Cast iron or cast aluminum grates will give you better grill marks if those are a significant consideration, as both are more conductive than stainless steel. That’s not to say you won’t get caramelization with stainless steel, but the distinctive patterns won’t be as prominent. In terms of longevity and consistent results, we have to give proper respect to the Weber weber charcoal grill Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch Charcoal Grill. The somewhat annoying issue of where to put the lid aside, its no-frills design delivers consistent heat and easy heat regulation at a price that justifies the quality. If you’re looking for a cart or barrel-style charcoal grill, the Char-Griller Classic Cart Style Charcoal Grill performed the best in this category.
While charcoal grilling is great for hamburgers and hot dogs, a Weber smoker is ideal for larger cuts of meats. From brisket to ham, slow cook your favorite large cuts of meat for juicy, flavorful meals. Cook delicious burgers, juicy steaks, game-day hot dogs and yummy veggies to perfection with a new Weber charcoal grill or Weber smoker grill from Ace Hardware. Weber has the charcoal smokers, portable charcoal grills and all the accessories you need to become a true grill master.
All of it comes together to create a grilling experience worthy of celebration. Lighter-weight grills can perform well, provided they have an enamel coating or something similar. On the other end of the spectrum, the cast aluminum of the PK grills has excellent heat distribution and retention, but the trade-off is a significantly heavier grill.
On cart-style grills, we modify the snake to run in right angles to match their rectangular-shaped fireboxes. The Nexgrill Cart-Style Charcoal Grill is a compelling alternative to the Weber, especially if you prefer a cart-style backyard cooker. In fact, at 572 square inches, this updated larger grill has even more cooking space than the previous version, which offered 390 square inches.
It scored incredibly high for performance, with testers praising it for its attractive Maillard reaction grill marks during the steak test. As a smoker, it burned through wood quickly, but with regular monitoring, the temperature was consistent and accurate. A cheap charcoal grill isn’t worth the savings if it’s unstable, struggles to maintain temperature, or is awkward to use. Likewise, a high-end, expensive grill is only worth the splurge if it helps you cook a superior steak (or burger, or whatever), and is a pleasure to use. Weber Go-Anywhere Gas Grill The Go-Anywhere is a good example of Weber’s quality dropping when the grill is below a certain price point. It yielded good charring and grill marks in our testing, but the temperature of the finished food varied by more than 15 degrees.
At times, the inside of this grill hit temperatures as high as 400 degrees F. Interior temperatures had a greater swing, jumping up to 300 degrees F during periods of cooking. While its ribs came out tender and juicy overall, the exterior bark had a few burnt spots. 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.
It’s also a lot compared with the Weber’s 363-square-inch cooking area. We tested the 22-inch Weber charcoal grill in black, but Weber also offers an 18-inch version of its original kettle design. There are certainly fancier and more expensive grills to use for cooking, but for a balance of affordability and quality, you can’t go wrong with this classic.
Experience the evolution of the iconic Kettle where charcoal grilling meets low-and-slow smoking. With a push of a button, coals are lit and the smell of barbecue will soon embrace the neighborhood. Whether smoking, grilling, or even baking, the Summit® Charcoal Grilling Center is the answer to any craving and the ultimate backyard kitchen. We placed two steaks on each grilling grate near the center and seared them for five minutes before flipping them over and searing for another five minutes. With a good and reliable grill, this will give you a steak with a seared outside and a medium rare to medium center.