Once the grills were sufficiently hot, we tested the high heat grilling capabilities by cooking lamb chops and marinated boneless, skinless chicken breasts. To test the indirect heat, we cooked raw beer brats and bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. Cooking a variety of meats allowed us to observe grill marks, crispiness, and doneness. After the grills had fully cooled, we cleaned each, following the manufacturer’s instructions as closely as we could. The main cooking grate is actually three separate pieces that can be lifted off of the grill for access to the charcoal tray—which has holes big enough to brush ash through.
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 weber portable grill 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.
The difference between the two was largely in the crispiness of the skin, with the Weber producing the superior results. Meat from the Nexgrill was delicious, with just a bit more flavor than the Weber. Between them, I’d say it largely depends on your budget and what style of grill you prefer for other meats like burgers or steak.
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.
We considered how simple (or not) it was to empty the ash catch and wipe out the kettle, as well as clean the grates. It includes a cart with a work table, a charcoal storage bin, and a sensible lid-holding rack. The grate has a removable center, meant for adding a pizza stone or other Weber cooking accessories. While beginners may look for a more basic model, we’d argue that the Performer’s features make it approachable for grillers of all levels.
In fact, most of the time the temperature hovered between 220 degrees F and 230 degrees F. As a result, ribs cooked in the Weber came out tender, juicy and full of smoky flavor. First, we set up each grill for a low-and-slow burn, using the charcoal snake method. In the case of kettle models, we arrange coals in a semicircle around the grill’s inner wall. The charcoal briquettes (Kingsford Blue) form a line two coals wide and two coals deep.
The highest-scoring grills moved to round two, where we rated them on their slow-cooking capabilities by cooking a slab of ribs. During this process, we also recorded the amount of charcoal or smoking chip additions and the elapsed time for adding them. This cast aluminum grill requires little in the assembly department other than placing the components in their proper place, and it heats quickly. Our tests showed it approaching 650°F after 10 minutes, which results in excellent searing and grill marks. The enamel-coated cast iron grates minimize sticking and conduct heat very well, and the side-mounted dampers provide excellent heat control.
When purchasing a new charcoal grill or smoker, understanding the different styles of s 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.
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.