Today we're taking a deep dive into the Huntsman.
Is it a kettle or is it a kamado? Is this a grill with an identity crisis or has Spider Grills given us the best of both worlds?
Is The Huntsman a Kettle Grill?
Does it use charcoal as fuel? Yes.
Is it spherical in shape? Yes.
Does it have a rounded lid that reflects the heat back down onto the food? Yes.
Does it have top and bottom vents to control airflow? Yes.
The Huntsman is in fact a kettle grill. However, that's like saying that the Taj Mahal is a building. It is by definition; but it's so much more.
Main Similarities between The Huntsman and kettle grills:
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Is The Huntsman a Kamado Grill?
Most people think of ceramic egg-shaped grills when they think of a kamado. However, we learned in our last kamado roundup that Kamado style grills are not limited to only ceramic. The Blaze Aluminum and the Everdure 4K both broke the ceramic mold and yet are both considered kamados. So is The Huntsman a kamado grill? Well, that's a little complicated. Let's look at some of the characteristics of kamado style grills to decide.
Heat Retention
Because of their (often ceramic) super thick walls, kamado grills are known for their superb heat retention. They can take a little longer to heat up, but once they do, they are excellent at maintaining heat.
Fuel Efficiency
Because of their advanced insulation, kamado style grills can run longer on less charcoal. Also, once a cook is complete you have the capability of closing down all the vents to extinguish the fire and preserve any remaining fuel to be used again in the next cook.
Durability
Kamado grills typically come with a higher price tag, but they're built with heavy duty materials that will stand the test of time. With proper maintenance, occasional replacement of the gasket, and protection from a strong gust of wind knocking it off your patio, kamado grills will last a lifetime.
While The Huntsman maintains heat and is significantly more efficient than a kettle, it was not quite as efficient as a kamado. As far as durability is concerned, I have no doubt the grill itself will last forever; it's got 5mm Carbon Steel walls. However my favorite feature of The Huntsman is most likely the very "weakness" that will retire this grill sooner than a kamado.
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Charcoal Grilling With Technology
If there's one thing that really differentiates this grill from both a kettle and a kamado, it's the digital controller that comes in the box.
Sure, you can add a fan controller to a kamado, but it's almost always a third party controller fan, and I have problems eliminating extra air getting in while using many of them.
You can also use a controller fan in a kettle grill, but most of them require drilling into the kettle, and I don't know about you, but I don't like making new holes in my grills.
The Huntsman uses the Venom temperature controller and it fits tight to the bottom of the grill.
The Venom Controller
The Venom Controller was originally designed to be an add-on product to accompany a 22" Weber® Kettle Grill. It offers PID temperature control and a built-in fan to manage your charcoal fire and temperatures.
With The Huntsman, the Venom Controller is built right into the grill from the get go. I love that there's an oven grade gasket that surrounds everywhere that comes in contact with the Spider Huntsman to keep it well-sealed.
The range of the temperature controller is 150°-700° and it includes 2 wired meat probes to monitor internal temperatures of your food while it's on the grill.
We cooked with this grill in the below freezing temperatures of January and February in Indiana, and let me just say that digitally controlled grills are my favorite grills to test during the winter months.
We cooked low and slow by setting up an indirect two zone fire and made some Pork Protocol pork belly burnt ends. The pork went straight on the grill grate opposite where we built the fire, and we set the grill temperature to 275°... from inside the house.
The Huntsman grill did all the heavy lifting during that cook while I stayed nice and warm inside. I didn't have to make any manual adjustments and the Venom controller kept the temperature steady the entire time.
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The Spider Grills App
I found the app really user friendly and I was a big fan of the pause feature that I could engage whenever I opened the grill to work with my food. That kept the fan from kicking up my fire thinking the grill was losing heat. The pause feature was easy to engage and very effective.
Direct vs. Indirect Cooking
Low and slow smoking is something that the Huntsman can do out of the box as long as you set it up for indirect cooking. However, Spider Grills has recently launched their Next Level Lower Cooking Surface Kit that adds a second level with 2 half moon ceramic deflector plate system.
Direct high heat searing is a no-brainer with this grill. The distance from the cooking grates to the coals is minimal compared to a kamado.
Things we love about The Huntsman kettle kamado grill
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Things we don't love about The Huntsman Kettle Kamado
Our Spider Grills Huntsman Review
If you're in the market for either a kettle grill or a kamado grill, I would give The Huntsman a serious look. It's more than a kettle, and can run with many of the kamados we've tested here at The Barbecue Lab.
Its innovative design bridges the gap between traditional kettle grills and high-end kamados, offering excellent heat retention and fuel efficiency. If you're looking for a new grill that can handle a wide range of outdoor cooking styles while also being heavy duty and easy to manage, the Huntsman is definitely worth considering.
The ease of use paired with all the benefits of cooking with charcoal make this grill a versatile option for backyard cooks who want ease and flexibility without sacrificing performance or flavor.
You can save 10% on your new grill purchase if you use the code LAB10 when you checkout.
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