There’s no table or workbench, which is a boon for those looking to streamline storage. The warranty isn’t as generous as other models—one year for the grill, and five for the burner—but for under $100, we still think it’s a great deal. 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. Register your grill and gain quick and easy access to manuals, replacement parts and warranty.
The worst was our Tacklife review unit, which didn’t hold much heat and didn’t sear while cooking. The steak on that grill needed an additional five minutes to get to a temperature of 135 F, the minimum for medium rare. Testing charcoal grills requires a lot of hands-on cooking, and your results will obviously vary based on your technique and ingredients, among other factors. Depending on the season and how your charcoal grill is set up, your experience cooking and grilling will likely be very different from ours. For example, a kettle-style charcoal grill left in the July sun all day will run a lot hotter than it will in the cooler spring months.
When purchasing a new charcoal grill or smoker, understanding the different styles of Weber charcoal grills and what each type can do is important. No matter your grilling experience, this convenient guide can help you select your Weber charcoal grill. In smaller form factors, a 22-inch grill like the SnS or Weber Performer should be sufficient cooking space for two to four people. That said, kettle grills offer plenty of usable cooking space for smoking, as most can hold a large brisket or one or two pork shoulders. How you intend to grill should be a guiding factor in selecting the size for you.
If you plan on bringing your grill along on camping trips or picnics, you’ll want something easy to move and pack or something outright advertised as a portable charcoal grill. If you frequently cook for large groups, you’ll want a cart or barrel-style grill, such as the Dyna-Glo X-Large or the Char-Griller Classic Cart Style Charcoal Grill. Remember that the larger the grill, the more charcoal you’ll burn through in cooking.
If your coals still have some life left in them, keep the grill covered and away from water; you can use them during your next grilling session. Our favorite charcoal grill is the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22” Charcoal Grill. For a grill that’s more feature-heavy and even has an ignition system, we like the Weber Performer Deluxe Charcoal Grill 22”. It’s not just the nostalgia talking; for value weber bbq and performance, the Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill delivers in both areas. If you’re looking for a gas grill with fewer hands-on requirements, the Weber Genesis E-325s 3-Burner Gas Grill or its Smart counterpart are also excellent choices. Shop for your favorite grill online, or view a range of grills, smokers and other Weber grills for sale at your local Ace Hardware store.
I managed to get it all in the can every time—something I can’t say about the original plate-style catcher, with which I probably lost an average of about 40 percent of the ashes to the wind. Measuring 39.5 x 22.5 x 27 inches, this grill takes up a minimal amount of space in your backyard or on the porch while still offering a decent-sized cooking surface. It’s about waist level in height for almost everyone, so it’s quite comfortable to cook on.
Below, a slide-out ash tray/shelf/drawer runs the entire width of the grill. The circular cooking surface area is relatively petite, with a 22-inch diameter, but testers noted that when set up as a smoker, it can still handle two to three racks of ribs. In our smoking test, weber portable grill the ribs had a quarter-inch pale pink smoke ring, and a nicely glossy, caramelized exterior. It produced a “very nicely cooked” steak without any sticking or flare-ups. A quality charcoal grill should be simple to set up, ideally requiring just one person and limited tools.
Due to their comparably simple construction, they tend to cost less than a similarly sized gas or pellet grill. Another powerful draw of these grills is the intense smoky flavor they create in the food they cook. They’re versatile too since they can use either traditional charcoal briquettes or lump charcoal as fuel. Cooking over charcoal takes longer than cooking with a gas grill, and we typically need to add more fuel during cooking to keep our grills above 350 degrees F for the full duration. Our favorite bird from this batch was the one cooked on the Weber, though it was a tough call. The bird cooked on the Nexgrill cart-style grill came in right behind, a close second in terms of flavor and texture.
You can also raise the Nexgrill’s adjustable charcoal tray basket to its highest position. In our medium, indirect-heat chicken tests, the Nexgrill delivered flavorful, juicy meat as a close second to the Weber. And this updated model, when we used the charcoal snake method, demonstrated temperature control almost as good as the Weber. 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.