Top 5 Charcoal Grills of 2024 Tested and Reviewed
When it comes to choosing the best charcoal grills in 2024, among the plethora of options, some excel in both performance and versatility. First on this list is the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22" Charcoal Grill. It's a perennial favorite known for its reliability and good quality construction. For quite a number of years, it has become a recommended best buy because of its durable construction and excellent heat retention.
If smoking is your game, have a gander at the PK Grills Original PK300 Grill & Smoker. This offering features an oval grilling surface with four dampers to make you really granular on heat levels, making it perfect for both grillers and smokers.
Though charcoal grills are supposed to be a more no-frills counterpart to gas and pellet grills, it can get pretty flashy. Who doesn't love a push-start button or a double-decker cooking grate? We rounded up 11 wildly different charcoal grills, representing price points and designs across the spectrum, and put them through their paces. We have these top picks after testing. It will depend on how skilled you are, how often you plan on using it, and the type of grilling or smoking that would work best for you.
The Winners, at a Glance
Weber Original Kettle Premium 22” Charcoal Grill
This grill is a classic, and most readers will likely be familiar with it. "This is the grill your parents or grandparents used," says Steven Schrimpf, our procurement and inventory manager and resident grilling expert. Formalised as the Original Kettle, this model still holds sway with beginning cooks and seasoned grillers alike. Thoughtful touches like hinged grates were added to increase ease of use, not at the expense of performance, but to augment its user-friendly design. It did outstandingly well in our tests for heating speed and even distribution, so it is definitely at the top of the list for any grilling enthusiast.
PK Grills Original PK300 Grill & Smoker
It provides just the right middle ground for the career griller who wants to do some smoking of larger cuts. It has four dampers for finely tuned heat control, features a hinged lid that can also be removed entirely, and an incredible warranty of 20 years, showing its durability. Although Schrimpf was initially cynical about the damper design, he later attested to its functionality through a number of extensive tests. He claimed that PK300 was, as far as temperature control in grilling was concerned, the new benchmark.
Weber Performer Deluxe Charcoal Grill
This charcoal grill with a propane-fueled start knob eliminates the need for mastering a chimney to light charcoal. No more waiting—just turn the knob and easily light your grill. Cleanup is just as easy, as ash empties automatically with the push of a button into a catch below the kettle for a mess-free grilling experience every time.
Although it grills steaks very well, producing what most of its rivals can only envy in terms of those nice grill marks, in smoking it doesn't stand out too much because it quickly burns up wood. But, on account of the mouth-watering result it can do with steaks, this is definitely a barbeque for the griller.
Although this model can't boast the same flashy features as some of the other grill-smoker hybrids on the market, it does prove to be a very reliable choice for someone looking for versatility without having to break the bank. It also turned in excellent two-zone cooking performance, which raises its value as a grilling tool. Although users found this model a little fiddly to assemble and clean, the feedback was pretty overwhelmingly positive when it came to cooking steak and ribs.
This is one large grill designed for low-and-slow type cooking. One of the features that really caught our eye was its front-loading door, ingeniously designed to let you add more fuel easily during the smoking process. With a generous 550 square inches of cooking area, it easily allows three-zone cooking, and an additional grate is perfect for grilling vegetables or even buns. One of the unique features of this grill is the existence of two large prep tables, which a charcoal grill rarely has, yet common among gas grills.
First-time grillers may feel a little clumsy at times in trying to get the right temperature for the first few times, but once they get a feel of it, it really pays off. This grill provides a real treat and learning experience for enthusiasts to work their craft.
The Tests
Assembly Test:
After reading the manufacturer's instructions with great care, we assembled each grill, logging any frustrations or complications experienced during the process. We noted which grills were difficult to assemble alone and required additional help.
Temperature Control Test:
We, with great detail, used a precision grill thermometer to track the temperature of the grill from ignition, noting how long it took to reach our target heat level. We have taken note of any hot spots on the cooking surface of the grill.
Steak Test:
We did extensive testing by cooking steaks on each grill to really test their performance both for searing and grilling. We took a close look at how well the grills controlled cooking zones and if they had things like adjustable grates or dampers that help with quick and easy cooking.
Ribs Test:
We did a full run of evaluation by smoking baby back ribs in each grill to check their performance under low and slow heat. It means looking at the temperature fluctuations over time and the taste and appearance of the ribs, including how much fuel each grill used to determine effectiveness in being operated.
Usability and Cleanup Tests:
We ran rigorous testing, studying each grill for its level of user-friendliness, ease of portability, and cleaning. Those with wheels definitely had an upper hand, but only if they could stabilize when stationary. Other features that further eased cleanup included conveniently placed grates and ash catchers, making the whole process—from start to finish—absolutely smooth.
What We Learned
Grill Shape Mattered When It Came to Smoking
Most people, upon hearing the term "charcoal grill," probably picture something circular, like the Weber Original. In our testing, though, we saw some models like the PK300 with oblong cooking surfaces. These proved more useful for smoking techniques and for fitting larger cuts of meat more comfortably.
Adjustable Grates Were, Uh, Great
There was great help from the adjustable heights for both charcoal and cooking grates when grilling steaks and fish. It simply allowed us to get the flames in closer for that really nice sear. Even in grills with fixed grates, we made do by manipulating the level of charcoal. Those with hinged cooking grates were quite a pleasure since they allowed us to move food out of the way to add more charcoal mid-grill.
Dampers vs. Vented Lids Came Down to Personal Preference
Dampers are a key component of temperature control on a grill. They allow for a great deal of control; with the number of dampers you have directly correlating to the flexibility you will have when looking to change the temperature. In this regard, models such as the PK300, which has four dampers, received a lot of kudos. People who have some experience grilling or who plan to use their grill for smoking should seek a model with more than one damper.
However, this may prove to be too hectic for a novice with multiple dampers to handle. Grills that have lids with vents should, therefore, be recommended for these people. The lids have a slide that allows users to adjust the amount of air they want to pass through, restricting airflow to either minimal or substantial levels.
Lids Mattered More Than You Might Think
The grill lids were not all removable, and we found this to be a bit of a hassle when using or cleaning the grill. We particularly enjoyed being able to grill without the fear of having a lid slam down on us. Hinged lids, such as that found on the Char-Griller, had their advantages too, including a secondary grate for vegetables and buns. The thing with the lid is that it needs to be well constructed; tough multi-clad metals in this case held their heat admirably in our demanding tests. Care has to be taken with plastic components also. On my Weber Original Kettle, the hook in the lid got so hot that it melted the plastic handle used to hang it.
How to Use a Chimney Starter with a Charcoal Grill
Sometimes it becomes really difficult to light up either charcoal briquettes or lump charcoal without a chimney starter—a contraption that has been specifically designed to make things easier by containing heat and managing airflow. A chimney starter is very easy to use: Simply start with a few pieces of crumpled newspaper at the bottom of the chimney, fill it with your choice of charcoal—setting it up evenly—and you're all set.
Place the chimney starter over the fuel grate on your grill. Lighter is used to ignite the newspaper through the holes at the bottom of the chimney. Once lit, the flame will gradually spread up to the charcoal above. Allow this to sit, untouched, for about 10-15 minutes.
During this period, the charcoal will ignite, start to burn, and the coals on top of the chimney will begin to turn into a glowing, powdery white-gray color, which indicates that they are adequately heated.
Carefully pour hot coals onto the grill grating and spread them out to get an even heat. Place the cooking grate over top of the coals, and you're ready to go.
Igniting aside, using a chimney starter also makes the charcoal burn evenly and really hot. It is one of those techniques which grillers use to get an average or thorough cook going because it allows much-needed consistency.
The Criteria: What to Look for in a Charcoal Grill
The best charcoal grills can maintain consistent temperatures with very little monitoring or adjustment. Features such as a lid with vents or dampers are important, since they accommodate airflow adjustment required to meet your preferred cooking conditions. Look for a grill that comes with at least one of these features.
Size-wise, look for grills that are large enough to have some zone cooking area and to hold big pieces of meat—these are desirable features for those looking to use their grill as a smoker. Grills with adjustable height grates and hinged grates provide even more flexibility, which comes in handy when you have to tend to multiple cooking tasks.
While extra features controlled by the user can increase its functionality, they may also cost more or overwhelm the beginner. Hence, based on your grilling skills and needs, you must decide whether the presence of any such features is justified.
The Top-Performing Charcoal Grills
Weber Original Kettle Premium 22” Charcoal Grill
What we liked:
Consistent across the board, this grill is from the biggest name in the business. The very adjustable damper and rotating lid made the original kettle a solid choice for both grilling and smoking. Well-thought-out upgrades, such as hinged grates, in the Original Kettle make it easy to refuel in the middle of a grill session. The simple design suits beginners yet is sophisticated enough for veteran grillers. In our tests, it registered perfect marks for heating speed and distribution, which means that the device heated quickly and evenly and didn't have any hot spots whatsoever. Assembly was quite easy, as it took under 15 minutes with basic tools. It is also quite excellent in its ability to control depth, the efficiency of the venting, stick reduction, and flare-ups.
Didn't like:
While the ash catch is slightly fiddly to clean, and the construction probably could be better given what you're paying for—with this unit it's less than $250, and often on sale.
Key specs:
- Cooking area: 127 square inches
- Dimensions: 22.5 x 22.5 x 27 inches
- Weight: 32.3 pounds
- Special Features: Hinged grates
- Warranty: 10 years
- PK Grills Original PK300 Grill & Smoker
What we liked :
This model is sold as both a grill and smoker, so we had high expectations for it in both departments. Luckily, it delivered. The PK300 has an excellent design, which gives this grill a hinged lid that can be fully opened or removed altogether. When closed, it seals tightly to allow smoking. The hinged charcoal grate made adding coals during cooking easy and relatively safe. The size and shape of the kettle are just perfect for smoking those big cuts, but the reality is that it's a utility model that can do a little bit of smoking, a little bit of searing, a little bit of roasting, and even a little bit of steaming.
Even at that, the PK300 goes further with its four dampers for better control over the heat. This makes it a quality option for those who want to go above and beyond in their grilling. Plus, it comes with a 20-year warranty, so there's some justification for the elevated cost.
What we didn't like:
Due to the charcoal grate being very close to the cooking grate, this product may not be ideal for beginners. Its design makes it necessary to be at a high level of experience to get a proper sear. Zone cooking means that you can regulate the different heating zones on the grill surface to effect different temperatures for achieving your results—searing meat or keeping the fire low for slower cooking. Sans these, it can be a bit deceiving for any beginner to get the perfect result out of this grill.
Key Specs
- Cooking Area: 320 square inches
- Dimension: 42.79 x 16.21 x 37.35 inches with lid closed
- Weight: 60 pounds
- Special features: The cooking chamber is made of aluminum; surface area uniquely designed for two-zone cooking
- Warranty: 20 years
SNS Original Charcoal Grill
One unique factor that struck our eye with the SNS Original Charcoal Grill is that it stands more compact than the others we had tested. But believe me, we were not at all sorry for this grill with the smallest footprint; it used to superbly manage all of its grilling and smoking tasks. Boasting a 22-inch round cooking surface, it surprisingly accommodates three racks of ribs when functioning as a smoker. Speaking of ribs, they came off the SNS with an enviable quarter-inch pale pink smoke ring and a gorgeously caramelized exterior.
Grilling, the SNS is yet another hassle-free cook to a perfect sear, without sticking, or flare-ups. Thus, the SNS grill, popular with geeky types like Schrimpf, is made to cook with two-zone abilities. This is helped by the SNS Deluxe insert, a contraption that puts lit coals to one side of the firebox in a super-welcoming configuration that allows for advanced cooking techniques, like searing steaks and then finishing them at lower heat. Making it easy was the Easy Spin Grill Grate.
Schrimpf highlights the thoughtfulness gone into the construction of the Slow 'N Sear—speaking of practicality in achieving accurate cooking results.
What we didn't like:
Although this grill was a little behind some of the flashier features on our other models, we feel obligated to note some of its drawbacks. First, setting it up was probably more involved than with our other models, and second, the grates require quite a bit of wrestling to pull free for cleaning. We also found the mechanism for removing ash to be a bit fussy. In total, however, we didn't find these to be insurmountable problems and found the overall useability of the value grill to be acceptable.
Key Specs
- Square inches of cooking area: 121
- Dimensions: 41.75 x 41.75 x 41.67 inches
- Weight: 38 pounds
- Special features: Attached hinged workbench; smoke with a special insert (can be sold separately)
- Warranty: 10 years
Char-Griller
What we liked:
Although the Char-Griller may look like a smoker at first blush, it's so much more. Yes, it's a great low-and-slow smoker, but the feature set in this grill is robust enough to cover most cooking styles. The design allows for plenty of room and includes some nice touches, like the hinged lid fitted with a large, easy-grip handle. Adding charcoal or wood is easier thanks to the front-loading fuel door.
The grill is constructed to last and features four wheels for mobility. Underneath, it also has a storage rack to hold trays and platters, which can come in handy. This grill has 550 square inches of cooking space, enough to make it ideal for large families or when company comes over. In fact, it's large enough to support three-zone cooking, and there's a secondary grate of 270 square inches to grill vegetables and toast buns all at the same time.
In our tests, the Char-Griller did remarkably well. Our smoked ribs emerged with a beautiful glossy exterior and a tender, juicy texture that was simply salivated over. But beyond smoking, it also proved to have amazing grilling capability, evidenced by perfect grills on a lovely T-bone.
What that made the Char-Griller quite prominent was not just the ability to smoke but also the fact that it is versatile, hard-wearing, and offers excellent cooking performance—suitable for a serious grill enthusiast.
What we didn't like:
The damper on the door was disappointingly located; we had been expecting something a little more discreetly sized and placed on the lower right side of the grill. It might be a challenge for new users to achieve and maintain the ideal temperature at first. But those who are more experienced in grilling, as well as those converting from gas to charcoal, will definitely appreciate the flexibility, both for smoking and grilling purposes.
Key Specifications:
- 820 square inches of cooking area (on two-tiered cooking spaces)
- Dimensions: 27 x 57.35 x 51.70 inches
- Weight: 88 pounds
- Special features: Charcoal access door and stainless steel smokestack allowing better temperature control
- Warranty: 5 years
Top 5 charcoal grills of 2024 in depth testing and review youtube
