This grill has enough room for a three-zone charcoal fire—and a handful of beer-can chickens, multiple racks of ribs, or (at least) 20 burgers. It’s also a great grill for slow cooking a whole pork shoulder and then some with or without Char-Griller’s optional side fire box. The lack of a simple lid hook feels like a design oversight and removing and replacing the ash weber genesis 2 catcher isn’t as smooth as it should be because the damper handle gets caught on the legs. There’s no function for pushing the ashes into the catcher, either, so it has to be done manually with a grill brush or other tool. I also worry about longevity, mainly because the handles, ash catcher, and lid damper are identical to the same parts on the worst grill we tested.
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). With grilling, the ability to cook on direct heat means that your food will be ready quickly.
There are many appealing, well-thought-out features, despite it being a basic grill. Buy a wireless digital meat thermometer, you’ll be much happier over the long run. One feature you also don’t get with the Original Kettle portable bbq is a thermometer in the lid. Let me qualify that statement; you can absolutely smoke meat in this grill, but it is a bit of a chore. That’s just one of the questions I’ll answer in this review of the OG of Weber grills.
And if you plan to cook low and slow we suggest adding a few chunks of hardwood to your charcoal pile. This brings about more smoke flavor in barbecue meat like pork ribs, pork butt and beef weber charcoal grill brisket. 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.
With a price tag well below $100, this is also the kind of grill you could have shipped to a vacation destination and wouldn’t have to feel bad leaving behind. But once you factor in price, performance, and design, the Weber is the heavy hitter in the arena of charcoal grills. A high-end ceramic kamado grill, while a superior cooker thanks to its insulation, will run you $800 minimum. Barrel-style charcoal grills, while larger, can be more difficult to manage and harder to clean. No matter what you slap on it, the Weber can cook it—hot and fast or low and slow.
However, unless you’re closely watching the grill at all times, your food can easily burn or overcook. After you’re done grilling (and things have cooled down), you should always empty your ash tray. This is located below the kettle or barrel of the grill, and many models include a handle that dumps the ash. Do not put hot ashes in a trash can, or scatter them over grass or in wooded areas until they are entirely cooled. Finally, make sure to empty your ashes, and keep that grill covered when not in use. It scored incredibly high for performance, with testers praising it for its attractive Maillard reaction grill marks during the steak test.
It’ll get your fire going in just 10 minutes, and you can use it in a charcoal chimney, too. If you do not have a grill, the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22” Charcoal Grill is the place to start. For those new to cooking outdoors, the Weber makes it easy to learn to grill over a flame; you’ll look like an old hand in no time. But even if you have a gas grill or a pellet smoker (as I do), sometimes the charcoal option is simply superior. I’ve been through the gamut of Weber charcoal grills through the years and use all of the Weber grills that I own.
As with all charcoal grills, your briquettes or lumps rest near the bottom of the bowl on a grate that keeps them off the base of the pit to allow airflow. The main cooking grate is actually three separate pieces that can be lifted off of the grill for access to the charcoal tray—which has holes big enough to brush ash through. Below, a slide-out ash tray/shelf/drawer runs the entire width of the grill. Great Value for the Price- Weber offers a charcoal grill for everyone. Weber grill sizes range from the 14 inch Smokey Joe Portable to the 37 inch Ranch Kettle. The Weber Summit is widely considered to be the best charcoal grill Weber has ever produced.