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. I prefer the weber, coated cast-iron grates to the plated steel grates the Original Kettle comes with, but there are worse things, and the plated steel still cooks relatively well.
If you like to switch up your cooking style once in a while, you’ll love The Original PK Grill & Smoker. This model delivers the best of both worlds, and it’s perfect weber genesis 2 for both casual grillers and professional chefs. For a lower price point and a little less grilling space, check out the Weber Original Kettle 18-Inch Charcoal Grill.
If you are interested in getting a grate that is going to last then go ahead and invest in one made of 100% stainless steel. The Stainless steel grate is going to last many years longer and has the extra benefit of being easier to clean. The general idea is that the Vortex allows you to arrange the charcoal in a way that is perfect for ultra crispy chicken wings and extreme high heat searing for steaks.
Lid thermometers are seldom accurate, and they tell you the temperature at the top of the dome when you really need to know what’s going on at the grate. Let me qualify portable bbq that statement; you can absolutely smoke meat in this grill, but it is a bit of a chore. Down below is the steel charcoal grate upon which you place your fuel.
The legs and ash catcher slot effortlessly into built-in sockets and lock into place with idiot-proof spring pins—not a bolt or screw in sight. Weber even supplies a simple plastic tool to help you attach the thermometer without digging out a wrench. All you need is a Phillips screwdriver to attach the side handles, and something dense to tap the end caps of the wheel axle into place.
Here are some of the best accessories to help you mange the fire in your grill. The Art of Manliness participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links. We only recommend products we genuinely like, and purchases made through our links support our mission and the free content we publish here on AoM. The Weber Charcoal Kettle has been the king of the backyard BBQ since the 1950s.