Hey man! Excellent video with lots of detail. Would love to see more cooks on your junior. I’ve recently just got one and struggle to find cooks/recipes I can follow along at home until I master it. I’ve recently also bought some cast iron pans for cooking. Be great to see stuff geared towards accessory substitutes for people with the junior. Anyway awesome as always. 👌
Thanks! Will do Emmet, really appreciate you watching, commenting and subscribing. Just did our first pizza on the Joe Jr. this weekend and will be making that into a video to show how it went / what we learned etc.
@@SmokingDadBBQI know this is an older video but I am wondering the warranty on the Joe jr.? I want one but want to make sure it has some support if it accidentally cracks. Thanks
I've just started using the JJ, and having never done fire based cooking, I was shocked at not only how good the flavour is, but how much I can fit in. First cook I did was a whole chicken with pork belly burnt ends around it. The second cook was another whole chicken with 9 drumsticks around it. I'm cooking a pork shoulder tomorrow for what I assume will be about 8 hours - the only thing I'm worried about is how much fuel to use. One of the biggest surprises I had was at how little fuel you need to use to sustain temperature for a long time. I'm left with a significant amount of fuel that I've re-used in the next cook. It's a genuinely amazing product that has opened up my BBQ world.
Brilliant! Thanks for another great video, James. Very informative, and you may have just sold me on my next purchase. The Joe Jr. is really a stud. Look forward to seeing the new lineup!
I had been wanting to buy a smoker for a while, but had a limited budget. Your video convinced me the Joe Jr was the way to go. Since getting the Jr a few weeks back I've cooked roast chicken, pork shoulder, steak for fajitas and most recently a small brisket flat, all went really well and tasted delicious. Never thought I would be BBQing in the UK winter! Thanks again for the videos.
Thanks for all the Jr. videos. I'm seriously looking at adding it to my lineup and they have been extremely helpful, especially the comparison with the BGE counterpart.
Great video! I'll definitely be adding the junior to my line up at some point. I think it offers a great size for smaller cooks where you don't need to fire up the classic
Very informative James. Glad I saw your channel. Looking forward to learning from you. I don’t have a ceramic grill but love what you are doing. Thanks for sharing have a great weekend!
i just came across this video while i’ve been debating what size would be adequate for me...this pretty much answered all of my questions...picking it up and moving it around myself is pretty important to me...so thank you for making my decision so much easier!!
Doh! Accidentally posted comment when my son was logged in, so reposting myself. I had been wanting to buy a smoker for a while, but had a limited budget. Your video convinced me the Joe Jr was the way to go. Since getting the Jr a few weeks back I've cooked roast chicken, pork shoulder, steak for fajitas and most recently a small brisket flat, all went really well and tasted delicious. Never thought I would be BBQing in the UK winter! Thanks again for the videos.
That's it. Pulled the trigger on a Joe Jr today!! As a new dad and soon to be smoking neighbor just across the Michigan/Ontario border, thanks for the great content! Your enthusiasm is infectious!!
I have a Jr and a classic. I have had them for three years. In the summer we keep JR in the rv. We do most of our cooking on it as we travel. It keeps the rv cooler. And cooks great meals. Love them both. We are raving fans of Kamado joe. Love your video's.
Very cool; I took delivery of my Big Joe 3 yesterday. Your videos are part of what made me pull the trigger on this grill vs. Weber Summit and BGE despite the shipping delays (waited 2.5 months!). Looking forward to seeing your experience with the BJ3.
Thanks for all the videos… I‘ve had a BGE for well over a decade and these videos hav helped me step up my game with it at our vacation property… just got my Joe Jr this week for home and am looking forward to breaking it in. Then going to add a Big Joe for family events.
Thank you for the video! Love the channel. Please do more JR cooks. Interested in low & slow pork butt & wings. Also a video detailing what accessories are available for the Joe Jr. Thanks!
@@SmokingDadBBQ thanks a lot. I was toying with the idea of a joe jr and your latest video has almost sealed the deal. Now I'm just going to plant the seed in my wife's head haha. Looking forward to seeing the new grills in action!
Awesome . I’d love to see some tutorials on going low and slow with the Joe jr. obviously it doesn’t have some of the helpful accessories that the classic does for that purpose. Cheers!
Thanks so much. Happy to do that, in the meantime check out last weeks video (8hr low and slow on the jr) as I walk through some setup info at the beginning that might help - ruclips.net/video/dPSGNDWDIXk/видео.html
I have a Big Joe and am really looking into the Jr. It would be great for quick weeknight meals and also to be able to bring it on the road. I also loved your old table and will build myself one next year when we redo the deck. Thanks for the awesome videos as usual.
Great video James! You do such a nice job on the explanations! Kamado Joe is lucky to have such a fan, they are a great Kamado! When I saw about cooking for 4 it made me laugh because I sometimes think my Big Joe is not big enough for just my wife and I! LOL Cheers!
Thanks James for your awesome videos!! I just ordered one because of your videos. I’ve cooked on a gas bullet smoker for 12 years and I can’t wait to make the switch to charcoal!!
James I appreciate your breakdown. As a Boston resident I was in between a few models of grills/ smokers for my first. This is the model I just decided on and I’m stoked! Main reasons being the convenience and portability- gonna be perfect for my camping trips as well!
As always, your explanations and reasonings are spot on. The Jr will comfortably feed 4 adults and it is almost as capable as the ‘proper’ size Joes. I said almost because there is no sloroller or rotisserie and basket accessories available for the Jr. this makes it deficient in cooking things such as crispy chicken wings compared with the bigger Joes. Other than that, the Jr is simply AMAZING and cooks everything brilliantly. I followed Smoking dad’s video on cooking pizzas and the pizzas that came out of the Joe Jr rival those from traditional wood fired ovens! Worth every single dollar
Love your videos! I purchased a Junior next to my classic 3. Struggled with temperature at first cook with Junior. I have the ash basket installed and the original bottom grate with the holes in it. What do you recommend? Get the original bottom grate out for better airflow? Thanks!
Awesome video! I'm completely sold on the Jr. I've been looking to get back into charcoal and get a ceramic cooker, and based off everything you have mentioned in the video, it's the perfect cooker, number of people cooking for, value, size, etc. I can't wait to get one in and do some pulled pork.
I just ordered a Joe Jr wanting to take it up a level from my gas grill! Please do more with the Jr, I could use some good ideas on how to work my way into the Kamado lifestyle.
Deal! Thanks for watching, commenting and subscribing Greg! 100% have some more ideas up the sleeve with the Jr. Thinking pizza might be next, anything you'd like to see specifically?
Congrats on the big joe!! Just got an ETA of late August for mine... Ugh... I can't wait to see how you utilize all that space. I was considering getting a Jr. In the future for small cooks
Great review, as always - thanks! Question: How about grill grate height/distance over the coals. Sometimes I want to do a direct grill, but "soft", in terms of higher off the coals. Does the lack of distance cause any problems with TOO much direct heat, or having to "smother" the fire to reduce the temperature? Strange, I know, but have experienced that with other kamados in the past. Thanks!
Just ordered my first KJ tonight , and it was the JR. You just made my day with this video. I eventually will go bigger but for now I need to learn the ropes for this style of cooler. I’m used to gas 😢 and have a Webber kettle which I really love. Now to find your old video on how to start it how much lump , wood , etc. thanks
Congratulations... is this your first Kamado? If so I would almost go chicken as the shock value of how much better it is vs. propane is worth it. I would spatchcock it and cook indirect at 450-500f with heat soaked into the dome to radiate down and crisp up the skin.
Congrats on your upcoming Big Joe. I notice how sparkling clean your KJs always look in your videos. As an owner of a Big Joe and daily user, it could use a good exterior cleaning. We keep it covered- kind of afraid of using the wrong thing to de-grease and get it back to looking clean. Maybe you can do a video on this sometime?
Could we have more detailed cooking recipes for JJ like you do for big grills? Its all good to know that lots of things can be cooked, but for learners its a bit overwhelming and we don't know any better what and how to cook. Thank you 😊
Great video, turns out I could have started with the Joe Jr which I had considered, but decided to go straight to the Classic 3. Good to see they are getting caught up on back orders, I've been told my Classic 3 should arrive mid to late August. I made sure to put a deposit down back in June since they are flying off the shelves as fast as the retailers can get them in.
Another great video. Good job!! My 2 cents: The prices shown at the beginning is for the US only. In Canada, it's a little bit more expensive ;-) But I know you have quite a large audience. Finally, we're looking to add the Jr to our travel trailer to mix with the Napoleon TravelQ PRO 285.
Greetings from Sweden! I enjoy your videos a lot. Was looking for a new grill, we already had 2x Weber 47 cm and was looking for some more real estate and also something more fun. Currently a big joe 2 and jr "family package" has a great deal at the local seller. I ended up with the Weber performer gbs with gas starter. Would love to see table build, comparison and walkthru and maybe 2 vs 3 vs weber kettle/summit. Is the 3 worth its price over the 2? Do I "need" the Big vs the 47 cm classic? Or will a jr complement my current Weber 47+57 setup for kamado low slow and warm? Will you be my guide? Thanks a lot!
Thanks so much Calle. Happy to share the table plan as it comes together, and I am working on a summit comparison for later in the summer. Always happy to answer any questions that come up
Very cool. When all three are running, things like comparing the time to bring up to temp and average amount of lump per cook will be very useful information. Does Jr have room for rack tiers?
Thanks for the idea Steve. It doesn't but you can cheat it by installing the grid on the firebox and inverting the metal ring so that you can add a small 8" grid from amazon on top to create a second tier
Thanks so much Jared. I don't have one as I am a little bit of a snob when it comes to believing you can control your grill as equally without it as you can with it. But that would make an amazing side by side video ... maybe for that reason alone I should get it lol
Hey James this video helped sway me into starting with a KJ junior (over the BGE Minimax) cant wait to get started cooking on it! I've never used a charcoal bbq before but i am proficient in cooking steaks in a cast iron pan. What would you suggest for a first time cook once I've had a play with the vents and broken her in? thanks hello from Australia!
Congratulations and rock on! I would maybe do a bone in ribeye first. that or spatchcock chicken but I just so happen to have a video on the steak so that might be easier ruclips.net/video/oXF7pVm_pOI/видео.html
@@SmokingDadBBQ Thanks pal. Had one delivered yesterday by coincidence, turns out the dealer in the region wasn't far away 😃 Cost £459! But hey, that's what credit cards are for 😂
James, you're twisting my hand... I was going to hold out for a Vision Grill (mainly because of the Propane attachment), but now I'm leaning to buy a Joe Jr... my current propane BBQ is 10yrs old and I just recently thanks to a friend, have become interested in Charcoal BBQ. What do you think of the Vision Grill with Propane attachment?? (FS at CT but HD has them too).
thanks so much. Depends what you want to do... from my understanding the accessory ecosystem is pretty limited on the Vision which is surprising because I think Gorilla, Vision, SNS etc. share the same design ceramic body. What I wish I could articulate better is how important air flow is inside a Kamado. I had (several) big green eggs and never got a great smoke ring ... the Kamado Joe series 3 does it without trying. I suspect its the science in airflow discussed in this article which is what sold me on switching to KJ - www.engadget.com/2019-10-25-harvard-barbecue-desora-kamado-joe-cinder-grills.html
Great video, i totally agree with you. I have a jr and a classic 2. But for only grilling my meat or low i slow i tend to work on the jr.. For multiple zone grilling i tend to work on the classic 2.
Hey, love your Videos. One question: Did you ever try to fit a Dutch Oven on your Joe Junior and which size of a DO would you recommend? Greetz from Germany!
Awesome video, thanks my Joe Jr is coming this week. Great to know that the Joe Jr can handle a family of 4, as I have only done a couple of cooks on my Akorn Jr. I have a question, I noticed in another video that you changed out the chimney/vent for one similar to the Kontrol Tower. Do you know if the kamado joe cover still fits the Joe Jr with that chimney?
Very happy for the growth! Can't wait to see the differences. Really think I want a BJ3 but maybe you can help with that. I would actually like to know your thoughts on the cart before you build a table. Tables are great and yours are top notch, but with the 3s a lot of the value(?) Is the cart and side tables. Pros and cons vs table
the cart is functional for sure but I like more space to set things when cleaning the grill. there isn’t room to take out the racks, stones, divide and conquer system and then the charcoal basket etc. I also like having a place for extra accessories like the JoeTisserie etc which the sleek factory cart just doesn’t have the space to accommodate.
Hi there, those chicken thighs in a cast iron skillet look good, what's the recipe? I will pick up my kamado Joe jr soon, so far I've been using 18" WSM and broil King keg. Cheers
Hello. Thanks for the video. I was wondering, it seems that the ceramic chicken holder from Kamado is too large for the Junior. What's the holder you're using for your beer can chicken on the junior ?
Hi buddy, been enjoying all of the great videos on your channel in the last couple of weeks, currently I have a Webber mastertouch but am really interested in a Joe Jr because in the U.K. it’s so much cheaper than the classic 3 - almost 4 times cheaper! So I’d love to see a direct cook comparison of 3 pork butts cooked low and slow on the jr / the classic 3 and the big joe at the same time! You could then compare how much charcoal you had to use, how each one did at maintaining the temperature of the cook and of course if there was any difference in taste of the end product.
Thanks for watching, commenting and subscribing Joe! The deflector plate is only for when you want to cook indirect and you want the grill to perform like a convection oven (baking, roasting etc. typically low and slow). Direct grilling for searing, getting some char etc. (steak, veggies etc.). You can grill directly for foods where the meat tastes better when the fat hits the hot coals (spatchcock chicken etc.) but you just need to carefully mind your temps to make sure you don't burn the bottom
I've had a Big Joe 3 and Joe jr for long time. Over time the Jr has become my go to grill for most items. I still do most of my bbq on the big joe but most everything else I find that the jr is more than enough. Combine that with the fact that it's 1/10 of the charcoal and takes about 1/3 of the time to get booted up it's a clear winner. I just bought the nest for the Joe Jr and that's been a game changer. Before I just had it in the rack that it came with. I've also taken it to my parents house a few times to do pork butts for the family. My father has a green egg mini max and we'd usually put a butt on each. The mini max always runs out of charcoal and the Jr can make it the entire cook typically. I've had to add charcoal on long cooks to the Jr but for what it is. It does a great job.
Hello James. I have to say I love your videos. Have a Joe Jr. On the way to replace my gas grill. When researching your videos were a great source of information. Excited to start cooking, have some experience on my dads old Green Egg, so I'll be jumping in right away. I really like the stand you made for your junior, do you like the height, how tall is the stand? Thanks in advance!
Right on and thanks. It’s 32” and I do NOT like the height of the table for the Jr. its too tall, but I did it that high as the back is open and there is enough space to slide the jr inside
Hi mate, I've received my Joe jr today after binge watching your videos! Can I ask what tray you have for the beer can chicken? I've found a couple on Amazon but they aren't suitable for BBQ cooking due to the non stick coating. Thanks from the UK!
Awesome Video! I got the meater+ and my smoking dad red crocs to go with my coming Joe Jr. glad your video validated a lot of my research that it would be enough for just me. As a request would be Pork Ribs. I figure you could fit 1 rack cut in half. Also the official Kamado joe RUclips rolled them up and skewered them. It would be interesting to see how that method works compared to them flat. Awesome videos.
I'm glad you aren't going to be without a Classic. I got rid of my Big Joe and didn't bother to replace it. I think the two-classic setup is the best case scenario :)
I'm thinking of that too. My big joe is too fuel hungry even for small cooks like a steak or two you gotta really really fill up that basket every cook
Thanks James for another informative video. It was you and your videos who convinced me on the kamado joe. I got my joe jr during the quarantine and I’m having a blast experimenting. #pastrychefjoseph
Hey James. Awesome video. Ordered a JR about a week ago and should be here some time this month. Could you do a video on how to fire it up, snuff it out, and reuse charcoal? Thanks!
I bought my Joe jr last year. I took your advice and bought the charcoal basket and took out the cast iron bottom part for airflow. I’m thinking about upgrading one size bigger, not because the JR is too small for us 2 but more because I noticed that with low and slow (for example spareribs in a stand) the edges of the product burn because it’s in the hot airflow near the edge of the dome. Am I correct that the product I’m preparing low and slow should not stick out into the hot air flow or am I doing something else wrong?
Hey James, if you had to decide between a classic Joe and a junior combo OR a big joe. What would you do? Is the big joe fit enough to do some sides simultaneously with meat that's cooking indirect or is the temp difference too low? Is there a lot of benefit of having the possibility to grill at 2 totally different temps (eg grilling searing hot at one grill and low and slow on the other)? I love to grill sides
thats a great question... but also one I was hoping nobody asked lol as I waffle on which combo is the best. The big joe is way more versatile than i ever imagined AND isn't the charcoal pig that I thought it might have been before having one and it allows true multi zone cooking so that you can do the entire meal on one grill. That being said, I am a creature of habit and I like my classic and jr combo. The Jr. i learned i can do far more than i gave it credit for before needing to rely on it completely ... so i don't think there is a wrong answer vs. what types of sides do you want to cook. The jr can be a side machine and the classic your main, or you can do it all on the big joe with the only sacrifice being a little more charcoal and a little longer to hit temp
Hi Tino, thanks so much. I would clean it out and if needed add some charcoal to make sure you have enough for 8 hrs. The Jr has run up to 12hrs for me so you don't need to overfill it to pull off an 8hr low and slow
@@SmokingDadBBQ So the Jr. can actually hold for more than 8 hours of charcoal without a refill in between?! Amazing looking at the size of this Kamado!
Great video! I just bought a Joe Jr last night, waiting for it to arrive. Question, are there any differences in controlling the heat between this and the larger Joe's? Is it easier or more difficult to control the heat with the smaller Jr? Thanks!
congratulations, that depends stock or modified. With the kick ash basket and smoke ware vent cap its an air breathing machine. Stock its more finicky ... mostly because the daisy wheel moves when opening the dome
I own a Weber gas grill that I bought this year and love. I am interested in getting involved in a kamado style grill for certain things. Do you think the joe jr would be a good option for me? Chances are I’ll probably use the Weber during the week since I’m pressed for time but I like the idea of using the joe jr on weekends and on any camping trips/tailgates that I go on. What do you think?
Hey man! Excellent video with lots of detail. Would love to see more cooks on your junior. I’ve recently just got one and struggle to find cooks/recipes I can follow along at home until I master it. I’ve recently also bought some cast iron pans for cooking. Be great to see stuff geared towards accessory substitutes for people with the junior. Anyway awesome as always. 👌
Thanks! Will do Emmet, really appreciate you watching, commenting and subscribing. Just did our first pizza on the Joe Jr. this weekend and will be making that into a video to show how it went / what we learned etc.
A tip: watch movies on kaldroStream. Me and my gf have been using them for watching all kinds of movies during the lockdown.
@Ashton Alejandro yea, I've been watching on kaldroStream for since november myself :)
@Ashton Alejandro yup, been using kaldrostream for since november myself :D
@@SmokingDadBBQI know this is an older video but I am wondering the warranty on the Joe jr.? I want one but want to make sure it has some support if it accidentally cracks. Thanks
I've just started using the JJ, and having never done fire based cooking, I was shocked at not only how good the flavour is, but how much I can fit in. First cook I did was a whole chicken with pork belly burnt ends around it. The second cook was another whole chicken with 9 drumsticks around it. I'm cooking a pork shoulder tomorrow for what I assume will be about 8 hours - the only thing I'm worried about is how much fuel to use. One of the biggest surprises I had was at how little fuel you need to use to sustain temperature for a long time. I'm left with a significant amount of fuel that I've re-used in the next cook. It's a genuinely amazing product that has opened up my BBQ world.
Another thought out awesome show. I learn so much while watching you do your thing. Good job buddy.
I appreciate that Tommy. thanks so much
Great video! It’s crazy to see how much the quality improved since the beginning
Thanks much. really appreciate it
Brilliant! Thanks for another great video, James. Very informative, and you may have just sold me on my next purchase. The Joe Jr. is really a stud. Look forward to seeing the new lineup!
Thanks so much John. Much appreciated.
Pretty cool James! I’ve never used a joe jr just a bge years ago. Great walkthrough and it does seem cool. Awesome video!
Thanks for watching Charley. Much appreciated
Awesome... Awesome video James. Looking forward to see what your new setup is going to look like. 👍 Keep up the amazing content.
Thanks Andrew 👍 Much appreciated
I had been wanting to buy a smoker for a while, but had a limited budget. Your video convinced me the Joe Jr was the way to go. Since getting the Jr a few weeks back I've cooked roast chicken, pork shoulder, steak for fajitas and most recently a small brisket flat, all went really well and tasted delicious. Never thought I would be BBQing in the UK winter! Thanks again for the videos.
you bet, congrats on the Joe jr. Paul
How many people were you cooking for? Looking at the jnr too as an intro to Kamodo cooking.
The Joe Jr. is incredible. Great video showing the power of the joe jr.
Couldn't agree more!
Awesome videos! Didn’t realize your channel was so new. Best of luck with the channel! I’m definitely going to keep watching.
Thanks! yes not even a year old yet
Great video! It’s crazy to see how much your videos improved
Glad you think so! really appreciate that
Thanks for all the Jr. videos. I'm seriously looking at adding it to my lineup and they have been extremely helpful, especially the comparison with the BGE counterpart.
Glad to help
Great video! I'll definitely be adding the junior to my line up at some point. I think it offers a great size for smaller cooks where you don't need to fire up the classic
Definitely! cheers mate
Very informative James. Glad I saw your channel. Looking forward to learning from you. I don’t have a ceramic grill but love what you are doing. Thanks for sharing have a great weekend!
Awesome! Thank you!
i just came across this video while i’ve been debating what size would be adequate for me...this pretty much answered all of my questions...picking it up and moving it around myself is pretty important to me...so thank you for making my decision so much easier!!
cheers
Awesome Video.. Just ordered my Joe Jr.. Thank You For Sharing 👍
Glad I could help! Congrats on the Jr
Doh! Accidentally posted comment when my son was logged in, so reposting myself. I had been wanting to buy a smoker for a while, but had a limited budget. Your video convinced me the Joe Jr was the way to go. Since getting the Jr a few weeks back I've cooked roast chicken, pork shoulder, steak for fajitas and most recently a small brisket flat, all went really well and tasted delicious. Never thought I would be BBQing in the UK winter! Thanks again for the videos.
Congrats, thats awesome
Great video, answers all the questions I had, thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Awesome video as always buddy! When i get my joe ill know were to look for some tips.
haha you got it Ricky. Thanks
That's it. Pulled the trigger on a Joe Jr today!! As a new dad and soon to be smoking neighbor just across the Michigan/Ontario border, thanks for the great content! Your enthusiasm is infectious!!
congrats and cheers fellow smoking dad
I have a Jr and a classic. I have had them for three years. In the summer we keep JR in the rv. We do most of our cooking on it as we travel. It keeps the rv cooler. And cooks great meals. Love them both. We are raving fans of Kamado joe. Love your video's.
That is awesome! and thanks so much for the kind words
Awesome video. I have the Jr and Big Joe 2... love both of them. They make the perfect flexible team of grills
So true right? Great combo
Nicely done, looking forward to seeing the big joe in action!
You and me both! Thanks Neil
Very cool; I took delivery of my Big Joe 3 yesterday. Your videos are part of what made me pull the trigger on this grill vs. Weber Summit and BGE despite the shipping delays (waited 2.5 months!). Looking forward to seeing your experience with the BJ3.
Right on, congratulations! we unbox it this cook and cook snd share our first cook soon after that
Thanks for all the videos… I‘ve had a BGE for well over a decade and these videos hav helped me step up my game with it at our vacation property… just got my Joe Jr this week for home and am looking forward to breaking it in. Then going to add a Big Joe for family events.
Thank-you, cheers
Great video, thanks. It’s helped me decide that the classic will be more than enough for me and my family
Good choice! Congratulations
@@SmokingDadBBQ lol, well I am getting a bit ahead of myself, I know now what I need to try and convince my wife to let me buy 😉
Thanks again
Hey James - obviously looking forward to seeing all 3 sizes in action! But a new trolley would be incredible!
awesome 👏. can’t wait to start building
Another great video review James!
I appreciate that Scott, much appreciated
Thank you for the video! Love the channel. Please do more JR cooks. Interested in low & slow pork butt & wings. Also a video detailing what accessories are available for the Joe Jr. Thanks!
ewwee2k you read my mind 😂
Great videos. I recently discovered your channel and I am getting more and more of an itch to get a kamado joe! Keep it up!
Awesome! Thank you Michael. Thanks so much for watching, commenting and subscribing! Happy to answer any questions you have as you do your research
@@SmokingDadBBQ thanks a lot. I was toying with the idea of a joe jr and your latest video has almost sealed the deal. Now I'm just going to plant the seed in my wife's head haha. Looking forward to seeing the new grills in action!
Great stuff brother! Can't wait to see the BJ3 in action!
thanks so much Tim
Awesome . I’d love to see some tutorials on going low and slow with the Joe jr. obviously it doesn’t have some of the helpful accessories that the classic does for that purpose. Cheers!
Thanks so much. Happy to do that, in the meantime check out last weeks video (8hr low and slow on the jr) as I walk through some setup info at the beginning that might help - ruclips.net/video/dPSGNDWDIXk/видео.html
Found this Chanel today and watched soo many videos that I am Pulling the trigger right now.. Salute
congratulations
I have a Big Joe and am really looking into the Jr. It would be great for quick weeknight meals and also to be able to bring it on the road. I also loved your old table and will build myself one next year when we redo the deck. Thanks for the awesome videos as usual.
Thanks so much. Pressure is on to try and build a second one that hopefully isn't worse lol
Great video James! You do such a nice job on the explanations! Kamado Joe is lucky to have such a fan, they are a great Kamado! When I saw about cooking for 4 it made me laugh because I sometimes think my Big Joe is not big enough for just my wife and I! LOL Cheers!
hahaha thanks Craig. it definitely is fun doing your sides as well on the big joe and that’s where space disappears quickly 😂
Thanks James for your awesome videos!! I just ordered one because of your videos. I’ve cooked on a gas bullet smoker for 12 years and I can’t wait to make the switch to charcoal!!
fantastic. congratulations
Thanks, great video. I got the info I needed.
Glad it was helpful!
Look forward to the table build....that Jr has always fascinated me
Thanks so much David ... its a fun grill
James I appreciate your breakdown. As a Boston resident I was in between a few models of grills/ smokers for my first. This is the model I just decided on and I’m stoked! Main reasons being the convenience and portability- gonna be perfect for my camping trips as well!
congrats on your new grill
Fantastic video! Greetings from The Netherlands. Stay safe!
Thank you very much Kevin! You and your family as well
I see the Big Joe reflection in the window James! Cant wait to see you cook on it!
hehe it might just be 😊
As always, your explanations and reasonings are spot on. The Jr will comfortably feed 4 adults and it is almost as capable as the ‘proper’ size Joes. I said almost because there is no sloroller or rotisserie and basket accessories available for the Jr. this makes it deficient in cooking things such as crispy chicken wings compared with the bigger Joes.
Other than that, the Jr is simply AMAZING and cooks everything brilliantly. I followed Smoking dad’s video on cooking pizzas and the pizzas that came out of the Joe Jr rival those from traditional wood fired ovens!
Worth every single dollar
fantastic, thank you
Awesome as always my bro!
Appreciate that brother. Keep it up yourself, almost past the 1k mark
I want more Joe Junior👍 great video
thanks so much Fred
Love your videos! I purchased a Junior next to my classic 3. Struggled with temperature at first cook with Junior.
I have the ash basket installed and the original bottom grate with the holes in it.
What do you recommend? Get the original bottom grate out for better airflow? Thanks!
Awesome video! I'm completely sold on the Jr. I've been looking to get back into charcoal and get a ceramic cooker, and based off everything you have mentioned in the video, it's the perfect cooker, number of people cooking for, value, size, etc. I can't wait to get one in and do some pulled pork.
Glad it was helpful! Congrats on the JR
That is awesome James really enjoyed the video and how you went about making decisions on the variations and would of likely done the same
thanks Matt
Thank you 🙏 for all your videos and info
Glad you like them!
I just ordered a Joe Jr wanting to take it up a level from my gas grill! Please do more with the Jr, I could use some good ideas on how to work my way into the Kamado lifestyle.
Deal! Thanks for watching, commenting and subscribing Greg! 100% have some more ideas up the sleeve with the Jr. Thinking pizza might be next, anything you'd like to see specifically?
Hi thank you for the video. Can you use the the rotisserie equipment on this version? If not, is there one for the Joe jr.?
Congrats on the big joe!! Just got an ETA of late August for mine... Ugh... I can't wait to see how you utilize all that space. I was considering getting a Jr. In the future for small cooks
Thanks so much Devin, my Classic that I bought in June also won't arrive until Aug ugh. As you can tell from this video, I am a big fan of the Jr
Great review, as always - thanks! Question: How about grill grate height/distance over the coals. Sometimes I want to do a direct grill, but "soft", in terms of higher off the coals. Does the lack of distance cause any problems with TOO much direct heat, or having to "smother" the fire to reduce the temperature? Strange, I know, but have experienced that with other kamados in the past. Thanks!
Just ordered my first KJ tonight , and it was the JR. You just made my day with this video. I eventually will go bigger but for now I need to learn the ropes for this style of cooler. I’m used to gas 😢 and have a Webber kettle which I really love. Now to find your old video on how to start it how much lump , wood , etc. thanks
congrats
Eye opening, really did not expect that from the Jr
right? it’s a capable little unit for sure
After seeing this video, I ran out and bought a KJ jr today. Got lucky and found one available. Love the videos, James. Good Job!
Right on, congratulations!!! Thanks for the kind words
My first KJ arriving this week, it's a Jr. so pleased to see you can do so much with it, could not justify the price hop up to a Classic.
congratulations
nice video as always :) what do you recommend as a first cook on a new Kamado Joe Classic ?
Congratulations... is this your first Kamado? If so I would almost go chicken as the shock value of how much better it is vs. propane is worth it. I would spatchcock it and cook indirect at 450-500f with heat soaked into the dome to radiate down and crisp up the skin.
Congrats on your upcoming Big Joe. I notice how sparkling clean your KJs always look in your videos. As an owner of a Big Joe and daily user, it could use a good exterior cleaning. We keep it covered- kind of afraid of using the wrong thing to de-grease and get it back to looking clean. Maybe you can do a video on this sometime?
Thanks! Will do! The pergola shelters them so they look clean on camera but up close they look well loved lol
Could we have more detailed cooking recipes for JJ like you do for big grills? Its all good to know that lots of things can be cooked, but for learners its a bit overwhelming and we don't know any better what and how to cook. Thank you 😊
Great video, turns out I could have started with the Joe Jr which I had considered, but decided to go straight to the Classic 3. Good to see they are getting caught up on back orders, I've been told my Classic 3 should arrive mid to late August. I made sure to put a deposit down back in June since they are flying off the shelves as fast as the retailers can get them in.
Thanks so much.... same with my classic that I ordered in June. ETA late Aug
Another great video. Good job!!
My 2 cents: The prices shown at the beginning is for the US only. In Canada, it's a little bit more expensive ;-) But I know you have quite a large audience.
Finally, we're looking to add the Jr to our travel trailer to mix with the Napoleon TravelQ PRO 285.
Thanks so much, yes sadly I know all to well the CAD$ price difference lol but picked a currency more people can relate too
Greetings from Sweden! I enjoy your videos a lot. Was looking for a new grill, we already had 2x Weber 47 cm and was looking for some more real estate and also something more fun. Currently a big joe 2 and jr "family package" has a great deal at the local seller. I ended up with the Weber performer gbs with gas starter. Would love to see table build, comparison and walkthru and maybe 2 vs 3 vs weber kettle/summit. Is the 3 worth its price over the 2? Do I "need" the Big vs the 47 cm classic? Or will a jr complement my current Weber 47+57 setup for kamado low slow and warm? Will you be my guide? Thanks a lot!
Thanks so much Calle. Happy to share the table plan as it comes together, and I am working on a summit comparison for later in the summer. Always happy to answer any questions that come up
Very cool.
When all three are running, things like comparing the time to bring up to temp and average amount of lump per cook will be very useful information.
Does Jr have room for rack tiers?
Thanks for the idea Steve. It doesn't but you can cheat it by installing the grid on the firebox and inverting the metal ring so that you can add a small 8" grid from amazon on top to create a second tier
LOL this rocks James!!!!! 🤣🥰🙌
Ha thanks so much guys
I just bought one OMG so anxious
Congrats
Great video again and thanks for showing the versatility of the jr. Do you have an iKamand? It would be great to get your thoughts on that.
Thanks so much Jared. I don't have one as I am a little bit of a snob when it comes to believing you can control your grill as equally without it as you can with it. But that would make an amazing side by side video ... maybe for that reason alone I should get it lol
This video is really helpful for me to make decision buy or not. It did show Joe junior amazing side.
thanks, it always surprises me how capable it is
Fantastic video!
Thank you very much!
Hey James this video helped sway me into starting with a KJ junior (over the BGE Minimax) cant wait to get started cooking on it! I've never used a charcoal bbq before but i am proficient in cooking steaks in a cast iron pan. What would you suggest for a first time cook once I've had a play with the vents and broken her in? thanks hello from Australia!
Congratulations and rock on! I would maybe do a bone in ribeye first. that or spatchcock chicken but I just so happen to have a video on the steak so that might be easier ruclips.net/video/oXF7pVm_pOI/видео.html
Superb video, thanks from the UK.
They're pretty expensive so it's really interesting to see how capable you've found this model.
I'm very tempted 👍🏻
Glad it was helpful! hope you can find a sale for less than 499... if it helps, thats the same price where i am in Canada
@@SmokingDadBBQ
Thanks pal.
Had one delivered yesterday by coincidence, turns out the dealer in the region wasn't far away 😃
Cost £459!
But hey, that's what credit cards are for 😂
James, you're twisting my hand... I was going to hold out for a Vision Grill (mainly because of the Propane attachment), but now I'm leaning to buy a Joe Jr... my current propane BBQ is 10yrs old and I just recently thanks to a friend, have become interested in Charcoal BBQ. What do you think of the Vision Grill with Propane attachment?? (FS at CT but HD has them too).
thanks so much. Depends what you want to do... from my understanding the accessory ecosystem is pretty limited on the Vision which is surprising because I think Gorilla, Vision, SNS etc. share the same design ceramic body. What I wish I could articulate better is how important air flow is inside a Kamado. I had (several) big green eggs and never got a great smoke ring ... the Kamado Joe series 3 does it without trying. I suspect its the science in airflow discussed in this article which is what sold me on switching to KJ - www.engadget.com/2019-10-25-harvard-barbecue-desora-kamado-joe-cinder-grills.html
Great video, i totally agree with you. I have a jr and a classic 2. But for only grilling my meat or low i slow i tend to work on the jr.. For multiple zone grilling i tend to work on the classic 2.
Thanks for sharing! Thanks so much Loki
Hey, love your Videos. One question: Did you ever try to fit a Dutch Oven on your Joe Junior and which size of a DO would you recommend? Greetz from Germany!
I am not sure the smallest one I have fits (5qt) so I would be guessing.
Awesome video, thanks my Joe Jr is coming this week. Great to know that the Joe Jr can handle a family of 4, as I have only done a couple of cooks on my Akorn Jr. I have a question, I noticed in another video that you changed out the chimney/vent for one similar to the Kontrol Tower. Do you know if the kamado joe cover still fits the Joe Jr with that chimney?
it does with the top portion removed (the sleeve stays on)
@@SmokingDadBBQ cool, thanks
I love the joe jr! It rock and you just proved it!
cheers
Very happy for the growth! Can't wait to see the differences. Really think I want a BJ3 but maybe you can help with that. I would actually like to know your thoughts on the cart before you build a table. Tables are great and yours are top notch, but with the 3s a lot of the value(?) Is the cart and side tables. Pros and cons vs table
the cart is functional for sure but I like more space to set things when cleaning the grill. there isn’t room to take out the racks, stones, divide and conquer system and then the charcoal basket etc. I also like having a place for extra accessories like the JoeTisserie etc which the sleek factory cart just doesn’t have the space to accommodate.
Just ordered one from Walmart on clearance for $298.00, including shipping. I couldn't pass up that deal. Can't wait to try it out
Hi there, those chicken thighs in a cast iron skillet look good, what's the recipe?
I will pick up my kamado Joe jr soon, so far I've been using 18" WSM and broil King keg. Cheers
Hello. Thanks for the video. I was wondering, it seems that the ceramic chicken holder from Kamado is too large for the Junior. What's the holder you're using for your beer can chicken on the junior ?
this is the one I found can fit direct - amzn.to/2Ofsqp7
What size pan is the Lodge cast iron in the video cooking the brussel sprouts? 26cm or 30.5 cm? Thanks.
it’s 10.25” not including the handles. with them it’s 12” and fits in the Joe jr
Hi buddy, been enjoying all of the great videos on your channel in the last couple of weeks, currently I have a Webber mastertouch but am really interested in a Joe Jr because in the U.K. it’s so much cheaper than the classic 3 - almost 4 times cheaper! So I’d love to see a direct cook comparison of 3 pork butts cooked low and slow on the jr / the classic 3 and the big joe at the same time! You could then compare how much charcoal you had to use, how each one did at maintaining the temperature of the cook and of course if there was any difference in taste of the end product.
Thanks Robert, as soon as my Classic arrives I will get to work on making that happen.
Cual es mejor el kamado jr o kamado classic 1?gracias y muy buenos videos
Perfect timing. This is my comparison of price and space this week between them - ruclips.net/video/7B8owry2dog/видео.htmlsi=w6MU8OJjRORSO94C
Great video! How do you know when yo use the deflector plate, and when not to?
Thanks for watching, commenting and subscribing Joe! The deflector plate is only for when you want to cook indirect and you want the grill to perform like a convection oven (baking, roasting etc. typically low and slow). Direct grilling for searing, getting some char etc. (steak, veggies etc.). You can grill directly for foods where the meat tastes better when the fat hits the hot coals (spatchcock chicken etc.) but you just need to carefully mind your temps to make sure you don't burn the bottom
@@SmokingDadBBQ wow superb information!
Dang I should have bought it!!!!! Good on your for selling to a subscriber...can’t wait to see what you do next!!!!
Dojo on the big joe!!!
haha thanks Steven.
I've had a Big Joe 3 and Joe jr for long time. Over time the Jr has become my go to grill for most items. I still do most of my bbq on the big joe but most everything else I find that the jr is more than enough. Combine that with the fact that it's 1/10 of the charcoal and takes about 1/3 of the time to get booted up it's a clear winner. I just bought the nest for the Joe Jr and that's been a game changer. Before I just had it in the rack that it came with. I've also taken it to my parents house a few times to do pork butts for the family. My father has a green egg mini max and we'd usually put a butt on each. The mini max always runs out of charcoal and the Jr can make it the entire cook typically. I've had to add charcoal on long cooks to the Jr but for what it is. It does a great job.
Hello James. I have to say I love your videos. Have a Joe Jr. On the way to replace my gas grill. When researching your videos were a great source of information. Excited to start cooking, have some experience on my dads old Green Egg, so I'll be jumping in right away. I really like the stand you made for your junior, do you like the height, how tall is the stand? Thanks in advance!
Right on and thanks. It’s 32” and I do NOT like the height of the table for the Jr. its too tall, but I did it that high as the back is open and there is enough space to slide the jr inside
Hi mate, I've received my Joe jr today after binge watching your videos! Can I ask what tray you have for the beer can chicken? I've found a couple on Amazon but they aren't suitable for BBQ cooking due to the non stick coating. Thanks from the UK!
this is the one - amzn.to/2Ofsqp7
I got a joe jr a couple weeks ago. Seriously amazing grill.
That's awesome, congratulations Damian
Awesome Video! I got the meater+ and my smoking dad red crocs to go with my coming Joe Jr. glad your video validated a lot of my research that it would be enough for just me. As a request would be Pork Ribs. I figure you could fit 1 rack cut in half. Also the official Kamado joe RUclips rolled them up and skewered them. It would be interesting to see how that method works compared to them flat. Awesome videos.
Thanks so much, and the red crocs help lol hahaha. Love that idea, will do that this summer
I'm glad you aren't going to be without a Classic. I got rid of my Big Joe and didn't bother to replace it. I think the two-classic setup is the best case scenario :)
Thanks John... making me nervous lol. I did love the two Classics as a pair
I'm thinking of that too. My big joe is too fuel hungry even for small cooks like a steak or two you gotta really really fill up that basket every cook
Love you videos bro👍👍 awesome I just got my joe jr. Please make a video making pizza on the jr.
thanks so much. I agree that would be fun to do.
Thanks James for another informative video. It was you and your videos who convinced me on the kamado joe. I got my joe jr during the quarantine and I’m having a blast experimenting. #pastrychefjoseph
Glad to hear it! Thanks so much chef J
Hey James. Awesome video. Ordered a JR about a week ago and should be here some time this month.
Could you do a video on how to fire it up, snuff it out, and reuse charcoal? Thanks!
Will do, and congratulations Garrett!
Looking forward to the big unit.
thanks so much! Lots of good stuff coming up
I bought my Joe jr last year. I took your advice and bought the charcoal basket and took out the cast iron bottom part for airflow.
I’m thinking about upgrading one size bigger, not because the JR is too small for us 2 but more because I noticed that with low and slow (for example spareribs in a stand) the edges of the product burn because it’s in the hot airflow near the edge of the dome. Am I correct that the product I’m preparing low and slow should not stick out into the hot air flow or am I doing something else wrong?
Seems like you don't want to answer your question
Hey James, if you had to decide between a classic Joe and a junior combo OR a big joe. What would you do? Is the big joe fit enough to do some sides simultaneously with meat that's cooking indirect or is the temp difference too low? Is there a lot of benefit of having the possibility to grill at 2 totally different temps (eg grilling searing hot at one grill and low and slow on the other)? I love to grill sides
thats a great question... but also one I was hoping nobody asked lol as I waffle on which combo is the best. The big joe is way more versatile than i ever imagined AND isn't the charcoal pig that I thought it might have been before having one and it allows true multi zone cooking so that you can do the entire meal on one grill. That being said, I am a creature of habit and I like my classic and jr combo. The Jr. i learned i can do far more than i gave it credit for before needing to rely on it completely ... so i don't think there is a wrong answer vs. what types of sides do you want to cook. The jr can be a side machine and the classic your main, or you can do it all on the big joe with the only sacrifice being a little more charcoal and a little longer to hit temp
Your videos have sold me. I'd enjoy a look at using the iKamand on the Joe Jr.
I'd love to... but the iKamand only fits the classic and big joe
Hi James, love your channel! As a newbie I was wondering whether you need to add charcoal when doing a low temperature 8 hour session.
Hi Tino, thanks so much. I would clean it out and if needed add some charcoal to make sure you have enough for 8 hrs. The Jr has run up to 12hrs for me so you don't need to overfill it to pull off an 8hr low and slow
@@SmokingDadBBQ So the Jr. can actually hold for more than 8 hours of charcoal without a refill in between?! Amazing looking at the size of this Kamado!
Great video! I just bought a Joe Jr last night, waiting for it to arrive. Question, are there any differences in controlling the heat between this and the larger Joe's? Is it easier or more difficult to control the heat with the smaller Jr? Thanks!
congratulations, that depends stock or modified. With the kick ash basket and smoke ware vent cap its an air breathing machine. Stock its more finicky ... mostly because the daisy wheel moves when opening the dome
@@SmokingDadBBQ Thanks! Seems the basket is currently sold out, but I'll add it to my list.
I own a Weber gas grill that I bought this year and love. I am interested in getting involved in a kamado style grill for certain things. Do you think the joe jr would be a good option for me?
Chances are I’ll probably use the Weber during the week since I’m pressed for time but I like the idea of using the joe jr on weekends and on any camping trips/tailgates that I go on. What do you think?
i think its a great fit... my neighbour did that and loves his