Their heat dampening system allows for excellent temperature control and longevity of fuel. Since Weber Grills released the iconic Weber Kettle Grill in 1952, they have become the biggest name in BBQ. For over 60 years, Weber has been a leader in the BBQ industry, and for good reason. Weber charcoal grills are tough, built to withstand years of outdoor cooking.
You can thank the porcelain-enameled bowl and lid, which are heat retention pros, for that. Still, keeping an eye on the thermometer will help you determine if you need to add more coal, wood, or even adjust the airflow using the rust-resistant aluminum dampers. These vents are also useful when extinguishing the fire, as closing them cuts off oxygen. The cooking area is 147 square inches — it fits six burgers at a time — and the porcelain-enameled lid and bowl come in six different colors. “It’s a mini version of our winning grill,” said McManus.
Gold also comes with a useful hinged cooking grate that allows you to easily replenish coal without removing food. Pick up a digital thermometer and you’ll see an immediate improvement in your grilling. The ritual of charcoal grilling meets the convenient features and the wow factor of the Master-Touch®.
In 1956, the Weber kettle was redesigned to its current shape. The 1956 through 1959 Weber Kettles had a solid metal triangular base and the handle on the lid and bowl handles were metal . For “metal lid handle” The steel legs are held into the sockets with thumbscrews.
I found that just pushing the leg in a little and then tapping the wheel covers on with a hammer (ball-peen, claw, or even a rubber mallet) worked. Before your first cook, Weber recommends letting a hot fire burn for at least 30 minutes to burn off any production residue that may linger from the manufacturing process. The best charcoal grill for steak searing in our lineup was the Weber Classic Kettle. The steak had nice grill marks while keeping a medium doneness on the inside. The worst was our Tacklife review unit, which didn’t hold much heat and didn’t sear while cooking.
That should give you enough space to accommodate 25 regular-sized hamburger patties. For a while, Weber-Stephens Products claimed the original kettle grill’s round body was superior to other grills on the market. “The unique dome shape reflects the heat evenly all around, just like a kitchen oven,” according to a Weber ad from the 1970s.
The charcoal briquettes form a line two coals wide and two coals deep. We also drop a few chunks of smokewood on top of the snake . On cart-style grills, we modify the portable bbq snake to run in right angles to match their rectangular-shaped fireboxes. Next, we tested each grill’s medium heat cooking capability by roasting whole chickens.
In 1992 the first generation Master Touch kettles were introduced. This would serve as a premium model charcoal grill through the remainder of the 1990s. The Weber charcoal kettle was first portable bbq available to the bbq buying public in 1952. However, the original grills, known then as “George’s BAR B Q KETTLE” were made from buoys cut in half and surviving examples are extremely rare.