Let's Talk BBQ
Outdoor Cooking Equipment => Grills & Smokers => Kamado Style Cookers => Topic started by: HighOnSmoke on February 24, 2023, 07:13:20 PM
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Before I moved to Florida I sold my Akorn Kamado to my neighbor. Once we got settled in down here I regretted my decision about selling my Akorn. So, I started looking for a new one and stumbled across an Auto Akorn Kamado. It was priced right so I picked it up. Not too much of a learning curve. Main difference between the original and this one there is no bottom vent. There is an intake vent with a fan that blows in the air to keep the fire going. You control it by the top vent. When you start it up and set your temp it will tell you which number on the exhaust vent to set it for that temperature. I have found that during the initial start up and when the smoker is near the target temp I will turn the vent down 1/2 to 1 stop to maintain what I set. I have a bunch of photos of the Auto Akorn and just one of the game hens and some baked potatoes just prior to taking them off the smoker.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Auto-Akorn-Game-Hens/i-4Hx2p2w/0/55949be7/L/Auto%20Akorn-1-L.jpg) (https://michaelcoffman.smugmug.com/Auto-Akorn-Game-Hens/i-4Hx2p2w/A)
Intake Vent. When not in use the cover swings up and locks closed. Right below the fan is the access to the bowl on the Akorn
to empty the ash.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Auto-Akorn-Game-Hens/i-srL7hc7/0/eb92f571/L/Auto%20Akorn-2-L.jpg) (https://michaelcoffman.smugmug.com/Auto-Akorn-Game-Hens/i-srL7hc7/A)
My Kick Ash basket did not come with the Akorn.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Auto-Akorn-Game-Hens/i-HZrFN9j/0/8757f616/L/Auto%20Akorn-3-L.jpg) (https://michaelcoffman.smugmug.com/Auto-Akorn-Game-Hens/i-HZrFN9j/A)
New with this model is the stainless steel heat deflector. The only problem with it is the way it is rounded in the middle you
can't use a drip pan on top of it. I did purchase a regular Akorn heat deflector for when I do something that requires a drip pan.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Auto-Akorn-Game-Hens/i-QS4qjLn/0/33cd4f7b/L/Auto%20Akorn-4-L.jpg) (https://michaelcoffman.smugmug.com/Auto-Akorn-Game-Hens/i-QS4qjLn/A)
The standard Akorn cast iron grates.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Auto-Akorn-Game-Hens/i-fGzzkRX/0/ad36eca7/L/Auto%20Akorn-5-L.jpg) (https://michaelcoffman.smugmug.com/Auto-Akorn-Game-Hens/i-fGzzkRX/A)
The extra "grill grate". It does work great for side dishes.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Auto-Akorn-Game-Hens/i-R3ZP4Nf/0/447abc2a/L/Auto%20Akorn-6-L.jpg) (https://michaelcoffman.smugmug.com/Auto-Akorn-Game-Hens/i-R3ZP4Nf/A)
The controller showing D-2 for the top vent since my cooking temperature was set at 350. The controller has 2 probe ports for food.
It only comes with 1 probe, but I don't normally use any of my grills food ports as I trust my Thermo Works Smoke X4 more than
the grill food ports.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Auto-Akorn-Game-Hens/i-z9G8NLt/0/33c47738/L/Auto%20Akorn-7-L.jpg) (https://michaelcoffman.smugmug.com/Auto-Akorn-Game-Hens/i-z9G8NLt/A)
The exhaust with the 5 markings for setting your ideal temperature.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Auto-Akorn-Game-Hens/i-xwLzJR5/0/e90ae93d/L/Auto%20Akorn-8-L.jpg) (https://michaelcoffman.smugmug.com/Auto-Akorn-Game-Hens/i-xwLzJR5/A)
The game hens with baked potatoes.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Auto-Akorn-Game-Hens/i-Nxt2kMz/0/ac24addf/L/Auto%20Akorn-9-L.jpg) (https://michaelcoffman.smugmug.com/Auto-Akorn-Game-Hens/i-Nxt2kMz/A)
No plated photos tonight as everyone was ready to dig in and eat once the hens had about a 10 minute rest. Everyone commented on how juicy the hens were and the skin was perfectly crispy. My old Akorn was my chicken cooker for this exact reason.
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Nice looking set-up.
you can also order the ash catcher with the vent so if your power goes out or the unit acts up you can switch to the vented ash pan and keep right on cooking.
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Nice looking set-up.
you can also order the ash catcher with the vent so if your power goes out or the unit acts up you can switch to the vented ash pan and keep right on cooking.
Thanks Smoke! I use a Jackary 1000 watt power supply to power all my pellet grills and this one. I found it is better than having my whole outside grill area rewired since anytime I plug a grill into an outlet it blows the breaker. We believe it has something to do with the cheap wiring and panels they put in this home when it was built a couple years ago. We have changed the outlets to no avail. So the Jackary was an expensive alternative but works perfectly for what we need. Plus since it is portable I can take it on the road.
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Nice setup Mike. Hens look great.
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Nice kamado, nice cook. About how long did it take?
350° made crisp skin, love it. Was there a smoke or charcoal flavor?
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Nice kamado, nice cook. About how long did it take?
350° made crisp skin, love it. Was there a smoke or charcoal flavor?
Thanks! It took about 40 minutes at 350. Most definite smoke flavor. I used B&B lump charcoal with 1 chunk of cherry wood.
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Looking good Mike.
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Nice looking baby yard birds !!
BD
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Game hens sound good. Yours look great Mike!