Yahoo Finance The 11 Best Charcoal Grills You Can Buy Right Now
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The 11 Best Charcoal Grills You Can Buy Right Now
You smell that? Now that Memorial Day has kicked off grilling season to a flame-broiled start, the chances of you stepping outside and taking in the smoky musk of neighborhood barbecues has likely skyrocketed. But that’s not just any grill you’re smelling—it’s a charcoal grill. According to a 2020 study conducted by the Hearth, Patio, and Barbecue Association (HPBA), nearly 50% of grill owners have a charcoal grill, which is pretty impressive when you consider there’s a bunch of different kinds of outdoor grills (including gas, pellet, and even indoor!) out there. If you’re among the people who prefer the smoky flavor imparted by a charcoal grill, there’s no better time to hop on the bandwagon and pick one up yourself.
Regardless of your expertise, you don’t have to be a grilling expert to know what to look for when shopping for a charcoal grill. We’ve taken care of all the hard work for you, so you can focus on what’s important: Cooking up all your favorite traditional BBQ recipes, as well as some succulent ribs, fresh veggie kabobs, and savory cilantro lime salmon filets. After reviewing the in-depth evaluations conducted by the Good Housekeeping Institute’s team of experts—including Nicole Papantoniou, Director of their Kitchen Appliances and Culinary Innovation Lab—we’ve found the best charcoal grills for every budget, patio size, and appetite.
Is your love of grilling insatiable? Check out these must-have grilling accessories and the best grill cleaners on the market to keep yours looking shiny and new.
Our top picks
- Best Charcoal Grill: Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill
- Best Budget Charcoal Grill: Char-Griller Super Pro Barrel Charcoal Grill
- Best Splurge Charcoal Grill: PK Grills Original PKTX Grill and Smoker
- Most Versatile Charcoal Grill: Char-Griller Flavor Pro 4-Burner Grill
- Best Charcoal Grill and Smoker: Masterbuilt Gravity Series 560 Digital Charcoal Grill + Smoker
- Best Kamado Charcoal Grill: Kamado Joe Classic II Charcoal Grill
- Best Small Charcoal Grill: Nexgrill Cart-Style Charcoal Grill with Side Shelf
- Best Large Charcoal Grill: Dyna-Glo DGN576SNC-D Dual Zone Premium Charcoal Grill
- Best Tabletop Charcoal Grill: Oklahoma Joe's Rambler Portable Charcoal Grill
- Best Portable Charcoal Grill: Everdure by Heston Blumenthal The Cube Grill
- Best Charcoal Grill for Camping: BioLite FirePit+ Outdoor Smokeless Wood & Charcoal Burning Fire Pit and Grill
How we picked these products
To find the best charcoal grill, we turned to our friends at the Good Housekeeping Institute, who have identified the best brands and models based on availability, reviews, and reputation. Their team of on-staff experts—which includes all types: engineers! data analysts! registered dietitians!—rigorously put everyday products to the test (and then more and more tests) in their New York City-based labs to determine which ones you can trust. As part of their in-depth testing process, these Kitchen Tech Experts evaluated a variety of charcoal grills on a variety of characteristics that factor into creating the ultimate backyard BBQ, including performance, accessibility, safety, ease of use, smoke production, durability, portability, and heat distribution and retention. After reviewing their findings and sitting down to discuss their fieldwork with Papantoniou, we’ve determined that these are the best charcoal grills you can buy in 2022.
Amazon - 2/12
1) Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill
Weber
Amazon
$219.00
Nine out of 10 dads agree that the Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill is the de-facto charcoal grill. (The tenth dad was too busy reaping the rewards of his latest barbecuing bonanza.)
“This is what people think of when they think of a charcoal grill,” declared Papantoniou. “It has great wheels to move around, a great ash collector, and stay-cool handles. You can help control the temperature from the top with the vent on the lid and it allows you to create cooking zones.” That said, she noted that she finds the Weber Original “a little harder to learn how to use due to the round shape,” but appreciated that “you can mount the charcoal high, which gives you nice heating.”
Boasting the capacity to hold up to 13 burgers, its design isn’t just about searing some sizzling steaks: Using a charcoal grill is just as much about the experience. That’s why Weber designed this grill with a hinged cooking grate that makes adding charcoal a breeze, a porcelain-enameled lid and bowl for optimal rust and peeling resistance, and a hook on the lid so you don’t have to place it on the ground. Combine this thoughtful design with rust-resistant aluminum dampers, a built-in lid thermometer, and one-touch cleaning system, and it’s safe to say the Weber Original will be your go-to grill for years to come.
Weber - 3/12
2) Char-Griller Super Pro 30-in Black Barrel Charcoal Grill
Char-Griller - 4/12
4) PK Grills Charcoal BBQ Grill and Smoker Combo Portable Aluminum Outdoor Cooking Barbecue Grills for Camping, Tailgating, Park Grilling, SSB-X Original PKTX, Silver
PK Grills - 5/12
5) Flavor Pro 4-Burner Gas Grill with Multi-Fuel Flavor Drawer
Char-Griller - 6/12
6) Gravity Series 560 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo in Black
Masterbuilt - 7/12
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9) Dual Zone Premium Charcoal Grill in Stainless Steel and Black
Dyna-Glo - 10/12
11) Oklahoma Joe's 22" Barrel Charcoal Grill (Part number: 19402088)
Oklahoma Joe's - 11/12
12) Everdure by Heston Blumenthal the Cube Grill
Everdure by Heston Blumenthal - 12/12
13) BioLite FirePit Outdoor Smokeless Wood & Charcoal Burning FirePit and Grill (FirePit)
BioLite
