Thanks for the video. I’ve just got a mini kamado and not used it yet so getting as much info as possible first. Loved your comment at the start of the vid “no one gonna put their hand in there unless they’re really wanting some hurt” 😂 Had me in stitches 😂 Good honest vid from a family man 👍
Thanks Tony! Agreed, I’ve always found that frustrating. What’s the point if you aren’t going to fire it up, right? Thanks so much for the support and real talk! 🍗🍻🔥
@@budgetdadbbqbrewing268 Just discover your channel that, through your various video is helping me to have an idea. I am looking for a Kamado for 2 persons, so the S size seems to be the right one, however for slow cooking (which is my main focus) it looks like not... :D Continue that great job - You have 1 new subs ;)
We Vision owners chase temps sometimes. No two are the same. I can't open my top vent very much either. To smoke, I almost keep a small crack. Sometimes you have to bend the metal tabs to get the top vent to stay put.
Electric starter seems like a overly complicated idea to light charcoal. I use a single wood shaving style lighter, shut the lid, both vents fully open and in five minutes it's well alight. Give the coals a bit of a mix, another five to ten minutes and it's ready to cook.
Thanks for the video as well! Very insightful Jeremy and after my wife kept hounding me to get rid of my large Big Green Egg a few years back(Both she and the kids don't like smoky food for some reason) I'm looking for a smaller more affordable kamado cooker than the BGE Mini Max. My good friend has the Kamado Joe Jr. which he likes and even those are getting a little pricey lately. Just wondering if it's worth going with a $300-$400 cheaper grill in the long run.
I have this same grill and from my experience mine will hold 225-250 with no problem. It actually shocked me at first how easy it was. I have the Vision Pro C also and that much chicken should have been on the bigger grill IMHO. The Lifesmart is a small grill for small meals so 2 of those beasts to 3 tops. Good luck...
Thanks Micheal! In hindsight, I realize that was overloading that grill to the max! LOL! Next time will keep to a few pieces for sure. Glad to hear it’s holding temp with you a well. Feel free to share what else you’ve been able to cook on this thing! 👍
I gave one to my husband for Christmas. He cooked on it for the first time yesterday. He put a rack of baby back ribs on it. The top is loose, like you said. He didn’t put enough lump charcoal. The underneath of the ribs were a little brown. The ribs, I thought were fine. Not cooked too much for me. It’s just us, so this will be fine. It is a bit low on the stand. All in all, this will be good to use. We did cut the rack of baby backs into so it would fit. Thanks for your video. I’ll have him do a temp test.
Sorry to hear that the cook didn’t turn out great. ): This little grill will get insanely hot so I would recommend hooking that pizza stone underneath the grate as a heat shield. A little coal goes a long way with this thing. Without a heat shield, meats are just too close to the fire unless you are cooking burgers or searing steaks. Take some time with it and you will get better at regulating temps. 👍 I will make more videos cooking on this Lifesmart kamado for everyone. *check out my next test cook video for the loose top fix! (:
@@budgetdadbbqbrewing268 LOL. I said that I didn't get a stone, was wondering where to get one. Your video started over where you were getting it out of the box. What?? He pulled it out of the styrofoam??? Where is my box? There it is! Yes, I do have the small round stone! Sorry, it made me laugh. Loudly. I'll have it to deflect some heat next time. Thanks again. Looking for the lava rock tape.
That’s awesome! Glad you found it - it’s hidden for sure in that styrofoam. I added a link to the nomex tape in my other video description but I’m sure you could use any kamado felt seal. (: czcams.com/video/yaRj5EOz9Pc/video.html
@@budgetdadbbqbrewing268 Found a small Roll of lava rocks on Amazon. It was like hide and seek with the ele t et if starter and the stone ! Lol. LOVE the IKEA stand. Thanks again. Keep up the good work.
Slice it on angle and a little thinner you'll like the chicken better that way was just over cooked a bit always remember that residual heat will have thing's over cook once it gets to like 155-59 take it off cover with foil will come up to temp while you rest it .
Thanks for the tip! For sure, I waaay overcooked these. Will have to try taking them off earlier like you mentioned. Thanks for the comments and support! Really like to learn from the BBQ community! 😎🤙
Yeah I’d say for the first 20 minutes - you may have some neighbors concerned. 😂 After that though, your smoke should run pretty clean and won’t be an issue.
I did! One of our viewers hooked us up with info on this one. It sits on top the fire bowl so you’ll need to saw off the grill clips: Outspark Pizza Stone Heat Deflector for Char-Griller 6211 Smoking' Stone Jr. www.amazon.com/dp/B078S1SF9K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_QYWSY2XB6NEDT0BGHS4K?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 Check out my video where I removed the clips: czcams.com/video/7KlBmqNGo6k/video.html
😂 That’s real, Mike. Dries out like crazy and experimenting with some different marinades. Any suggestions? Rarely do I ever cook chicken breasts - mostly whole pieces or spatchcock.
Thanks for the video. I’ve just got a mini kamado and not used it yet so getting as much info as possible first.
Loved your comment at the start of the vid “no one gonna put their hand in there unless they’re really wanting some hurt” 😂 Had me in stitches 😂
Good honest vid from a family man 👍
😂 I try to keep it real. Thanks for the support and let me know how it goes! 🔥
Finally, someone doing a real cook test rather than unboxing with a review (how one can review a product only by unboxing it?)
Thanks Tony! Agreed, I’ve always found that frustrating. What’s the point if you aren’t going to fire it up, right? Thanks so much for the support and real talk! 🍗🍻🔥
@@budgetdadbbqbrewing268 Just discover your channel that, through your various video is helping me to have an idea. I am looking for a Kamado for 2 persons, so the S size seems to be the right one, however for slow cooking (which is my main focus) it looks like not... :D
Continue that great job - You have 1 new subs ;)
I use a larger heat deflector and it seems to get the job done. Great grill.
For sure! I use the outspark heat shield and it was a huge improvement. Agreed, solid little grill!
We Vision owners chase temps sometimes. No two are the same. I can't open my top vent very much either. To smoke, I almost keep a small crack. Sometimes you have to bend the metal tabs to get the top vent to stay put.
Electric starter seems like a overly complicated idea to light charcoal. I use a single wood shaving style lighter, shut the lid, both vents fully open and in five minutes it's well alight. Give the coals a bit of a mix, another five to ten minutes and it's ready to cook.
Thanks for the tip! Agreed, the electric starter although cheap, is adding extra steps. I’ll for sure try the wood shaving lighter cubes. 👍
Thanks for the video as well! Very insightful Jeremy and after my wife kept hounding me to get rid of my large Big Green Egg a few years back(Both she and the kids don't like smoky food for some reason) I'm looking for a smaller more affordable kamado cooker than the BGE Mini Max. My good friend has the Kamado Joe Jr. which he likes and even those are getting a little pricey lately. Just wondering if it's worth going with a $300-$400 cheaper grill in the long run.
I have this same grill and from my experience mine will hold 225-250 with no problem. It actually shocked me at first how easy it was. I have the Vision Pro C also and that much chicken should have been on the bigger grill IMHO. The Lifesmart is a small grill for small meals so 2 of those beasts to 3 tops. Good luck...
Thanks Micheal! In hindsight, I realize that was overloading that grill to the max! LOL! Next time will keep to a few pieces for sure. Glad to hear it’s holding temp with you a well. Feel free to share what else you’ve been able to cook on this thing! 👍
I gave one to my husband for Christmas. He cooked on it for the first time yesterday. He put a rack of baby back ribs on it. The top is loose, like you said. He didn’t put enough lump charcoal. The underneath of the ribs were a little brown. The ribs, I thought were fine. Not cooked too much for me. It’s just us, so this will be fine. It is a bit low on the stand. All in all, this will be good to use. We did cut the rack of baby backs into so it would fit. Thanks for your video. I’ll have him do a temp test.
Sorry to hear that the cook didn’t turn out great. ):
This little grill will get insanely hot so I would recommend hooking that pizza stone underneath the grate as a heat shield. A little coal goes a long way with this thing. Without a heat shield, meats are just too close to the fire unless you are cooking burgers or searing steaks. Take some time with it and you will get better at regulating temps. 👍 I will make more videos cooking on this Lifesmart kamado for everyone.
*check out my next test cook video for the loose top fix! (:
@@budgetdadbbqbrewing268 where do I find the round stone. Ours did not come with one.
@@budgetdadbbqbrewing268 LOL. I said that I didn't get a stone, was wondering where to get one. Your video started over where you were getting it out of the box. What?? He pulled it out of the styrofoam??? Where is my box? There it is! Yes, I do have the small round stone! Sorry, it made me laugh. Loudly. I'll have it to deflect some heat next time. Thanks again. Looking for the lava rock tape.
That’s awesome! Glad you found it - it’s hidden for sure in that styrofoam. I added a link to the nomex tape in my other video description but I’m sure you could use any kamado felt seal. (:
czcams.com/video/yaRj5EOz9Pc/video.html
@@budgetdadbbqbrewing268 Found a small
Roll of lava rocks on Amazon. It was like hide and seek with the ele t et if starter and the stone ! Lol. LOVE the IKEA stand. Thanks again. Keep up the good work.
Bought the Lava lock tape. Perfect. A good tight fit. Loving the life smart. Thank you.
Awesome! So glad it worked out!
Like your channel man! Thanks for this review
Thanks man! Appreciate your support!
Slice it on angle and a little thinner you'll like the chicken better that way was just over cooked a bit always remember that residual heat will have thing's over cook once it gets to like 155-59 take it off cover with foil will come up to temp while you rest it .
Thanks for the tip! For sure, I waaay overcooked these. Will have to try taking them off earlier like you mentioned. Thanks for the comments and support! Really like to learn from the BBQ community! 😎🤙
Love the videos!
That’s brotha! Got plans for more!
Top vent is supposed to be able to come off. It’s not attached on purpose.
Agreed. However it was so lose it would fly off when fully open. The felt seal worked perfectly.
Does it put out alot of smoke?
Apartment complex frowns upon smoke.
Yeah I’d say for the first 20 minutes - you may have some neighbors concerned. 😂
After that though, your smoke should run pretty clean and won’t be an issue.
You ever stick a battery lamp in your grill at night? Where ever you see light shine through, you have an air leak there.
@Hao - I’ve definitely considered the light idea. So far temps are pretty well controlled, but I’m gonna check that out! Thanks for the tip! 😎🔥
@@budgetdadbbqbrewing268 lol I’m a big proponent of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”
Awsom video. Thanks. Let me know if you find a heat deflector ? Please. Then I will buy this Kamado.
Thanks Grillo! Check out my other video and the heat shield link I use is in the description. Happy BBQing!
czcams.com/video/7KlBmqNGo6k/video.html
did you ever get the heat deflector..and if so.. where..thanks..RL
I did! One of our viewers hooked us up with info on this one. It sits on top the fire bowl so you’ll need to saw off the grill clips:
Outspark Pizza Stone Heat Deflector for Char-Griller 6211 Smoking' Stone Jr. www.amazon.com/dp/B078S1SF9K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_QYWSY2XB6NEDT0BGHS4K?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Check out my video where I removed the clips:
czcams.com/video/7KlBmqNGo6k/video.html
Bro. You MUST marinate a chicken breast. Pierce and let sit for a couple hours. Cmon. lol. Otherwise you might as well eat some white bread.
😂 That’s real, Mike. Dries out like crazy and experimenting with some different marinades. Any suggestions? Rarely do I ever cook chicken breasts - mostly whole pieces or spatchcock.
your overcooking it. breast meat is juicy when cooked properly.
I most definitely did. Check out my next test cook which turned out much better. 👍
Well over cooked.
You are correct! I toasted the heck out of them.