F Nice But Not Necessary
- Smokebox If you choose a gas grill but still want the option of adding some smoky flavor to your meats, you can opt for a smoke box. As a built-in option, it is usually a little drawer or box. It can also be purchased separately. In either case, it holds damp wood chips that smoke during cooking and give food that characteristic essence.
- Rotisserie If youre experienced with these, it can be a fun option. For everyone else, it might be more bother than its worth.
- Smart Grill Even if you cant afford the luxury grills that come fully set up for smart technology, there are smart connectors that can be added to any grill. With these, you can connect to wifi with an app, choose your desired doneness and get alerts when its time to flip the food or when its ready.
Other Grills We Tested
Oklahoma Joes Blackjack Charcoal Kettle Grill
The Oklahoma Joes Blackjack Charcoal Kettle Grill gets top marks for its design, which includes an attached hinged lid for easy opening and closing, an enclosed ash pan and a convenient removable side shelf. The lid sets this grill apart from a traditional Weber kettle, which features an unattached kettle top. We enjoyed the ease of being able to hinge open the lid on the Blackjack for a quick flip of our meat during our tests.
The Blackjack Kettle Grill also features two air vents, and it was easy to control the grill temperature with them. The bottom vent functions like most kettle grills, but the top vent is styled more like a traditional smoker vent. You mainly control the temperature on this grill from the bottom vent. We also found the built-in temperature gauge to be accurate. This grill gave both our burgers and chicken a really nice sear. During our testing, hamburgers cooked to medium, while it took the chicken about 32 minutes to come up to temperature.
Napoleon Pro 22-Inch Freestanding Charcoal Kettle Grill
Char-Griller Premium Red Kettle Charcoal Grill
Cuisinart 18-Inch Kettle Charcoal Grill
Read more from CNN Underscored:
Why Trust The Spruce
This article was written by Camryn Rabideau, a freelance writer and product reviewer for The Spruce. She’s written close to a dozen grill-related articles for The Spruce Eats, including firsthand testing of a Traeger grill and a Masterbuilt smoker. Additional reporting was done by Nadia Hassani, a writer and master gardener with over 20 years of experience.
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Weber 62006001 Genesis Ii S
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The Genesis IIis a high-performance grill that is one of the iconic brands most popular. The grilling system has a continuous-spark infinity ignition, four stainless steel high-performance burners, the Weber-created stainless steel flavorizer bars with a flame view window and a grease management system. Inside, the cooking grates are made from 7mm stainless steel rods and a side burner, and a sear station burner put out a total of 69,000 BTUs of heat. It also features a Tuck-Away warming rack that adds 198 square inches to the cooking area for a total of 844 square inches. The housing of the grill features a durable stainless steel lid and a closed cart design with painted steel doors.
This grill is super handy thanks to its side shelves, one of which folds down when not needed or to save space. Two cart shelves are inside the lower cabinet for storing barbecue essentials while six side shelf tool hooks offer easy hanging storage. Best of all, the Weber 62006001 Genesis II S-435 is compatible with the iGrill 3, which turns it into a Smart grill. The meat problem monitoring system is purchased separately and run through an app on your phone, allowing you to monitor the temperature and doneness of your meat without physically going to the grill. Fabulous for parties!
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Steve Sheinkopf
Steve is the third-generation CEO of Yale and a lifelong Bostonian. He currently resides in Boston, one mile from where he was born. Despite being one of the worst goalies of all time, he is a huge hockey fan of college hockey and the Boston Bruins. The love of his life is his daughter Sophie.
A Note About Pricing
Pricing on this blog is for reference only and may include time sensitive rebates. We make every attempt to provide accurate pricing at time of publishing. Please call the stores for most accurate price.
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Best Overall Grill: Weber Original Premium Kettle Grill
The 22-inch Weber Original Premium Kettle Grill lives up to Webers storied history. The Weber charcoal grill has been around for nearly 70 years and, while the design of the kettle has barely changed, its easy to see why.
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. Temperature control is key to successful charcoal grilling. 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 werent hot enough and barely seared or cooked the meat.
The premium version of the original kettle measures 22 inches wide and comes in three colors. The premium version also includes Webers One-Touch cleaning system, meaning that it comes with a large enclosed ash pan for easy cleanup, and it also boasts a built-in thermometer and lid hook. While we found both Weber grills to cook flawlessly, the upgrades on the premium model make the Weber Original Premium Kettle Grill our top charcoal grill of 2022.
Legal Disclaimers And Warnings
Product packaging, owners manuals, installation instructions, and/or operating instructions may include more information than what is shown on our website. The content on our site is intended to be used for reference purposes only. Please fully read all included manuals and documentation before installing or using this product. WARNING for California residents: this product may contain chemical known to the state of California to cause birth defects, cancer, or other reproductive harm.
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All Weber Genesis Ii Grills Feature:
- the GS4 high performance grilling system, which includes Infinity Ignition and high performance burners, Flavorizer bars, and grease management system
- iGrill 3 technology, allowing you to monitor food right from your phone
- built-in lid thermometer
- stainless steel side tables and heat deflectors
The LX S models feature closed cabinets, whereas the E models offer an open cart design.
The lid, Flavorizer bars, and cooking grates on the LX S models are stainless steel, while on the E models they are porcelain-enameled.
Best Indoor Grill: Cuisinart Gr
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Small grease funnel
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Can’t achieve same temps as a full-size grill
Whether you lack the outdoor space for a full-size grill or are simply hoping to keep your grilling going year-round, the Cuisinart 5-in-1 Griddler is a top-rated indoor grill that also works as a griddle and panini press. It can be used in five different configurations thanks to its reversible cooking plates, and the nonstick surfaces are even dishwasher-safe, allowing you to clean the appliance in minutes. The Griddler offers adjustable temperature controls with indicator lights that let you know when its ready, and it comes with a scraper tool to clean between the ridges on the plate.
Most homeowners can’t go wrong with the Weber Spirit II E-310 Grill , which offers a spacious cooking area and three burners, as well as ample space for food prep. If you prefer cooking with charcoal, however, the Weber Original Kettle Premium Grill is a classic choice thanks to its 22-inch hinged grate and one-touch cleaning system.
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Weber Accessories & Spares
To get the most out of your Weber® BBQ, Weber® accessories are designed to help make life easier and look after your grill.
In addition to the products you would expect to see on the shelves Weber® BBQ covers, charcoal, disposable gas canisters, Weber® BBQ cleaning products and tongs there are a number of barbecue-specific and specialist products too. Chimney starters, replacement grates, Flavorizer® Bars, warming racks and rotisseries are all popular amongst keen barbecuers but 2017 sees the introduction of a new product to give greater control and more consistency when cooking the Weber® iGrill 3 thermometer.
Designed to be used with a smartphone, the versatile Weber® iGrill 3 constantly monitors the internal temperature of your cooking food thanks to its electronic probes and sends the information to your phone via Bluetooth meaning you dont have to keep lifting the barbecue lid and losing the heat to manually check the temperature.
Weber® have recently introduced smart technology into their grills and on the connect hub. Bringing the world of cooking to your finger tips.
Why Trust The Spruce Eats
Erica Puisis is a writer and interior design expert who has been writing about all things home and lifestyle for The Spruce since 2017.
This article was updated by Camryn Rabideau, a freelance writer and product tester for The Spruce Eats. Shes written close to a dozen pieces on all styles of grills and done firsthand testing of smokers and grills featured in her articles.
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Weber 6434 Deluxe Large Stainless Steel Vegetable Grill Basket
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Whether youre a vegetarian or just want to grill veggies to go with your meat, a Stainless Steel Vegetable Grill Basket can make life a lot easier. Small pieces of vegetable or even meat for that matter are a pain to turn and can fall through the grate, so the basket lets you grill them right along with your other items. These baskets can also work like a wok on the grill. The Weber 6434 grill basket is made to fit 18-1/2 inch or larger Weber charcoal kettles, Weber Q 300 Series and all full-size Weber gas grills.
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Picking The Right Model
Once youve picked your side in what Raichlen calls the grate debate of gas versus charcoal, its time to go shopping. Of course, there is a dizzying range of features and options for grills of both kinds and the choice can really affect the price. Here are some features that youll want to make sure your grill has for the best barbecue experience:
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Hidden Propane Tank Compartment
Another improvement with the new Genesis is that the propane tank is no longer viewable from outside the grill which was always an eyesore. Instead, the tank goes inside the remarkably more spacious pedestal in its own designated spot.
The upgraded grills also come with a neat fuel indicator on the left of the pedestal which clearly indicates how full your propane tank is and exactly when you need a refill. This makes it much easier to read as opposed to the indicator in the previous version which is tucked away behind the tank.
Weber Summit Grill Center Propane Gas Grill With Rotisserie Sear Burner & Side Burner
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Just as the name implies, Webers Summit grills are top-of-the-line models. Before we get to the bells and whistles, the Summit has all the essentials to make grilling a pleasure. Made from heavy-duty stainless steel, it features six stainless steel burners that put out 60,000 BTUs and a 10,600 BTU Sear Station. Each burner has its own Snap-Jet ignition for quick lighting and the control panel is mounted on the front and features LED-lighted control knobs. The hefty cooking grids are made from stainless steel as are the brands signature flavorizer bars. The summit also has a center-mounted thermometer so you can easily keep an eye on the cooking temperature.
Being Webers top offering, the Summit has plenty of extra features. First, its super easy to keep an eye on your propane supply with an LED propane tank scale. Even better for all-around outdoor cooking is the 12,000 BTU side burner that every Summit model has, whether freestanding or a grill center model. This is useful for heating a side dish or boiling up something to go with your main course. And, when the burner isnt in use, its a handy flat surface for extra shelf space. The Summit 470 and 670 models include even more features: a 10,600 BTU rear burner and rotisserie kit, a 10,600 BTU searing station for super high heat, and a 6,800 BTU wood chip smoker box with a dedicated burner. And, if you want to do all this after dark, an attached handle light makes it easy.
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What Is The Best Gas Grill For Under $500
The best grill for under $500 also happens to be our top pick overall: The Weber Spirit II E-310.
Youll be able to read our full take on it below, but in short, we think its a great all-around grill that boasts the features of more expensive options, just at a way better price. Plus, its compatible with smart devices. How cool!
Weber 51010001 Q1200 Liquid Propane Grill
Why youll love this:
I am sure I mentioned somewhere in here that I love portable grills. And the Q1200 is one of my favorites.
I also think by now it is clear I am sucker for color on my grills, and this model comes in an array of fantastic colors: red, green, fuschia, black, blue, orange and titanium.
Dont ask!
Okay, yes. My favorite color is still red but that is not the reason I consider this the best portable grill.
What We Didnt Like
- Cooking timer can only go up to 99 minutes
The cooking surface area on the Performer Deluxe grill is 363 square inches, meaning it is not tiny, but it is not too bulky either. It is just enough to hold food for a small party.
I am also impressed by the ignition mechanism which is just a button. If you know how messy lighting charcoal can get, then you understand my enthusiasm over a button.
The grill offers users prep room, so that you can do all your food preparation in one place.
But my favorite aspect of this grill is the cart bottom that Weber used instead of the traditional three legs. It looks like a gas grill with a charcoal grill top. However if you want to achieve the smoker wood fire taste then you might want to check the Weber SmokeFire Pellet Grill.
But here is the best part:
This model has an aluminized steel one-touch cleaning system. Combine that with the porcelain enameled grate and this is a very easy grill to clean after use.
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Buying Guide For Best Weber Grills
When summer rolls around, theres nothing like a delicious barbecued meal. But to make top-notch burgers, hot dogs, steaks, and other barbecued food, you need a first-class grill and when it comes to home grills, there are few brands more respected than Weber.
If youre in the market for a Weber grill, the shopping process can get overwhelming in a hurry. Thats because Weber offers so many models that choosing the right one for your yard can be a challenge. Not only do you have to choose the proper type of grill but you also have to determine the right size, fuel, grate, and others features to make sure that you can prepare your familys favorite menus as quickly and conveniently as possible.
Here at BestReviews, our goal is help you make sense of your shopping choices. We work with industry experts to identify the most important features for the products were evaluating, and we then test out some of the top items to see firsthand how well they work. And because we buy our own products, you can trust that our recommendations are always completely unbiased.
When youre ready to buy a Weber grill, check out our top five recommendations in the product list above. For general advice on how to choose a Weber grill, our shopping guide has plenty of helpful tips.
Weber 22 Vs 2: An Overview
If youre in the market for a kettle-style charcoal grill, its hard to go wrong with a Weber. The founder of the company actually invented this type of grill, and the Weber name has been going strong ever since.
The Weber 22 and 26 are so named because they measure 22 and 26 inches in diameter, respectively. Both grills come from the Original Kettle series, which also offers an 18-inch option.
Although Weber has other 22 and 26 inch grills in its lineup, the Kettle Premium line is the only one that includes both options. Because were looking to perform a side-by-side comparison of the two, these are the ones well be reviewing.
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How Does The Weber Chimney Starter Work
The stainless steel body has air holes cut into the bottom section and a wire cone sits above those in the tube, upon which, the charcoal rests .
The Chimney sits over a small fuel source such as crumpled up paper or firelighters and the heat rises through the length of chimney evenly heating the coals as it goes. After around 10 minutes the coals are fully cooked and ready to be poured into the barbecue using the two handles for ease.
