Stein’s Charcoal Grills

We have several recommendations for charcoal grills, at a host of price points. However, for under $200, we think a lot grillers will be happy with the Weber Original 22-Inch Kettle Grill, which performs incredibly well and will last forever. From Weber to Napoleon, we’ve tested gas grills that cost less than $100 up to grills that cost more than a used car. The most boring product on this list may be the most necessary. With the 18-inch Weber Original Kettle Grill, you can still get the full Weber charcoal grilling experience for under $100.

The Weber can also smoke low and slow at a rock-steady cooking temperature. The Smokey Mountain Cooker™ smoker has two cooking grates to smoke two large items at once or plenty of ribs. The fuel door is removable so that adding charcoal and wood is easy, and the dampers allow you to be in control of the heat for tender, fall-off-the-bone meat. This high-tech model offers 560 square inches of cooking space, and its reversible cast iron grates can be used for both smoking and searing. For instance, the grill is equipped with cast iron cooking grates, as well as a convenient side drawer for adding charcoal. It even has a built-in wooden side shelf where you can keep tools and serving dishes.

weber charcoal grill

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 weber genesis 2 handles, and something dense to tap the end caps of the wheel axle into place. One person can have the grill up and running within minutes of opening the box.

When grilling things like hot dogs and hamburgers, you don’t need to put the lid on. 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.

The Weber grill has three legs—an inherently stable design, because having three points of contact means the legs will automatically “find their level” even on bumpy ground. That said, the Napoleon model’s four legs felt just as stable, and more stiff, on a garden-variety concrete patio—and also allowed Napoleon to install a big, square shelf underneath the grill. The Weber grill has a smaller, triangular shelf, weber q but it’s far less useful. We backed this reporting up with comprehensive research—the in-depth, professional reviews at AmazingRibs.com being a standout source—and hands-on time with grills at the big hardware chains. Featuring the biggest selection of sauces, rubs and accessories! The Weber Original Kettle dots the backyard of millions of American homes, making it practically synonymous with summer grilling.

Gravity grills have a side charcoal hopper, with a blower on the bottom to blow the fumes — and therefore heat — into your cook chamber, according to Horsman. Kamado grills, like the popular Big Green Egg, are a type of airtight charcoal grill, typically made of ceramic. Kamado grills are “the gold standard” of grills, according to Consumer Reports, and offer grillers precise temperature control. If the burners are deprived of oxygen, the flame goes out, but the gas fuel keeps coming, building up under the hood and creating a serious fire hazard.

Its ultra-durable, porcelain-enameled lid and bowl retain heat, while the dampers easily adjust for precise temperature control. The classic kettle-style charcoal grill is the granddaddy of backyard barbecues. In fact, you might be tempted to break out a nice pair of loafers and light up a pipe standing in front of one.