Weber Original Kettle Premium 22 Charcoal Grill Review

Without getting too bogged down in the science of this, the shape allows near perfect heat distribution while also reducing flare-ups. An impressive smoker-grill hybrid that bridges the gap with barbecue perfectly. The perfect place to start for charcoal newbies and seasoned pros alike. Lesley Stockton is a senior staff writer reporting on all things cooking and entertaining for Wirecutter. Her expertise builds on a lifelong career in the culinary world—from a restaurant cook and caterer to a food editor at Martha Stewart. She is perfectly happy to leave all that behind to be a full-time kitchen-gear nerd.

Maybe an electric grill isn’t exactly what you’re looking for, but since Weber is behind the Pulse, it’s a worthwhile grill to consider. The Pulse reaches up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit, with the ability to control it through an app. The grill features a dual grilling zone, which can hold up to 12 burgers. Like the charcoal version of the Summit, the gas model is as feature-rich as it gets. It carries everything from the Genesis and adds burners, BTUs and some very handy automatic lights on the hood for nighttime grilling.

weber charcoal grill

In our research, most proved to be cheap knockoffs that weren’t worth the minor savings. We resolved instead to find a kettle that could compete with the Weber on performance, price, and value. But we also opened our search to include charcoal grills of different designs. The fact that the kettle shape dominates the charcoal-grilling field doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the ideal. But what really sets the Premium version apart from the standard 22-inch kettleis the enclosed ash catcher, which makes cleanup easy and eliminates concerns about stray embers. Assembly is dead simple, and the construction and materials are sturdy.

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. I found that just pushing the leg in a little and then tapping the wheel covers on with a hammer (ball-peen, claw, or even a rubber mallet) worked. We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. BBQGuys does more than test and sell grills — we show you how to use them, too. Our experts provide the recipes and skills you need to be a grill master.

Great Value for the Price- Weber offers a charcoal grill for everyone. Weber grill sizes range from the 14 inch Smokey Joe Portable to the 37 inch Ranch Kettle. The Weber Summit is widely considered to be the best charcoal grill Weber has ever produced. weber charcoal grill With nine collections of charcoal grills, there’s a Weber to meet your needs. Fill a chimney starter full of briquettes, or lump charcoal, and ignite it. When they’re fully caught after about 15 to 20 minutes, dump the coals into the grill.

They go the extra mile to ensure that every purchaser of a Weber charcoal grill finds a solution to any problem they encounter, and always feels satisfied with their grill. These systems are especially useful if you’d like to limit the headaches of low and slow barbecue babysitting. Even with fancy hardware, if you add too much lit fuel at once, your pit temperature will run away from you.

When it came to assembly, the only direct comparison we could make was between the Weber and the Napoleon. Both models shared a similar overall design, but the Weber model weber charcoal grill was comprehensively superior. With simple instructions and a minimal need for tools or acrobatics, Weber has clearly refined its engineering to maximize simplicity.

The most-premium of the kettles adds Gourmet BBQ System grates , a warming rack and char-baskets. Built to Last- Charcoal Weber Grills feature a tried and true design and solid engineering. Weber believes in the quality and craftsmanship of their grills, and offer the warranty to back it up.

Cooking ribs low and slow on the Nexgrill required just 4 hours, 30 minutes. Its rack came out well too, though like the Napoleon, its bark was more pronounced than what the Weber produced. The difference between the two was largely in the crispiness of the skin, with the Weber producing the superior results.