holes in the
grate allow small pieces of wood, charcoal, and ashes to fall for later
disposal.
Fire box: The fire box is where you pour charcoal and place
wood. The bottom of the fire box is equipped with a grate. The fire box is
usually drilled with several holes on its side to allow air to flow and thus
provide the oxygen needed to maintain the fire.
Bottom vent:
The bottom vent is
your main source of air, where Kamado will inhale the oxygen needed to maintain
the fire. When grilling, I usually keep the bottom vents open at 100% to
increase the air intake, which causes the temperature to rise. when smoking on
the other hand, when I get close to the temperature I want, I close the bottom
vent so that only about half an inch or so is open. Adjusting the bottom vents
to reach the desired temperature requires some practice and will be covered in
depth in future articles.