It's time to take your searing skills to the next level! But how will you achieve this, yet the accessories in your Kamado grill limit you?
Today I will be talking about two of the most popular kamado joe accessories you can use for those amazing recipes you have kept at the back of your mind.
So, which will you go for between Kamado Joe soapstone vs cast iron? Or will you take both?
Let's see each of these accessories in detail and how they compare to help you make a well-informed choice.
Table of Contents
Kamado Joe Soapstone Review
Can you cook flaky fish in your Kamado Joe? Yes, you can!
With soapstone inserted into your grill, you can cook various foods like delicate fish, ribeye, fresh vegetables, smash burgers, pizza, scallops, etc.
Let's look at the features of this piece of stone in detail:
Non-porous surface
Looking at the soapstone cookware, you will quickly note its smooth surface, but this is not all.
The soapstone cookware has a non-porous construction, meaning that it doesn't absorb food juices.
A non-porous soapstone surface ensures that food has retained its flavor. Also, there will be no cross-contamination on your current cook from previous content.
Even-heat distribution
The soapstone grill stone has a high heat retention capability. As if this is not enough, this stone distributes heat evenly to ensure food is perfectly cooked.
Therefore, you will protect your food from flare-ups, being burnt, or having uncooked parts.
Perfect for searing
The kamado joe soapstone can tolerate very high temperatures. Although it takes a bit of time to get to high temperatures, when it does, it retains the temperature to suit whichever recipe you have.
In addition, the smooth service of this stone makes it suitable for searing since food won't stick at high temperatures.
Ease of use
It's effortless to install this pizza stone in your classic Joe; just place it on your grill and cook those chili recipes! Also, you can place the stone on the cooking rack for better support when cooking a heavier meal.
Kamado Joe Soapstone Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Kamado Joe Cast Iron Grate Review
Other accessories made by Kamado Joe include a two-sided griddle and a cast iron grate.
The cast-iron cooking grate is made from tough and durable materials to withstand the radiant heat in your grill. Also, this grate will retain a sizeable amount of heat to ensure meals are cooked faster and evenly.
On the other hand, cast iron rust when in its natural form due to its composition. However, the kamado joe cast iron has a porcelain enamel coat to prevent rusting. Thus, with proper maintenance, the grate can last long.
Let's now see the unique features of the cast iron grate in deeper detail:
Grill marks
You can count on a cast iron grate if you love grill marks on your food. These marks represent your grate's heat retention capability, which leads to perfectly cooked food with a heartier flavor.
Weight
The cast iron grate is lighter than the pizza stone we earlier spoke about. However, if you compare the weight of a cast-iron grate and that of a stainless steel grate, you will note that the cast iron grate is the heavier one of the two.
Appearance
The kamado joe half moon cast iron has a black enameled surface and thus blends easily with most grill types.
Price
Kamado Joe Cast Iron Grate Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Comparing Kamado Joe Soapstone for BBQ and Cast Iron
Soapstone | Cast Iron |
|---|---|
 |  |
High heat retention | Medium heat retention |
It takes longer to heat up | It takes a lesser period of time to heat up |
Smooth cooking surface | Grill marks on food |
Non-porous | Porous |
Will not decompose or rust | Rusts over time |
Heavy | Lighter than soapstone |
Compatible with Joe grills (Classic Joe I, II & III) | It can be used with the Classic Joe series, Big Green Egg (Large), and other round eighteen-inch charcoal grills |
FAQs
1. What do you cook in classic Joe cast iron griddles?
The classic Joe cast iron griddles have raised edges to contain butter, oil, or other ingredients. This feature makes this cookware perfect for making fried eggs, pancakes, French toast, toast paninis, grilled cheese sandwiches, and sausages.
Also, you can get creative using either the smooth or ribbed surface of this reversible griddle.
2. Can you use a Canadian soapstone slab for baking?
Yes, you can use soapstone for baking your food. When baking on soapstone, you are sure that you won't scorch its surface.
3. How thick is Classic Joe soapstone?
This stone is 0.75 inches deep with a total weight of 10.5 pounds.
4. How do I store my cast iron grates?
If you are not grilling on your Classic Joe for a while, you can store the cast iron grates in a warm, dry place or on the shelf of your JJ George kamado joe jr table.
5. Why did my pizza stone crack?
Some of the reasons that can make a pizza stone crack include:
● Placing the cold stone into a hot grill or oven.
● Storing the stone in a wet place.
● Placing freezer meals (which causes thermal shock) on the stone.
Other reasons that will cause your pizza stone to break include removing the rock too soon from the grill after cooking or using it at a very high air temperature.
Conclusion
In the above guide on kamado joe soapstone vs cast iron, we have looked deeply at the features of the two cookwares and their comparisons.
Therefore, I believe that you will be able to choose the one that matches your recipes and budget easily.