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.
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, 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 clean grill is essential to flavor, and cleaning the Weber is a fairly simple affair thanks to the ash catcher. I managed to get it all in the can every time—something I can’t say about the original plate-style weber kettle bbq catcher, with which I probably lost an average of about 40 percent of the ashes to the wind. A quality charcoal grill should be simple to set up, ideally requiring just one person and limited tools.
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.
Maintaining a consistent temperature is crucial, and the Weber does this better than any other in its price range. You can thank the porcelain-enameled bowl and lid, which are heat retention pros, for that. Still, keeping an eye on the weber kettle bbq thermometer will help you determine if you need to add more coal, wood, or even adjust the airflow using the rust-resistant aluminum dampers. These vents are also useful when extinguishing the fire, as closing them cuts off oxygen.
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.
The image below on the left is the setup I used to cook the half chickens shown on the right. I mop/basted the chickens while cooking directly over the coals for an hour. The half chickens were just ready to come off the grill in the image, notice they are not burnt after one hour of direct cooking. Instead of placing the hot coals in a pile I spread them out sparsely so I have low even heat under the cooking area. Because of their design kettle grills are very versatile and can be used for much more than just grilling up burgers and dogs.
Weber kettle grills are made with superior construction and built to last for years. The porcelain-enamel coating is fired onto the bowl and lid at 1500° F, fusing the finish to the steel. Just clean with soapy water when necessary, and your grill will look like it’s new. We also decided to test the popular PK Grill & Smoker, acknowledging that high-quality charcoal grills of different designs may have advantages that kettle grills don’t.