All you need is a Phillips screwdriver to attach the side handles, and a hammer (or even just a chunk of firewood) 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. By contrast, weber charcoal grill other grills we tested had cumbersome assembly processes. The Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill 22″ is a classic for good reason. In our tests it outperformed the other grills in cooking, ease of assembly, and user-friendly details.
Our customer service reps are real people offering great service, backed by 8 weeks of hands-on training with all of our products. The lifespan of any grill is affected by several factors including cleaning frequency, maintenance, amount of use, weather, and the overall environment where the grill is located. There is an abundance of Weber owners who have been using the same grill for decades. Your mileage may vary, but with proper care and maintenance you can expect your Weber grill to last for many years. Ribs cooked on the Nexgrill had lots of bark but were juicy and tender inside.
Unless it was not an option (like with the PK Grill model), we opted to test versions of these grills without built-in carts or side tables. They can add unnecessary bulk and cost to a type of grill often chosen for being compact and cost-efficient. If a rounded barbecue like a BGE can have one, surely this could, too? At least you get a small shelf down in the legs, but I’d love a handy spot to rest my sauces, rubs, tools, thermometer transmitter, drink, and so on.
Some of the ash will fall through to the ash catcher a few inches below the bowl. For the rest, Weber has equipped the Original Kettle with its “One-touch” ash removal system. It’s a rotating group of three blades you turn with a handle projecting from near the bottom of the bowl. You can arrange your coals for two-zone cooking, roasting, searing — anything you like! While a charcoal chimney is one of the most highly recommended methods for lighting charcoal, Electric starters, such as the Looftlighter, work great (and they’re fast). BBQGuys recommends against using lighter fluid or “match light” charcoal because of chemicals and additives that can negatively influence flavor and can linger for a long time if you have a ceramic grill.
So cooking on it can be a literal pain in the butt (and lower back). The Napoleon grill, which we otherwise didn’t love, is a generous 34 inches in height at the grate, making it more comfortable to work on. Because this grill is so popular, both Weber and other manufacturers offer a bunch of add-ons (such as charcoal baskets, pizza stones, and rotisseries) that increase its capabilities. Once we knew the Weber was our pick, we used a popular third-party accessory, the Slow ‘N Sear Deluxe charcoal basket, to smoke a rack of baby-back ribs. The grill performed terrifically, turning out tender ribs with great smoky flavor.
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 weber charcoal grill 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.
I do make it a point to cover it with a grill cover made specifically for this unit so I try to ensure that it lasts for a good long time. I’ve owned enough Weber grills over the years to know that they are well-built and last a good long time. There’s no table or workbench, which is a boon for those looking to streamline storage. The warranty isn’t as generous as other models—one year for the grill, and five for the burner—but for under $100, we still think it’s a great deal. Our favorite charcoal grill is the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22” Charcoal Grill. We also recommend the Weber Performer Deluxe Charcoal Grill 22” and PK Grills Original PK300 Grill & Smoker.
It’s easy to clean, too, with a push-button to empty ash into a catch below the kettle. Neither the coal grates nor cooking grates are adjustable, but that’s a check in the “pro” list for this not-too-complicated, high-performing grill. Our last test is grilling barbecued ribs, specifically baby back pork ribs. This style of cooking requires strict temperature control over a period of multiple hours. Ideally, a quality charcoal grill (or any smoker) will keep its fire humming along close to 225 degrees F for as long as possible.
It’s also super sturdy, with four wheels and plenty of work and storage space. A quality charcoal grill should be simple to set up, ideally portable bbq requiring just one person and limited tools. It should also be simple to light, maintain or adjust heat, and create zoned cooking.