The Weber Kettle is capable of searing steak, grilling hamburgers and hotdogs, vegetables, etc. It can also be easily transformed into a smoker through the strategic arrangement of charcoal. In the end, the Masterbuilt Series 1050 (as well as the smaller 560 and 800) is charcoal grilling with training wheels. If you like cooking with charcoal but would prefer to forgo the fuss and mess of tending a charcoal fire, this is the best option.
Add that to its solid warranty and well-regarded customer service, and it’s hard to see a better value. Based on our conversations with Joe Salvaggio of Big Apple BBQ and the many manufacturers at the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Expo, we eliminated kamados and pellet griller-smokers for this guide. Those designs offer attractive versatility, but they’re also expensive—$350 at minimum, and the most popular and best-regarded styles run twice that or more. And Salvaggio noted that wood pellets simply don’t produce the searing heat you need to make perfect burgers or steaks.
Shockingly, you could find yourself paying much more for a grill of similar if not equal construction. And, if you already know charcoal, but you’re looking for a better experience than what you’ve got now, you can’t go wrong with a Weber. If a rounded barbecue like a BGE can have one, surely this could, too? weber q 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. Overall, it’s well-designed, well-built, and deserving of the Weber name. One feature you also don’t get with the Original Kettle is a thermometer in the lid.
We were underwhelmed with the performance of the Napoleon 22-inch grill, which is most likely a result of the grill needing more briquettes to really work well. The kettle on this model is pretty deep and you can adjust the cooking grate to two different levels. We wouldn’t advise cooking with the grate at the highest level if you’re looking for a nice sear since it’s too far off the heat. The grill grate on a Napoleon is made of a thicker and flatter cast iron, which is an upgrade from the usual lightweight, stainless steel grates you see on most charcoal grills.
Visions of tasty backyard cookouts never cease no matter what season it is. It’s always a great time to up your outdoor cooking game by using the best charcoal grill you can find. A charcoal grill might sound less luxurious than a gas grill, but when it comes to flavor, the best charcoal grills absolutely compete. Its construction is simple and solid, and the materials—rust-proof aluminum legs, porcelain-coated steel for the body, and a nickel-plated steel grill—are designed to last. And while the basic design has barely changed since 1952, Weber has added helpful new details over the years—this latest iteration has convenient tool hooks on the side handles, for example.
Just to look at it is to conjure up memories of family cookouts and good times — even if you’ve never owned one. The Weber Original Kettle is no more difficult to use than any other charcoal grill. Temperature is controlled with vents weber charcoal grill at the bottom of the bowl, and one up top on the lid. If you’re looking to turn your Kettle into a smart grill, this is the way. It’s a lot of functionality that takes some of the pressure off of you to be an infallible pitmaster.
Because of the kettle-shape design, there’s no practical way to include a secondary cooking surface for cooking delicate items, warming buns, etc. There’s a hook inside the lid for hanging on the bowl which helps prevent damage to it, and a special handle just for rolling the grill around. From an aesthetic standpoint, it’s hard not to like this classic-looking grill. It has changed very little since the actual original Weber… and why should it?
Still, you’ll have it up and running in no time, especially if you follow guide to using a charcoal grill that’s a complete A to Z that will help you master this form of cooking. Weber’s grill covers cost close to $100, while these off-brand ones are barely a quarter of that. They’re waterproof and tear-resistant, and feature beefy velcro straps that secure below your grill, ensuring that a wind storm won’t leave your Kettle exposed. Plus, in addition to Kettle covers, Kingkong also makes covers for Weber’s Genesis and Spirit gas grills.
Meat from the Nexgrill was delicious, with just a bit more flavor than the Weber. Between them, I’d say it largely depends on your budget and what style of grill you prefer for other meats like burgers or steak. None of the hood thermometers built into these grills mirrored the temperatures recorded by our own thermocouples and data software.