His passion for charcoal grilling was instilled into him by his father who used charcoal on a basic grill to cook for his family on warm summer nights. Charcoal grilling and tending to his smoker has been a happy pastime of Bob’s, weber charcoal grill especially as he enters his retirement years. The circular cooking surface area is relatively petite, with a 22-inch diameter, but testers noted that when set up as a smoker, it can still handle two to three racks of ribs.
The ultra-durable, porcelain-enameled lid and bowl are uniquely designed to retain the charcoal’s heat, while dampers are easily adjusted for precise temperature control. Cleaning this grill is easy thanks to Weber’s One-Touch cleaning system—a lever-controlled tool that forces ashes down into the ash pan or catcher for easy cleanup—and the enclosed ash catcher. Assembly is pretty straightforward and additional assistance is available through the BILT app. All Weber charcoal grills come with a limited 10-year warranty covering rust and burn-through of the body (other parts are covered for two or five years). The only real learning curve to cooking on a charcoal grill is fire management, but the built-in thermometer makes that easier.
Grilling purists will tell you that charcoal cooking is the only way to go, and seasoned grillers I’ve spoken to maintain that a Weber kettle is the best charcoal grill you can buy. It’s hard to argue with the first part because propane simply won’t give you the same smoky flavor you get from charcoal. It’s a bold claim, even given Weber’s reputation for manufacturing high-quality charcoal and gas grills.
It’s also ideal for large families or anyone who regularly cooks for a crowd. When used as a smoker, it produced large amounts of smoke and heat, with ribs that ranked among the highest in tenderness and overall rib quality. Due to their comparably simple construction, they tend to cost less than a similarly sized gas or pellet grill. Another powerful draw of these grills is the intense smoky flavor they create in the food they cook. They’re versatile too since they can use either traditional charcoal briquettes or lump charcoal as fuel. This Weber’s plated steel cooking grate is hinged so that it’s easier to load charcoal, even while cooking, onto the heavy-gauge steel grate below.
I do make it a point to cover it with a grill cover made specifically for this unit so I try to ensure that it lasts for a good long time. I’ve owned enough Weber grills over the years to know that they are well-built and last a good long time. There’s no table or workbench, which is a boon for those looking to streamline storage. The warranty portable bbq isn’t as generous as other models—one year for the grill, and five for the burner—but for under $100, we still think it’s a great deal. Our favorite charcoal grill is the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22” Charcoal Grill. We also recommend the Weber Performer Deluxe Charcoal Grill 22” and PK Grills Original PK300 Grill & Smoker.
Dump the handy ash catcher and scrub the grates each time you cook. Beyond that, give it the occasional deep clean and keep water away from the ashes (lest they combine into a corrosive lye), and you should be grilling happily on one of these for a decade or longer. The Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill’s design weber charcoal grill makes controlling the heat simple. You open and close the lower vents with a long handle mounted above the ash box. The handle slides easily and stays cool to the touch—no need to put on gloves or use a towel. This is a superior grill to most on the market — it’s built to function and to last, and it’s worth every penny.
We have a whole guide right here to help you get started with charcoal grilling, from arranging your coals to determining temperature and even controlling flare-ups. The best way to light your grill without the scent of chemicals is to forgo lighter fluid and use a chimney starter. To use one, load up the space on the bottom with a piece of newspaper or two, pile coals in from the top, then light the newspaper.
Assembly is dead simple, and the construction and materials are sturdy. Add its solid warranty and well-regarded customer service, and the Weber Kettle Premium Grill is the best value going. Though the basic design has barely changed since 1952, Weber has added helpful details over the years, like hooks on the side handles for hanging your spatula, tongs, or other tools. But, that’s the beauty of charcoal; you can get a lot for a little because they’re so simple. Weber has a lot of confidence in its products, and they back it up with an exceptional warranty. Overall, it’s well-designed, well-built, and deserving of the Weber name.
So cooking on it can be a literal pain in the butt (and lower back). The Napoleon grill, which we otherwise didn’t love, is a generous 34 inches in height at the grate, making it more comfortable to work on. Because this grill is so popular, both Weber and other manufacturers offer a bunch of add-ons (such as charcoal baskets, pizza stones, and rotisseries) that increase its capabilities. Once we knew the Weber was our pick, we used a popular third-party accessory, the Slow ‘N Sear Deluxe charcoal basket, to smoke a rack of baby-back ribs. The grill performed terrifically, turning out tender ribs with great smoky flavor.