Product · Char-Griller
Char-Griller Akorn Jr: triple-wall steel, 16.2 kg
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The Char-Griller Akorn Jr is a kamado-style grill made from insulated steel rather than ceramic. That makes it lighter than any ceramic egg of similar size and less fragile if it gets knocked. It suits people who want kamado-style cooking at campsites, on fishing trips or on a small patio, and who would rather not worry about cracked ceramic.
- Grill diameter
- Not stated (155 sq in)
- Body
- Triple-walled insulated steel
- Weight
- 16.2 kg
- Stand
- Not stated
- Temperature range
- 93 to 371 °C
In its favour
- The body is insulated steel rather than ceramic, which matters if it will travel in a car boot.
- At 16.2 kg with side handles it is easy to take camping or to a picnic.
- A stated 200 to 700 °F range (93 to 371 °C) covers smoking and searing.
Good to know
- The 155 sq in cooking area is small for a family meal.
- The listing does not describe a stand, gasket or thermometer.
Our take
How a steel kamado works
Instead of a thick ceramic shell, the Akorn Jr uses triple-walled insulation to hold in heat. Char-Griller says this gives good heat retention and fuel efficiency, for longer burns and juicier meat. Another listing for the same grill sums it up as holding heat like ceramic.
The stated range is 200 to 700 °F, roughly 93 to 371 °C. That covers low smoking at the bottom and hot searing at the top, though the upper limit is a little lower than the ceramic London Sunshine models quote.
Size and portability
Cooking space is 155 square inches. A related listing for this model gives a 14 inch cooking diameter. The grill measures about 52 x 51 x 66 cm and weighs 16.2 kg, with side handles for carrying.
That weight is the main reason to choose it. The 13 inch ceramic London Sunshine weighs 22.6 kg and the DAHAD 13 inch 31.5 kg, so the Akorn Jr is the easiest of the full-function kamados here to lift into a car.
What this listing leaves out
This listing does not mention vents, a thermometer or an ash pan, though the sister listing names dual dampers, a heat gauge and an easy dump ash pan. Check the exact version you order. A two year manufacturer warranty is stated here, and spare parts availability of one year.
Powder-coated steel will need a cover or a dry spot through a British winter to keep rust at bay.
Who it does not suit
If you cook for a family of five regularly, 155 square inches will feel tight. The London Sunshine 15 inch offers a 33.5 cm grate on a stand for that job. Anyone set on the ceramic feel of a traditional egg should also look elsewhere.
Verdict
The Akorn Jr is the pick for anyone who wants a kamado they can carry without fear of cracking it, for trips or a small garden. If you prefer ceramic and a stated gasket, the London Sunshine 13 inch is the closer tabletop rival, and the London Sunshine 15 inch suits larger households.
Compared with alternatives in: Best kamado BBQs, Best small kamados for balconies and camping
Amazon listing title: Char-Griller E6714 AKORN Jr. Kamado, Ash Portable Charcoal Grill, Junior