Understand your kamado and take control

Bought a kamado and not quite sure you’re getting the best from it, or thinking about buying one and wondering what all the fuss is about? Kamados are incredibly versatile and efficient bits of kit, but they behave quite differently from a conventional barbecue. Understanding how and why they work is the key to getting the most from them.

We’ll get to grips with lighting, charcoal and airflow, and learn how to control the fire rather than simply chasing temperatures and timings. We’ll cook in several different ways during the day, moving between direct and indirect cooking, hotter grilling, smoking and slower cooking, so you can see how the same barbecue behaves with different temperatures and set-ups.

There’ll be plenty of opportunity to troubleshoot the things that commonly go wrong and to ask questions about your own kamado at home. The aim is to give you the confidence to make decisions for yourself, rather than feeling you need a particular recipe or set of instructions every time you light it.

The class is suitable for all styles and brands of kamado, from ceramic eggs to insulated steel models — you absolutely don’t need to own a particular brand. As always, we’ll finish around the table, sharing everything we’ve cooked, with plenty of time to eat, talk and go back over what you’ve learned.