So, let’s say the story began when you ate a hot dog at a barbeque getaway your friends organized. And after eating their well-grilled meat on a Charcoal Grill, you decided to get one too.
Now, we can put a checkmark to that on your to-do list, now the next real decision you’re to make is in getting the right Charcoal Grill that’s right for you. Decisions like that require considering lots of factors, like features, price, pros, and cons, among others.
The purpose of this article is to fill out the gap between you going to a store, having no idea about Charcoal Grills, and going to the store with one goal in mind – getting that particular brand of the best Charcoal Grill that’s right for you.
Technically speaking, there’s nothing more alluring than the sweet-smelling savor, knockout flavors, and aroma a Charcoal Grill produces. Using a Charcoal Grill is all about the art, skill, technique, and process; however, the type of Grill you use also contributes to the much delicious result at the end that makes us wanting more. So, without further ado, let’s dive right into the details.
10 Best Charcoal Grill Reviews
Without sounding biased, Charcoal Grills differ; some have more quality than others. So, in this article, we’d first walk you through 10 best-handpicked Charcoal Grills you’d want first to consider getting.
1. Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill – Editor Choice
Features:
- Product Dimensions: 39.5 x 22.5 x 27 inches
- Cooking Area: Total 363 square inches
- One-Touch cleaning system
- Precision Heat Control
- Withstands High Temperatures
- Shields Handle From Heat
- Durable Wheels
Since the 1950s, the Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill has made food a little tastier. This premium model features a built-in thermometer on its lid for proper temperature monitoring.
Furthermore, there is a hinged cooking grate, which reduces the hassle of adding or removing charcoal. The cover is also further made with a porcelain-enameled coating, which is an excellent heat retentive, as well as a great peel-resistant and rust-resistant material.
The lid can hook the Grill, which helps avoid placing the lid on the ground while using the Grill. And with the One-Touch cleaning system, cleaning up the charcoal mess after using the Grill is even more comfortable.
It measures up to 39.5 x 22.5 x 27 inches, which doesn’t take too much space wherever you decide to mount it, yet it offers you enough cooking surface. When this Grill is standing, it levels up to the height of the waist of most people, making it quite comfortable to use. Its 363 square inches cooking surface area can comfortably accommodate up to 13 burgers or a whole chicken.
Believe it or not, this Weber grill comes with a free app with grill guides on how to cook so many types of proteins and vegetables. The app features an explanation on how to position the fuel, which depends on what you want to cook. There is also a timer to keep you reminded when you need to check what you’re cooking.
Pros
- It has a relatively simple and compact design
- It is budget-friendly
- Ash catcher makes it easy to clean after cooking
Cons
- Charcoal takes more time to ignite than gas
- It’s a medium-sized grill, and not suitable for a big crowd
2. Weber 121020 GO-Anywhere Charcoal Grill – Best Value
Features:
- Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 21 x 14.5 inches
- Cooking Area: Total 160 square area
- Plated steel cooking grate
- Convenient carrying handles
The Weber 121020 GO-Anywhere charcoal grill is a portable and lightweight grill you can take anywhere you go. It’s compact and can easily fit into your trunk, and at the same time, it’s big enough for grilling for two or more.
It doesn’t feature a bell or a thermometer, but it still has a list of useful features that will appease you. Like it’s built with a triple nickel coated steel grate that makes it straightforward to clean. Its lid has a porcelain enamel steel coating.
It also has dampers that allow you the option to regulate the grilling temperature inside easily. The lid can be locked in place with its pivoting legs, making it easy to carry the Grill around in one hand. Besides, there is a lid hanger where you can rest the lid by the side to form a kind of barrier against the wind.
This Grill has a durable plated steel with very high retentive heat capacity. Its ventilating system is such that it allows you to adjust the temperature inside the griller easily. It features two on its sides, and two on top of the lid.
It is a perfect grill to get for tailgate parties and camping. Surprisingly, even though this rectangular-shaped Grill measures 4.5 x 21 x 12.25 inches, it still offers a decent amount of cooking area – about 160 square inches, which is quite big and can hold up to 4 medium steaks, and up to 6 average burgers.
Pros
- It’s compact/portable and can be carried anywhere with ease
- The ash doesn’t make a mess which makes it easy to clean up after
- It has an excellent ventilating system
Cons
- It is short and not height adjustable
- It has a plastic lid handle
3. Char-Griller E56720 AKORN Kamado Charcoal Grill – Best Overall
Features:
- Product Dimensions: 45.2 x 31.3 x 47.4 inches
- Cooking Area: Total 447 Square inches, primary space 314 Square inches, warming rack 133 Square inches
- Durable steel construction built to last
- Cast iron cooking grates
The Char-Griller Charcoal Grill is a magnificent, insulated steel, double-walled durable cooker. It features a thermometer, and indexed dampers which deliver juicy and moist grills anytime you use it. Its two convenient sided shelves give you a comfortable place to keep your utensils and can fold away when it’s not in use.
It has a design built to last as it also comes with 22 gauge steel with an exterior powder coating steel finishing and an interior porcelain-coated steel. This tripod griller also features two large 8-inch front wheels and at the rear is a locking caster wheel, so it’s easy to move the Grill around.
Getting to the versatility of this grilling machine, well, you can use it for grilling, smoking and even regular cooking. It features an adjustable top damper, which helps with controlling the airflow and heat. It has a bottom damper for controlling the airflow for more precise temperature regulation.
There is also a thermometer for you to easily monitor the temperature and adjust accordingly to what’s right for what you’re doing. There’s also an ashtray which makes collecting the ash and cleaning easy and quick.
Additionally, this Charcoal Grill also features 314 inches by inches large iron cooking surface and 133 inches by inches removable rack to make a total of 447 inches by inches.
Note that the 133 inches by inches warming rack stays above the cast-iron grilling space. The Kamado insulated design gives off more heat and uses less charcoal. And its steel can maintain a cooking temperature ranging from 200-700 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pros
- It has a temperature gauge for monitoring the temperature
- It ash collector makes it easy to clean up after
- The two side shelves make grilling a lot more fun
Cons
- It is quite large and occupies a lot of space
4. Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill 18 Inch – Best Pick 2020
Features:
- Product Dimensions: 19.75 x 20.5 x 19.75 inches
- Cooking Area: Total 240 square inches
- Heavy-gauge steel charcoal grate
- Lid handle with heat shield
The Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill is the perfect Grill to kick start a getaway, beach party, or a night of tailgating with friends or family. It is a small, portable, lightweight grill weighing about 22-pound total weight, so you can easily carry it with you or put it in the trunk of your car. It features a classic locking bar that holds the lid in place, ensuring that the sweet-smelling savory of your Grill doesn’t all escape to thin air.
The lid handle also has a heat shield, so you don’t hurt yourself with the heat from the Grill. The Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill also has a tripod design and features an ash collector. The bowl and lid have a porcelain enamel coating, which gives it that high-end look.
There is also an aluminum top vent, which helps in regulating the temperature. The Grill measures up to 18 inches tall and has a total of 240 square inches of cooking space on its steel cooking grate plated with nickel. In other words, this Grill has enough space to hold up eight burgers.
It also features a Tuck-N-Carry lid kind of lock system, which holds the lid in place when you open it, so you don’t have to put it on the ground. Furthermore, there are dampers for optimum temperature regulation inside the Grill.
Pros
- Perfect griller for picnic cause its lightweight and portable
- Its ash catcher doesn’t let the ash make a nuisance
- Easy to assembly
- Made with heavy gauge and steel charcoal grate
Cons
- It has minimal space under the lid
- It’s is not tall
5. Weber Original Kettle 18 Inch Charcoal Grill – Top Rated
Features:
- Product Dimensions: 18.5 x 23 x 35 inches
- Cooking Area: Total 240 square inches
- Durable plated steel cooking grate
- One Touch cleaning system
The Weber Original Kettle 18 inch Charcoal Grill is one of the best durable portable grilling machines on the market. It offers an ample 240 square inches cooking surface, which is wide enough to accommodate nine burgers. The Grill has a porcelain-enameled lid and bowl, which is excellent at retaining heat and wouldn’t peel or rust.
The Grill has a unique design that allows the arrangement of coal on the fuel grate to give an indirect or direct grilling, whichever you prefer. And for more precise heat control, there are easily adjustable dampers that you can close or open without lifting the lid to extinguish.
Furthermore, the lid has a hook that prevents you from placing it on the ground while grilling. The lid handle and bowl handle also come with a heat shield, so you don’t hurt yourself when the lid gets too hot. One feature that would always stand out in the Weber Original Kettle 18 Inches is that it has a One-Touch cleaning system.
So, it’s completely hassle-free to clean up the charcoal ash when you’re done grilling by swipe control to sweep it into the rust-resistant ash catcher. This tripod grill also has two durable wheels, which makes it easy to move the Grill around the yard with ease.
Pros
- It’s easy to clean
- Made of porcelain enamel which has a high heat retention capacity and doesn’t peel or rust
- Dampers make regulating temperature easy
- Its two durable wheels make it easy to move the Grill around the yard
Cons
- No temperature gauge
6. Weber 741001 Original Kettle 22-Inch – Best Weber Charcoal Grill
Features:
- Product Dimensions: 25 x 22.5 x 39.5 inches
- Cooking Area: Total 363 square inches
- Durable plated steel cooking grate retains heat
- One touch cleaning system
The Weber 741001 Original Kettle 22 Inch is similar to the Weber Original Kettle 18 inches. The catch of this grilling machine is that it has a 22.5-inch diameter cooking grate. It also has a 363 square inches wide cooking surface area that can hold up to 13 burgers.
This grilling machine bowl and lid has a porcelain enamel coating finishing, which is both peel-resistant and rust-resistant. The cooking grate comes with a durable plated steel that has a very high heat-retaining property and is very easy to clean. Below the cooking grate is a One-Touch cleaning system that makes cleaning up the ash hassle-free. After grilling, you can sweep the charcoal ash and debris into a rust-resistant ash catcher.
To further add, the lid has an angled hook, which makes it easy for hanging it on the side of the Grill, so you don’t have to put the cover on the ground while grilling. There are also measures put into consideration while designing this griller regarding precision heat control.
So, without lifting the lid, you can control the temperature in the grate by closing or opening the dampers. The design of the griller also allows you to arrange the charcoal such that it’s either indirect or direct grilling. The handles further have heat shields allowing you to operate the griller even when it’s hot. And with the tripod’s two durable wheels, you can move the griller around your yard with ease.
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- It has heat resistant handles
- It is durable
- The airflow system is excellent
- It has a large cooking area of 363 square inches
Cons
- No temperature gauge to monitor the heat intensity inside the griller
7. Royal Gourmet CC1830F Charcoal Grill – Best Offset Charcoal Smoker & Grill
Features:
- Product Dimensions: 45.3 x 26.8 x 48 inches
- Cooking Area: Total 800 square inch, primary space 438 square inch, warming rack 183 square inch
- porcelain steel cooking grates
- 2 wheels designed for easy transport
When you’re having friends or family coming over often this grilling season, then the Royal Gourmet CC1830F Charcoal Grill and Offset Smoker, 30 inches in length, is a perfect choice for your grilling, smoking, and cooking. It’s straightforward to set up and to clean up after grilling. It has a big capacity charcoal pan that can hold up to 5 pounds of charcoal at once.
It features a two-level charcoal pan, which makes it possible to lift the charcoal handles to adjust the height of the charcoal. There are also two storage racks, the front table and bottom shelf steel mesh, which is very convenient.
The Royal Gourmet CC1830F Charcoal Grill is a perfect combination of an offset smoker, which is excellent for heating and smoking with a side door for adding charcoal and an air vent for granting better airflow. This grilling machine provides an ample 438 square inches main chamber and a ¼-inch diameter porcelain steel grate.
There is also the 179 inches by inches Swing Away Warming Rack, which offers you a secondary cooking area made of porcelain steel. It also features a heavy-duty lid with a thermometer for monitoring the temperature with dampers for more precise heat control. And with its two wheels, you can move the Grill around your yard with ease.
Pros
- Two-level charcoal pan for adjusting the height of the charcoal
- It has a thermometer
- Porcelain wire cooking grates
- Perfect for smoking and grilling
Cons
- It’s quite big
8. Weber 10020 Smokey Joe 14-Inch – Best Portable Charcoal Grill
Features:
- Product Dimensions: 14.2 x 14.5 x 17 inches
- Cooking Area: Total 147 square inch
- Plated steel cooking grate
- Easily control temperature
The Weber 10020 Smokey Joe 14-Inch is a portable grill you can quickly load up in your car for a perfect getaway, tailgate, and picnics. It is durable, compact, and it’s lightweight design only weighs a somewhat 10 pounds.
This Weber 10020 Smokey grill is ideal for cooking up vegetables, small roasts, chicken, chops, and steaks with its large cooking area of 147 square inches that can hold up to 3 steaks and five burgers.
The lid and bowl of the Grill have a porcelain enamel coating finishing, which is highly peel-resistant and rust-resistant. Cleaning up the Grill after using it is hassle-free as you can remove the ash easily by swiping it off through the bottom vent into an ash collector tray below the bowl.
It also features rust-resistant aluminum dampers, which allows you to regulate the temperature inside your Grill without having to open the lid. Likewise, its cooking grates are plated steel. Furthermore, the handle has insulators that allow you to use the Grill even when it’s hot. This tripod grill measures up to 17 x 14.25 x 14.25 inches, which are pretty small and straightforward.
Pros
- A simple, lightweight grill
- Its aluminum ash collector making cleaning easy
- Adjustable bottom and to vent
- Even though the bodywork is small, it has an extensive cooking area of 46 square inches.
Cons
- The grills legs are small and can bend easily
- Many users complain of the bottom vent getting stuck
9. Royal Gourmet CC1830F-C 90-00-0 Charcoal Grill – Best For Offset Smoker
Features:
- Product Dimensions: 45.3 x 26.8 x 48 inches
- Cooking Area: Total 800 square inches
- Easy to read thermometer
- 2 wheels designed for easy transport
The Royal Gourmet Charcoal Grill with an Offset Smoker is an easy to assemble Smoker and Grill. It features a seamless mechanism that connects the main chamber with the side smoker, which helps to keep the Grill warm and heat up quickly.
There is also a kind of lid groove design that keeps the Grill completely sealed for optimum performance of the side smoker box. And with the heat resistant black process paint, the heat stays inside with no room for paint chips.
The cooking grate has a porcelain enamel steel coating finishing for the main chamber and chrome warming rack, which totals 800 square inches cooking surface area. The porcelain enamel evenly retains the heat, which helps lock in the juice to make the meat even more tender.
This Grill also features a two-level adjustable charcoal pan. So by lifting the handles, you can adjust the height of the coal, giving you control over the temperature in the Grill conveniently.
There is also the 179 square inches by inches Swing-away warming rack, which offers you an alternative cooking area if you’d ever need one. Then there’s the professional thermometer on its lid for monitoring the temperature inside the Grill.
It also comes with an adjustable venting system, so you don’t always have to open the hood to regulate the temperature. And for your convenience, there are two racks for storage, one at the front and one underneath. Furthermore, the Grill has two wheels designed in it for easy transport.
Pros
- It has a thermometer
- It offers a large cooking area
- Adjustable charcoal height for optimum heating
Cons
- It’s quite big and occupies a lot of space.
10. Dyna-Glo Signature Series DGSS1382VCS-D – Best Vertical Offset Charcoal Grill
Features:
- Product Dimensions: 45.5 x 24.9 x 58.8 inches
- Cooking Area: Total 1,382 square inches
- Stainless steel temperature gauge
- Heavy Gauge Steel Body Construction
The Dyna-Glo Signature Series DGSS1382VCSD Offset Charcoal is a multi-functional barbeque machine that offers a large capacity of up to 5 chrome plates arranged one on top of the other. It has a large cooking surface area that totals up to 1382 square inches.
It features a thermometer with grill zone and smoke zone indicators so you can ideally maintain the cooking temperature. There’re also preinstalled sausage hooks for additional cooking choices.
The offset charcoal grate is also removable, and it features an ash pan for collecting the ash for quick disposal. To further add, the cool touch spring handle provides safe access to what you’re grilling without having to hurt your hand with the heat.
There’s also the top-notch ventilating system that allows regulating the temperature inside the Grill easy and without having to open the offset charcoal hold. And with its oversized wheel, mobility is hassle-free.
Pros
- It comes with a thermometer
- It has five chrome plate grate allowing you a wide range of items to Grill or smoke at once
- Sausage hanger
- Cool touch spring handles
Cons
- Cannot work as a heater
- Quite big and occupies space
Buyer Guide for Best Charcoal Grills
After testing, evaluating, and comparing a whole range of factors, here are the 4 top things you should ask before buying a grill.
What type of cooking do you want to use the Grill?
The type of cooking process you prefer depends on the type of Grill you need. Some grills are strictly for roasting; others can both roast and smoke. Some grilling machines are more diversified and can be used to roast, smoke, and even cook.
Brine cooking your meat in a pot with spices before grilling just makes your food taste entirely out of this world. This cooking technique is also great, especially if you want to cut down on the grilling time and give your meat that juicy texture with better aroma, so if you’d like to spice things up and cook before grilling like a professional, then you should get a diversified Grill. However, note that the more diversified the Grill is, the more expensive it is most times.
What type of charcoal grill is it?
Well, Charcoal Grills might all use charcoal fuel, but they are quite different. Some Charcoal Grills are circle, some are square, while others are rectangular. Some are portable and suitable for two or three people, while others are large and suitable for a big family.
Then there’s also the ventilating system variable, and also the choice of material used to make the Grill like steel, aluminum, ceramic, and so on. So basically, you need to get your mind wrapped around the type of feature that works best for you in the Grill.
How’s the temperature maintenance?
The temperature maintenance of a grill is dependent on how close the charcoal grate is to the cooking grate, the ventilating system, the presence of a lid, and a thermometer. Most times, the Charcoal Grill comes with an analog thermometer. Although, a digital thermometer would give you a more precise temperature reading and would work best if it features an alarm to remind you when to check.
The thermostat helps you to monitor the temperature inside the Grill, while the ventilating system, adjustable charcoal grates, lids help to regulate the temperature. Keep these things in mind when getting a Grill, so you don’t get a grill that either doesn’t get hot enough for you or burns your meat every time.
How durable is it?
Last but not least, it’s essential to ensure the Grill is durable. Carefully keep an eye out for the construction of the Grill. You could nudge the assembled Grill from different points just to test sturdiness; the more the Grill is stable, the better. Also, check the wheels, cooking grates, charcoal grates, paintings, and even nuts and bolts. A durable grill can stand the test of time, allowing you to get maximum value for every dollar spent.
Why a Charcoal Grill?
Here are five reasons why a Charcoal Grill is a smart idea:
Accessories
Charcoal Grills make use of accessories that are common to our everyday use like a thermometer, or a lighter. A Charcoal Grill doesn’t need so much to function. It’s often portable and can be dismantled and arranged on-site. In the woods, you could even use woods as fuel. It’s also straightforward to maintain, especially the cleaning part.
Indirect Grilling
Another reason why Charcoal Grills are fantastic is that your meat wouldn’t come in direct contact with the heating source. In other words, it grills slowly at a low heat, which gives it that mouthwatering flavor and texture.
Also, the indirect grilling causes caramelization in roasted vegetables to get sweeter. Because of the distance between the meat and the heating source, this allows the hot smoke to penetrate the meat giving it that roasted taste.
The Heat
A Charcoal Grill offers a mild heat that allows you to cook your meat at low temperatures for a longer time. There are also adjustable air vents you could use to regulate the Grill’s temperature, so it’s right for your needs.
Most Charcoal Grills come with a top and bottom air vent you could use to adjust the temperature. And believe or not, most Charcoal Grills can go as high as 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. But you’d not be needing to get your charcoal heat that high in most cases.
You can slow cook a rack of ribs on your Grill at 225 degrees Fahrenheit for four hours, or you could choose to bake a pizza at 500 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes; it’s your choice. However, getting your grill heat this high depends significantly on the type of charcoal you use.
The Flavor
The flavor a Charcoal Grill gives its roasts is one of the main reasons why most people opt-in for it. Especially when you slowly smoke a piece of meat, the Grill adds a unique smoke flavored aroma because the meat has plenty of time to absorb it. Using lump charcoal emits a much stronger smoke aroma and flavor, which penetrates food from every angle.
The Price
Lastly, the price of charcoal grills is the most affordable compared to other Grill’s, like gas. The cost of using it is also cheaper, as charcoal is almost free. And in some cases, especially when you’re in the woods, you could get most charcoal grills working with woods you can gather for free in the forest. So with a charcoal grill, there’s absolutely nothing stopping you.
Charcoal Grilling Tools and Accessories You’ll Also Need
Consider these tools and accessories for your charcoal grill as each one adds convenience to your grilling experience and makes it a lot easier to use.
A way to light your charcoal
Lighting a charcoal fire can be quite arduous, but with the right process, it’s a breeze. The easiest way to go about lighting charcoal is with lighter fluid. Now the lighter liquid is usually flammable of petroleum or alcohol base.
You can use the lighter fluid with briquettes and lump charcoal. So, always have a little bottle of lighter fluid and a box of matches or lighter around your Charcoal Grill, so you don’t have trouble lighting it up. You could also make use of a chimney starter.
Heat resistant gloves
Getting a suitable heat resistant glove goes a long way in your protection while grilling. Excessive heat is dangerous and could hurt your skin, causing burnt marks or scars. Heat resistant gloves have proven to be very useful in handling hot plates when cooking with its HPPE and glass fibers material.
There is a wide range of heat resistant gloves you could choose from rated according to the EN 407 with six numbers having different levels of resistance to certain types of hazard.
There are like three different styles you could get the gloves; the glove shaped with its thumb separated to the side like mittens worn in the winter, the glove shaped like a puppet where the thumb is under the finger, and a complete separated finger glove.
Grilling tools
Grilling tools you’d be needing include spatulas, baskets, replacement grates, vegetable baskets, chimney starter, and tongs, amongst others. However, you’d be making more use of the spatula and tongs than other of the grilling tools.
You’d need the spatula to flip those hot burger patties and the tong for picking things up from the Grill, to take it off the fire or change its position. The use of most grilling tools is to make grilling fun and to keep your hands at a comfortable distance from the flame.
Thermometers
Thermometers are an excellent accessory for those who go for grills that don’t have one. And even when you have a Grill that has a thermometer, getting a laser infrared gun thermometer helps you regulate the temperature on what you’re doing.
The thermostat also helps make you sure that there is an even distribution of heat so your meat would be evenly cooking. So, by just aiming the gun thermometer at a section inside your Grill, you can get the actual temperature, and correct it accordingly. The thermostat is also perfect as you’d not have to roughly estimate the heat level with your hands, which can be slightly deceiving.
A good grill brush
Grilling can be quite messy with all the ash covering the Grill. It’s essential to clean up those black residue on your Grill because it’s carcinogenic. That black residue that buildup on the cooking surface can cause serious health issues if not cleaned.
Washing or cleaning a grill can be quite arduous, but with a good grill brush, cleaning a grill becomes less stressful as all the stains go off in no time. Without a brush to completely clean up the griller, residue from the previous Grills would ruin the taste and aroma of what you’re grilling now.
How to Clean a Charcoal Grill?
Before we get to the answer to the question of how to clean a charcoal grill, we’d like to stretch the fact that you ought to give your Grill a deep clean at least once or twice every couple of weeks in the grilling season. This act is primarily essential because you don’t want ash or carbon buildup in your Grill or rust building up on the grates.
Now that we’ve established that, here are the told you’d need for cleaning charcoal grills:
- Bristle brush
- Fork
- Grill brush or coarse brush
- Plastic or paper bags
- Aluminum foil
- Soap and sponge
- Water
Now that you’ve gotten all these tools, you may want to first start with cleaning the charcoal grate and grill grates. These parts are usually removable in most grills, so you should remove it so you can have the proper room for scrubbing.
Use the grill brush to get as much or all of the black carbon or rust. The brush is coarse, so it cleans quite easily. If it’s possible to dismantle the whole Grill before washing, it will go a long way in ensuring effectiveness in cleaning.
Further, scrub easy to assemble with the aluminum foil. The aluminum foil acts like sandpaper in this case as it removes any debris or gunk off the grate. Don’t also forget to clean the lid and bottom of the Grill. Wipe or brush any debris out of the bottom of the Grill.
Don’t litter everywhere all in the name of cleaning a griller, so sweet every dirt into the plastic or paper bag. If there’s an ash catcher, empty it and clean it up properly using a bristle brush to scrape off those black stains (grease or carbon flakes).
Finally, when you’ve removed as much charcoal flakes and stains from the griller, then use soap water to wash off the remaining dirt. Rinse with plenty of clean water and leave outside to dry properly. Then you can recouple the Grill or just store it up like that whichever you prefer works ideally.
How to Use a Charcoal Grill?
In this section, we’d be walking you through three critical points in using a charcoal grill. A charcoal grill isn’t as easy and straightforward to use as a gas grill; however, it’s steak sure tastes better. So without further ado, follow these three steps to light a charcoal grill.
Prepare the charcoal
So first, you want to start by arranging charcoal in the charcoal grate and then get a charcoal chimney to get the fire started. Add enough charcoal to fill the chimney, and if your chimney has a full line, use that as a guide.
However, you could use a charcoal fluid to skip the process using a charcoal chimney to start up the Grill. So, what you want to do next is to get a paper, maybe a newspaper squeezes it up, and dip it in your regular vegetable cooking oil then place it at the bottom of the chimney.
Light up the chimney, and let the fire travel up the charcoal and burn until there are ashes over them; this might take up to 20 minutes. Pour the ignited charcoal in the chimney on the charcoal in the Grill and spread it evenly throughout the Grill.
Next, you’d want to create two layers with the charcoal. Let the amount of charcoal on one side be more than the other side. So, one side cooks faster because there is much charcoal to create the heat, and the other side cooks slower, creating a zone of indirect heat, making the food cook thoroughly without burning.
Prepare the cooking grate
Now that the fire is burning, before you start cooking anything, clean up the Grill. Use a wet rag to clean it up. You could tie the cloth to the end of a stick or spatula and run it through the hot Grill to remove any grease, debris, or old food. Some people would recommend using a stiff wire brush, but this can add metal fillings to your food. But using wet cloth is safer as the debris would easily remove because the coal has heated it.
Next, add in some wood chips to create extra smoke flavor. One or two handfuls of wood chips would suffice to give you that rich flavor you want. You could even soak the wood in plain water for 20 minutes before adding it into the Grill to help it burn slowly and increase the flavor they give the food.
Ensure you wait for a couple of minutes before arranging your food on the grate. And while you wait, brush little oil on the grill surface to help prevent it from sticking. Then arrange the food on the grate, don’t overload it so it can grill evenly, and also give enough allowance.
Cook your food
Lastly, grill your food with the technique that best suits you. Cover the lid if you need to. For example, you can grill hamburgers, hot dogs, and other quick-cooking foods with opened lid.
While slower cooking food like pork loin and bone-in chicken takes longer to grill so ensure you close the lid, so it cooks well. Opening the lid too often would let the heat out and wouldn’t let your food cook properly. You can increase the amount of heat or reduce it depending on what suits your current needs. And don’t forget to always check the charcoal every 30-60 minutes and add if it’s getting low.
Most grills have dampers, and you can use them to adjust the temperature inside the Grill. Close the dampers to reduce the heat and open them to increase the heat.
Always use a smoker thermometer to ensure your food is getting the right temperature. However, not all grills come with preinstalled thermostat; in that case, just buy one. Lastly, after grilling, let it cool down, dispose of the ash, and clean up the Grill.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which is the best Weber charcoal grill?
Answer: The Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill 22- inch is still by far the best Weber basic charcoal grill on the market. It’s affordable, durable, and effortless to clean, especially with the one-touch cleaning feature.
Its porcelain enamel coating doesn’t allow the grill rust or peel easily. Furthermore, the height of the Grill reached the waist level of most people. Generally, this Weber grill only takes a considerable amount of space.
It’s portable yet large enough to grill enough for family and friends. It’s also straightforward to dismantle, and it’s two big wheels even make moving the Grill about effortless.
2. Are Weber charcoal grills worth the money?
Answer: I can assure you that there are lots of good brands of grills out there, but Weber charcoal grills are worth the money compared to other Grills. Lots of people recommend the Weber grill because of its qualities and possibilities.
Not to even mention that Weber technical support is always willing to offer solutions when you run into any problem with their product. A good quality grill like Weber would last you for several years.
So, isn’t it better to spend that extra cash for something quality that to buy a cheap Grill that wouldn’t last through the grilling season? Moreover, Weber grills are everywhere and easy to find, so if, in any case, you need to get a spare part, you can easily find one.
3. Which is better propane or charcoal grill?
Answer: Both propane and charcoal grills are great and have different distinct features. For example, a charcoal grill gives you that traditional feel of a typical smoke flavor.
While on the other hand, a propane gas grill gives your food a bacon-like taste. So, going back to the question, the better Grill depends on your taste buds. However, as an enthusiast, there are other features to look at other than the taste like cooking time, control, clean up, accessories, and safety.
Now, in these additional features, a propane grill is better. A propane grill is easier to clean, cooks faster, has a better heat regulator, comes with better accessories, and is safer than the charcoal grills.
4. Which charcoal is best for grilling?
Answer: People often use charcoal more than wood because it burns hotter and without smoke. There are different types of charcoal, including briquettes, flavored briquettes, lump charcoal, and so on.
Each type of charcoal has a specific feature that makes it distinct. The best charcoal for grilling depends on your grilling style and personal preference.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it’s our most profound desire that with this buying guide on the best charcoal grills, you’re able to find a Grill that’s suitable for you. Even if you feel our charcoal grills selection doesn’t quite cut it for you, perhaps you need a Grill for a restaurant, we also hope you get the idea of what to keep an eye out for when you’re going to get one that’s suitable for you.
Also, we hope we’ve been able to answer the long-debated flame question of why choose a charcoal grill? Don’t also forget the accessories you need for the Grill, as they help make grilling fun and hassle-free.
Most importantly, cleanliness is essential when it comes to grills. Always keep your Grills clean as it helps the Grill last longer. So whichever style of grilling that best works for you, always ensure you enjoy it with family and friends.
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