- Official Post
Bunnings bargain Akorn kamado
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yep. These are on sale at all Bunnings at the moment. And BBQ Galore have the Dragon on sale for $399
Bunnings has also started selling the ceramic chargrilled kamado
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Wow is that what they look like clean
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- Official Post
Well, if anyone out there has been thinking about buying a good BBQ.....now is the time !
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How do the Akorn and the Dragon compare?
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Like for like from all reports but most of those I've seen, and in here, we would have more Akorns than Dragons but that's maybe just 'cos there are more Bunnings than BBQs G. I don't think you could go wrong with either but I'd probably go the Akorn.
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Awesome thabks Gumb.
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If you're thinking about one @3x0du5, go for it. I am currently smoking a Coq Au Vin in mine (yeah I know, wacky right?), but they are about as versatile as you can get. Lock it down for cooking at 105, or crank it up to 350 for 4 min pizzas. Great little units.
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We just baked brioche rolls @180 and now cranked it up to cook burgers on grill grates... It will hold temps on anything between 100 for low n slow to 400+ for pizzas and searing.. I don't even particularly look after mine and it's been sweet for a couple years
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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How do the Akorn and the Dragon compare?
The main difference from memory is you get a deflector/smoking stone, cover, grill extender, worth about $70, $60, $50 so you get an extra $180 extra goodies with an Akorn for the same price as a Dragon. The Akorn is heaps better value at the same price. The other bit which might sway your purchase is the colour. The Bunnings Akorn is jet black while the Dragon is a greeny colour.
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Grabbing an Akorn this week from the local Bunnings... now just gotta tee up some charcoal, was thinking of the WA Mallee stuff
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- Official Post
now just gotta tee up some charcoal, was thinking of the WA Mallee stuff
If you're south of the river UG has some at BBQ HQ if you're a northie try Texas Ranger on here think he has a it plus some other stuff.
Cheers, Wayne
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Out of curiosity, whats the difference between the ceramic and the metal eggs oter than what appears to be lots of $$?
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Out of curiosity, whats the difference between the ceramic and the metal eggs oter than what appears to be lots of $$?
Try this. Kamado 101 - Getting to know your Kamado
In particular look at the Akorn vs Kamado Joe review
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Thanks!
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One thing that review doesn't discuss is the effect of insulation. The metal kamados all have real insulation, as well as an air gap between the bowl and the body. The clay kamados, with the exception of the Komodo Kamado, are effectively uninsulated. Clay by itself is not a real insulator - Dennis from KK adds different materials to give his clay kamados insulating properties. Clay does have thermal mass though, which can be a benefit although you can add thermal mass to a metal kamado by putting clay in it (I used a KJ Divide and Conquer set plus a pizza stone in mine if I wanted more stability but it's not needed once you get to know your vent positions).
You can tell this by touching the outer skin of both kamados when they are operating at the same temperature - the metal one will always be cooler although they both get hot on the outside when rocking at pizza oven temps (metal kamados are still cooler to touch even at that temperature though). You can also see on those 12-18hr cooks that the clay kamado uses more fuel - it's not a big difference as they are both still miserly compared to any uninsulated metal cooker like a kettle or offset but the difference is still noticeable. I am always amazed at how little fuel my Dragon uses over that time - it looks like it could do 30hrs+ without reloading! Less fuel use also means less air flow which can mean less drying out, although some things benefit from more air flow - this is why crackle is typically easier to achieve in a kettle. In a kamado you need to do the scarring / boiling water trick - or just use a heat gun prior to serving like me!
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The metal kamados all have real insulation, as well as an air gap between the bowl and the body.
Ceramic Kamados also have an air gap between the firebox and the outer shell.
There used to lots of discussion about insulation properties.
I put a few thermal properties here.
Ceramic Kamados - Ceramic differences, real or BS?
The size of your Kamado can make a big difference. For example the Dragon/Akorn size is between large and XL and this offers positives and negatives.
As for fuel burn times a ceramic can deliver excellent burn duration. KamadoClint was getting over 3 days from a single load from his Big Joe. What type of fuel you use and how you place it in the firebox and how you light it can make a big difference on burn time and heat generation.
As for the crackle. It is easier to make superb crackle in the Weber or a gas oven/bbq. I have also made very good crackle in the Kamado doing nothing to it.
I found a big factor is the starting quality of the meat and the cut on how it will turn out.
I own a metal and ceramic Kamado. Both are good. They do behave differently. Is one better than the other? It depends on what you want to do,
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- Official Post
this is why crackle is typically easier to achieve in a kettle. In a kamado you need to do the scarring / boiling water trick - or just use a heat gun prior to serving like me!
I had issues trying to get crackle right on pork belly in my ceramic until @Urban Griller came up with the method of having the belly on it's side so the juices run off rather than sit on top. That gives me a perfect result every time. I score it in thin strips too, which helps.
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