Home cooks love charcoal grills because it’s a cheap fuel source that adds a wonderful, smoky taste to anything from pizza and pulled pork to hot dogs and hamburgers. In addition, charcoal grills are typically less costly than gas or pellet barbecues, allowing you to cook outside even on a tight budget.Charcoal grill anatomy is simpler than that of gas grills.

In essence, they are coal-filled receptacles with lids and racks. Nevertheless, several models are unquestionably superior to others. We thoroughly examined the most well-liked models, grilling outside for weeks to test a grill’s temperature management, heat retention, and cleanup after a meal in order to help you make the best decision. We also evaluated the ease of setup straight out of the box and whether any features improve or detract from your experience grilling.

The Best Budget

Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal

Original Kettle Premium Charcoal

• Warranty: Bowl and lid: 10 years; cleaning system and plastic parts: 5 years; everything else: 2 years
• Cooking Area: 363 square inches
• Dimensions: 27 x 22 x 39.5 inches

We put the 22-inch Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill to the test.
You can’t go wrong with the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch Charcoal Grill, whether you’re purchasing your first grill or replacing a beloved one. It takes less than 15 minutes to assemble this well thought-out grill, and it is incredibly reasonably priced.

Though we discovered that its readings might differ significantly from our secondary thermometer, there is an integrated lid thermometer. It was difficult to get it hot enough to sear, even though it was great for grilling and smoking.

As a last drawback, the plastic lid hook became ineffective due to the lid melting. Nonetheless, it is an excellent bargain charcoal barbecue with the same simple one-touch cleaning mechanism as the Weber Performer.

Although we discovered that its readings might differ significantly from our secondary thermometer, the lid thermometer is built-in. Although it was quite effective for grilling and smoking, we had trouble heating it to a searing temperature.

The plastic lid hook became ineffective due to the lid melting, which was the last drawback. It is an excellent bargain charcoal barbecue, nevertheless, and shares the Weber Performer’s simple one-touch cleaning system.

Pros:

• Traditional, small design
• The tried-and-true chef produces delicious meals.
• Great for beginners

Cons:

• Inaccurate built-in thermometers are possible

Best Overall

Weber Performer Deluxe Charcoal Grill

 Deluxe Charcoal Grill

• Warranty: Bowl and lid should last 10 years, cleaning system and plastic components 5 years, and all other parts 2 years.
• Cooking Area: 363 square inches
• Dimensions: 48 x 30 x 44.1 inches

One of the greatest charcoal barbecue companies available today is Weber, which produces the expensive but excellent Performer Deluxe 22-Inch Charcoal barbecue, which did the best in our testing. Any griller would appreciate the many practical features this model offers, such as an enclosed storage bin to keep your charcoal safe, a work table for preparing meals, and a Touch-N-Go gas ignition system.

Each and every time we ignited the Performer Deluxe grill, that computerized charcoal ignition system performed flawlessly. The dampers are straightforward to accurately place and modify after the coals are hot, making it easy to maintain a defined temperature range.

During an hour-long test smoking baby back ribs, we were able to maintain it within a 10-degree range and saw no dramatic variations while opening or shutting the lid. However, we discovered that the built-in thermometer was a touch high, necessitating the use of our backup grill thermometer.

The plated steel grate has a circular central slot for adding charcoal, so it was also simple to add that. It was discovered, however, that the hole was not large enough to allow for coal adjustments. Modern features include a detachable timer attached to the prep table and an easy-to-use one-touch cleaning mechanism that collected all of the ash in the bottom catcher.

Pros:

• space on the side to prepare and store food
• Easy gas ignition system
• Simple damper adjustment

Cons:

• The thermometer is not very precise.

Best Kamado Charcoal Grill

 Akorn Kamado Charcoal Grill and Smoker

Charcoal Grill and Smoker 

• Dimensions: 45 x 31 x 47 inches
• Cooking Area: 447 square inches
• Warranty: 1 year

Originating over 3,000 years ago in Asia, kamado-style grills are oval-shaped cooking pots that have gained popularity in the United States because of their exceptional adaptability. For baking and smoking, kamado grills are utilized, such as the Char-Griller AKORN Kamado Charcoal Grill. They instantly preheat and enhance the flavor of food.

This specific kamado grill is made of steel with three walls, and it has a detachable warming rack in addition to 314 square inches of cast-iron grill space. It can cook food at temperatures between 200 and 700 degrees Fahrenheit and has a built-in thermometer. Utensil hooks and two handy foldable side shelves are features of the barbecue.

We cooked standard barbecue dishes like chicken wings and ribs with this, and we were really happy with how well it worked. No matter what was going on outside, the grill stayed constant once we figured out how to set it to the proper temperature.

Since it takes some time for this to cool down, it is crucial to get the starting temperature exactly perfect. Other features we enjoyed were the warming rack’s ability to function as the ideal bun warmer and the grates’ increasing nonstickness throughout testing.

Pros:

• Easy to clean
• affordable in comparison to rivals
• Great heat retention

Cons:

• Grate needs a first seasoning.
• difficult to calm down

Best Infrared Charcoal Grill

Char-Broil Kettleman TRU-Infrared Charcoal Grill

Image:Amazon

• Dimensions: 26 x 26 x 39 inches
• Cooking Area: 360 square inches
• Warranty: Lid and firebox: 10 years; everything else: 2 years

There are numerous benefits to using an infrared barbecue for grilling. Not only do they disperse heat uniformly, but they also use less fuel and can reach a temperature high enough for a visually appealing sear.All of these things are done by the Char-Broil TRU-Infrared Kettleman grill, and it costs a lot less.

With very few flare-ups, we were able to swiftly bring it to a high heat for that wonderful sear on the steak, chicken legs, and pork chops. Throughout all of our tests, the 360-square-inch cooking area heated uniformly, and the big lid vent effortlessly adjusted to help control the surrounding temperature. We really appreciate the precise built-in lid thermometer and the adjustable charcoal grate, which offer a great deal of culinary options.

This grill does have a bit of a learning curve, though. It’s really difficult to add charcoal while cooking, so you’ll need to learn how to position them correctly for extended smokes. Furthermore, because the bottom vent must remain open, it cannot be adjusted. Before your big outdoor get-together, we recommend spending some time getting to know the infrared quirks of this grill.

Pros:

• Once beyond the learning curve, temperature management is simple.
• Charcoal grate with adjustable height
• Easy to clean

Cons:

• Once ablaze, it’s hard to add charcoal.
• There is a slight learning curve.