Kamado Joe® Classic Joe™ Series III 18-inch Charcoal Grill & Smoker, Red, with Cart, Side Shelves, Grill Gripper, and Ash Tool, 3 Tier Cooking System, Stainless Steel Cooking Grates, Model KJ15040921

Why it's worth it

The Kamado Joe Classic III is a thick-walled 18-inch ceramic grill that runs from 225°F for all-day smoking up to 750°F for steak searing. Its three-tier grate system lets you cook two things at two temperatures at once.

Ceramic is what makes a kamado worth the money. The thick walls hold heat three to four times longer than standard 18-gauge steel, which cuts charcoal use by up to 30% and keeps temperatures stable through a long cook. According to America's Test Kitchen, the Classic III handles searing at 750°F and low-and-slow at 225°F. One grill covers pizza night, brisket Sunday, and burgers on a weeknight.

The three-tier Divide & Conquer system is the feature you'll use most. Half-moon grates sit at different heights, so you can sear on one side while vegetables cook gently on the other. The SlōRoller smoke chamber circulates smoke in rolling waves instead of letting it rush past the food, which is the difference between smoke flavor and just heat.

From our review of 6 patio furniture and grills, by Laura Cole, Lifestyle Editor

What we like

• +Ceramic is what makes a kamado worth the money
• +The three-tier Divide & Conquer system is the feature you'll use most
• +Owners who've come from gas grills or basic smokers describe this as the unit that made them take barbecue seriously
• +This is a commitment

What to know

• –The weight is not a small detail
• –Ceramic is fragile in a way steel isn't