After the grill was heated up for 10 minutes, the steaks were ready to hit the grill grate. They’re bulkier, the assembly is more involved and you’ll likely need more fuel to keep the larger space at a high temperature. Our results, however, were almost as good as with the kettle-style Weber, so if you’re interested in a cart-style charcoal BBQ, this is your best bet. In our medium, indirect-heat chicken tests, the Nexgrill delivered flavorful, juicy meat as a close second to the Weber. And this updated model, when we used the charcoal snake method, demonstrated temperature control almost as good as the Weber. Some Weber gas grills also have warming trays to keep cooked food warm while you finish grilling.
When you’re trying to decide what size Weber grill you need, think about the number of people you usually feed. It’s also important to consider the types of food you prepare most often. Hot dogs and hamburgers take up less cooking space than racks of ribs. If you’re in the market for a Weber grill, the shopping process can get overwhelming in a hurry.
You can get by grilling burgers and hot dogs with a compact, inexpensive charcoal grill. Interior temperatures had a greater swing, jumping up to 300 degrees F during periods of cooking. While its ribs came weber bbq out tender and juicy overall, the exterior bark had a few burnt spots. None of the hood thermometers built into these grills mirrored the temperatures recorded by our own thermocouples and data software.
Charcoal grills can be intimidating initially, as they’re more complicated to operate than gas-powered grills. But once you get the hang of cooking with charcoal, you’ll probably fall in love with the smoky flavor and tender texture it creates. Don’t get carried away with obsessing over the most feature-heavy charcoal grill—consider what and how you’ll cook, and take it from there.
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 weber portable grill lighter fluid and use a chimney starter. This model from Weber is our favorite for size and usability. 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.
In fact, most of the time the temperature hovered between 220 degrees F and 230 degrees F. As a result, ribs cooked in the Weber came out tender, juicy and full of smoky flavor. First, we set up each grill for a low-and-slow burn, using the charcoal snake method. In the case of kettle models, we arrange coals in a semicircle around the grill’s inner wall.