Aldi Kamado Oven

[illmonkey]

21TonyK said:

Are these genuinely going for double the money on eBay? My local Aldi had 4 in tonight (same 4 as yesterday). Half tempted to buy them and double the money.

Listed for double maybe, but they don’t sell. I see 1 sold for £130, brand new.

[illmonkey]

Is this thread for tips too?

I finally unboxed mine and was doing a standard bbq, so threw 6 of my coals into the kamado to test it out. Regulating the heat was a breeze, and managed to keep it at 200 for 4 hours before it started dropping off, only leaving ash, unlike the bbq where it doesn't burn everything.

How do you add coals? The grill will have food on and is hot!
How do you get it super hot? I opened the in vent fully and couldn't get it much higher than 250c.
Any recommendations for a deflector plate?

[loafer123]

illmonkey said:

Is this thread for tips too?

How do you add coals? The grill will have food on and is hot!

Use the supplied clamp to remove the grill to add coals during use.

illmonkey said:

How do you get it super hot? I opened the in vent fully and couldn't get it much higher than 250c.

Don't just rotate the top bit to expose the slits, rotate the whole mechanism away, leaving the full gaping hole, then it really gets a chimney effect.

Also, turn the whole thing so the vent faces the breeze/wind to add to that effect too.

[Uncle John]

illmonkey said:

Is this thread for tips too?

I finally unboxed mine and was doing a standard bbq, so threw 6 of my coals into the kamado to test it out. Regulating the heat was a breeze, and managed to keep it at 200 for 4 hours before it started dropping off, only leaving ash, unlike the bbq where it doesn't burn everything.

How do you add coals? The grill will have food on and is hot!
How do you get it super hot? I opened the in vent fully and couldn't get it much higher than 250c.
Any recommendations for a deflector plate?

RE the coals the idea is you fill the firebox to above the air holes so there’s plenty of fuel. No need to add any. Once you’ve cooked you then shut the vents down & the coals go out and are ready re-use next time. I generally get three or four cooks before I have to re-fill.

Super hot is all vents open with plenty of fuel, careful though because it can get away & then you basically have a nuclear device on your patio!

There’s a deflector plate included, does the job for me.

[illmonkey]

Thanks chaps!

I have the lidl one and it didn't come with a clamp or headshield...

[Zoon]

Uncle John said:

There’s a deflector plate included, does the job for me.

Is this on the Aldi Mini?

[Comacchio]

illmonkey said:

Thanks chaps!

I have the lidl one and it didn't come with a clamp or headshield...

I think everyone is referring to the big Aldi one. I've got the big Aldi and mini Aldi now, the mini Aldi doesn't come with the grill lifter or heat deflector. I bought a heat deflector from Smokin Steel on ebay for £25.

[tedmus]

Just fill the firebox up, any charcoal not used will be snuffed out when you close it up and be re-useable for the next burn. I usually fill mine so I can still just about fit the deflector in if needed. Never needed to refuel it mid use.

[Comacchio]

Little and large.

[illmonkey]

tedmus said:

Just fill the firebox up, any charcoal not used will be snuffed out when you close it up and be re-useable for the next burn. I usually fill mine so I can still just about fit the deflector in if needed. Never needed to refuel it mid use.

As I said, I only put a few in, but they all burnt at a similar rate. When you say fill it, is there a technique, like a snake, to ensure they light each other?

[tedmus]

illmonkey said:

tedmus said:

Just fill the firebox up, any charcoal not used will be snuffed out when you close it up and be re-useable for the next burn. I usually fill mine so I can still just about fit the deflector in if needed. Never needed to refuel it mid use.

As I said, I only put a few in, but they all burnt at a similar rate. When you say fill it, is there a technique, like a snake, to ensure they light each other?

Nope, just dump it in. Stick 2 or 3 firelighters in there spaced out, when they stop flaming put your grill/deflector in and close the lid with the vents open. Start adjusting the vents to your desired temp as you get a bit closer to it. Each adjustment can take 10 mins or so to take effect so bear that in mind. Easier to start lower and raise than go over and try to bring it down again.

[RammyMP]

Comacchio said:

Little and large.

Can you slow cook / smoke meat with the small one? I’ve got a smoker but the wife won’t eat anything I do on it so I only want a small one to do small joints?

[Comacchio]

RammyMP said:

Comacchio said:

Little and large.

Can you slow cook / smoke meat with the small one? I’ve got a smoker but the wife won’t eat anything I do on it so I only want a small one to do small joints?

Yeah you just need to buy a heat deflector for low & slow. I bought this one.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lidl-Aldi-Universal-Min...

[LaurasOtherHalf]

As usual, I forgot to take a picture of the end result!




Shoulder of lamb with the bone in. Chugged along at about 145 celsius for 5 hours give or take-removed when the internal temp got to 95 degrees and it pulled apart lovely.

Had an Indian style rub on it and wrapped it in foil for the last 10 degrees with an Indian mango glaze on it.

Served with salad for some spicy pulled lamb pittas for a BBQ with some friends and their kids.

With there being a few young ones I also did some sausages, corn on the cobs and potato’s as well. Four adults and four children all catered for which is a good result.

Sausages were a bit of a hit, I probably should have taken the deflector out for those to char the outside of them but that probably would have put the kids off a bit.

Do folk actually bother removing the deflector mid cook? It all looks a bit of a faff

[tedmus]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Do folk actually bother removing the deflector mid cook? It all looks a bit of a faff

Depends what I'm cooking. If doing a reverse sear on something then yes, get it to near desired temp then deflector out and ramp the temp up for the sear.

I have bought a Ynni D&C system which fits although it has a slightly smaller grill size than standard, comes with spilt grills and deflectors and two cooking heights so a bit easier to use. Can also set it up for direct/indirect zones at grilling temps.

[Comacchio]

tedmus said:

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Do folk actually bother removing the deflector mid cook? It all looks a bit of a faff

Depends what I'm cooking. If doing a reverse sear on something then yes, get it to near desired temp then deflector out and ramp the temp up for the sear.

I have bought a Ynni D&C system which fits although it has a slightly smaller grill size than standard, comes with spilt grills and deflectors and two cooking heights so a bit easier to use. Can also set it up for direct/indirect zones at grilling temps.

Yeah it is a bit of a faff, especially if you don't have somewhere you can sit the hot plates/food nearby. Once our garden has progressed a bit I'm planning on building a BBQ station at the back right, will probably hang some short spikes pointing upwards off the fence to hook the grill plates onto temporarily or something. Waiting for the YNNI D&C to come back in stock, looks a right good bit of kit.

[21TonyK]

Anyone recommend particular cover for the Kamado mini?

[illmonkey]

21TonyK said:

Anyone recommend particular cover for the Kamado mini?

From the FB group

https://www.diy.com/departments/pe-kettle-barbecue...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01M2XJP66?ref=ppx_pop...

[FMR]

Is the lid meant to stay open when you open the kamado? Mine is not stable to have it stay open and have both hands free.

[Taita]

FMR said:

Is the lid meant to stay open when you open the kamado? Mine is not stable to have it stay open and have both hands free.

On the big one, yes absolutely. Should sit far enough back no problems.