The durable, easy-to-clean, plated steel cooking grate retains heat for even and consistent grilling. This website is in place to provide kettle grill enthusiasts that are new to the world of barbecuing with helpful tips on using their Weber Kettle Grill. – I also explain the method I use to control the heat or temp in the grill as well as how to use the vents to control and change the temperature on a Weber kettle grill. So if you’re having trouble controlling the temperature in your Weber kettle grill or are not sure which vents to use hopefully you will find this website and my video tutorials helpful.
The PK300 comes with a very generous 20-year warranty, making the higher price tag more palatable. 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. Its temperature fluctuated no more than 20 degrees over six and a half hours of smoking.
The Traveler has more cooking space than the Q 1200, but the two are equally easy to use, having a single control knob to regulate the heat. The secret to heat control is the top and bottom dampers that form convection during cooking. That control and responsiveness, combined with its heat-retaining design, results in intense, high heat for searing or low-and-slow smoke. In our tests, this looked like caramelized steaks with light grill marks and tender ribs with a defined smoke ring beneath a dark bark. You need airflow to keep your fire going and to regulate the temperature.
For example; if the temp has been constant at 300 degrees for 30 or more minutes this means the coals are burning constant so the temp is not in the process of climbing or dropping. If the temp is stabile just a slight change to the top vent (open or closed by about 1/8) will change the temp plus or minus degrees. And every time a change is made to the vents it takes about minutes for the kettle to restabilize at the new temp. And a dial or lid thermometer will also need to adjust to the change in temp which can take minutes or so. Dial thermometers are mechanical so they do not respond to changes in temp instantly like digital thermometers.
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, 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.
It should also be simple to light, maintain or adjust heat, and create zoned cooking. While the grill requires assembly, Weber seemed to make assembly an enjoyable part of the overall experience rather than merely a task to complete as quickly as possible. In terms of performance, it reached baking temperatures in just eight and a half minutes and took slightly longer to reach searing temperatures.
We favor Weber grills for their efficiency in managing multi-zone cooking, and for their generous warranties that stand out from their competition. In fact, most of the grills below have warranties beginning at 10 years for the cook box (additional parts, like gas tubes and grates, have weber portable grill warranties ranging from three to 10 years). The only real learning curve to cooking on a charcoal grill is fire management, but the built-in thermometer makes that easier. Maintaining a consistent temperature is crucial, and the Weber does this better than any other in its price range.
Through Bread Pay�, we offer easy and affordable financing options so you can pay for your purchase over time. If you’d like to return your item(s), please feel free to use our simple Return Form weber charcoal grill to obtain an RMA number (Return Authorization number) and we will process your return quickly. In 1999 they opened a second location in Easton, PA leasing a space from a nursery company.