Best Charcoal Grill for 2023

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.

There are two side tables where you can keep plates, tools, and condiments within reach. Brad has thoroughly tested many of the grills we recommend, using his personal experience and brand familiarity weber gas grill to carefully vet grills we haven’t had the chance to test yet. All of these grills work well in a backyard or garage, but those looking for travel options should skew toward our lighter picks.

A. Weber doesn’t permit converting a propane gas grill to a natural gas model due to safety concerns. The process would require disassembling the grill and gas components, which can be very dangerous and may not result in a functional grill. For the same reason, Weber doesn’t allow conversion from natural gas to propane either. A revamped model with a larger grilling space and solid price point. The difference between the two was largely in the crispiness of the skin, with the Weber producing the superior results.

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.

weber charcoal grill

If you prefer meat that’s more well done, you can extend the cooking time, or sear and finish cooking in an oven. Weber grill cooking grates are made of stainless steel, plated steel, or porcelain-enameled cast iron. An updated version of the popular Spirit series that offers state-of-the-art components, including the Infinity ignition system that’s known for reliable starts. To ensure we included grills that are right for everyone, we broke down the grills by style—kettle, barrel, and kamado—and had portable and hybrid-fuel options. Our final picks are highly rated by grillers, and they all come from reputable brands that stand behind their products with solid customer service and warranties. More features can help with lavish fare, like seafood, steak, or brisket.

After your done grilling (and things have cooled down), you should always empty your ash tray. On our favorite Weber grill, this is located right below the grill and even has a handle for ease of use. Many folks strongly believe charcoal produces better weber charcoal grill flavor than gas. Let’s just say different fuels have different characteristics—and we won’t even get into all the different types of charcoal available today. Kevin Cortez is a Commerce Editor for Popular Mechanics, Bicycling, and Runner’s World.