Reviewed by Valery Grin · · updated May 29, 2026
Char-Griller Akorn E16620
The full-size steel kamado at an honest price
From€276
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- Diameter
- 51 cm
- Diners
- 4-6
- Weight
- 43 kg
- Material
- Acero aislado de triple pared con interior porcelanizado
- Warranty
- 5 años limitada
Let's be clear: the Akorn isn't ceramic, it's insulated triple-wall steel with a cast-iron grate. The trade-off is less heat retention than dense ceramic; the reward is fast lighting, a wheeled cart and an unbeatable price.
It isn't ceramic and doesn't pretend to be: the cheapest way to cook kamado-style at full size, cart included.
Pros
- Insulated triple-wall steel: far better than a classic single-wall kettle
- Cast-iron grate as standard — proper grill marks from session one
- Cart with locking swivel casters and shelves included on this SKU
- Hits target temperature in about ten minutes, no ceramic-style wait
- Locking lid and indexed dual dampers for heat control
- Removable Easy Dump ash pan: quick post-session cleanup
Cons
- Not ceramic: heat retention noticeably lower than a ceramic kamado
- Steel struggles in strong wind and cold, burning more charcoal
- Lower temperature ceiling than ceramic — NY-style pizza, not Neapolitan
- Basic European spares network: in practice, third-party Amazon sellers
For you if…
Anyone who wants full-size kamado cooking without ceramic's price or weight: a frequently used garden, a first serious grill, or someone who moves the grill often. Lights in minutes and the wheeled cart comes factory-fitted.
Not for you if…
If your goal is stable 12-hour smokes or Neapolitan pizza at 450 °C, steel won't hold what dense ceramic holds. This calls for a real ceramic kamado like the Bono Media or The Bastard.
Specifications
- Diameter
- 51 cm
- Diners
- 4-6
- Weight
- 43 kg
- Material
- Acero aislado de triple pared con interior porcelanizado
- Temperature
- 90°C – 350°C
- Warranty
- 5 años limitada
- Includes
- , , , ,
As an Amazon Associate, mikamado.es earns from qualifying purchases. At no extra cost to you.
Essentials to get started
Big K Lumpwood charcoal 10 kg
Plain, effective lump charcoal: the steel Akorn performs just as well on simple fuel, no premium lump required.
€35
VANKEY Half-Moon Ceramic Heat Deflector (Kamado Joe Classic, single piece, 38×19×1.4 cm)
A universal half-moon deflector is the only "ceramic" accessory it truly needs for indirect smoking. No over-kitting.
€25
ThermoPro TP25 Bluetooth thermometer, 4 probes
A probe thermometer is key on a steel kamado: it reacts to airflow faster than ceramic, so close watching pays off.
€65
Onlyfire Universal Kamado Cover 30 inch
A cover is essential here: being steel, keeping it dry under cover is what prevents rust — its one weak spot.
€20
FAQ
Is the Char-Griller Akorn ceramic like a normal kamado?
No, and it matters: the Akorn is a triple-wall insulated steel kamado, not ceramic. It mimics the egg shape and airflow control, but the body is metal. That makes it far lighter and cheaper, and practically indestructible — it will not crack if knocked — at the cost of slightly less thermal inertia than a ceramic egg.
Does it hold steady temperature for smoking like a ceramic one?
Yes, surprisingly well: the triple-wall insulation holds 110-120 °C for hours, enough for ribs and chicken low-and-slow. The difference from ceramic is that it reacts faster to airflow changes — it cools and heats quicker — so it is slightly less forgiving on very long cooks, but nimbler for direct grilling.
What extra care does it need being steel?
The one weak spot versus ceramic is rust: keep it dry and under a cover, and check the base where damp ash collects. Do not expect the huge ceramic-accessory catalogue of a Kamado Joe — the Akorn is deliberately simpler — but it takes a universal deflector and pizza stone, and a good thermometer unlocks the rest.