We’ve put these and several more collections together for you, including healthy recipes, smoking-on-a-plank recipes, rotisserie recipes, and more. There’s no doubt about it—these grills portable bbq have plenty in common. Aside from the difference in size, they’re virtually identical in most of the top categories. So, are there any particular features that set the two apart?
The body and lid of a Weber kettle is made of porcelain enameled steel. Porcelain enameled steel will not rust or suffer burn through. As long as you do not crack or chip the enameling the body of a Weber weber charcoal grill kettle will last longer than you. For this review, I focused on the top-rated Gold and Platinum Medal winning models from the AmazingRibs.com database of almost 600 searchable equipment reviews.
A wire brush dipped in soapy water should do the trick in scrubbing off all the carbon of a gas grill. In the case of a charcoal grill, the old burned coals need to be thrown out. The next step is to take the grates along with any other removable part and place them in a bucket of soapy water to be scrubbed with a sponge after being soaked.
Scrape any buildup off the deflection panels or bars using a plastic scraper. Next, use a stainless steel brush to clean the burner tubes under the heat deflectors. Finally, check out the inside of the cook box and scrape away any debris or residue that can cause flare-ups.
For the Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker, the code was stamped into the lid damper and all three charcoal bowl dampers. On some Performer grills, the code can also be found on labels on the rear panel of the grill or on bar code stickers under the control panel or stainless steel charbin cover. The premium model adds a couple of upgrades to the nearly 70-year-old design. A built-in thermometer on the lid allows you to monitor the grill’s temperature, while a hinged grill grate makes it easy to add coal or reposition embers for enhanced fire management.
Meathead Goldwyn of AmazingRibs.com endorses the add-on and likes to add a drip pan filled with vegetables underneath the meat to catch some of the drippings. Made of anodized, rust-resistant aluminum, GrillGrates feel like a product Weber would offer themselves. Grates are elevated over a heavy base that’s lined with holes.
Grilling for a large family or a crowd of guests is no problem. We love this grill, and it always appears highly in our roundup of the best charcoal grills available. Although it’s not a purpose-built smoker, it is certainly possible to do some smoking on your charcoal grill with the help of the charcoal snake method and some good temp control via the vents. Although the Weber name comes with a higher price point than other grill brands, it’s for good reason.
Many people find this orange peel effect a desirable characteristic of older Weber grills. The Smokey Mountain Cooker made its debut as part of Weber’s 1981 model year. Most of those first-year grills were stamped with a “C” date code, but a smaller number were stamped with a “B” because they were manufactured in 1980 leading into the 1981 model year. In 2012, Weber started using another two-letter weber genesis 2 alphabetic code on some Spirit grills, using the phrase “GVIEJOYNUW” as the key along with a seven-digit serial number. In 2017 Weber also started using this code scheme on some Genesis II grills made in China and sold in the United States. In 2021, we had reports of Genesis II E-335 and Spirit E-330 grills in Germany with VW codes that were known to have been purchased in 2020.
The grill grate on a Napoleon is made of a thicker and flatter cast iron, which is an upgrade from the usual lightweight, stainless steel grates you see on most charcoal grills. However, it takes longer to heat up and is a different cooking experience from traditional charcoal grills. During our tests, we were only able to get our hamburgers to cook to rare, and our chicken did not sear and crisp up as well as it did on all the other grills. Because of this, the Napoleon is definitely not a grill for charcoal beginners. The Weber Original Kettle Charcoal Grill 22’’ features a plated steel cooking grate, a heavy-gauge steel charcoal grate, porcelain-enameled bowl and lid, and a bottom wire rack. It also has a lid handle with heat shield, aluminum ash catcher, aluminized steel one-touch cleaning system, and a spring clip-push pin leg assembly.
The grill features a porcelain enamel firebox and metal grates, one of which sits just above the bottom to hold the coals. Enjoy the great outdoors and barbecue to your heart’s content with charcoal grills from the brands you trust like Masterbuilt, Char-Broil, and Weber. A high quality grill made from heavy duty, weather-resistant stainless steel will provide years of tasty burgers, juicy bratwurst, and cherished memories. Portable charcoal grill options allow you to prepare your steaks and burgers on the deck, at the poolside, or in the driveway for a neighborhood BBQ party. Choose a small Weber Kettle grill or a large charcoal grill from Char-Broil.