We then oiled the grates and distributed 10 to 12 six-ounce patties across the whole cooking surface (depending on the grill). While the burgers cooked we kept an eye out for undesirable flare-ups, which can char the meat and create acrid smoke, and examined the evenness of cooking on the different areas of the grates. After about 10 minutes of cooking (five minutes per side, lid open), we compared how well each grill had seared the burgers, looking for any patties that were charred or unacceptably raw, and took a taste.
That happened to us twice before we figured out what was going on. If it had been full of hot ash, we would have had a real problem. For one, the screws are not much bigger than those that hold eyeglass frames together. When you think about the ash catcher’s job—to capture hot ashes and embers—the tiny screws don’t inspire much confidence. Also, the instructions are faulty, suggesting that you need to insert the screws yourself—after fruitlessly searching for them in the parts bags—when in fact they’re preinstalled on the vent assembly.
Your mileage may vary, but with proper care and maintenance you can expect your Weber grill to last for many years. 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. Beginners will quickly be able to learn the correct damper positions in order to achieve a consistent temperature, as we did.
Maintaining a consistent temperature is crucial, and the Weber does this better than any other in its price range. You can thank the porcelain-enameled bowl and lid, which are heat retention pros, for that. Still, keeping an eye on the thermometer will help you determine if you need to add more coal, wood, or even adjust the airflow using the rust-resistant aluminum dampers.
For over 15+ years I simply used the minion method or charcoal snake to smoke (pictured below) with and that still works perfectly fine. I mean I didn’t even have the fancy lid thermometer that I have now and did everything with a old meat probes hanging from exhaust vent near the meat. A good example is the Slow N’ Sear deluxe (read my review here) – which is an add-on for kettle grills that essentially creates a quintessential two-zone fire (pictured below). This durability is due large in part to Weber using nearly the same exact design since 1952.
But you’ll need a special hook-up for natural gas, or to run to the store for liquid propane. Gas-cooked foods also can lack a certain charred grilling taste preferred by some. If you know that you’ll be cooking multiple different types of food or meats, you might also need to consider multiple burners on a larger grill.
We carry the best brands at the best price, including Traeger Wood Pellet Grills, Weber Grills, Big Green Egg, Blaze, Napoleon, RCS, and many more. While the Weber is a very basic cooker, it does have a few helpful features. There’s the elevated ash catcher, which makes dumping the remnants easier than with the original model (see the Ease of Cleaning section). The lightweight construction and wheels on two of the three legs made the Weber reasonably easy to move or reposition on pavement.
In 1999 they opened a second location in Easton, PA leasing a space from a nursery company. With more time and family personnel available they gradually began increasing the length of their season and daily hours. As they became known throughout the Lehigh Valley and as business increased they made the decision to stop produce farming so they could better serve the growing demand for their products. Add-ons like the above quickly take the Weber Premium kettle to roughly the same price-point; At the time of Writing this article, the SNS Deluxe kettle is $379.99 on their website.
Then he’d empty out the old ashes into a brown paper sack and hand me the cooking grate to go clean in the laundry room. When I got back, he’d pour a big pile of charcoal into the Weber’s shiny black bowl. Then came a spray with some lighter portable bbq fluid, and the strike and toss of a match. The simple, circular shape naturally gathers charcoal evenly in the basin and makes for even heat distribution. Weber makes charcoal grills for every budget, ranging from around $50 to over $2,000.