So far I’ve grilled salmon, chicken breast, burgers and hot dogs on it and they’ve all cooked evenly and browned very well. Because of its smaller size, charcoal usage is reduced but it still gets plenty hot enough to do an effective job,” noted one buyer. With 360 square inches of primary cooking surface, the grill box is larger than the 300 square-inch Classic model, but retains PK’s characteristic flat bottom and rectangular shape. There’s also a unique configuration of bottom left and right adjustable air intake dampers and corresponding top left and right exhaust dampers. The wide flat bottom makes it easy to push charcoal to one side and create two very distinct direct and indirect zones.
Weber charcoal grills also tend to have a smaller cooking capacity and fewer special features than gas models. Has 580 square inches of area with cooking and warming zones. This full-size Masterbuilt is another model that came out on top when we tested charcoal grills. It fires up to an impressive 700 degrees Fahrenheit, and the charcoal is stored inside a vertical hopper so the heat is drawn in horizontally and diffused before it hits the grates. Temperatures can peak in as little as 15 minutes after lighting the charcoal—that’s really, really fast for a charcoal grill.
Start by lighting your coals and letting your grill heat up for about 10 minutes. This should heat the grates enough that any crusted-on food can be easily removed with a grill brush. After you clean the grates, oil them using a paper towel dipped in oil and held in tongs.
Always preferred charcoal to gas but this grill makes lighting charcoal a breeze. Propane ignition lights charcoal in minutes, I have not had to use a chimney nor lighter fluid once. They utilize charcoal briquettes to fuel the cooking weber gas grill and add flavor to your meats, vegetables, and other foods. While using a charcoal grill tends to take longer, many traditionalists feel that the taste is so superior to other grill options that it’s worth the extra effort.
If you often grill after dark, look for a Weber model with lighted control knobs or lighted handles. These amenities make it much easier to see what you’re doing, so you can be sure that your food is grilled perfectly. The grill’s lid is secured on a convenient hinge that makes it easy to open, and the unit is mounted on a cart with four locking caster wheels.
This sturdy charcoal grill is as effective for cooking burgers in your backyard as it is for feeding hungry sports fans while tailgating. And, during our last round of grill testing, it won our top prize for best overall. Cast iron components add substantial weight to your charcoal grill, so if you’re leaning toward that material, get yourself a grill with wheels. The heavier the grill, the more troublesome moving and cleaning it may be. Dropping ash around the yard, in the garage, or, worse, on your clothing, can be annoying to clean up, so ensure you’ve got the space to make moving your charcoal grill a breeze.
If you’re not familiar with the Old Smokey charcoal grill, it’s been a long-time favorite of grillers in southern states, but is now sold around the country. The grill’s 333-square -inch cooking weber portable grill area allows you plenty of space to cook up ribs, chops and chicken. “I have grilled burgers, smoked ribs, made pulled pork, and I have made it hold a temp for 7 hours,” said one buyer.
At $139, Weber’s original, kettle-style charcoal grill continues to stand the test of time. In our high-heat searing tests, Weber delivered the best balance of seared exterior and medium-rare interior steak. The Weber kettle grill gave us tasty chicken too, with crispy chicken skin.