They’re usually positioned several inches above the cooking grate, and as a result they don’t accurately report its temperature. Consider getting an inexpensive infrared thermometer to gauge the temperature of your cooking surface. Grates come in a range of materials, and the differences in performance are small. These materials include plain cast iron, the more rust-resistant porcelain-coated cast iron, and stainless steel rods, which are sometimes as thick as a stick of chalk or even a thumb. The SmokeFire EX4 has a 20-pound pellet hopper, as well as a DC-powered engine designed to prevent auger jams. It can even walk you through the grilling process, letting you know when it’s time to flip food—a handy option for novice grillers.
Two aspects we didn’t like are the smaller hood can translate to too-high heat when kept closed, and the built-in thermometer was consistently inaccurate. You’ll want to make sure you have a second thermometer on-hand and be prepared for a small learning curve. Through Bread Pay�, we offer weber bbq easy and affordable financing options so you can pay for your purchase over time. Weber Smokey Joe 14-Inch Charcoal GrillThe Smokey Joe was disappointing. On paper, it’s a smaller version of the Classic Kettle, but in reality, the heat wasn’t there, yielding gray, unappealing food.
Its convenience factors — like one-handed setup and automatic lid lock — make this the ultimate on-the-go grill. This little two-burner grill puts a mean sear on steaks, chops, and burgers. It provides good heat control and can maintain a steady medium to medium-low for grilling chicken pieces with rendered skin and sticky glaze. Two-burner grills like our budget pick can save you a little space and a little money—as long as you are prepared to cook your food in smaller batches and don’t plan on much indirect cooking. The Weber Spirit II E-310 excelled at every test, producing the best hamburgers—deeply seared, evenly cooked—among all the grills we tested.
It performed on par with competitors in smoke flavor in our long-smoke tests. It left a nice char and browning in our short-smoke experiments. It didn’t fare as well in our searing tests, leaving burgers looking more pan-seared than grilled. The Performer also has Original’s top and bottom damper arrangement which allows for high-heat cooking and serves as an excellent smoker in low-heat applications.
Fresh air and a juicy grilled burger combine for pure warm-weather delight. For more from CES 2024, check out this pet robot that can play fetch with your dog and a GE barbecue smoker that you can use inside. And if you’ve had enough barbecue for one summer (not a thing, right?), the Summit transforms into a rotisserie when you lock in the included motorized spit. As a whole chicken rotates under the top-down broiler, it crisps and browns evenly while locking in glorious juices. Purchased a high-end grill from them, cheaper than I could find at any other retailer (by a lot). I noticed there was a mistake on the product listing, so I called them up to ask about it.
You do have to take the whole grate off to re-adjust your fuel though, one of the few downsides. When grilling time is over, this again has an advantage over older kettle grills. The ash is swept into the bottom catcher for easy disposal once it’s cooled, while everything else only needs a quick wipe-down. As you might know, starting a charcoal grill usually begins with simply getting the coals warmed up in a chimney starter. It comes with an auto-start gas ignition that consistently lit the coals for us.
However, we never attained good searing or grill marks at this lower temperature. It’s easy to clean, almost no setup is required, and it’s lighter than its gas counterparts. It’s a portable grill with full-size performance, thanks to its enamel cast iron grates and a single, circular burner that ensures even heating across the cooking area. It stood out in multiple tests for excellent heat retention and quick recovery time.