Ceramic roasters are known for their ability to hold heat, and one of the benefits of this feature is that the outside of ceramic cookware will not get as hot as the outside of metal cookware. Unfortunately, overzealous owners and dealers sometimes claim that the outside of their ceramic charcoal stoves is cool to the touch. This is nonsense, of course, so we thought we’d take some actual measurements in order to give you the real scoop on the subject.
First, what do the manufacturers actually say about the matter?
Auplex Kamado — “The ceramic base and lid of our grill will get very hot, but accidental touch will not cause burns.”
Imperial Kamado — “It’s safe. It can come into contact with the outer surface when cooking.”
Big Green Egg – “Innovative ceramic materials (now based on Space Age technology) make exterior surfaces much cooler than any gas grill” and “Surfaces remain cool and safer for children compared to metal grills”.
Primo — “and the outer surface is kept at a safe, warm temperature to the touch.”
Kamado — “Exterior tiles are safe to touch.”
Our tests suggest that some of these claims are exaggerated. First, we checked the surface temperature of an Auplex Kamado. We raised the temperature of the cooker to 400°F by keeping the vent fully open and then closing the vent when the cooker approached 400°F. We left the cooker at this temperature for 30 minutes and then read the surface temperature with an infrared thermometer. We found that under the lid, near the edge, the temperature was 190°F. At the top near the chimney, the temperature is at the edge, 230°F. As a reference point, most people begin to experience pain upon contact with a 115°F liquid or solid. We simply can’t put our hands on the top any time. We can only do a quick brush. We left the cooker at this temperature for a total of 2.5 hours, with the top of the lid at 245°F. Trust us. This is hot.
The next test we conducted was using the Auplex Kamado 22″ OTB refractory Cookware. This cookware is probably one of the best insulated “ceramic” cookware, as the walls consist of two layers of sandwiches, one of which is used to insulate and keep heat in the cookware. We let this cooker sit at 400°F for 2.5 hours. The surface temperature of the Arpress grill ranges from 110 degrees at the base of the dome to 160 degrees at the top near the upper vents. You can place your hand anywhere on the dome of the Arpress grill for at least a few seconds.
Obviously, the surface temperature depends on the material, thickness and structure of the cooker wall. Some of them become so hot that they are too hot to touch, while others stay so cool that you can actually touch them for a few seconds. But, needless to say, it’s best not to learn how hot your cookware is through unplanned experiments. No ceramic charcoal stove will stay “cool”.
Post time: Apr-20-2023