Lastly, you need to make sure your grill fits your allotted space, and/or is able to move, should you need to store it or bring it on a roadtrip. Whether you regularly weber portable grill cook for a crowd or simply cook for one, you need the right size grill. Too big and you’ll be wasting fuel, too small and you’ll be eating dinner last.
The grill was able to achieve high temperatures as well as larger models, and was even able to sear meat. Lastly, we found it easy to assemble and attach a 1-pound gas canister. Our tester called it “pricey, but worth it” for anyone who regularly grills on the go. If you do want something a bit cheaper or smaller, we’ve also tested and recommend the Q 1200.
Weber has improved its iconic kettle grill through the decades and its latest version is nearly perfect. The Weber Performance Deluxe 22-Inch comes with updated key features, which will make your grilling sessions exceedingly easy. To start, the grill is embedded within an easy-to-move cart that features an extra-large side table and enclosed charcoal storage. For a gas-powered grill, the Weber Spirit II E-310 is our top choice thanks to its three burners, compact design, and useful features. If you’re looking for the classic Weber black charcoal grill, you can’t go wrong with the Weber Performer Deluxe 22-Inch Charcoal Grill. For an electric grill that performs great wherever there is a power outlet, choose the Q 1400 from Weber.
The grill is available in several colors, and it has an easy-to-read fuel gauge next to the propane tank to let you know how much fuel you have remaining. Sign up to receive new product news, exclusive offers, grilling tips & recipes, and more from Weber and its affiliates / subsidiaries! Sun, rain, snow, hail, and wind are weber gas grill bound to take a toll on the outer surface of your grill, so it’s important to pick a material that’s very durable. While stainless steel can discolor from high heat, it won’t rust or corrode with rain and snow. Enameled or powder-coated steel is durable, but eventually, it can crack or chip, leading to rust underneath.
Weber’s Genesis line offers high-quality grills without super-premium prices, and its EX-325S is designed for easy grilling so you can enjoy each and every party. We tested the smart and more basic model, and while both gave us an impressive performance, the addition of the app gave us a more modern experience. Both times we tested it, we found the grill was really easy to use, as it’s easy to light, has immaculate temperature regulation, and practically operates itself.
Charcoal is easy to pick up at just about every grocery store, home improvement store, or gas station, so you won’t need to make a special trip. But you’ll need to have a charcoal starter on hand, will have to wait for everything to cool down before you can dispose of it, and need to deal with the messy ash afterward. To help find the right Weber grill for you, we tested popular models for weeks and rated each one on setup, heat retention, heat control, size, versatility, and overall value. Many steaks, burgers, veggies, and more were grilled to make sure these Weber grills are truly the best. You can just brush the grates down with a grill brush if they have any debris on them. Additionally, oiling the grates can result in them becoming sticky once the oil has heated beyond its smoking point, which will inevitably happen.
You do have to take the whole grate off to re-adjust your fuel though, one of the few downsides. When grilling time is over, this again has an advantage over older kettle grills. The ash is swept into the bottom catcher for easy disposal once it’s cooled, while everything else only needs a quick wipe-down. As you might know, starting a charcoal grill usually begins with simply getting the coals warmed up in a chimney starter. It comes with an auto-start gas ignition that consistently lit the coals for us. You can place the lid in different positions for the best top damper placement, with the bottom damper easy to adjust when your flame gets too hot.
For grilling, the two important rules to follow are that you’ll need about a pound of meat per person and that you’ll need 72 square inches for each of those servings. For a family of four, 400 to 500 square inches is sufficient—that allows enough room for sides, extras, or the occasionally dinner guest without being too big a grill for everyday use. The SmokeFire EX4 has a 20-pound pellet hopper, as well as a DC-powered engine designed to prevent auger jams. It can even walk you through the grilling process, letting you know when it’s time to flip food—a handy option for novice grillers. For the more fearless among us, they’ll use this as is, but if you want to be a little more careful, it’s easier to take the whole grate off. Another feature that makes the Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill great is its one-touch cleaning system, which sweeps ash into a removable high-capacity container for easy disposal.
For that reason, Weber offers generous warranties; years for the cookbox on almost all their full-sized models. Other grill parts, like the knobs, grates, and burner tubes have slightly shorter warranties, ranging from three to 10 years. Yes, you can smoke meat on a Weber charcoal grill, also known as a kettle grill. The simplest way to use your kettle grill as a smoker is to place all of your charcoal briquettes on one side of the grill and your meat on the other. Adding a few small chips of wood to the charcoal will give your meat a more traditionally smoked flavor.