Kamado Joe has launched the Big Joe Konnected Joe, a new ceramic smart grill, to keep pace with competitor technologies.
As with any industry, so-called ‘smart’ technologies provide new ways to perform tasks, and smoking is no exception.
We’re now using artificial intelligence (AI) for everything from writing up a resume to code. While there are a few examples of AI entering the BBQ chat (I’m looking at you, Brisk-It), mobile technologies are proving more popular than ever.
Smokers sold with associated mobile apps allow users to perform various functions, including pre-heating, setting a desired temperature, monitoring probes, and performing cooldowns. Sometimes, you’ll be able to tap into recipe books, look at temperature-tracking graphs, or set cooking times without casting your eyes on your smoker.
While relying solely on mobile apps to manage your next cookout might not be the best idea, many smoker and grill manufacturers are adding ‘smarter’ grills to their product lines.
Enter the Big Joe Konnected Joe, a new grill from Kamado Joe. Announced earlier this month, the Big Joe Konnected Joe is described as a “premium” model that “serves a wide variety of cooking styles with award-winning innovation.”
The connected grill, a step up from the smaller Konnected Joe, offers 450 square inches of cooking space, an automatic firestarter, and an air lift hinge to make cleaning your ceramic grill easier.
The Kamado Joe app, which first debuted in 2023, provides the technological means for BBQ enthusiasts to track and control the Big Joe Konnected Joe’s temperature — ranging from 225f suitable for low and slow cooking to a searing 700 degrees — as well as set probes and read temperature graphs, among other features.
So, how about the ceramic grill itself? The specifications are as follows:
-Two-tier stainless steel grates providing 450 total square inches of cooking space
-Kontrol Tower top vent for better heat and smoke
-A slide-out ash drawer
-Powder-coated steel grill cart with locking wheels for greater portability
-One meat probe (although you can synchronize the app with up to three probes)
It’s large, smart, and has a price tag to match: $2,999, which is over $1,000 more than the original model. However, if the upgrades on offer appeal to you and you’re looking for a replacement for an older Kamado Joe model, you might want to sign up for notifications when this model is in stock. Visit Kamado Joe’s official website for more details.
