Charcoal Grills: Reviews

The Weber One-Touch Silver kettle grill, according to reviewers, has a proven design, efficient heating and a convenient cleaning system, making it the best budget charcoal grill. Its name references the unusual cleaning… system where ashes are directed into an easily removable tray to make for easy clean-up. This feature, as well as the 10-year warranty on the exterior (one year for the grates) and 24-hour customer service also make the One-Touch Silver one of the most user-friendly grills on the market. The Weber One-Touch Silver comes in two sizes: 363 square inches and 240 square inches (which retails for about $20 less.)

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The Weber Performer is the most widely praised charcoal grill in reviews. It includes the functional details and excellent customer service standard on less expensive Weber grills, and adds such frills as a worktable,… built-in thermometer, lid-catcher and storage areas. Its most unusual feature is a gas-lighting system. Reviewers are very impressed, saying that the Performer successfully blends the quick convenience of gas grills with the cooking characteristics of charcoal grilling that are so vital to purists. The Performer comes in only one size, 22.5 inches in diameter, but it's available in three different colors.

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Barrel-style charcoal grills are ideal for cooking large amounts of food at one time, and Char-Griller's grills are well-liked in this category. The Char-Griller Outlaw features a 1,000-square-inch cooking surface, making… it an excellent choice for feeding everyone at a family gathering or backyard party. The Char-Griller Outlaw has durable steel construction, a powder finish and cast-iron grilling surfaces. Its ample accessories include multiple shelves, a wooden worktable, warming rack and thermometer; a side fire box for smoking is optional. The Outlaw may be too unwieldy for cooking smaller portions, however.

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We find mixed scores for small tailgating and camping grills, but the Weber Smokey Joe Silver gets more consistent reviews than most. With a 14.5-inch diameter cooking space, the Smokey Joe is large enough to grill for a… small group. The grill's short legs offer plenty of support, provided the grill is on a level surface. Like the Weber One-Touch, the portable Weber charcoal grill is backed by a 10-year warranty on the exterior and a one-year warranty on the grates. The similar Smokey Joe Gold costs $10 more and includes a lid lock.

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This Kamado-style grill isn't the largest on the market, but what it lacks in space it makes up for in versatility and temperature control. Its sealed ceramic chamber can cook at an incredibly high heat and can also cook… at low temperatures for long periods without needing new coals. This gives grillers the option to sear or slow-cook. The exterior stays cool even when grilling at temperatures as high as 750 degrees. Critics say it can be fragile, though, and The Big Green Egg Co. only offers its lifetime warranty for grills purchased from licensed dealers (not online).

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