Kalamazoo Shokunin Kamado User manual

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Shokunin Kamado Grill
USE AND CARE GUIDE

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Important Safety Warnings
This grill is FOR OUTDOOR USE ONLY. It is not to be used inside a garage, other building or any
type of enclosed area.
Do not use below overhead combustible surfaces.
Do not use on combustible decks or other surfaces.
WARNING: Failure to follow the information in this Use and Care Guide exactly may result in fire,
causing property damage, personal injury or death. Read and follow all warnings and instructions
before assembling and using the appliance.
WARNING: This grill is not intended to be installed in or on a boat or recreational vehicle.
IMPORTANT: Damage caused by a failure to heed the warnings or follow the
safety instructions and practices described in this Use and Care Guide is not
covered by the warranty.
WARNING: CARBON MONOXIDE HAZARD
Burning charcoal inside can kill you. It gives off toxic carbon monoxide fumes,
which have no odor and can cause death without adequate ventilation.
NEVER burn charcoal inside homes, vehicles or tents for any reason.
WARNING:
Do not store or use gasoline, propane cylinders or other flammable vapors or
liquids in the vicinity of this grill.
WARNING:
Surfaces of the grill may become hot during use. Use caution.

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Thank you for choosing Kalamazoo Outdoor
Gourmet cooking equipment.
Because of the high performance nature and
unique design of the Kalamazoo Shokunin
Kamado Grill, we recommend familiarizing
yourself with this book before using your
grill for the first time. Your Use and Care
Guide contains important safety information
as well as helpful guidance for successful
cooking experiences and care. Following the
guidance of this book will help ensure many
years of outdoor cooking enjoyment.
Should you ever have any questions about cooking
with or caring for your grill, we are here to help.
Contact Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet Customer
Service at:
+1.800.868.1699
or
[email protected]
Please have your model number and serial number
ready or include it in your email.
Model Number
FK-SHOK430-NAT
FK-SHOK430-PEN
Serial Number
This Use and Care Guide contains
important information necessary
for the proper assembly and safe
use of the grill.
Read and follow all warnings and
instructions before assembling and
using the grill.
Follow all warnings and
instructions when using the
grill.
Keep the Use and Care Guide for
future reference.
Version 10.29.2019

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Table of Contents
Safety Information 5
Anatomy of the Shokunin 9
Initial Setup 13
Operation and Lighting 17
Dimensions and Clearances 27
Product Care 31
Packing List 35
About Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet 39

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Safety Information

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Safe Operation
WARNING: When in use, portions of your grill get hot enough to cause severe burns.
Children and pets should never be left alone or unattended in the area where the grill is
being used. Never allow children to sit, stand or play on or around the grill.
IMPORTANT: Improper use or installation is dangerous. Because this grill produces intense
heat, the risk of accidents or potential injuries is increased. Extreme care must be taken.
Carefully follow all instructions, including the following:
To reduce the risk of fire, burns or other injury, read this Use and Care Guide thoroughly. Begin by ensuring
proper installation and servicing. Do not repair or replace any part of the grill yourself unless it is specifically
recommended in this Use and Care Guide. All other service must be carried out by a qualified technician.
Do not operate the grill under an unprotected combustible construction. Use only in a well-ventilated area.
The grill is for outdoor use only.
Do not use the grill in high winds.
The grill should never be used as a heater.
Only use the grill on a hard, level, non-combustible surface that is capable of safely supporting the grill’s weight.
Never allow children to operate the grill. Do not store items of interest to children in, on or around
the grill.
Do not leave the grill unattended when in use.
Do not move the grill while it is in use or hot.
When lighting the grill, always pay close attention to what you are doing.
Do not use lighter fluid or other accelerants to start the fire. Use only natural fire starters such as paraffin cubes.
Always use dry protective gloves when working with hot surfaces or cooking tools: moist or damp gloves
may cause steam burns. Never use a towel or bulky cloth in place of gloves. Do not let pot holders
touch hot portions of the grill or allow them to get near the open flame. Do not grill while wearing loose
clothing, scarves or flowing sleeves.
When the grill is hot, use protective gloves or tongs to adjust the air control vents. These areas can
become extremely hot and may cause severe burns.
Should a grease fire occur, do not attempt to extinguish with water. Close the lid until the fire is out.
Allow sufficient time after each use for the fire to die and ashes to cool completely before cleaning. Do not
remove ashes until the fire is fully extinguished and the grill is cool.
Be sure the grill is completely cool before using any aerosol cleaner on it or near it. The chemical used for
aerosol propellant could ignite in the presence of heat.
Do not heat unopened food containers in the grill. The build up of pressure resulting from the heat may
cause the container to burst.
Close all four control vents to extinguish the fire when finished cooking.
Do not cover the grill until it has completely cooled inside.

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Backdrafts
WARNING: Use caution to avoid a dangerous backdraft. A backdraft can occur in kamado-
style grills when a hot fire is deprived of oxygen and then the lid is opened. The sudden
inrush of oxygen can cause a massive eruption of flame as the oxygen reaches the heat of
the smothered fuel. This most commonly happens when the vents have been closed on a
hot fire, but it can happen at any time. To avoid backdraft, open the lid about one inch for
several seconds before opening it the rest of the way.
Shokunin Kamado Grill Location
This grill is for outdoor use only.
Do not place the grill where it is likely to be bumped into or inadvertently touched by passers by. The
exterior surfaces of the grill can become hot, particularly around the vents.
Minimum clearance between sides/back of unit and any combustible construction is 24 inches.
Never locate the grill in a building, breezeway, shed or other such enclosed areas.
The grill is not intended to be installed in or on a boat or recreational vehicle.
California Proposition 65 Warning:
The burning of charcoal and wood cooking fuel generates some by-products that
are on the list of substances which are known by the State of California to cause
cancer or reproductive harm. California law requires businesses to warn customers of
potential exposure to such substances. To minimize exposure to these substances,
always operate the grill according to this Use and Care Guide and ensure you
provide good ventilation.

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Anatomy of the Shokunin

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Anatomy of the Shokunin Kamado Grill
1. FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL (FSC) CERTIFIED IPE WOOD FRAME: The Shokunin frame is crafted
from beautiful and durable ipe wood. Natural variations in the wood mean that no two Shokunin Kamado
Grills are the same. The frame is available in two finishes: natural ipe, or treated with Penofin oil.
2. INSULATED STAINLESS STEEL BODY: The body and lid of the Shokunin are crafted from two layers of stainless
steel sandwiching two inches of glass fiber insulation, making the grill incredibly efficient at holding heat.
3. LID LIFT ASSIST: A robust spring pack and pivot mechanism assist you in lifting the lid, which weighs more
than 70 pounds on its own.
4. AIR CONTROL VENTS: There are four air control vents on the Shokunin Kamado Grill. Two are on the
body of the grill, and two are on the lid. The shutters are adjusted to control the intensity of the fire and
heat. They can also be used to snuff the fire after cooking. The unique crossflow ventilation system of the
Shokunin can be used to draw heat and smoke laterally across the food when cooking with an offset fire.
A. SUPPLY CONTROL VENTS: The supply control vents are located on the body of the grill below the fire
and above the ash pan. These supply air to the fire.
B. EXHAUST CONTROL VENTS: The exhaust control vents provide the primary temperature control by
limiting the amount of combustion.
5. ASH PAN: The ash pan sits at the bottom inside the body of the grill. We have simplified cleaning the
Shokunin by adding this lift-out ash pan.
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6. MAIN FIRE GRATE: The main fire grate occupies the lowest fire grate position. It is primarily used for
cooking “low and slow” at lower temperatures. The increased distance from the food encourages a more
gentle and uniform heat. The main fire grate can be left in position inside the grill even when using the
adjustable fire grates above it.
7. ADJUSTABLE FIRE GRATES: The adjustable fire grates can be used in two different positions above the
main fire grate. The lower of these two positions is the “middle” fire position. This height is ideal for
roasting at medium temperatures with an offset fire. The higher of the two positions is ideal for searing and
high-temperature grilling. This position places the fire in closest proximity to the food for the most intense
heat. The adjustable fire grates can both be placed at the same level inside the grill, or each can be placed
at a different height. The adjustable fire grates can also be used to hold a water pan or ceramic (cordierite)
heat diffuser above a fire that has been built on the main fire grate below.
8. FIRE GRATE FENCES: These small fences drop into slots in the fire grates to hold charcoal to one side.
9. COOKING GRATES: The two cooking grates are each 12 inches wide by 18 inches deep for 432 square inches
of cooking area combined. The heavy stainless steel grates hold ample heat for better cooking performance.
10. GRATE LIFTING TOOL: Use this tool to keep your hands clean while tilting up the grates.
11. LID GASKET: The lid gasket creates the air-tight seal that is very important to fine temperature control in
the Shokunin Kamado Grill. We recommend you routinely check the gasket for a quality seal. The gasket
can wear out over time. Replacement gaskets are available, and are easy to install.
12. OPTIONAL TOWEL HOOK: Clip the optional hook to any of the ipe wood rails for convenient access while
cooking. Use care to keep towels away from the air supply control vents (4B).
13. OPTIONAL TOOL TRAY: The optional tray also clips to the ipe wood frame rails to keep tongs, turners,
meat thermometers and other tools handy while cooking.
14. (NOT SHOWN) OPTIONAL SUNBRELLLA® COVER: The optional cover helps keep the grill clean and
provides protection from the elements. The cover is sewn from premium, breathable fabric so that it does
not trap moisture.
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Initial Setup

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Initial Setup
The Shokunin Kamado Grill arrives fully assembled. The ash pan, fire grates and grill grates simply need to be
placed in their positions inside the grill.
Remove all protective film and packing materials.
Wipe down and/or wash the interior of the grill and the internal parts with water and mild dish soap
before first use.
ASH PAN: Place the ash pan in the bottom of the body of the grill.
MAIN FIRE GRATE: Place the main fire grate on top of the lowest internal brackets so that it sits
above the ash pan. The main fire grate is only used in the lowest fire grate position, referred to as the
“barbecue position.”
ADJUSTABLE FIRE GRATES: If desired, place one or both of the adjustable fire grates in position on
the internal brackets above the main fire grate. The upper position is the “searing position,” and the
middle position is the “roasting position.”
COOKING GRATES: Place the cooking grates on the highest internal brackets. For right-handed
cooks, place the grill grates such that the diagonal cutouts angle from the front right corner to the rear
left corner. For left-handed cooks, flips them over so that the cutouts angle the other way.
Close the lid and inspect the seal all of the way around the grill.
Confirm smooth operation of all four air vents.
The optional tool shelf and towel hook rest on the cross members of the ipe wood frame, They are
sized to fit the front, sides or back of the frame. If placed on the sides, the shelves will not obstruct
the operation of the air vents, but they will somewhat obstruct your view of the air vents. Do not hang
towels in front of the air vents.
The optional Sunbrella® grill cover simply slides over the top of the grill with the logo facing forward.
If you have optional shelves and/or hooks, these can be taken off before covering. Or, simply
reposition them on the frame rails so that they point downward, allowing the cover to slide over them.
COOKING GRATES
ADJUSTABLE FIRE GRATE
IN “ROASTING POSITION”
MAIN FIRE GRATE IN
“BARBECUE POSITION”
ADJUSTABLE FIRE
GRATE IN “SEARING
POSITION”
ASH PAN
FIRE GRATE FENCE

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Operating Instructions

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Not Your Typical Kamado
The Shokunin Kamado Grill has a number of unique characteristics that make its use
different from more traditional designs. Most notably, the way you control temperature —
you may be surprised how small the vent openings can be set. Even experienced masters of
the kamado should review these operation instructions.
Configuring the Fire Grates
There are three levels at which you can build the fire. The main fire grate sits at the lowest position, and it can
remain in place during any cooking session, even if the fire is built on the adjustable fire grates in the levels
above.
There are three basic configurations of the fire grates for cooking:
1. LOWEST FIRE POSITION: Build your fire on the main fire grate, which is positioned in the lowest fire grate
position. This creates the most gentle heat inside the grill because the fire is further below the cooking
grates. This position is ideal for barbecue and smoking, and we refer to the fire in this position as “the
barbecue position.” With the fire in the lowest position, the adjustable fire grates can optionally be placed
in the middle or upper position and used to hold a water pan or cordierite heat diffuser above the fire.
2. MIDDLE FIRE POSITION: We refer to the fire in this position as “the roasting position.” Position the
adjustable fire grates in the central position and build your fire there. We use this position for roasting at
temperatures between 350°and 500°F. For roasting, the fire can be offset to the left or right. The food is
placed on the opposite side cooking grate so that it is offset from (not above) the fire.
3. HIGHEST FIRE POSITION: We refer to this as “the searing position” or “the grilling position,” depending
on how hot we allow the fire to get. Position the adjustable fire grates in the highest position and build
your fire there. This creates the most intense heat, ideal for foods that cook quickly, such as skirt steak,
asparagus and hamburgers. With an offset fire built at this position, the Shokunin Kamado Grill is ideal for
the “sear and slide” technique for making the perfect steak. Sear the steak(s) directly above the hot fire
built to one side of the grill, then move the steak(s) to the indirect side (where there is no fire below), close
the lid, and coast to the desired doneness. We flip and rearrange the steaks every 5 minutes during this
portion of the cook.
NOTE: Kalamazoo strongly recommends cooking with all-natural hardwood
lump charcoal rather than briquettes.