Finally, make sure to empty your ashes, and keep that grill covered when not in use. Since then, Hasty-Bake has refined weber bbq and polished off the rough edges. The new spring-loaded hood design is a significant improvement over earlier models.
Our rib experience with a few of the other grills was far from ideal. At times, the inside of this grill hit temperatures as high as 400 degrees F. And sadly, the ribs it produced came out burned, charred and overdone.
Flimsy charcoal grills with loose, warped lids and rickety moving parts make temperature control a nightmare. Charcoal grills don’t need to be tanks made of heavy, quarter inch-thick steel, but they shouldn’t be tin cans that lack structural integrity. It’s true that great charcoal grills don’t have to cost a lot, but there are many high-end models with superb construction and compelling features. For most of us, price is a key element in all purchasing decisions. Whatever your charcoal grill budget may be, I strongly advise getting a model that has an ash removal system, such as Weber’s One-Touch removable ash bucket.
A. While the Weber electric grills are meant for outdoor use, they shouldn’t be used in rain or snow for safety reasons. It’s possible for an electrical malfunction to occur if the grill gets wet, which could lead to electrocution or fire. When you’re ready to buy a Weber grill, check out our top five recommendations in the product list above. For general advice on how to choose a Weber grill, our shopping guide has plenty of helpful tips.
A front door allows easy access to the charcoal during cooking and the double-lined hood is a nice feature to help hold in heat. The Professional Cart Grill has an interesting rotisserie design, too, that uses a special charcoal basket weber gas grill across the back for a dedicated rotisserie fire. With charcoal grills, I test for effective air control by smoking low and slow at 225°F, roasting in the mid-range around 350°F, and letting ‘er rip with a blazing, red hot fire.
Once again, consider how many people you usually cook for to determine the number of burners you’ll need. Weber offers a line of electric grills that cook the food on heated grill plates. Electric grills tend to be very compact, so they’re an ideal option if you live in an apartment and can’t use a gas or charcoal grill on your patio or balcony.
This grill has a front shelf where you can place plates and condiments and a lower shelf for supplies, and it’s mounted on wheels that make it easier to move.
If your favorite recipes require on-the-fly adjustments, like changing the grate height and temperature, find a charcoal grill with the features to accommodate. Next, we light each grill’s snake at one end of the chain with five lit briquettes (tumbleweed fire starters work, too). We set all air vents on each grill (top and bottom) to the halfway-open position. Lastly, we place one rack of ribs on each grill for indirect cooking, with the meat not sitting directly above the coals. Simple construction means there aren’t too many parts to assemble or too many features to handle while cooking. A vent on the lid controls airflow and a well-designed ash tray beneath the Weber grill facilitates easy cleanup.