For the low-and-slow, whole-grate test, we let the same batch of coals burn down to the white-ash stage with the lid open, which took about 20 minutes. We then reoiled the grates and distributed a whole cut-up chicken—two each of breasts, thighs, drumsticks, and wings—skin side down. Then we closed the lids for 45 minutes, occasionally checking for charring and redistributing the pieces as necessary (ideally, it wouldn’t be necessary at all).
I personally pull it out at 160F since it’s easy to overcook poultry. Remember, heat levels will rise for a few minutes while the bird rests off the grill. However, there’s one technique that I swear by and it makes it easy to use your Weber as a smoker.
Whichever side of that fence you sit, its performance can’t be questioned. Its innovative design has a thick-walled ceramic case that makes it fantastic at searing and smoking. A small gripe of mine is that although the main chamber is well built, the smoker box is constructed with what appears to be quite a thin metal. There shouldn’t be any key issues because the chamber seems solid enough, but the built of the smoker box is a little concerning. What really makes this grill stand out is its offset smoker function too. Holds up to 13 burgers made with a Weber burger press; Built-in lid thermometer.
Because of this, the Napoleon is definitely not a grill for charcoal beginners. In our testing, the Weber Premium was hands down the easiest grill to control temperature on, with the flames inside the kettle responding expertly to any tap of the vents. During our cooking tests on the Weber Original Premium Kettle Grill, hamburgers cooked to a medium rare temperature and our chicken ended up juicy, with a solid sear on the outside. Other grills we tested either ran hotter and overcooked the hamburgers, or they weren’t hot enough and barely seared or cooked the meat. Starting a charcoal grill is definitely not as easy as starting a gas grill, so it’s important to understand how to do it correctly. You’ll need to purchase a bag of briquettes, and either lighter fluid or a handy charcoal starter.
On balance, gas is probably the better choice if you favor no-fuss cooking or grill often . If you’re an occasional griller or you enjoy getting hands-on with your cooking, charcoal is an economical choice that, with a bit of practice, produces superb results. Nothing beats the smoky barbecue flavor that can only be created on a charcoal grill. While the Weber is a very basic cooker, it does have a few helpful features.
Over the course of two days, we put three charcoal grills through a battery of tests. 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 they can tack on hundreds of dollars to the grill price. portable bbq 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. From burgers to chicken to slow-smoked ribs, this Weber model’s time-tested design produces great results—at a terrific price.
The same goes for searing burgers, steak and vegetables, as well as grilling seafood. Not only this but charcoal cooking gives you a far smokier taste than can be created with most gas grills. Largely because of higher cooking temperatures, but also because you can use charcoal and wood chips. We placed two steaks on each grilling grate near the center and seared them for five minutes before flipping them over and searing for another five minutes. With a good, reliable grill, this will give you a steak with a seared outside and a medium rare to medium center.
Built-in thermometers like those tend to be slow to respond and they’re often inaccurate, because they sit inside the grill lid and measure heat levels at the top of the grill cavity. We measured the temperature of the grill surface, as well as the internal temperature of the chicken, with an external thermometer to ensure that any built-in temperate gauges were accurate. For the most part, the built-in thermometers were accurate, with the exception of the Cuisinart gauge, which barely registered any temperature throughout our testing process.
The smoke is then drawn through the main chamber, cooking and submerging your food slowly and evenly. It also has an ash catcher built into the bottom of the Kettle’s drum, which collects ash as it cooks. No nasty build-up, and no stressful clean-up operation needed between uses. The Weber Kettle weber charcoal grill offers exactly this, with its hinged cooking grates. If your coals are on the verge of burning out, you can quickly and easily swap them out. Throughout the Weber’s 6-hour, 32-minute cook time, the grill’s internal heat levels never strayed beyond 25 degrees of our target, 225 degrees F.
While predominantly a charcoal model, the Weber Performer Deluxe does have some gas elements built into it. None of this takes away from its charcoal performance, but rather are including to make achieving a high sear that little bit easier. If you want an offset smoker function with your charcoal cooker this is a great entry level option that comes at a very reasonable price. This is another unit with an offset smoker built to its side, allowing you to smoke meat as well as grill it. It would certainly create the work of grilling a great deal simpler. I must confess to a particular gluttonous love of updates and extras.