Much like what you read above, we’ve put together a list of our favorite Weber gas grills to help you sort through the top selections. For our tests, each grill gets a full chimney of lit charcoal and a 6-pound chicken opposite the coals for indirect heat. None of the hood thermometers built into these grills mirrored the weber charcoal grill temperatures recorded by our own thermocouples and data software. 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. You can also raise the Nexgrill’s adjustable charcoal tray basket to its highest position.
With inbuilt ash catchers and temperature gauges, these grills are easy and convenient to use. You can smoke meat with the dedicated smoker feature so that it adds to the taste of your finished dishes. Charcoal grills often have porcelain-coated plates or porcelain-enameled burners so that the grill will last long and cook your veggies as intended for longer. Look at kettle grills, portable grills and more to find one that is perfect for your style of cooking and grilling.
The goal was a steady hold at 375 degrees Fahrenheit, and we adjusted the vents to get as close to that as we could. After 45 minutes, we flipped the chicken parts, slathered on a coating of barbecue sauce, and closed the lid for another five minutes. We repeated this step twice more, rounding out the cook time at an hour flat. Then we had a taste, paying special attention to the breast meat—a long cook can dry it out. For the high-heat, whole-grate burger test, we lit a chimney’s worth of briquets—the equivalent of six quarts, or about 90 coals of a former runner-up from our extensive briquet tests. We poured the lit coals into the grills, spread them in an even layer, and then heated the grills with the lids down and all vents fully open for 15 minutes (a standard manufacturer’s recommendation).
He reviews a wide range of household and smart-home products. These include everything from cordless and robot vacuum cleaners to fire pits, grills weber genesis 2 and coffee makers. An NYC native, Brian now resides in bucolic Louisville, Kentucky where he rides longboards downhill in his free time.
Charcoal Grill Buying Guide Our handy guide to shopping for charcoal grills includes everything that you should keep in mind when deciding which charcoal grill is right for your outdoor space. They’re bulkier, the assembly is more involved and you’ll likely need more fuel to keep the larger space at a high temperature. Our results, however, were almost as good as with the kettle-style Weber, so if you’re interested in a cart-style charcoal BBQ, this is your best bet. In our medium, indirect-heat chicken tests, the Nexgrill delivered flavorful, juicy meat as a close second to the Weber.