So far I’ve grilled salmon, chicken breast, burgers and hot dogs on it and they’ve all cooked evenly and browned very well. Because of its smaller size, charcoal usage is reduced but it still gets plenty hot enough to do an effective job,” noted one buyer. With 360 square inches of primary cooking surface, the grill box is larger than the 300 square-inch Classic model, but retains PK’s characteristic flat bottom and rectangular shape. There’s also a unique configuration of bottom left and right adjustable air intake dampers and corresponding top left and right exhaust dampers. The wide flat bottom makes it easy to push charcoal to one side and create two very distinct direct and indirect zones.
However, many grilling purists don’t feel that gas grills offer the same smoky flavor that you can get from a charcoal grill. Weber gas grills tend to cost more than charcoal models, but gas is usually cheaper to operate in the long run. The grill is a classic weber portable grill 22-inch kettle, offering 363 square inches of cooking space, and there’s a weather-protected charcoal storage bin underneath the grill’s shelf. Most charcoal grills are simple, but this one has various extra features that make it more convenient.
In her spare time, you’ll find her planning her next trip, reading historical fiction, and seeing as much art as she can squeeze into a weekend. Ribs cooked on the Nexgrill had lots of bark but were juicy and tender inside. Stack your charcoal briquettes in two rows of two deep along the inner wall of the grill.
And if you want that great dark mahogany steakhouse sear, crank the coals to right below your steak. This arrangement is better than the Santa Maria-style grill where the food moves up and down and the coals are stationary because the head room above the food isn’t reduced. They’re easy to start up and you can start cooking on them in minutes with little effort.
If your model doesn’t have one, it’s a good idea to buy one separately, so you can cook more effectively and efficiently. Gas grills are very common, and Weber has a variety of convenient gas models. Weber’s gas grills run on either natural gas from your home’s line or propane from a tank. The main advantage of a Weber gas grill is that it doesn’t require as much prep or cleanup time as a charcoal model.
Even if it costs a little more, you’ll be glad you shelled out the extra dough for that convenience, which takes away much of the pain in the ash. A grill grate is the surface you put your food on to cook, and it’s the only part that makes direct contact with your ingredients. With that in mind, the material your grate is made of directly affects your food’s taste and cook time, as well as the lifespan of your grill.
They’re versatile too since they can use either traditional charcoal briquettes or lump charcoal as fuel. Our last test is grilling barbecued ribs, specifically baby back pork ribs. This style of cooking requires strict temperature control over a period of multiple hours. Ideally, a quality charcoal grill (or any smoker) will keep its fire humming along close to 225 degrees F for as long as possible. Lidless charcoal grills may be good for simple grilling, like cooking burgers and shrimp over direct heat, but you need a lid to successfully roast turkeys and smoke ribs. The average full-size grill is around 400 to 500 square inches—plenty of room to make enough food for a backyard gathering.