Toss in some wood chunks and smoke ribs low and slow on the opposite side over smokey, indirect heat. In addition to the enhanced performance for low-and-slow smoking, Slow ‘N Sear creates a super sear weber gas grill zone when filled with red hot charcoal. 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.
If you want a family-sized charcoal grill that’s about $200 and that can cook anything and will last forever, the Weber Original 22-Inch Kettle Grill is it. When George Stephen, Sr. introduced the Weber Kettle in 1952, he set America’s backyards on fire (in a good way). Today’s design is not far from the original, and it’s by far the most popular backyard grill in the world. We have several recommendations for charcoal grills, at a host of price points.
You can get by grilling burgers and hot dogs with a compact, inexpensive charcoal grill. Interior temperatures had a greater swing, jumping up to 300 degrees F during periods of cooking. While its ribs came out tender and juicy overall, the exterior bark had a few burnt spots. None of the hood thermometers built into these grills mirrored the temperatures recorded by our own thermocouples and data software.
While it’s on the small side with just 147 square inches of cooking area, this compact grill is an unbeatable value, especially considering its reliable performance. The kettle-style grill weighs less than 10 pounds, making it a top choice for camping or on-the-go grilling, and its porcelain-enameled lid and bowl provide impeccable heat retention. When shopping for a charcoal grill, there are numerous styles, including kettle, barrel, and kamado grills. Kettle grills have a relatively small circular cooking area, making them ideal for small families, but if you regularly cook for a crowd, barrel-style grills offer more space. Kamado grills have thick ceramic walls that provide excellent insulation and work well for grilling and smoking. Cooking over charcoal takes longer than cooking with a gas grill, and we typically need to add more fuel during cooking to keep our grills above 350 degrees F for the full duration.
However, for about $200, we think a lot grillers will be happy with the Weber Original 22-Inch Kettle Grill. For five or more people, look for a grill with at least 550 square inches of cooking area. For one or two people, look for a grill with approximately 200 square inches of cooking area. It also has a rail system, letting users raise and lower its coal basket at nine different heights, and adjustable tripod legs to level it out on uneven surfaces.
Start by lighting your coals and letting your grill heat up for about 10 minutes. This should heat the grates enough that any crusted-on food can be easily removed with a grill brush. After you clean the grates, oil them using a paper towel dipped in oil and held in tongs.
Charcoal grills can be intimidating initially, as they’re more complicated to operate than gas-powered grills. But once you get the hang of cooking with charcoal, you’ll probably fall in love with the smoky flavor and tender texture it creates. Don’t get carried away with obsessing over the most feature-heavy charcoal grill—consider what and how you’ll cook, and take it from there.
Ribs cooked on the Napoleon grill came out tasty, though with bark that was a little dry. We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. These are the worst mistakes to make when grilling at a tailgate.