What Are the Best Rated Charcoal Grills?
The best rated charcoal grills are unbeatable at making tasty food outdoors. They provide the most flexibility and purity of any grill option, though they can require a bit more cooking finesse than gas grills And with the addition of flavor chips and charcoal wood species, charcoal grill cooks can enter a world of unparalleled flavor. Charcoal grills take more time to get to cooking temperature than gas grills do, but often do a better job of high-heat cooking/searing than gas grills, and they are simply more pleasing to use in many circumstances.
It can be difficult to decide which of the many charcoal grill options is the best option for each individual’s (or family’s) needs. This guide is intended to shine a light on several charcoal grill options. This article will look at several of the best rated charcoal grills on the market, examine the features of each, and compare across options. As it happens, all of the grills on this list are Weber grills, which suggests to us that Weber is doing a great job making an outstanding line of charcoal grills for the price.
To see our choice for the best of the best rated charcoal grills, click here!
Weber 1211001 Jumbo Joe Gold Charcoal Grill, 18-Inch
First up is the Weber 1211001 Jumbo Joe Gold Charcoal Grill It is an upgrade from the 10020 Smokey Joe Silver grill we talk about below with a handy handle and lid latch. It features a 240 sq. inch cooking area. The Jumbo Joe Gold is made with a porcelain-enameled bowl and 18.5“ plated steel cooking grate. It the unit offers rust-resistant dampers and ash catchers, and an easy-to-clean mechanism for ash removal. The Jumbo Joe Gold offers two dampers for temperature control.
The Weber Jumbo Joe Gold in Action
Its large cooking area can cook approximately 7 hamburgers at one time, so there’s enough room to feed the whole gang pretty rapidly. It is also large enough that indirect heat cooking is possible. Charcoal on one side, the food on another side, lots of flavor to be had! Though longer cooking times are needed. The Jumbo Joe Gold can be used on a table, and Weber sells one specifically to be used with this unit. Care should be taken, as the legs can get hot during a long cookout.
Weber 121020 Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill
The Weber 121020 G0-Anywhere Charcoal Grill is a rectangular, squat, cheerful metal grill that looks like it came down from Space Invaders and landed on the lawn. It features handles on each side of the unit for easy carrying, as well as a top handle on the lid for operation while cooking. It is small and easily portable, which makes it a great option for camping and tailgate parties! Its rectangular shape makes it a bit easier to pack in a car than many of the circular grills, which is in some ways an advantage. However, this shape causes the grilling surface area to be less flexible than the rounded units on the list. Still, the Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill can fit a half dozen burgers or four steaks at a time on its 160 sq. inch grill area, which isn’t bad.
This easy to clean unit has an attractive porcelain-enameled steel lid and grill box. Its dimensions are 14.5“ x 12 1/4“ x 21“. The grill also offers a triple nickel coated steel cooking grate. The legs on the Weber Go-Anywhere fold up to secure the top lid to the main unit. Thish makes the Go-Anywhere Grill easy to toss into the back of the wagon and head down to the lake or to the game. Another cool feature for outdoor use is the lid hangars. These hangars allow the lid to be suspended in a way to shelter the grill from wind on those cool autumn game days.
Weber 10020 Smokey Joe Silver Charcoal Grill, Black
Yet another Weber charcoal grill on the best of list – the Weber 10020 Smokey Joe Silver Charcoal Grill is simply a classic, and is an excellent choice for the budget-conscious outdoor chef. The Smokey Joe silver is quite similar to the more expensive Jumbo Gold Grill above, though smaller. The Smokey Joe’s small size and light weight (9.5lbs) makes it ideal for portable grilling. Camping, tailgating, beach use, etc., this unit is suited for all.
The Smokey Joe Silver’s default configuration comes with short legs, as shown above, and that makes it perfect for tabletop or on-the-ground cooking. The Smokey Joe Silver has a 14.5″ diameter grate, and can cook food for 1-2 people at a time. It features a similar glass-reinforced nylon handle to the Jumbo Gold grill, and its lid also is unhinged but sits securely on the base. The porcelain-enameled coating protects the finish of the Smokey Joe against excess heat and other damage.
Weber Smokey Joe 14“ Cooking Burgers
The unit has two air intakes to adjust air flow through the grill. One intake on the top, and one on the bottom (which doubles as a clean out mechanism). Clean out is easy using the bottom air flow intake to drop ash into the ash tray for disposal. By closing both air intake valves, the coals are snuffed out rapidly. A small amount of assembly of the unit is required. Fortunately, the assembly is fairly simple. As a nice extra the unit comes with a great cooking guide with easy to follow instructions on different ways to cook on the grill.
Weber 741001 Silver One-Touch 22-Inch Kettle Grill, Black
The Weber Silver One-Touch is the epitome of the charcoal grill form, and an is excellent option for the burgeoning charcoal chef. It is compact, effective, and relatively simple to use. The kettle-style grill features a potent 363 sq. inch cooking surface, which is capable of cooking a hearty amount of burgers, dogs, and assorted other items simultaneously.
The 22″ diameter cooking grate is made of heavy-duty plated steel, and the bowl is made of porcelain-enameled steel. The unit is rust and heat resistant, and is designed for easy cleanup. The lid is not hinged, but sits nicely on the grill base frame.
The handle is made of glass-reinforced nylon. It is heat resistant, and is designed to be usable while the grill is in use. The unit has wheels for easy movement when necessary, and there is a one-touch cleanup door at the bottom of the Silver one touch. This door sends ash automatically down into the aluminum ash catcher for later disposal. There are two ports for heat control on the Weber Silver One Touch Charcoal Grill. One grate on the top, and the clean out portal on the bottom. The two can operate cooperatively to control temperature flows through the grill, and when both are closed, the internal fire is quickly extinguished.
Best of the Best Rated Charcoal Grills
We have looked at several of the best rated charcoal grills on the market, all Weber quality grills. They all have their place, depending on individual needs, but when it comes down to it, our favorite grill on this list is the Weber Jumbo Joe Gold Charcoal Grill. It can’t be beat! Happy cooking!