The grill was delivered quickly and on time to my patio out back by the logistics folks. It arrives on a large pallet. First things first, I inspected the packaging for any damage as other reviews I saw had some issues with that. Thankfully, everything was in tact and undamaged. Assembly: Unpacking it took a while, just due to the sheer size. LOTS of Styrofoam!! I ended up putting the large outside box back on the pallet and just filled it with all the packaging. First things first, I assembled the stand. Not too bad at all. From there I ended up having to lift the grill by myself onto the nest. The bottom vent provided a handy handhold - but I would recommend getting at least another person if you're lifting it up. I'm in decent shape but the process would've been MUCH easier with a little help! These grills are HEAVY! Getting the bottom ceramic plates assembled was a bit tricky - but I eventually got them all in there. Note, I've had them fall out from the ring attachment here and there, so I've had to re-assemble them a few times. From there it was just putting everything else on, the side shelves, the Slo-Roller, the x-ring attachment, deflector plates, and grill grates. The directions were very clear and concise. Initial burn: I also purchased some Kamado Joe lump charcoal as well as their fire starters. I filled the charcoal basket, fired it up, and just let it burn for a while. I did this to burn off any dust/lingering Styrofoam/manufacturing residue. Easy peasy! First cook: I had watched a hefty amount of YouTube videos leading up to my decision to buy this beast. It seemed to be pretty easy to use and control the temps. I did futz around with the vents a lot, but that was mostly just out of anxiety, worrying I was going to ruin my beautiful meat!! I ended up doing a pork shoulder and following a recipe and game plan from Smoking Dad BBQ (HIGHLY recommend this YT channel if you have a KJ or are considering one). Dry brined the pork with a rub the night before, then the day of the cook, followed his instructions. A big thing to keep in mind when cooking on the KJ is to be very patient and deliberate when building the fire. You need to wait for the ceramics to heat up and the dome to get heat soaked. This is super important as this grill is incredibly efficient and it helps you ensure you've got the right temps. Even though I messed with the vents a lot the temperature stayed very consistent. Long story short, the pork turned out great, but I didn't put in enough charcoal so I ended up having to transfer the pork to my oven for the final hour of the cook. Either way, my family was very happy with the results! Great bark, first smoke ring I've ever achieved while grilling/smoking anything, and phenomenal flavor. It really does make a difference! Maintenance: I haven't really had to give this one much thought so far as it's basically cleaned itself. You can crank up the temps and burn most of the grease and other residue off after you're done cooking. I imagine I'll have to clean and de-grease my Slo-Roller soon as I've had some drippings come down on the outer ring. Haven't had any issues yet. That's one of the reasons I went with the KJ over like a Traeger to be honest - even though there's more of a learning curve, long-term the maintenance aspect is just so much easier with a charcoal grill. Final thoughts: I love this thing. It's a jack of all trades. I'm still learning, still experimenting. Fuel management is a big thing for me right now. It's a constant give and take trying to figure out the perfect amount of charcoal to throw in for whatever I'm cooking. We've done whole chicken, ribs, chicken wings, and another pork shoulder, all have turned out amazing. Brisket is on the list but it's also pretty intimidating!! Keep in mind that this does have a learning curve but it isn't as bad as you might think. Just do your research, watch lots of videos, and experiment on your own. Extra thoughts: I would highly recommend getting a Meater thermometer - this really takes the guesswork out of the cooking. I'd say it's a must for any grilling and smoking regardless of the type of cooker you get. Also get lots of tin foil, the foil boat method is a keeper. I also ended up getting one of those grill guns. They're super fun to use, a little scary, but they make starting the fire insanely easy. Which was really the biggest rub for my first couple cooks, lighting the charcoal could be a PITA and required a lot of babysitting. Buy good meat, take your time, and plan your cooks, and you will be loving your KJ as much as I love mine.
