Even worse, backyard chefs had to breathe in the excessive smoke from the grill top and the meat rarely had an even cook. Weber kettles combine traditional design with an innovative production. Made of steel and coated with porcelain enamel, the bowl and lid are formed exactly right to allow heat to circulate around the inside of the grill for even cooking. The porcelain enamel is baked on at approximately 1500°F ensuring that your grill will not only withstand the heat, but also resist rust and burn through. The world of the charcoal grill is essentially back to basics – returning to the original experience of cooking over an open fire.
When it comes to flavor, experts say it’s hard to beat a charcoal-fired grill. Karl likes to spread the charcoal so that it covers about half of the kettle. We didn’t have a charcoal starter on hand this time around, so we used some firestarter gel from Hasty-Bake. It doesn’t evaporate quickly like traditional lighter weber q fluid and doesn’t give your meat that gross lighter fluid taste. Once the victuals were hot and sizzling, they were eagerly placed inside soft Wonder Bread buns, slathered with ketchup and all the other fixins, and devoured with gusto. Since then they have continued to expand their indoor showroom and outdoor patio.
You’ll also want to wipe down the inside of the lid and bowl using a mild soap. After cooking, the best way to put out hot coals is to close the lid and shut both the upper and lower vents to cut off the oxygen supply. Closing the lid and vents will extinguish the coals, but it may take a while for the coals to cool down. Whether you’re replacing a well-loved grill or buying your very first one, you can’t go wrong with the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch Charcoal Grill. While widely viewed as the best charcoal grill you can buy, this thoughtfully-designed grill is also quite affordable, costing hundreds less than high-end models. Plus, our reviewer said it took him less than 15 minutes to put it together.
Just like full-size models from the brand, this 14-inch grill has a porcelain-enameled lid and bowl, as well as steel grates and an ash catcher down below. The grill has a crank that you can use to move the coals closer or further away from your food to control the temperature and speed of your cooking. The testers at Consumer Reports say that there aren’t as many variations between charcoal grills compared to gas or pellet grills, but there are some heat control features worth noting. The air control required for charcoal grills actually makes them dang good smokers, too. This gives smoke plenty of time to leisurely caress foods and impart that magic, smoky goodness. Many condo and apartment dwellers want a small grill that fits on their modest patio, but they often encounter restrictions on using charcoal and likely need to look at alternative fuels.
Weber even supplies a simple plastic tool to help you attach the thermometer without digging out a wrench. All you need is a Phillips screwdriver to attach the side weber q handles, and something dense to tap the end caps of the wheel axle into place. One person can have the grill up and running within minutes of opening the box.
This grill gave both our burgers and chicken a really nice sear. During our testing, hamburgers cooked to medium, while it took the chicken about 32 minutes to come up to temperature. With the ultimate grilling machine, mastering the art of grilling for special occasions and creating delicious, everyday meals is as simple as lighting a fire on your charcoal grill.