“Once the ceramic shell is heated up, it stays hot for a long period of time and gets the most out of a charcoal fire,” he said. The thickness of metal that the grill is made from is measured as the “gauge.” As the gauge number increases, the material thickness decreases and this makes comparing grills easy, explained Lilly. “Thicker metal makes for a longer lasting grill and better insulation,” he said. In the case of kettle models, we arrange coals in a semicircle around the grill’s inner wall.
(Weber grills are still assembled in America, but with some imported components.) The metal in the legs seems to bend pretty easily. The most significant difference that stood out to me was that all the handles on the new models have plastic instead of wood. The wood weber q on the 1970s and 80s versions really classed things up. For one, the screws are not much bigger than those that hold eyeglass frames together. When you think about the ash catcher’s job—to capture hot ashes and embers—the tiny screws don’t inspire much confidence.
She is perfectly happy to leave all that behind to be a full-time kitchen-gear nerd. Clean the grates before or after each use by brushing them free of cooked-on gunk and wiping them with a wet rag. Oil the grates after heating them, before you cook anything—it’ll help keep food from sticking.
After much discussion, we also decided not to insist on a built-in cart, with side tables, on our charcoal contenders. Most manufacturers offer them as an option, but you pay a premium of about $200 on average. They’re handy, no doubt, but if your patio or deck already has a table or countertop, you’re paying for something you don’t need and giving up valuable living space, too.
Weber’s scaled-up version of their classic two-wheel kettle is crafted of premium-grade steel and clad in heavy-gauge, rust-resistant porcelain enamel in slate blue. Features include a spacious cooking surface, convenient hinged cooking grate, painted metal worktable, lid holder, removable LCD cook timer and built-in thermometer. Touch-N-Go electronic gas ignition system lights charcoal briquettes with the push of a button . Includes two charcoal fuel holders and a weather-protected charcoal storage container. Charcoal grill has a one-touch cleaning system with high-capacity, removable ash catcher. Storage includes a lower wire shelf and three hanging hooks for mitts and tools.
There are certainly fancier and more expensive grills to use for cooking, but for a balance of affordability and quality, you can’t go wrong with this classic. While 363 square inches is nothing to scoff at, the 26-inch unit adds a degree of versatility to the grilling experience. The size increase makes it easier to cook large cuts of meat, like beef brisket and pork butt.
The original circular design of the Weber Kettle Grill has been adopted by many other charcoal grill brands due to its superior heating ability. When it comes to charcoal grills, Weber offers a cooking experience that is unmatched by any other brand. With grilling, the ability to cook on direct heat means that your food will be ready quickly.