The lightweight ash collection tray facilitates easy cleanup, while the rest of the grill takes no more than a brush and wipe down. The Classic is easy for one person to assemble, taking less than 30 minutes to complete. The front vent and chimney stack allows easy airflow adjustment to control the temperature. Our first round weber portable grill of tests showed it came up to a searing temperature in a reasonable amount of time and left good grill marks with few flareups. The 26-inch Original Kettle® Premium is the charcoal grill you want at your next party. It’s large enough to grill an entire dinner during the week, or a bunch of burgers at your next barbecue.
The fire and heat from the newspaper ignite the bottom coals, and then the fire builds up. We don’t recommend this grill for beginners, because the proximity of the charcoal grate to the cooking weber charcoal grill grate makes searing tricky without a strong knowledge of zone cooking. But with four separate dampers to control the heat, it’s a luxe option for those looking to up their grilling game.
They’re simpler to use and master, and have a wider temperature range, making them ideal for smoking, moderately hot cooking, and ripping hot searing. But even within the category of charcoal grills, the price varies widely. We performed a variety of tests on popular models, including smoking baby back ribs and cooking T-bone steaks, to determine which charcoal grills hit the mark in five key categories. With more than 800 square inches of cooking space, a stainless steel smokestack, and a heavy-duty matte-black body, the Char-Griller Classic will make you feel like a true grillmaster at your next cookout. Under the lid it looks more like a gas grill than a charcoal grill thanks to 549 square inches of porcelain-coated cast-iron grates plus a secondary steel rack for warming or indirect cooking. This grill has enough room for a three-zone charcoal fire—and a handful of beer-can chickens, multiple racks of ribs, or (at least) 20 burgers.
While smokers reward patient cooking, the flavorful meals are well worth the wait. Look for options with built-in lid thermometers and silicone temperature grommets to help ensure your meats are cooked properly from start to finish. The limited-edition 70th Anniversary Kettle is a high-quality Weber kettle you’ve come to expect combined with nostalgic and modern features. Nods to different eras of Weber’s history can be found throughout its thoughtfully detailed exterior. Hand-enameled in Rock N Roll Blue, this grill is reminiscent of the look popular among 1950s-era rock stars. Other retro features include a solid bottom utility tray for storage, a ’50s hood-ornament themed lid thermometer, white-walled wheels, and wood-like nylon handles.
We then cut the steak open and observed its level of doneness and overall appearance in color, grill marks, and caramelization. Closing out the first phase, we then cleaned the grills and noted the ease of cleaning and any special considerations from the manufacturer for cleaning. We weren’t fans of this grill while assembling it, as the instructions weren’t clear enough. But, it wasn’t difficult, either, and the lid was surprisingly lighter than one would expect for such a large, heavy grill. The grill also heats quickly and evenly for its size, which redeems its difficult setup. It was ready for food in 15 minutes when adding lit coals from a chimney and longer, as is expected when starting with a smaller amount for low-temp cooking.