You’d be forgiven for thinking this charcoal grill was “just” a smoker, thanks to its design. With features and functions that optimize low-and-slow grilling and smoking, this handsome grill is well-worth the moderately high price. We considered how simple (or not) it was to empty the ash catch and wipe out the kettle, as well as clean the grates.
This is located below the kettle or barrel of the grill, and many models include a handle that dumps the ash. Do not put hot ashes in a trash can, or scatter them over grass or in wooded areas until they are entirely cooled. An automatic propane start makes this an ideal grill for beginners—you don’t need to master the use of a chimney to get the fire started. Although our testers found it a little awkward to put together without a second person, it’s a sturdy, well-built grill that you’ll feel confident about using once it is fully assembled. With four smooth-rolling wheels that lock into place, it’s easy to maneuver around your patio or yard. The Nexgrill definitely gets hot enough to create a nice sear, but you do have to work a little harder than you do with the Weber to avoid overcooking your meat.
A quality charcoal grill should be simple to set up, ideally requiring just one person and limited tools. It should also be simple to light, maintain or adjust heat, and create zoned cooking. The Nexgrill Cart-Style Charcoal Grill is a compelling alternative to the Weber, especially if you prefer a cart-style backyard cooker. That design gives you a handy side tray and more cooking surface room. In fact, at 572 square inches, this updated larger grill has even more cooking space than the previous version, which offered 390 square inches.
Weber believes in the quality and craftsmanship of their grills, and offer the warranty to back it up. If you want a charcoal grill to last decades, then this is the brand for you. Spider Grills Pella manages to make the charcoal-fueled Weber a wood-pellet grill in an elegant and easy way. It’s the most-automated path to low-heat smoking possible while remaining perfectly capable of high-heat grilling. The most boring product on this list may be the most necessary.
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. Cleaning this grill is easy thanks to Weber’s One-Touch cleaning system—a lever-controlled tool that forces ashes down into the ash pan or catcher for easy cleanup—and the enclosed ash catcher. Assembly is pretty straightforward and additional assistance is available through the BILT app. All Weber charcoal grills come with a limited 10-year warranty covering rust and burn-through of the body (other parts are covered for two or five years).
Since then they have continued to expand their indoor showroom and outdoor patio. The Weber One-Touch Gold 22.5-Inch Charcoal Grill is our favorite kettle grill, but it has a flaw… Due to the issue above, one of the only weber charcoal grill modifications I’d make is adding a second thermometer to the lid at grate-level. To make this even simpler, you could buy another thermometer to upgrade the kettle and install it on the exhaust damper side at grate-level.
Though the basic design has barely changed since 1952, Weber has added helpful details over the years, like hooks on the side handles for hanging your spatula, tongs, or other tools. From 1999 to 2001 there was a period of tremendous growth for the business. Several additional product lines were added and delivery/setup services were expanded. In 1999 they opened a second location in Easton, PA leasing a space from a nursery company.
Lid thermometers are seldom accurate, and they tell you the temperature at the top of the dome when you really need to know what’s going on at the grate. Temperature is controlled with vents at the bottom of the bowl, and one up top on the lid. I do wish they had given this premium model bigger, better wheels. The Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch Charcoal Grill is a classic backyard cooker that’s inexpensive, versatile, and nearly impossible to break.
Our customer service reps are real people offering great service, backed by 8 weeks of hands-on training with all of our products. Easy to Clean- With the patented One-Touch Cleaning System in Weber Grills, charcoal ash can be removed quickly with one hand. The porcelain-enamel blast-fired coating allows for effortless removal of soot with just some soapy water.
With nine collections of charcoal grills, there’s a Weber to meet your needs. 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. Next, we tested each grill’s medium heat cooking capability by roasting whole chickens.