We eliminated kamados and pellet griller-smokers for this guide. Those designs offer attractive versatility, but they’re also expensive, and kamados especially have difficult learning curves. And Joe Salvaggio of Big Apple BBQ noted that wood pellets simply don’t produce the searing heat you need to make perfect burgers or steaks.
Retailing at around $200, this grill is well-priced considering the upgrades from the original. To me, that’s money well spent considering how much easier it is to discard ashes, one of my least favorite things about operating my previous Weber. The built-in thermometer weber kettle bbq and dampers also enhance the cooking experience and justify the cost. The cost of the grill is justified with thoughtful design features, like a hinged lid with an XL handle, a front-loading fuel door so you can easily add or remove charcoal or wood.
As a smoker, it burned through wood quickly, but with regular monitoring, the temperature was consistent and accurate. The cooking grate has a removable round center, allowing you to add a pizza stone or griddle. One thing that I noticed while putting the grill together was that the materials just seemed chintzier and more flimsy than those on the Weber weber portable grill Kettle Grill my dad owned. (Weber grills are still assembled in America, but with some imported components.) The metal in the legs seems to bend pretty easily. The most significant difference that stood out to me was that all the handles on the new models have plastic instead of wood. The wood on the 1970s and 80s versions really classed things up.
With grilling, the ability to cook on direct heat means that your food will be ready quickly. However, unless you’re closely watching the grill at all times, your food can weber portable grill easily burn or overcook. The One-Touch™ cleaning system provides hassle-free cleanup of charcoal ash and debris by swiping it into a high-capacity, removable ash catcher.
The timeless design, remarkable durability, and its ability to grill or smoke anything that fits has made the Weber Kettle a top grill for over 70 years. The Weber grill has three legs—an inherently stable design, because having three points of contact means the legs will automatically “find their level,” even on bumpy ground. That said, the Napoleon model’s four legs felt just as stable, and more stiff, on a garden-variety concrete patio, and also allowed Napoleon to install a big, square shelf underneath the grill. The Weber grill has a smaller, triangular shelf, which is far less useful. Throughout, we also tested accessories such as spatulas, tongs, grill brushes, and sheet pans, and picked our favorites. Doing so also helped us identify a few design strengths and flaws of the grills.
I heard so many good reviews about the Sns that I had to purchase one. We encourage you to reach out to We want to make sure all customers are satisfied with our products and buying experience. My video on using the vents and charcoal amounts’ explains how I use the vents (see vid at bottom of page or on YouTube).
All of our tests were designed and ran by Wirecutter senior staff writer Lesley Stockton, who has over a decade of experience in professional kitchens, many of them spent on the grill station. Lesley conducted the testing with senior staff writer Tim Heffernan, one of the original writers of this guide, and Michael Sullivan, a senior staff writer on the kitchen team. Sam Sifton, founding editor of New York Times Cooking, joined us for testing. There’s no table or workbench, which is a boon for those looking to streamline storage. The warranty 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. Then, I called my friend and resident AoM meat-cooking consultant, Karl Engel, and asked him to show me the ropes on how to cook with it.