Today, we’re doing our Kamado Joe SloRoller review.
We picked one up a few weeks back for our Kamado Joe Series I cooker and have used it several times. I had been looking at this one for a while and decided to make the leap.
So, upfront, what do we think? Yes, it’s worth the price, and you need one!
So keep reading our Kamado Joe SloRoller review and get the details.
Kamado Joe SloRoller Review
The Kamado Joe SloRoller resulted from a 2015 Harvard engineering class project tasked with creating the perfect brisket. From there, the students formed a company, Desora, and partnered with Kamado Joe.
I’m not going into the science behind the Kamado Joe SloRoller. However, it is interesting to read how the engineering students approached the problem and modeled the solution. If you’re interested, here are a few of the links, How a Harvard class project changed barbecue, Using science to create the perfect brisket, and Engineering students build a better barbecue smoker, impress experts, and lastly, Harvard engineering students devise ultimate BBQ smoker.
We picked up our Kamado Joe SloRoller on Amazon. As of the time I am writing this blog post, there are close to 250 customer reviews globally, averaging 4.5 out of 5 stars. Check the Amazon reviews and current price here.
The Kamado Joe SloRoller accessory is an insert that sits on top of the Kamado Joe firebox. The SloRoller will fit nearly any egg-shaped cooker, such as the Big Green Egg and the Char-Griller Akorn.
It fits perfectly into our Kamado Joe Classic Series I.
Kamado Joe says the SloRoller hyperbolic smoke chamber insert is engineered for low-and-slow cooks, provides up to 20 times more smoke circulation, and reduces hot spots for even heat distribution.
What’s in the Box
The SloRoller, out of the box, had four pieces well protected by a big block of Styrofoam. They should move towards more environmentally friendly packing material.
You get the three-piece SloRoller hyperbolic insert.
You get the Flexible Cooking Rack, or FCR, shown on the single instructions page with the SloRoller.
There are four notched areas where the flexible cooking rack fits on top of the SloRoller base.
There is no cooking grate included. My Kamado Joe Classic Series I grate fits perfectly.
The grate sits higher in the Kamado Joe Classic Series I, which reduces the size of the available cooking space. It also sits closer to the Kamado Joe dome thermometer for more accurate temperature measurements.
Kamado Joe SloRoller, First Use
Our first cook was baby back ribs with cherry smoking wood. Check out our recipe here.
They were perfectly done and smoked, at least in my opinion.
Kamado Joe SloRoller, Second Cook
Salmon was on sale down at the local grocer. I love smoked salmon. This is our smoked salmon recipe.
It also came out perfectly cooked and smoked with cherry smoking wood.
So What’s Next
Well, I think the next cook will be smoking a Boston butt to make some delicious pulled pork.
It’s been a busy summer and fall, and we haven’t had as much backyard grilling time as we would like. Sure, there have been plenty of hamburgers, brats, and other easy-to-make meals.
So the next time they go on sale, I’ll pick one up.
A few hours later …
Kamado Joe SloRoller, Overall Thoughts
Would I purchase this again? Yes!
After several cooks, I can taste the difference. Is the science behind the Kamado Joe hyperbolic smoke chamber the reason for a better cook? I believe so.
Clean-up hasn’t been an issue. I have covered the top piece of the insert with aluminum foil to protect it from the drippings, which seems to have worked well. We’ll see how this method works when we make the pulled pork in the next few weekends.
Kamado Joe SloRoller Customer Comments
Check out some of the “verified purchase” Amazon reviewer comments.
Steve P gave five stars, saying, “Super even heat across the entire grate.”
Another reviewer, Edward Ramirez, also gave it five stars and said, “Used in my Char-Griller Akorn and I feel it’s upped my smoking game tremendously”
Doug said, in his 5-star review, it’s a “Must for KJ Owners.”
G-Man left 4-stars, saying it was a little expensive but worth it. This thing works for an even smoke. Don’t believe the naysayers.
I agree with them all. You need to try this one for yourself.
Other reviewers didn’t like the low heat limit, 500 °F / 260 °, which is printed on the box, the instructions, and the SloRoller itself.
Some reviewers thought that Amazon should show the grate in the image. The Kamado Joe SloRoller product image does show a grate, but there isn’t one in the box. You’ll need to use what you have. Amazon could do better here and clearly state that this does not come with a grate.
Many folks love this product; 86 percent of the reviewers left 4 or 5 stars, while 8 percent left a1 or 2-star rating. There wasn’t much detail in most of the 1- or 2-star ratings, other than that they didn’t like the product.
Check out my other Kamado Joe and JoeTisserie recipes and links here on my Outdoor Eats page.
We picked up a UMAi charcuterie kit to try our hand at making some homemade DIY cured meats.