Charcoal Grill Information

Many grilling enthusiasts prefer smoking meats, which involves cooking meats at low temperatures for long periods of time in a small, enclosed grill. The small grill allows the smoke produced by the charcoal (or flavored hardwoods) to surround the meat and give it a full, rich flavor. Weber makes a well-reviewed smoker, the Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker (*Est. $225 to $400, depending on size). For a good guide to smoking meats, check out Smoking-Meat.com.

See the ConsumerSearch report on gas BBQ grills for information on those models. Surveys show that those who own gas grills use them more often than those who own charcoal grills. Many people use their gas grills year round.

Indoor electric grills, such as those in the George Foreman series, are also covered in a separate report.

Get complete information on selecting, assembling, using and cleaning charcoal grills along with recipes, tips on lighting coals and guidelines for different kinds of charcoal at Barbecuen.com. This is a great site for beginners.

For more information about charcoal -- how to use it, which kinds are out there and which is best for certain foods -- helpful information can be found at CharcoalGuide.com.

Along with his reviews, About.com's Derrick Riches offers many helpful guides to choosing and using charcoal grills. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

Charcoal grill recalls

There have not been any recent recalls for charcoal grills, but Cobb America Inc. did release a statement in October 2006 warning consumers not to use its Cobb Premier grill indoors. The full statement can be found here.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has also issued consumer warnings that charcoal grills release carbon monoxide gas and thus should only be used outdoors. More information can be found on the CPSC website.

Manufacturers' websites are good places to find product information and specs:

The Big Green Egg

Bar-B-Chef

Barbecook

Cajun

Char-Griller

Char-Broil

Cobb

Hasty-Bake

Old Smokey

Portable Kitchen

Lodge

Tool Box

Weber