The Best Charcoal Grills of 2023

That doesn’t mean all charcoal grills are created equal, however. This is a superior grill to most on the market — it’s built to function and to last, and it’s worth every penny. And, yes, I totally love those few features; not having to hand-scoop the ash is a blessing, and the lid hook will save you from dents and scratches.

Once the victuals were hot and sizzling, they were eagerly placed inside soft Wonder Bread buns, slathered with ketchup and all the other fixins, and devoured with gusto. At a certain moment, Dad would decide that the charcoal was ready for cooking. On would go the grate, and an assortment of burger patties, hot dogs, and sausages were laid upon this culinary altar. When it comes to BBQ-ing around here, I’ve been using a gas grill during the 10 years I’ve lived in my house.

In no time you’ll be reaping the rewards of an easy meal with true smoky flavor. The first bite of tender, fall-off-the-bone meat makes taking it low-and-slow worth every moment. The Smokey Mountain Cooker™ smoker has two cooking grates for smoking multiple items at once, and easily adjustable dampers for precision heat control. To my childhood mind, firing up a Weber charcoal grill had existential significance.

From burgers to chicken to slow-smoked ribs, this Weber model’s time-tested design produces great results—at a terrific price. After spending two days cooking 40 pounds of burgers, BBQ, and whole chickens, we recommend the Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill 22″. Thanks to more than weber charcoal grill seven decades of continuous refinement, it’s the most versatile, most user-friendly, and best-performing charcoal grill we’ve tested. In this setup, the lid thermometer is measuring the temperature of the hot zone (above the coals) rather than the cool zone (where the food is place).

And if you plan to cook low and slow we suggest adding a few chunks of hardwood to your charcoal pile. This brings about more smoke flavor in barbecue meat like pork ribs, pork butt and beef brisket. Visions of tasty backyard cookouts never cease no matter what season it is. It’s always a great time to up your outdoor cooking game by using the best charcoal grill you can find. A charcoal grill might sound less luxurious than a gas grill, but when it comes to flavor, the best charcoal grills absolutely compete. 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.

There’s no table or workbench, which is a boon for those looking to streamline storage. The warranty isn’t as generous as other models—one year for the grill, and five for the burner—but for under $100, we still think it’s a great deal. We independently evaluate all recommended products and services.

weber charcoal grill

With more time and family personnel available they gradually began increasing the length of their season and daily hours. As they became known throughout the Lehigh Valley and as business increased they made the decision to stop produce farming so they could better serve the growing demand for their products. Add-ons like the above quickly take the Weber Premium kettle to roughly the same price-point; At the time of Writing this article, the SNS Deluxe kettle is $379.99 on their website. Where-as with the Slow N’ Sear Kettle you essentially get everything you need to smoke with.

Up higher, food cooks on the food grate, and you top it all off with the dome-shaped lid to trap the heat and smoke. To boot, the app boasts scores of recipes to keep your menu fresh weber charcoal grill and your family excited about trying new foods. One other trick to note during assembly is that you will have to apply a little bit of tension to the legs when installing the wheels.

As a smoker, it burned through wood quickly, but with regular monitoring, the temperature was consistent and accurate. Charcoal evangelists swear food cooked over coals tastes better. In the interest of avoiding controversy, let’s say different fuels have different characteristics. The merits of charcoal do lie in its smoky flavor and nostalgia-inducing scent. The difference between the two was largely in the crispiness of the skin, with the Weber producing the superior results. Meat from the Nexgrill was delicious, with just a bit more flavor than the Weber.