Lifesmart Kamado Grill and Smoker Review
With a basic design and durable materials, Kamado grills are very versatile in cooking any food.
This Lifesmart Kamado grill review is just the perfect example of that.
There are many things that you can cook in a Kamado grill as it is a very versatile type of grill.
You can smoke your favorite cuts of meat in it, roast, or even bake in these types of grill.
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Kamado grills are a grill used for a cooking style that originated in China thousands of years ago.
Now, we have many companies modernizing this technique with different products.
Lifesmart is not the most famous brand for producing Kamado grills, and it is not at the top of the competition.
However, it can perform just as well as the best-rated grills.
They have produced many Kamado grills in terms of sizes, so you have different options.
Hare, we will be looking at the many features of the Kamado grill from Lifesmart.
Based on the 13-inch model, we will look at the best things you can get when you cook with the Lifesmart Kamado grill.
There is a lot so make sure that you read on with the post.
Assembly And Setup
Kamado grills, especially the ones from Lifesmart, are not necessarily portable.
They are pretty heavy, so if you plan to move them around, I suggest you get a helping hand.
Setting up the Kamado grill is not that hard as there is only minimal assembly.
You can make the best setup by finding an area to cook on and be stored in.
You need to install the legs of the Kamado grill properly, but this is pretty easy as you just literally place the grill on the legs.
The weight of the grill is the only problem in this process.
Once you get everything ready, secure the screws on the lid, shelves, and legs.
The legs or the stand have their wheels, so you can move the grill around if you want to.
However, the wheels are not for rough terrains, so I suggest using them only on flat and hard surfaces.
Grass, pebbles, or stones are not that friendly with the wheels of the grill.
Within 30 minutes of assembly, or even less, the Lifesmart Kamado grill is ready to cook.
This is one of the smaller models in the market, so there is not much space needed for the setup.
A small space on your patio or in your backyard is enough.
Just make sure that you do not place it near any vegetation or flammable objects as it can burn them when you open the lid.
Once you get everything ready, you can then cook the best foods that you have prepared.
Use any style you want and make the best out of it by using all the features you need.
Construction And Materials
The Kamado grill from Lifesmart is made with the best materials and is made sure to last for years with proper care.
One reason for this is the way they are along with the materials.
This Kamado grill all-ceramic, which is pretty common with such grills.
However, what makes it perfectly durable and perfect for retaining heat is the double-walled construction.
You can feel how this Kamado grill can distribute the heat evenly inside to cook the food perfectly.
This also makes the grill grate for safety as the outside barely heats up.
There are also some steel parts that you should notice.
The rings around the body that protects and helps keep the shape of the grill itself are heavy-duty stainless steel.
The same material in making the support of the shelves as well as the bottom damper.
The legs are quite different and more durable than the steel used around the body of the grill.
The cart or the legs have powder-coated Black Steel, which is a very tough material.
It hardly corrodes even after years of usage and is perfect for holding the heavy Kamado grill.
This Kamado grill weighs over 94 pounds with all the durable materials, so you cannot simply lift it and transfer it anywhere you want. Let us just say that this Kamado grill is not portable.
Cooking/Grilling Area
Despite its stout size and small stature, this Kamado grill is great for cooking large food portions.
There is a grill grate that measures 13 inches in diameter for any food.
There is only a single grill grate, but it is large enough to fit a whole turkey on or up to 4 steaks.
You can cook up to 6 burgers at a time or make the best pizzas on it with this size.
The grill grate is all stainless steel, which is pretty common for any grill.
The smooth finish on the stainless steel grill grate makes it easy to clean and wash safely with soap.
With a total of 133 square inches of cooking space, this rather small Kamado grill is perfect for a large family meal.
It can cook all the foods that you want on your table at any temperature.
Electric Starter
There is no need for you to risk burning yourself when you are trying to light up the charcoal at the bottom of the firebox.
This Kamado grill includes an electric starter that is very helpful.
You can just simply load up the firebox with the best lump charcoal and then light them up with the electric starter.
That way, you just need to wait for the charcoal to get the fire going.
This is also a safer option than the more common lighter fluid option.
You do not risk burning yourself; plus, the scent and chemicals in the lighter fluid do not get into the food you cook.
Heat Deflector
If you want to cook something in the Lifesmart Kamado grill and you want the temperature to be a little less aggressive or milder, then you have the option to put the heat deflector on it.
It is an effective accessory that helps in redirecting the flames or heat to the sides of the Kamado grill.
The heat then climbs onto the lid and then back down to the food you are cooking.
With the heat deflector, you can safely cook your food in the slow and low method.
This is a perfect accessory for when you want to smoke meat or cook pizza at high temperatures.
Temperature Control
There are two dampers with this Kamado grill, and these are the ones you use to control the temperature inside the grill.
You can precisely get the grill at the right temperature easily.
The bottom damper has a larger impact as it is the source of air that will heat the charcoal and continue burning them.
You can use the bottom damper for high-temperature changes.
So, for example, you are just preheating the Kamado grill, and you want the process to be a little faster, you will want to open up the bottom damper or vent to get as much air as needed.
The top vent or damper is durable with heavy-duty steel.
This makes it heat a little after long cooking periods, but it has a handle where you can control it safely.
The top vent is where you can control the temperature in smaller increments.
So if you want to lower the temperature by 10 degrees, you use the top vent to do this to perfect your recipe.
Cooking In The Lifesmart Kamado Grill
I observed some things that can be better with this grill, but overall, it was a great experience cooking in this Kamado grill.
You can easily make the best steaks and burgers in it.
Kamado grills cook in high temperatures and direct heat.
They also should have the capability to go with the slow and low cooking style, and the Lifesmart grill can do both.
The first noticeable difference between the Lifesmart Kamado grill and the other grills is the ease of startup.
You do not have to blow or light the charcoal manually with other things.
With the electric starter, I did not have to worry about the charcoal being unevenly heated.
With the help of the well-built damper, I started cooking after around 20 minutes of preheating.
What I think can be improved with this Kamado grill is the size of the grill grate.
There are other larger models from Lifesmart, so you can choose from those if you ever feel the need.
The slightly taller lid of the grill is perfect for cooking beer can chicken.
I noticed this, and I could not place a small pot inside the grill grate without trouble closing the grill’s lid.
The heat deflector is not the best one that I have used on a Kamado grill, but it does its job.
It was able to block the flames while also helping in distributing the heat evenly inside the grill.
This made it great for cooking my favorite pizzas. I was able to get the perfect crust, and I did not have to frequently worry about burning the crust; the pizza had a crispy finish after a few minutes.
Ease Of Cleaning
This Kamado grill is not necessarily the easiest to clean, but it does not take too much effort or time.
It is too small to fit another feature inside, such as an ash catcher.
This means that when done cooking, you will need to get in there and scrape off the ashes from the firebox.
This is the tedious part of the cleaning process.
So once you deal with the ash, cleaning the other parts is pretty basic.
You can wash the stainless steel grill grate with soap and water, and it will be ready to cook once again.
Wipe off some of the greases from the outer parts of the grill, and it is ready.
This product includes its grill cover so you can let it stay outdoors with the cover on to protect it from any weather.
Conclusion
Many great Kamado grill options are available right now, but if you want something pretty simple in design and size, you should go with the Lifesmart Kamado grill.
==> Check out the Price on the Lifesmart Kamado grill
Although it does not match the sizes of most of the Kamado grills, it still can cook just like any of the powerful grills.
It is perfect for your next outdoor meal while you enjoy the fresh air in your backyard. It is perfect for making any recipe that you want with its powerful heat and retaining capability!
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