Built-in thermometers like those tend to be slow to respond and they’re often inaccurate, because they sit inside the grill lid and measure heat levels at the top of the grill cavity. We measured the temperature of the grill surface, as well as the internal temperature of the weber genesis 2 chicken, with an external thermometer to ensure that any built-in temperate gauges were accurate. For the most part, the built-in thermometers were accurate, with the exception of the Cuisinart gauge, which barely registered any temperature throughout our testing process.
Barrel-style charcoal grills, while larger, can be more difficult to manage and harder to clean. There are cheaper versions of the kettle out there, but the Weber’s quality construction makes it a valuable purchase that should last you a long time. The only real learning curve to cooking on a charcoal grill is fire management, but the built-in thermometer makes that easier.
Stack your charcoal briquettes in two rows of two deep along the inner wall of the grill. In no time you’ll be reaping the rewards of an easy meal with true smoky flavor. Wirecutter is weber q the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions.
Cook delicious burgers, juicy steaks, game-day hot dogs and yummy veggies to perfection with a new weber charcoal grill or Weber smoker grill from Ace Hardware. Weber has the charcoal smokers, portable charcoal grills and all the accessories you need to become a true grill master. Find charcoal barbecue grills to handle everything from grilling to smoking your favorite foods online now. For the high-heat, whole-grate burger test, we lit a chimney’s worth of briquets—the equivalent of six quarts, or about 90 coals of a former runner-up from our extensive briquet tests. We poured the lit coals into the grills, spread them in an even layer, and then heated the grills with the lids down and all vents fully open for 15 minutes (a standard manufacturer’s recommendation).
Another powerful draw of these grills is the intense smoky flavor they create in the food they cook. 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.