How do you control the temperature of your kamado BBQ?

You can easily control the temperature of your kamado barbecue. It's a piece of cake with the tips below.

1. Clean your BBQ in advance

2. Keep your kamado out of the wind

3. Use natural firelighters

4. Keep the lid closed as much as possible

More oxygen ensures that your barbecue will reach its temperature faster. So clean it well to ensure that ash doesn't obstruct the oxygen supply. Has your kamado been outside all winter? Sometimes, the lid is frozen and won't go up. To avoid damaging the lid seal, light some remaining coals through the lower air vent. The heat will melt the ice and you can open the kamado without problems.

When you barbecue in the winter, it's very important where you put your BBQ. The insulating wall of your kamado barbecue can't manage a harsh winter wind. That's why you should put it somewhere sheltered. Make sure it isn't too close to a fence or in another place where the heat can cause damage. Finally, make sure there's good lighting. In the winter months, it gets dark quickly and of course you want to see what you're doing.

In the winter, it takes longer for your barbecue to heat up, so take plenty of time. Start with more charcoal than you normally would and open the bottom air vent. Make a pit in your charcoal and put a few natural firelighters in it. Cover it with charcoal and light the blocks. When a lot of coals are burning, close the lid with the air slide on top open. The bottom slider will now draw in a lot of fresh oxygen, which'll raise the temperature faster.

Now that your ceramic BBQ is at the right temperature, so you want to keep it that way. The heat easily escapes during a winter barbecue, so make sure to keep the lid closed as much as possible. Use a meat thermometer to monitor to monitor the progress of your preparation. You can change the temperature via the air vents. Use the bottom air vent for big temperature changes and the top air vent for smaller changes. Open the vents halfway and make small adjustments to keep the temperature constant.