OT-CharGriller Akorn Jr (long and lots of pics)-OT

cookingdude555

Thanks for the review. This looks like a great cooker. 

Austin Egghead

Now you have done it!  We were all set to order the Barrel Cooker for BILand sister's house warming gift, but after reading your review we may have to rethink our gift.

BTW nice cooks and beautiful dog.

SSQUAL612

I was going to post about the Weber Smokey Joe grid and I see that's what you picked up to replace the stock CI Grid.  I'm glad I picked up one of these cookers when they were $90 at Walmart.  The XL is great for big cooks, but most the time it's just 2 of us and this was a great investment.   I'm going to follow your recipe for the pork butt.   Thanks for posting. 

Carolina Q

@SSQUAL612, I also mentioned using a cheap terra cotta tray as an indirect piece. Don't do that. Mine only lasted a couple of cooks. CharGriller sells a platesetter for the Jr though.

Hope you like the butt!

DMW

Here's another option for a heat deflector:
https://www.amazon.com/BBQube-Deflector-Akorn-Kamado-Charcoal/dp/B071FPJCL3/

I haven't got one yet, but I think that's the direction I'll go. I wouldn't use it for high-temp pizza, but then again, I'm not planning to use my Akorn Jr. for high-temp pizza.

DMW

DMW said:

Here's another option for a heat deflector:
https://www.amazon.com/BBQube-Deflector-Akorn-Kamado-Charcoal/dp/B071FPJCL3/

I haven't got one yet, but I think that's the direction I'll go. I wouldn't use it for high-temp pizza, but then again, I'm not planning to use my Akorn Jr. for high-temp pizza.

Forgot to mention, @travisstrick has this for his Jr, and he says it works great for low and slow.

Carolina Q

Here's the one from CharGriller. Looks like the one on my large egg, but with no legs. $25  https://www.chargriller.com/grill-extras/jr-smokin-stone-6211

I'm using an 8 1/2" pizza stone resting on a steel rod that I bent into a triangle. Don't use it often, but so far so good.