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Ceramic, egg-shaped grills have an avid fan following thanks to their ability to give cooked foods a juicy and delicious smoky flavor. I’m very familiar with these cookers, so I was expecting a similar performance from the NewAge Platinum Outdoor Kitchen 22-Inch Kamado Grill, but was pleasantly surprised! The NewAge grill exceeded my expectations and has earned the honor of my family’s favorite smoker/grill. It more than rises to the level of models we tested previously for our lineup of the best charcoal grills.
NewAge is a relative newcomer to the outdoor kitchen industry, and its kamado grill can be used as a stand-alone product or paired with the company’s other high-end outdoor kitchen offerings. Either way, it’s a winner in my book. Ahead, find out what I liked the best about this ceramic cooker.
NewAge Outdoor Kitchen Platinum Kamado Grill: At a Glance
Overall rating: 4.8/5
Specs
- Cooking surface: 450 square inches
- Weight: 183 pounds
- Maximum temperature: 750 degrees Fahrenheit
- Minimum temperature: 250 degrees Fahrenheit
What We Like
- Straightforward assembly process
- Ample cooking surface space
- Searing, grilling, baking, roasting, and smoking
What We Didn’t Like
- High price point for casual grillers
Buy the NewAge Platinum kamado grill at:
Testing the NewAge Outdoor Kitchen Grill
I tested the NewAge Kamado grill over a 4-day holiday weekend. Assembly was straightforward; we just had to attach the top vent and the handle. The tools I needed were included. After that, it was just a matter of putting the ash bucket, charcoal chimney starter, and grates in place.
I followed the manufacturer’s cooking and cleaning suggestions, including performing a burn off, which is used to clean the grill if mold develops. Of course, the grill I tested was new, so it had no mold, but I wanted to see how the procedure worked.
In addition, I tested every feature the grill offers, including standard searing and grilling, baking, roasting, and smoking. After extensive testing, my family decided they liked the NewAge kamado even better than our Big Green Egg, and we like the Egg a whole lot.
The Design Difference: More Cooking Space
The NewAge kamado grill has 450 square inches of cooking surface, as opposed to the 250 square inches of the Kamado Joe, another recently tested grill. Having more space means being able to cook more food, which is essential if you want to entertain friends and family.
The high-quality NewAge grill also comes with some handy accessories, including a charcoal zone divider that allowed us to employ a smaller cooking area for when we had less food to cook and wanted to save on charcoal.
My favorite feature—hands down—was the ash bucket system, which is much more convenient and cleaner than the ash systems I’m familiar with on other grills. It’s a game changer. Some other design perks include stainless vents and a durable cart with large caster wheels for easy relocation. At 183 pounds, this big boy needs good wheels!
Cooking Performance: Setting a High Bar
We cooked and cooked until we ran out of ideas! We made batches of brats, corn on the cob, and a 12-hour smoke of two pork butts that turned out phenomenal. Really, there’s nothing quite like the smoky flavor that develops from slow roasting in a smoker—the meat was so tender and delicious.
My family has already requested that I make burgers on the NewAge—one of the few things I didn’t cook up during the test phase—and I can’t wait to see how they turn out.
All About the Extras
As of this writing, the NewAge kamado grill is priced fairly consistently with fellow high-end grills like a classic Big Green Egg or Kamado Joe.
While all three grills will make grilled, roasted, and smoked food taste better, the NewAge outdoor grill has more quality bells and whistles, like the great stand and the advanced ash system. And we really appreciate the extra surface cooking space.
Product Comparisons
| NewAge | Kamado Joe See our review | Big Green Egg See our review | Weber Summit | |
| Price | $1,299.99 | $1,199 | $1,099.99 | $1,249 |
| Cooking space | 450 square inches | 250 square inches | 262 square inches | 452 square inches |
| Heat range (degrees Fahrenheit) | 225 to 750 | 225 to 750 | 150 to 750 | 150 to 600 |
So, is the NewAge kamado grill right for you?
If you’re in the market for a high-quality, spacious grill that can handle several cooking tasks, including smoking, the NewAge Kamado grill will not disappoint. In an informal Kamado grill comparison, I liked its design better than my Big Green Egg, and it has well-designed features that make cooking with a ceramic egg-shaped cooker easier and more convenient.
However, if you’re only a casual griller, the price tag might be more than you’re prepared to pay. If that’s the case, check out our tested grill guide to find several lower-priced models for various outdoor cooking needs.
After a long weekend of testing this durable Kamado grill, I’m a convert! This grill is an investment in good food and outdoor entertaining.
Buy the NewAge Platinum kamado grill at:
Meet the Tester
Corey Foster is the director of commerce account management at Recurrent Ventures. He holds an FAA sUAS drone pilot’s license, and in his free time, he tests power tools, construction and energy equipment, and around-the-house products for BobVila.com.