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Ken Cooper

Konnected Joe: Automatic and Classic Cooking Modes Explained.





If you’ve read our three part blog series exploring the world of Kamado Joe’s, you would’ve learnt about each of which we have available via our online store or via our physical Outdoor Living showroom on the Essex and Cambridgeshire boarder.


We have it all, from the impressive and rather futuristic, Kamado Joe, Konnected Joe, a Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker, which I featured in my final Kamado inspired blog (which can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/t9zbj4z And the first two entries covering the Kamado Joe, Classic Joe and Big Joe can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/4nxvwasx And the Kamado Joe, Joe Jr at : https://tinyurl.com/eps82cj5)


By reading my blogs, I do hope you’ve been left feeling motivated and eager to get started but before you go ahead, let me introduce and explain to you about those all important cooking modes, which will make your Kamado Joe experience all the better.


When it comes to the Kamado Joe, Big Joe, Classic Joe and the Joe Jr, you have the freedom to explore a fully hands on, manual cooking experience but when it comes to the Konnected Joe, you’ll enter into a world where you have a barbecue purists dream, purely for the fact such is a hands on affair or enter within their own barbecue night, enjoying a relaxed, digital enabled experience but at the end of the day, the choice is yours and yours alone.


There’s no shame in getting one’s hands dirty and neither is there any need for embarrassment, especially if you feel like taking things a little easier by embracing the art of technology.


In this side blog, I’m going to give you a run down of what’s required when it comes to making the Classic (Manual) and the Automatic cooking modes possible as well as that all important Cool Down process once all the fun is over.


We’ll start by going old school, which is something I’m sure many of you barbecue purists would appreciate, this mode is simply known as the Classic (or Manual) Cook Mode, where you’ll be free to use your Konnected Joe just like any other Kamado Joe.


But when it comes to using the Automatic mode, you will be relying on the use of the Kontrol Board as well as the Konnected Joe's integrated Kontrol fan to control and regulate temperature.


You’ll also have the option of monitoring your cook via a graph on the LED screen of the Kontrol Board, as well as being able to monitor such via the Kamado Joe App, which I mentioned during my Konnected Joe blog.


But if you feel like being a little lazy and decide to use the AFS system to light your charcoal (we wont tell..) via either Automatic and Classic Cook Modes or perhaps you want to go primitive and use a manual fire lighter instead whilst bringing to life the Classic (Manual) Cook Mode. (We won’t judge either way…)


Let’s begin with..


The Classic (Manual) Mode


  1. First fill the firebox with lump charcoal and place one or two firelighters into a triangular formation, with such sat upright. (You’ll also be able to light the charcoal without using fire starters by pressing the AFS (Automatic Fire Starter) button to engage the heating element, which in turn will ignite the charcoal within your Konnected firebox. (Please note: The element is ON when the red light is glowing and will stay on for around 15 minutes but should you wish to go completely manual, press and hold the AFS button and the element will switch OFF.)

  2. Leave the ceramic dome of your Konnected open fully for 10 minutes with the bottom vent completely open.

  3. Once 10 minutes have passed, carefully close the ceramic dome using the heat proof handle which is found on the front of your Kamado Joe, Konnected grill.

  4. Once the dome temperature has reached within 10°C of your target temperature, begin closing BOTH top and bottom Kontrol vents.


Next we have the..


The Automatic Cook Mode


(Please note: When using the Automatic Mode, you will find that the first time you open the ceramic dome of your Kamado Joe, Konnected with the Kontrol Board turned ON, the Accessory Screen will appear and will await for you to select which Accessory you intend to use, this is something I’ve previously featured in the Konnected Joe blog but do not fret as you don’t have to use the Accessory mode, such will work perfectly fine without such a mode selected.)


  1. If you are filling your Konnected from new, then simply load such with lump charcoal as you would in manual mode WITHOUT firelighters (However, if you wish to use such after a previous cook, make sure there is no remaining ash in the Kamado’s firebox. This is simply because old ash can prevent the charcoal from igniting properly and will cause a delay in waiting to enjoy this fantastic grill. (Who wants to wait anyway?)

  2. Close the bottom vent fully. (Please Note: When using the grill in the Automatic cooking mode, you should have the bottom vent closed completely at ALL times.

  3. Close the dome of your Konnected carefully.

  4. Switch your grill ON via the power switch, which is located at the back of the unit. (Please Note: Make sure your Konnected grill is plugged in and switched ON at a mains power supply.)

  5. Now it’s time to power on that all important Kontrol Board at the front and prepare yourself for the excitement that awaits.

  6. Set the temperature on the Kontrol Board via the button/dial and position both Top and Bottom vents as instructed, paying careful attention to do exactly as told.

  7. Press the AFS (Automatic Fire Starter) button to engage the heat element, which in turn will ignite the lump charcoal.  (Please Note: When the red light is showing and glowing, the heat element is ON and will remain so for a duration of 15 minutes but if you decide to turn OFF the Heat element and go Manual, press and hold the AFS button until the red light goes out).


One of the huge benefits of choosing a Kamado Joe grill and smoker over any other barbecue or Kamado Style unit, is it’s ability to maintain heat, moisture as well as flavour exceptionally well and when it comes to the Konnected Joe, it really is no different to it’s predecessors.


It doesn’t matter whether you choose to use the Classic or the Automatic cooking modes, temperature is consistently maintained but when it comes to the Classic cooking mode, the process of maintaining Temperature is a little more hands on than it would be with Automatic cook mode.


When the time comes to maintain the temperature via the Classic cook mode, the temperature can be lowered by decreasing the airflow into the dome and the grill by closing both Top and Bottom vents. However if you wish to go ahead and raise the temperature of this ceramic beast, simply open the vents, which will then increase the airflow within the dome.


(Please Note: When it comes to adjusting the temperature via the vents, such will not be immediate and you’ll have to allow for a further 10 - 15 minutes for a vent adjustment to take full effect. However, if you are eager to get stuck in and start cooking, please be a little patient and allow your grill 20 - 40 minutes (roughly) to stabilise the internal temperature before you begin cooking, as you’ll want the heat to be throughout your grill).


Now it’s time to unleash the potential of cooking in the Automatic cook mode but if you do decide to do so (as before) please remember to keep the Bottom vent closed at ALL times. Completely.


Simply adjust your Top vent as described via the Kontrol Board and your Konnected Joe will automatically maintain the set temperature all via the aid of the Kontrol Fan, which is located deep within your those wonderfully thick ceramics and will take all the guess work away from you.


It’s IMPORTANT that you should know and be aware that Heat deflectors should NOT be be installed when it comes to maintaining temperatures above 205°C BUT if you wish to maintain temperatures below ONLY 205°C, in either Automatic or Classic Cook Mode, it is best to cook with Heat deflectors in place.


The party is finally over, lots of fun has been had and plenty of great , mouthwatering food has been consumed and now is the time we cool down those fantastic culinary beasts, allowing them to rest before our next great cooking adventure.


Whilst the cool down for both Automatic and Classic are for the most part quite similar, there is one extra step when it comes to cooling down your Konnected Joe in the Automatic Cook Mode but fret not, as I’ll explain all below.

(Aren’t I good to you all?)


If you’ve proceeded to do ALL the cooking in the Classic Cook Mode, going truly old school, it’s now time for you to close the Bottom vent completely (restricting airflow to your Kamado Joe grill) and once the entire temperature of your Konnected Joe has fallen below 205°C), you’ll be able follow such up by closing the Top vent. (Which will completely starve the unit of oxygen.)


(Please Note: Please, PLEASE Do NOT cover the grill until the dome is cool to touch.)


But when it comes to cooling down your Konnected Joe if you’ve decided to go ahead and use the Automatic Cook Mode, simply switch off the Kontrol Board and then power OFF the grill by using the switch located at the back of ceramic unit. (You can leave such plugged in when turned OFF but we highly advise you unplug such to avoid any mishaps.)


The rest of the process is really quite simple and follows a similar routine as above, ensuring the Bottom vent is closed entirely as it would’ve been during the entirety of your cook if you followed the above instructions properly and like before, once the temperature of your Konnected Joe has fallen below 205°C, continue to close the Top vent.


(Please Note, once again: Do NOT cover the Kamado grill until the dome is cool to touch.)


And there we have it dear readers, a guide to memorable and mouthwatering cooking modes, where you’ll get to experience Kamado cooking in a way that only Kamado Joe knows how but best of all, you’ll now know where the magic of the Konnected Joe comes from and why as a Digital Charcoal Smoker and Grill may not be what you were originally looking for but be you seasoned barbecue purist or an early grill beginner, the Kamado Joe, Konnected Joe is definitely the right Kamado Joe for you.


Now go forth and try both cooking methods, find what works best for you and go on to experience a whole new world of culinary delights.


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