This grill has a front shelf where you can place plates and condiments and a lower shelf for supplies, and it’s mounted on wheels that make it easier to move.
If your favorite recipes require on-the-fly adjustments, like changing the grate height and temperature, find a charcoal grill with the features to accommodate. Next, we light each grill’s snake at one end of the chain with five lit briquettes (tumbleweed fire starters work, too). We set all air vents on each grill (top and bottom) to the halfway-open position. Lastly, we place one rack of ribs on each grill for indirect cooking, with the meat not sitting directly above the coals. Simple construction means there aren’t too many parts to assemble or too many features to handle while cooking. A vent on the lid controls airflow and a well-designed ash tray beneath the Weber grill facilitates easy cleanup.
Toss in some wood chunks and smoke ribs low and slow on the opposite side over smokey, indirect heat. In addition to the enhanced performance for low-and-slow smoking, Slow ‘N Sear creates a super sear weber gas grill zone when filled with red hot charcoal. If the burners are deprived of oxygen, the flame goes out, but the gas fuel keeps coming, building up under the hood and creating a serious fire hazard.
However, for about $200, we think a lot grillers will be happy with the Weber Original 22-Inch Kettle Grill. For five or more people, look for a grill with at least 550 square inches of cooking area. For one or two people, look for weber charcoal grill a grill with approximately 200 square inches of cooking area. It also has a rail system, letting users raise and lower its coal basket at nine different heights, and adjustable tripod legs to level it out on uneven surfaces.
If you want a family-sized charcoal grill that’s about $200 and that can cook anything and will last forever, the Weber Original 22-Inch Kettle Grill is it. When George Stephen, Sr. introduced the Weber Kettle in 1952, he set America’s backyards on fire (in a good way). Today’s design is not far from the original, and it’s by far the most popular backyard grill in the world. We have several recommendations for charcoal grills, at a host of price points.
A small gas grill usually costs between $500 and $1,000; a medium costs between $1,000 and $2,400; a large costs between $2,400 and $3,800. A small charcoal grill usually costs between $90 and $400; a medium costs between $400 and $1,200; a large costs between $1,200 and $2,300. For a family of four, look for a grill with approximately 400 to 500 square inches of cooking area. When summer rolls around, there’s nothing like a delicious barbecued meal.
The opposite is true of charcoal grills, which function best as sealed systems with solid, tight construction for effective air control. Just as with gas, the charcoal fire needs oxygen to burn, and you can use this oxygen flow to your advantage. Shut down the air dampers to drop the cooking temp or snuff the charcoal out entirely when finished. Open them wide to flood the fire with oxygen and create a rip-roaring, red-hot coal bed. If you’re a frequent tailgater or camper and need a grill you can easily take with you, Weber has you covered.
Charcoal grills can be intimidating initially, as they’re more complicated to operate than gas-powered grills. But once you get the hang of cooking with charcoal, you’ll probably fall in love with the smoky flavor and tender texture it creates. Don’t get carried away with obsessing over the most feature-heavy charcoal grill—consider what and how you’ll cook, and take it from there.
With 250 square inches of cooking space and a side drawer, this Patio Pro charcoal grill from Char-Griller is perfect for everyday use on your deck or patio. The wheels make it easy to move around and it has a wood handle that stays cool even while cooking. “This grill is a good size for two to five people and it will easily handle eight burgers.
There are two side tables where you can keep plates, tools, and condiments within reach. Brad has thoroughly tested many of the grills we recommend, using his personal experience and brand familiarity to carefully vet grills we haven’t had the chance to test yet. All of these grills work well in a backyard or garage, but those looking for travel options should skew toward our lighter picks.