Their portable grills come in both charcoal and gas varieties, and all boast a compact, lightweight design. However, because of the smaller size, Weber portable grills don’t offer much cooking capacity. Otherwise, you’ll need to cook your food in several batches. The briquettes can be somewhat expensive, so operating a charcoal grill is often more expensive than running a gas grill.
However, many grilling purists don’t feel that gas grills offer the same smoky flavor that you can get from a charcoal grill. Weber gas grills tend to cost more than charcoal models, but gas is usually cheaper to operate in the long run. The grill is a classic weber bbq 22-inch kettle, offering 363 square inches of cooking space, and there’s a weather-protected charcoal storage bin underneath the grill’s shelf. Most charcoal grills are simple, but this one has various extra features that make it more convenient.
And if you want that great dark mahogany steakhouse sear, crank the coals to right below your steak. This arrangement is better than the Santa Maria-style grill where the food moves up and down and the coals are stationary because the head room above the food isn’t reduced. They’re easy to start up and you can start cooking on them in minutes with little effort.
The fire and heat from the newspaper ignites the bottom coals, then the fire builds up. When the top coals are covered with gray ash, you’re ready to go. Recently, they changed the company name to SnS Grills and introduced their very own Slow ‘N Sear Kettle Grill. If you add the cost of a Slow ‘N Sear insert to a weber portable grill Weber Performer (and you should) the Slow ‘N Sear Kettle is about the same price. This makes it a solid package deal that’s definitely worth the consideration of folks on the lookout for a new charcoal burner. Speaking of Slow ‘N Sear, this company was built on their innovative charcoal insert, mentioned above.
It has 406 square inches of total cooking space and a built-in thermometer, along with side shelves for storage. I have had over 50 grills—from a Weber gas grill to a Traeger pellet grill. In my search for the best grill, I have found it,” said one buyer.
A top-of-the-line gas grill crammed with features for a complete grilling experience. Its package makes it easy to handle and bring along for a trip to a friend’s house. Its size makes it best for one or two people, though, so if you need a bigger cooking surface, look elsewhere.
If you often grill after dark, look for a Weber model with lighted control knobs or lighted handles. These amenities make it much easier to see what you’re doing, so you can be sure that your food is grilled perfectly. The grill’s lid is secured on a convenient hinge that makes it easy to open, and the unit is mounted on a cart with four locking caster wheels.
The 357 PRO wouldn’t be a Hasty-Bake without their classic adjustable-height charcoal tray that can be raised and lowered with a crank. The coals can move from 14.5 inches to 2.5 inches away from the cooking surface for serious direct infrared searing, a lot like a classic Santa Maria-style grill. Energy at the food level reduces rapidly as the coals move away, so this is a very effective temperature controller.
The Nexgrill definitely gets hot enough to create a nice sear, but you do have to work a little harder than you do with the Weber to avoid overcooking your meat. You can also raise the Nexgrill’s adjustable charcoal tray basket to its highest position. Whatever grill you choose, do not rely on the built-in dial thermometers, which can be off by 50°F to 100°F (10-38°C). These dials are usually located in the lid, not down on the grill surface where the food is—and you’re not eating the lid, so its temperature is irrelevant.