Stack your charcoal briquettes in two rows of two deep along the inner wall of the grill. To find out which are the best bets for your next backyard barbecue.
Weber’s warranty coverage is quite impressive by charcoal grilling standards. Since it’s the same for both units, however, there’s no winner in this category. Assembling a charcoal grill is fairly straightforward. There are no gas lines or electrical components to deal with, and it’s generally easy to tell which parts go where. From its modest roots Weber grew to be an internationally recognized name in the grilling world. The company grew from a small band of devotees to a massive business, pushing the edge of food technology at a time when backyard cooking was a rapidly growing fad.
A minor complaint for sure, but I think it is an easy and obvious fix. According to Lilly, it’s always better to have a grill thermometer with numerical readings instead of indicators of “Smoke, Barbecue, Grill” so the exact temperature is clear. However, he noted that there are plenty of aftermarket grill thermometers available to swap out a substandard thermometer that a model might come with. There are many other standout features to keep in mind while comparing different charcoal grill models.
“Once the ceramic shell is heated up, it stays hot for a long period of time and gets the most out of a charcoal fire,” he said. The thickness of metal that the grill is made from is measured as the “gauge.” As the gauge number increases, the material thickness decreases and this makes comparing grills easy, explained Lilly. “Thicker metal makes for a longer lasting grill and better insulation,” he said. In the case of kettle models, we arrange coals in a semicircle around the grill’s inner wall.
Weber even supplies a simple plastic tool to help you attach the thermometer without digging out a wrench. All you need is a Phillips screwdriver to attach the side handles, and something dense to tap the end caps of portable bbq the wheel axle into place. One person can have the grill up and running within minutes of opening the box. The Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill 22″ is our pick as the best charcoal grill for most people.
It prepared a tender and juicy rack in just four hours, 30 minutes. In our chicken test it held a high temperature for longer than any other grill in the lineup. Our Griddle Plates for Weber Kettle Charcoal Grills are made from 7 gauge cold-rolled steel (3/16″ thick). These griddle plates allow you to use your grill as a griddle and add versatility to your outdoor cooking equipment. Char-Broil’s Grill2Go x200 is a super-portable, fun little sizzler made of heavy, rust-proof cast aluminum. Char-Broil’s TRU-Infrared design produces searing heat while reducing fuel consumption.
The authenticity of charcoal grilling started with the Original Kettle® Series grills, invented by Weber? His idea was that the rounded cooking bowl with a lid was the key to success. The ultra-durable, porcelain-enameled lid and bowl are uniquely designed to retain the charcoal’s heat, while dampers are easily adjusted for precise temperature control. It’s the grill made for everyone and loved around the world. The Smokey Mountain Cooker™ smoker has two cooking grates to smoke two large items at once or plenty of ribs.
For the low-and-slow, whole-grate test, we let the same batch of coals burn down to the white-ash stage with the lid open, which took about 20 minutes. We then reoiled the grates and distributed a whole cut-up chicken—two each of breasts, thighs, drumsticks, and wings—skin side down. Then we closed the lids for 45 minutes, occasionally checking for charring and redistributing the pieces as necessary (ideally, it wouldn’t be necessary at all).
Over the course of two days, we put three charcoal grills through a battery of tests. But those judgments would have to wait until we got our hands on the things. After weeks of research, reporting, and discussion, we settled on three charcoal grills to test. The most boring product on this list may be the most necessary. This one fits Weber Kettles 18.5″, 22.5″, and the 26.75″. Retailing at $165, this grill is well-priced considering the upgrades from the original.
Weber believes in the quality and craftsmanship of their grills, and offer the warranty to back it up. If you want a charcoal grill to last decades, then this is the brand for you. And with a lifetime warranty, you can worry less about rust or how it holds up to the elements. Gas-assisted charcoal grills are usually fueled by a small screw-on propane tank. “This allows you to fire up the charcoal with a quick twist of the knob as opposed to using a charcoal chimney or other lighting methods,” Lilly said.