10 Best Charcoal Grills – Reviews and Buying Guides
Table of Contents
A charcoal grill is a cooking apparatus that cooks food by radiating heat from the lower parts. Charcoal briquettes or natural lump charcoals are used as a source of fuel in the grill. The charcoals turn to ambers after burning. Then, the ambers radiate heat to cook the food.
There is absolutely nothing, a grill can’t cook. From your variety of meats to fish to vegetables; a griller can cook everything. There’s is nothing better than the smell of charcoal grilling. Not only that, but it is also a fun and tasty way to make a meal by grilling.
Quick Summary
Here are the best charcoal grills on the market:
1. Best for the family – Weber Original Kettle ™ Premium 22 ‘’
2. Best high-performance charcoal barbecue – Weber Master Touch
3. Best portable charcoal grill – Weber Smokey Joe Premium 14 in
4. Best low budget charcoal barbecue – Weber Original Kettle 18 ‘’
5. Most easy to use – Weber Performer Deluxe 22’’
6. Best kettle grill – Weber 741001 Original Kettle 22″ Charcoal Grill
7. Best value for money – Weber Jumbo Joe® 18” Portable Grill
8. Best professional grill – DynaGlo DGN576SNC-D Barbecue
9. Best for small spaces – Cuisinart CCG-290 18″ Kettle Charcoal Grill
10. Best digital grill – Masterbuilt Gravity 560
Top Rated Charcoal Grills
1. Best for the family – Weber Original Kettle ™ Premium 22’’
The Weber Original Kettle Premium is a product with good manufacturing quality, satisfactory performance, and adequate space. With its 22’’ diameter bowl, this grill offers you a total cooking surface of 363 in² which allows you to enjoy kebabs and grills with your family regularly.
The item is compact with its dimensions of 22.5 x 27 x 38.5 inches and weight of 32.41 lb. It’s not huge and the wheels make sure you have no trouble moving or storing it when you want to.
There’s a little drawback to the manufacturing. It’s not the strongest product on our list. In particular, you must be careful during assembly. You can grip the barbecue using the fiber-reinforced nylon side handles, which are effectively protected against heat. The cooking grid is designed so that you can add charcoal anytime.
2. The most versatile charcoal barbecue – Weber Master Touch
Charcoal grills tend to have a more authentic taste than other types on the market. However, their design is generally simple. For a more innovative model that offers greater versatility, opt for the Weber Master Touch. With the Weber Master Touch, you will get a large, sturdy grill that can cook around thirteen burgers. This is a round model with a diameter of 22 inches.
The cooking surface is on two levels. The main grid has an area of 363 inches the warming zone is 80 square inches.
Where this appliance stands out the most is in its Gourmet BBQ system. It allows you to remove the central part of the grille to install one of the available accessories. Among them are a pizza stone, a wok, and a waffle mold.
The bowl and lid are sturdy and durable. Under the handle is a heat shield, so you can handle it without getting burned. A stand allows you to keep the cover up.
3. Best portable charcoal grill – Weber Smokey Joe Premium 14 in
Do you love grilling and traveling? In this case, the best way to enjoy tasty and varied meals is with a portable barbecue. There are particularly compact models, with dimensions suitable for automobile transport. The Weber Smokey Joe Premium 14’’ has caught our eye.
Rugged for travels, the construction is impeccable, the enameled steel tank and cover, as well as the nickel-plated grid, allow the grill to last for years.
The cooking surface is designed for 2 to 3 people: you will get up to 147 square inches. It’s not huge, but it will let you prepare up to two steaks at a time. This model can be loaded without any difficulty in your vehicle for a tailgate party.
Transportation is extremely easy. The product is light, takes up little space, and you can keep the cover in place thanks to Weber’s Tuck-N-Carry system: a metal bar is placed on the handle and blocks everything.
4. Best low budget charcoal barbecue – Weber Original Kettle 18’’
If you want to have a grill, but you have a very modest budget and you do not need a large cooking surface, the most appropriate option is probably the Weber Original Kettle TM 18 ‘’.
Be aware that the general quality is not the same as on more expensive products, so you will have to live with its slightly lower durability than high-end products from Weber. However, Weber offers you a 10-year limited warranty
The second downside is in the cooking surface. With a bowl diameter of 18.5 inches, you end up with 240 square inches for your meats and kebabs. It is small and is a model for 4 people.
5. Most easy to use – Weber Performer Deluxe 22’’
The Weber Performer Deluxe 22 ‘’ offers a limited cooking surface but optimal comfort of use. If you like to be in control, this model is for you. It is distinguished in the first place by an ignition process called Touch-N-Go by Weber which allows you to start the fire using a button. It is both safer and more efficient.
If you are a grilling ace and want to have a perfect result, here you have what you need: a removable timer as well as a built-in thermometer. So you can easily check the cooking time and the condition of your food.
In terms of cooking surface, on the other hand, you are not on the best surface-price ratio. With a bowl diameter of 22 ”or 55.88 cm, you only benefit from 363 square inches. A surface that can be found on barbecues half the price and more intended for 6 or 7 people.
6. Best kettle grill – Weber 741001 Original Kettle 22″ Charcoal Grill
If you want to acquire a popular model which has amply proven itself, you can opt for the Weber Original Kettle TM 22. The Weber Original Kettle 22 ‘’ is a model that is extremely close to our first choice, the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22 ‘’. Consider it as the cheapest version. The main difference lies in less flexible ventilation, even if you have valves on the lid, and in an aluminum ashtray.
The cooking surface offered is 363 square inches with a pot diameter of 22 in. You can prepare grills for 6 or even 7 quite efficiently.
Finally, the last point that is important to raise: quality. It’s absolutely fine and up to Weber standards, but you’re definitely up against an entry-level product. However, it comes with a 10-year limited warranty.
7. Best value for money – Weber Jumbo Joe® 18” Portable Grill
Do you really like barbecue, and want to enjoy good kebabs and juicy meat with your loved ones whenever possible? In this case, it is advisable to opt for a model with two main features: transportability and solidity. The 18’’ Weber Jumbo Joe may be up to the trick. It shouldn’t take you more than 10 minutes to assemble this product.
Weber is a brand renowned for the build quality of its barbecues, and this one is no exception. Both the bowl and the cover are made of enamel-coated steel. This way you avoid any crumbling or scratches and can expect to keep the object for many years without any problem.
Portability is also a strong point of this product. A metal plate protects the main handle from heat. With the Tuck-N-Carry system, you can securely lock the lid before moving the grill. It is both practical and safe, and drastically reduces the risk of discomfort or congestion.
8. Best professional grill – DynaGlo DGN576SNC-D Barbecue
If for you, grilling with friends is as much an art as a pleasure, you are undoubtedly looking for a high-end model that offers good control over your cooking. The DynaGlo DGN576SNC-D is then an option to consider.
The total cooking surface, on this model, is 816 square inches. You can easily organize a reception with a large number of guests: you should have plenty of room to fill every plate and every stomach.
On the top, a lever chimney allows more or less oxygen to penetrate, to control the smoky taste and adjust the temperature, readable on the integrated thermometer.
9. Best for small spaces – Cuisinart CCG-290 18″ Kettle Charcoal Grill
Cuisinart CCG-290 is an affordable option with a small capacity. This grill could have been higher in our list if not for the quality of manufacture which leaves a little to be desired.
Also note that even if a thermometer is integrated, it seemed to us to have a very relative accuracy. But you still get a 3-year warranty.
What we especially appreciated, and which you may also like, is the ashtray with a handle and space for collecting ashes. Maintenance is therefore rather simple even after using a large amount of charcoal. You have more ventilation both at the bottom and at the top.
Do not expect a huge capacity since it’s an 18-inch diameter pan and it has a circular grid which gives you a really limited cooking surface. The estimate of 7 people proposed by the brand is too unrealistic. A maximum of 4 is closer to reality.
10. Best digital grill – Masterbuilt Gravity 560
Welcome to the digital age, when digital technology helps you cook your grills to perfection! If you are a fan of new technologies, the Masterbuilt Gravity 560 stands out in the middle of gravity models, that is to say with a fireplace on the side.
With its DigitalFan system, its digital control screen and its Bluetooth technology to control the temperature remotely with your phone and with precision, the Masterbuilt Gravity 560 will seduce you with its modernity in the service of an excellent grill.
It is a gravity-type barbecue. That is, you put the charcoal in a side fireplace. And thanks to a precision electrical system, the DigitalFan, you will be able to manage the flow of fuel. You’ll have precise and constant control of heat, smoke, and temperature in the hood and on the grill.
Another advantage of this fireplace is its large capacity. It can hold up to 10 pounds of charcoal or 16 pounds of wood briquettes, allowing you between 12 and 15 hours of cooking before refilling!
How to Choose the Best Charcoal Grill?
There are several types of grilling methods. But charcoal grill and the gas grill are the most popular among them. Although, handling a charcoal grill is hard compared to the gas grill. But the flavor of the food is way tastier than a gas grill.
It is always controversial among keen grill lovers about what type of charcoal grill is the best. Depending on the heat radiation, burn rate, durability, sizes, cost, and quality of foods; charcoal grill can be of various types. Some of the grills have specifications about high heat production, high or low smoky grilling aroma, and lack of binders, etc. the size of the charcoal grill can be of different shapes, designs, and sizes. It can be of round, square; with or without lids, etc. if you’re looking forward to buying a charcoal grill, then this article will be helpful to give you an insight.
Why You Need a Charcoal Grill?
Outdoor camping is incomplete without an outdoor cooker, especially a charcoal grill. It makes cooking easier, increasing your fun time by one-pot camping meals.
Cooking with a charcoal grill is very easy and hustles-free. It can cook a big amount of serving in a grill easily with all of the ingredients together. This simple feature makes your cleaning very easy and trouble-free.
Charcoal grill cauterizes the meat and vegetables by extracting the juicy flavor from them. Not only that, it gives a perfectly blended smoky feeling to the meal.
4 Benefits of Using Charcoal Grill
- Affordable
A cost-effective charcoal grill can serve you the purpose and feel of the outdoor dinner, without making a hole in your pocket.
- Traditional
The traditional food habits are not just to return flavors in your taste bud. But they are also healthy to start with. Grilling over high heat burns the fat from the meat, decreasing the percentage of fat. This makes you eat healthily.
- Portable
The charcoal grill comes in various sizes. it can serve a lot of people at one time. If you’re on a budget or planning to go on outside camping, then you can opt for a small and portable charcoal grill. They are easy to carry and do not create a mess.
- Easily Heated
The briquette charcoals are burnt easily and reach a high temperature almost immediately. The higher heat makes the meats crispier on the outside while keeping the inner parts soft and juicy. The crispier part of the meat makes it retain the flavor and juice.
6 Types of Charcoal Grill-Features and Reviews
Depending on requirements, a charcoal grill can be of different types. Compared to gas grills, charcoal grills have a lot of benefits. They are modified to serve the best for you. Some of the most reviewed charcoal grills are listed down below.
#1 Kettle Grills
These types of charcoal grills are popular for their versatility in simplicity and affordability. These are cost-effective, and one can choose to keep their budget in mind. a kettle grill is consisting of a lid, cooking grid, charcoal grid, lower chamber, venting system, and stands. Due to the shape of the lower chamber, it is named as kettle griller. Some of the most talked features of this grill are mentioned below.
- The kettle shape of the grill distributes the heat evenly.
- When the lid is covered over the grill, the drippings from the food cannot go outside the grill. it holds the flavor enriched smoke within it.
- It cooks the food by both indirect and direct heating. A water pan is adjusted in the kettle and the foods are placed over it for indirect cooking.
#2 Barrel Grills And Smokers
If you have mastered the art of grilling, by using kettle grill. And now you want to try your versatility of grilling. Then, barrel grills and smokers are perfect for you. This type of grills is larger than kettle grills and suitable for cooking for a large group of people.
Due to their bigger size, it is towards the expensive ends. Some of the features of barrel grills are mentioned.
- provides a large cooking space
- Serves a large group of people altogether.
- Costlier than other grills
- It provides more features than kettle grills.
- Ideal for slow cooking and smoky taste.
#3 Ceramic and Kamado Grills
This type of grill is based upon the Japanese designs. These type grillers are ideal for cooking pizzas, bread, and paella. Some of the features of this grill are mentioned below.
- Heat up faster than other types of grill
- Retains heat effectively.
- Spreads the heat evenly.
- Due to the smoke, it produces better flavor from the meat.
- Wide ranges of cooking types and recipes.
#4 Pellet Grills
This type of grills uses compressed hardwood pellets. The pellets are burnt at the bottom of the grill and the temperature is controlled by a thermostat. It is more of a complex type of pellet grills. Salient features of the grill are,
- Versatile temperature control.
- It can be adjusted for slow cocking, smoky grilling, and high-temperature barbeque grilling.
- It can retain temperature for longer hours.
- Solid diffuser plates between the firebox and grill distribute heat evenly.
#5 Brazier
It is the most economical and simplest type of charcoal grill. it uses a basic grilling technique. A brazier grill is made up of metal wires and sheets. it has a cooking grid placed over a charcoal pan, supported by legs.
- Low-priced.
- Easy heat adjusting method.
- Simple configuration.
#6 Tandoor Oven
A tandoor oven is a type of charcoal grill, which involves heat direct cooking and oven cooking altogether. A few features of the grill are,
- It provides a very high temperature.
- It can serve the purpose of both grilling and oven cooking.
- Fast cooking.
8 Things to Consider Before Buying a Charcoal Grill
A charcoal grill is a very easy-to-handle cooking device. And it will surely make your outdoor activities super exciting with such mouth-watering grilled foods. A one-pot camping meal is desired by everyone. So, buying a charcoal grill is very convenient for you. But before buying, you need to keep few things in your mind. Some of them are mentioned below.
1. Size
Before buying any kind of grill, ask yourself for which purpose you want to buy. If your requirement is for 3 to 4 people, then a small one pot size charcoal grill will be enough for you. In the case of hosting a party for a large group of people, you need to opt for a bigger and larger size of the grill.
2. Cost
Cost is one of the most valuable points to keep in mind. If you just want to try grilled meat, then buying a simple and basic kettle grill will be the best option for you. But if quantity is your priority, then buying a large barrel grill will be perfect for.
3. Cooking Purpose
You can buy charcoal grill depending upon the type of grill you want. In the case of juicy flavored meat, you can choose a ceramic grill. For tandoor dishes, the tandoor oven is ideal. For slow cooking and smoky taste, buying barrel and smoking grill will be the best.
4. Heat Control
Some of the grills are provided with a thermostat to control temperatures easily.
5. Handling
If you’re not professional or not accustomed to grilling then it will difficult to get the desired cooking. To aid that problem, various self-functioning grills are available.
6. Durability
The longevity of a device considers a lot of factors, including, the brand, the quality of materials used, maintenance protocol, etc. make sure to check all of these before buying.
7. Safety
By any means, safety cannot be put on risk. So it’s better to understand the functions and safety protocol of the grill you’re buying
8. Maintenance
The better you take care of your grill, the more it will last. So it’s better to choose an easy to clean, mess-free grill. For built-in grills, it may save space, but it can be hard to maintain and clean.
Wrapping It Up
If you are above all looking for an authentic meat grill taste, you have to go for a charcoal grill. However, today there are many models with multiple characteristics. Whether you are looking for a low-budget option or performance is your only criteria, you’ll find your choice in our list of the best charcoal grills.
If you want to bet on the quality of cooking and the quality of manufacture of your grill, the benchmark remains the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22″. Those who love digital appliances will fall in love with the Masterbuilt Gravity 560. Meanwhile, if you are on a budget, then choose our budget pick, the Weber 741001 Original Kettle.
As it said, nothing tastes better than freshly grilled food. But only when the grill is clean. So make sure to take proper maintenance of your grill. Grilled food saves you from consuming oily and greasy foods. now with a charcoal grill, staying healthy won’t be difficult anymore.
So, it will be best for you to get a charcoal grill. Don’t forget these tips and factors while buying a charcoal grill and enjoy your outdoor activities to the fullest, along with such mouth-savoring grilled dishes.
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