When he’s firing up his charcoal, Karl likes to shove all of it to one side of the kettle. You can spread the briquettes out across the bottom once they’ve transformed into hot coals. The above is the most basic arrangement for charcoal when smoking meat. You have a hot zone (where the coals are) and a cool zone (where the meat is placed). The dampers are made of aluminum and the hinged grill grates are made of heavy-duty plated steel. Up top, the Weber model’s lid vent is a simple disc of aluminum; you just flick it left or right to open or close the vent holes.
The porcelain-enameled lid and bowl retain heat for consistent temperature and even cooking. The finish also prevents rusting, cracking, and peeling while withstanding high grilling temps. If you do not have a grill, weber portable grill the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22” Charcoal Grill is the place to start. For those new to cooking outdoors, the Weber makes it easy to learn to grill over a flame; you’ll look like an old hand in no time.
A heat shield just beneath the heat-resistant glass-reinforced nylon lid handle prevents you from burning yourself. The enclosed ash catcher below the grill body is a major upgrade in this version and makes cleanup much easier (more on that later). The Weber kettle grill has been around since the early 1950s, so chances are good you’ve eaten a burger, a hotdog, or a steak cooked on one. As a kid, our family had a gas grill, while the neighbors had a Weber. Their food was always a little bit tastier, so I made the Weber Original my first grill when I got a home of my own. Essentially just a grate sitting between two pieces of metal atop a tripod, it’s hard to imagine a simpler cooker beyond just an open fire on the ground.
All the grills we tested featured simple, thin-wire grates that worked well, with no notable sticking. The Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill 22″ is a classic for good reason. In our tests it outperformed the other grills in cooking, ease of assembly, and user-friendly details. None of the other models performed consistently great on everything the way the Weber kettle did. Not to beat a dead burger, but the aforementioned thermometer really did help me manage my fire better. The Weber also features a hook on the inside of the lid, which you can use to hang the lid off the side of the grill.
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. Unless weber portable grill it was not an option (like with the PK Grill model), we opted to test versions of these grills without built-in carts or side tables. They can add unnecessary bulk and cost to a type of grill often chosen for being compact and cost-efficient.
The handle slides easily and stays cool to the touch—no need to put on gloves or use a towel. Measuring 39.5 x 22.5 x 27 inches, this grill takes up a minimal amount of space in weber portable grill your backyard or on the porch while still offering a decent-sized cooking surface. It’s about waist level in height for almost everyone, so it’s quite comfortable to cook on.
An automatic propane start makes this an ideal grill for beginners—you don’t need to master the use of a chimney to get the fire started. Although our testers found it a little awkward to put together without a second person, it’s a sturdy, well-built grill that you’ll feel confident about using once it is fully assembled. With four smooth-rolling wheels that lock into place, it’s easy to maneuver around your patio or yard. A cheap charcoal grill isn’t worth the savings if it’s unstable, struggles to maintain temperature, or is awkward to use. Likewise, a high-end, expensive grill is only worth the splurge if it helps you cook a superior steak (or burger, or whatever), and is a pleasure to use. A good example is the Slow N’ Sear deluxe (read my review here) – which is an add-on for kettle grills that essentially creates a quintessential two-zone fire (pictured below).
As a preventative, you’ll want to oil the meats and veggies before they go on to prevent sticking and extra scraping. No matter what you slap on it, the Weber can cook it—hot and fast or low and slow. I’ve thrown pork, burgers, steaks, chicken, veggies, and even some pineapple on the Weber with fabulous results. You can even use the Weber to slowly smoke more traditional barbecue by adding a little wood to the fire. 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.
Sign up to receive new product news, exclusive offers, grilling tips & recipes, and more from Weber and its affiliates / subsidiaries! To learn how we use your information, see our privacy policy. Cheers to the modern version of the kettle that started it all – the Original Kettle. Due to the grate-to-lid height on a kettle, making an upright (or ‘beer can’) chicken can be difficult to cook in an 18.5” or 22.5” kettle.
It’s also super sturdy, with four wheels and plenty of work and storage space. When used as a smoker, it produced large amounts of smoke and heat, with ribs that ranked among the highest in tenderness and overall rib quality. The punch of color isn’t the only nostalgic touch on this Weber 70th Anniversary Kettle Grill. It also features white-walled wheels and handles made of nylon that look like real wood. Although you might feel like you’ve stepped back in time, this limited edition grill offers all the modern touches you would expect from Weber. The integrated lid thermometer looks like a hood ornament, and the bottom storage shelf is a solid surface instead of a wire shelf.