On balance, gas is probably the better choice if you favor no-fuss cooking or grill often . If you’re an occasional griller or you enjoy getting hands-on with your cooking, charcoal is an economical choice that, with a bit of practice, produces superb results. Nothing beats the smoky barbecue flavor that can only be created on a charcoal grill. While the Weber is a very basic cooker, it does have a few helpful features.
Before any grill goes out, the brand tests everything to ensure it matches the brand’s high standards. In terms of longevity, Weber grills will last you practically forever . And if for some reason something goes wrong with your grill, Weber has an excellent customer support team, who can help you find replacement parts and services.
Meat from the Nexgrill was delicious, with just a bit more flavor than the Weber. Between them, I’d say it largely depends on your budget and what style of grill you prefer for other meats like burgers or steak. Clean the grates before or after each use by brushing them free of cooked-on gunk and wiping them with a wet rag.
There are a few models under the Q line, but prices generally only climb with higher power levels and for options that come with fold-out side tables. It adds another four inches of grill space, which means eight burgers instead of five. The Ranch kettle comes in one size and it’s absolutely enormous. Easily the largest of Weber’s kettle-shaped grills, the Ranch is overkill for all but Weber brand loyalists that need to make more than 40 burgers at a time. Weber grills aren’t the cheapest grills, but they’re also not super expensive.
It’s compact yet big enough to cook an entire elaborate meal for a family, a simple spread for a party, or even a whole Thanksgiving turkey. The authenticity of charcoal grilling started with the Original Kettle® Series grills, invented by Weber? His idea was that the rounded cooking bowl with a lid was the key to success. The ultra-durable, porcelain-enameled lid and bowl are uniquely designed to retain the charcoal’s heat, while dampers are easily adjusted for precise temperature control.
I also like to nestle a water pan at the center of the charcoal grate. It’ll serve as a heat reservoir and helps to smooth out temperature swings. The substances used, and the way they stand up to heavy usage and extreme heat will establish the caliber of a charcoal grill. Porcelain-coated and chrome-plated will perform the job for less, but these thinner substances won’t always stand up to intensive usage over time. There is a lot to be said for the convenience and ease that gas and electric grills provide, but the authentic experience of charcoal is simply unmatched.
Before the cooking tests, we spent a day assembling the three grills. Overall, the cooking tests were far more important to us; you typically only assemble a grill once. But poor instructions can make assembly slow, frustrating, and full of retraced steps. And a simply bad design can make assembly needlessly weber q difficult. Plus, poorly finished parts can have dangerously sharp edges—sometimes sharp enough to cause a nasty cut. Based on our conversations with Joe Salvaggio of Big Apple BBQ and the many manufacturers at the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Expo, we eliminated kamados and pellet griller-smokers for this guide.
Clean-up is a big drawback with charcoal grilling, so the tray is a very welcome addition. We tested the 22-inch weber q in black, but Weber also offers an 18-inch version of its original kettle design. There are certainly fancier and more expensive grills to use for cooking, but for a balance of affordability and quality, you can’t go wrong with this classic.