But even if you have a gas grill or a pellet smoker (as I do), sometimes the charcoal option is simply superior. But once you factor in price, performance, and design, the Weber is the heavy hitter in the arena of charcoal grills. A high-end ceramic kamado grill, while a superior cooker thanks to its insulation, will run you $800 minimum. Barrel-style charcoal grills, while larger, can be more difficult to manage and harder to clean.
It’s easy to clean, too, with a push-button to empty ash into a catch below the kettle. Neither the coal grates nor cooking grates are adjustable, but that’s a check in the “pro” list for this not-too-complicated, high-performing grill. I decided to buy your kettle grill and will replace my 30+ year old Weber charcoal grill. I was a little disappointed with the quality control of some of the pieces. The probe port and smoke hole covers do not fit flush against the kettle so there is some air leaking through. The bottom 5 vent ash removal fins also do not fit flush to the kettle as well as the top vent on the cover.
This is located below the kettle or barrel of the grill, and many models include a handle that dumps the ash. Do not put hot ashes in a trash can, or scatter them over grass or in wooded areas until they are entirely cooled. The circular cooking surface area is relatively petite, with a 22-inch diameter, but testers noted that when set up as a smoker, it can still handle two to three racks of ribs. In our smoking test, the ribs had a quarter-inch pale pink smoke ring, and a nicely glossy, caramelized exterior. It produced a “very nicely cooked” steak without any sticking or flare-ups.
Opening the dampers will allow the heat to rise, while closing the dampers will cause the fire to die out. Set the dampers in the middle and the grill will maintain a moderate constant cooking temperature necessary for slow cooking. This Weber’s plated steel cooking grate is hinged so that it’s easier to load charcoal, even while cooking, onto the heavy-gauge steel grate below. With this method, the coals take about 10 minutes to light and another 10 for the grill to get hot.
Karl likes to spread the charcoal so that it covers about half of the kettle. We didn’t have a charcoal starter on hand this time around, so we used some weber kettle bbq firestarter gel from Hasty-Bake. It doesn’t evaporate quickly like traditional lighter fluid and doesn’t give your meat that gross lighter fluid taste.
The lightweight construction and wheels on two of the three legs made the Weber reasonably easy to move or reposition on pavement. While the Weber is nearly perfect in its simplicity, I do wish they had given this premium model bigger, better wheels. As is, it requires some effort to roll the grill through the grass into storage or when the kids need the yard for a soccer game or water fight. A minor complaint for sure, but I think it is an easy and obvious fix. Once ash or used charcoal has cooled and been removed, you can dispose of it in a non-combustible trash can (some folks like to first wrap the waste in aluminum foil for extra insurance). If your coals still have some life left in them, keep the grill covered and away from water; you can use them during your next grilling session.
It’s also ideal for large families or anyone who regularly cooks for a crowd. You’d be forgiven for thinking this charcoal grill was “just” a smoker, thanks to its design. With features and functions that optimize low-and-slow grilling and smoking, this handsome grill is well-worth the moderately high price. We considered how simple (or not) it was to empty the ash catch and wipe out the kettle, as well as clean the grates. – I found the key to getting a kettle grill to do what you want it to do lies in the setup.
If I were grilling steaks, I might use the lid to get some oven-like cooking while I’m grilling the meat. In that case, I’d put the lid on and open up its vents,” Karl told me. The vents in the grill’s bowl and lid allow you to control the airflow into your grill. For grilling, you want a hot fire, so you want plenty of air to come in.