This model is marketed as a grill and smoker, so we had high expectations for it in both categories— and it delivered. The PK300 is thoughtfully designed, with a lid that hinges open but can be removed entirely with ease, too. And the lid, when closed fully, creates a strong weber charcoal grill seal imperative for smoking success. With a hinged charcoal grate, it was simple to adjust and add coals during the cooking process. Although starting a charcoal grill requires a little more skill and labor than gas, it’s made easier with the right tools and a quick primer.
A minor complaint for sure, but I think it is an easy and obvious fix. I set up the grill in under 15 minutes, and three or four of weber gas grill those were spent taking it out of the box. It is an absurdly simple process that requires a hammer and a Phillips-head screwdriver.
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. We looked for charcoal grills with good heat retention, but that also allowed for easy airflow adjustments through dampers and vents or other functions like an adjustable charcoal tray. 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. Retailing at around $200, this grill is well-priced considering the upgrades from the original.
Weber’s grill covers cost close to $100, while these off-brand ones are barely a quarter of that. They’re waterproof and tear-resistant, and feature beefy velcro straps that secure below your grill, ensuring that a wind storm won’t leave your Kettle exposed. Plus, in addition to Kettle covers, Kingkong also makes covers for Weber’s Genesis and Spirit gas grills. After you’re done grilling (and things have cooled down), you should always empty your ash tray.
Ash must be removed once it’s cooled, but, unlike with gas grills, most of the grease that drips off food will burn up on the hot coals, rather than collect at the bottom. Our last test is grilling barbecued ribs, specifically baby back pork ribs. This style of cooking requires strict temperature control over a period of multiple hours. Ideally, a quality charcoal grill (or any smoker) will keep its fire humming along close to 225 degrees F for as long as possible. Charcoal grills are also often more affordable than their gas counterparts, making them a good option for tight budgets and beginner grillers. All you need for charcoal grilling is a lighter, a bag of charcoal and your favorite ingredients.
Typically, prices drop in the Winter months when demand is low and increases in the Summer when demand is high – If you’re in the market for a new grill, always wait till Winter. The only thing extra that you need for assembly is a mallet or hammer to tap the wheel hub caps on. Everything else that you need to assemble the grill comes packaged. However, one of the blades on the one-touch cleaning system broke and rather than replacing it, I opted to buy a new one. The Weber kettle was the first grill I ever learned on and is perfect for beginners. Of the Grills I own, the Weber Kettle is the one I find myself using the most.
The dampers are made of aluminum and the hinged grill grates are made of heavy-duty plated steel. The Ducane Products Company began as the Ducane Brothers Metal Fabricating in 1946. It moved three years later to Little Ferry, New Jersey and manufactured warm air furnaces. When grilling things like hot dogs and hamburgers, you don’t need to put the lid on. I prefer the weber, coated cast-iron grates to the plated steel grates the Original Kettle comes with, but there are worse things, and the plated steel still cooks relatively well. Because of the kettle-shape design, there’s no practical way to include a secondary cooking surface for cooking delicate items, warming buns, etc.
You can also raise the Nexgrill’s adjustable charcoal tray basket to its highest position. 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. All you need is a Phillips screwdriver to attach the side handles, and a hammer (or even just a chunk of firewood) to tap the end caps of the wheel axle into place. One person can have the grill up and running within minutes of opening the box.