Best Charcoal Grill for Tasty Smoking and Grilling

Ian Mutuli
Updated on
Ian Mutuli

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
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A Charcoal grill gives you control over the food you are flipping and the heating zones on the grill. Unlike the other types of grills, you can control how much heat goes where on the grill. In addition, a charcoal grill allows you to try out multiple recipes that require both fast and slow smoking. It is good that you are thinking about getting a charcoal grill, and you have come to the right place to learn about the best charcoal grill in the market to make unforgettable recipes for your friends and family.

What is a Charcoal Grill?

A charcoal grill uses charcoal as the source of fuel when smoking or grilling different recipes. Charcoal is preferred by many because of the smoky flavor that it gives to food. Traditional charcoal grills allow food drippings to fall on the fire, giving off a specific aroma and flavor that might be hard to achieve on other types of grills. In addition, a charcoal grill gives you control over the heat zones and makes grilling more fun as you are always hands-on with the fire and smoke.

Best Charcoal Grills

1) Weber Grills

Sale
Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill, 22-Inch,...
  • Holds up to 13 burgers made with a Weber burger press; Built-in...
  • One-Touch cleaning system with high-capacity ash catcher provides...
  • Porcelain-enameled lid and bowl retain heat, and won’t rust or...
  • Use the lid hook to avoid placing the lid on the ground while...
  • Cooking grate is hinged for easily adding charcoal while grilling

A Weber grill is all you need this summer to impress your friends and family with your cooking skills. The grill has a large surface to grill enough food for your whole family. The kettle grill is a premium charcoal grill like no other in the market. The grill can hold up to 13 burgers, helping you cook faster for many people. With a Weber burger press, your work is even easier on the grill. In addition, Weber has a built-in lid thermometer to help you cook at the right temperature.

Weber has a body that is built to last. The grill is made of rust-resistant aluminum dampers that will withstand any weather condition. The charcoal grill has a porcelain-enameled lid and bowl that retains heat and is rust-resistant as well. So you will not witness any peeling on the grill any time soon. The grill has a beautiful body that is built to make you look good in the photos. We all want photos with good looking grills for memories.

Weber is built for convenience. The versatile charcoal grill has durable wheels to move the grill without much of a hassle. The grill features an angled lid hook to save on the space and worry of where to place the lid when grilling. Heat shields on the grill protect the handles from high temperatures that might cause harm to whoever, for some reason, touches the grill. You can hang your tools on the grill hooks for easy access.

The grill has a cooking grate that is easy to clean and retains maximum heat for cooking. The grate is hinged for easy charcoal addition anytime you want to control the grill's temperature. You can arrange charcoal to allow for direct or indirect grilling.

Pros:

  • Indirect or direct heat control
  • Add more charcoal easily on the grill
  • Easy to clean
  • Built-in thermometer to regulate cooking temperature
  • The lid stays cool throughout
  • Rust resistant
  • Heat resistant handles
  • Low and slow cooking options
  • Original kettle grill design
  • Portable grill

Cons:

  • Charcoal is messy

2) Cuisinart Portable Charcoal Grill

Sale
Cuisinart CCG190RB Portable Charcoal Grill, 14-Inch,...
  • 150-SQUARE-INCH CHROME PLATED GRATE: The 150-square-inch chrome...
  • DUAL VENTING SYSTEM: Features a Dual venting system, giving you...
  • THREE SECURE LID LOCKS: The grill features three secure lid locks...
  • COMPACT ENOUGH TO TAKE ANYWHERE: The grill measures 14. 5 x 14. 5...
  • ENAMEL COATED FIREBOX AND ASH CATCHER: Features a durable enamel...

Cuisinart gives you 150 square inches of cooking surface for you to prepare your burnt offering. The charcoal grill cooking rack is chrome plated and gives enough coking space to accommodate different foods simultaneously. In addition, the rack distributes heat efficiently and evenly across the grill surface for well-done recipes with consistent outcomes and taste.

Cuisinart has dual air vents giving you the ultimate temperature control and charcoal management. You can now control the grill temperature to get the correct low and slow smoking or fast grilling. The charcoal grill comes with three secure lid locks for easy and secure transportation. The grill further weighs only 2 pounds for easy movement.

The charcoal grill has an enamel-coated surface and an ash-catcher for a neat cooking environment. The grill is perfect for a small family, holding up to six burgers at one go. The compact size is great for camping, picnics, tail-gating, decks, balconies, patios and more.

Pros:

  • Lightweight
  • Dual air-vent
  • Ash collector
  • 150 square inches
  • Best charcoal grill for a small family
  • Chrome-plated cooking rack
  • Even heat distribution
  • Excellent solution for travelling, RVs, camping and picnics

Cons:

  • No wheels

3) Char-Broil American Gourmet Offset Griller

Sale
Char-Broil 12201570-A1 American Gourmet Offset Smoker,...
  • Combination Offset Smoker, BBQ & Charcoal Grill
  • 290 square inch cooking surface in main chamber
  • 140 sq. in. cooking surface in firebox chamber
  • Adjustable height steel fire grate
  • Clean-out door for easy ash removal with adjustable built-in...

Why buy a single purpose griller when you can find a smoker, BBQ and a griller all in one package? Char-broil gives you all you can ask for in one package to make your friends and family hangouts an experience worth looking forward to. Imagine all the recipes you will try out. The griller provides 290 square inches of cooking space that is enough for all your ingredients.

The griller further has a cooking chamber that is 140 square inches. You are all set up for a low and slow and smoking cooking experience. The charcoal grill features adjustable dampers with a vertical pipe smokestack. A temperature gauge on the grill helps you monitor the internal temperatures for appropriate adjustments.

Char-broil charcoal grills give you full control with the heat and smoke control that can be opened and closed to adjust. In addition, the grill features a side shelf for extra utensils and tools for convenience. The grill further has cool handles for safety when handling the food.

Pros:

  • Increased mobility
  • Simple and easy cleaning
  • 140 square-inch cooking chamber
  • Complete heat and smoke control
  • 430 square inch total cooking surface
  • Integrated temperature gauge
  • Most versatile charcoal grill
  • Best charcoal grills for a variety of recipes

Cons:

  • Cooking with charcoal requires some learning.

4) Char-Griller Charcoal Grill

Sale
Char-Griller E1515 Patio Pro Charcoal Grill, Black
  • 250 square inches of cooking space, cast iron cooking grates,...
  • Ideal for small decks or patios
  • Features Stay Cool wood handle, side shelf, double steel bottom...
  • Wheels make this grill easy to move
  • Assembly required

Char-griller is the ultimate charcoal grill for anyone who loves burgers. The grill offers you 250 square inches of cooking area to play around with and try out different recipes simultaneously. The grill provides enough cooking surface while keeping a compact body ideal for tight spaces like balconies and patios. In addition, Char-griller is convenient for storage spaces as it will not eat up all the real estate.

Char-griller charcoal grillers are made to last. Each griller is made of cast iron and coated with powder to increase durability and improve heat retention. The charcoal grill is easy to clean up with a dump ash-pan that collects all the ashes to avoid mess and neat cooking space. All you need to do is pull out the pan and dispose of the ash in the right place.

Unlike most charcoal grills, Char-griller has a charcoal storage compartment that ensures your bag of charcoal is taken care of. The griller further has wheels to move the whole package from one place to another easily. Thus, you can start cooking knowing that everything is taken care of by the griller.

Pros:

  • Cast iron grill space
  • 250 square inches of cooking space
  • Ash catcher for a neat cooking area
  • Adjustable dumpers
  • Cast iron gates
  • Double bottom
  • Wooden side shelf
  • Wooden handles
  • Bottom storage rack
  • Easy to clean the grill surface
  • Wheels for easy movement

Cons:

  • Charcoal tends to smell when you light them.

5) VENYN Kettle Grill

Kettle grills are versatile and easy to use, and VENYN is at the top of that league. The outdoor barbeque grill and smoker is light, portable and easy to install. The grill comes with two handles and wheels =for durability and easy handling. VENYN is the best affordable charcoal grill for your beach house, patio, farmhouse and other outdoor settings.

VENYN has an efficient heat retention system that ensures no heat is lost or wasted as you cook. The grill has a porcelain-enamelled coating that provides insulation for heat to be retained at all times. The heat is further evenly spread on the grate to allow for proper grilling of the dishes. The even distribution of heat makes the cooking time predictable and manageable.

VEENYN charcoal grills are easy to install and set up. You do not have to wait too long to start on that recipe you have wanted to do for a while now. The grill is rust-resistant and perfect for anyone in a coastal region where things tend to rust faster. After cooking, you can use the one-touch cleaning system to leave your workstation tidy. The ashtray makes it easy for you to dispose of the ash accumulated as you were cooking.

Pros:

  • One-touch cleaning system
  • Evenly spread heat on the grill grate
  • Easy to clean cooking grate
  • Affordable charcoal grills
  • Easy to set up
  • Lightweight
  • Wheels for easy movement
  • VENYN cooking grates are perfect for grilling

Cons:

  • Charcoal takes longer to heat up.

Factors to Consider Before Buying Charcoal Grill

a) Cooking Surface Area

What is the occasion and how much cooking area will you need? If you are buying a grill for a small family, smaller grills will be perfect for you. A small surface will take up to six burgers at one go, and you will be good to go. However, if you are bound to throw parties with many family and friends attending, you need a big old grill to save you cooking time and make a lot of food over a shorter period.

A large surface area allows you to control the heat more easily than a small surface area. Sometimes all you need is indirect heat to keep the food warm or for slow cooking. A large surface will allow you to spread hot coals according to the areas that will require direct or indirect heat.

b) Weight

A grill is made more for outdoor activities and fun moments. You might need to move the grill a lot, depending on where the fun is happening. If you are going for a picnic, camping, or travelling upcountry, a grill should not be an impediment to all the fun you are trying to have. Smaller kettle grills are easy to move around and can fit comfortably in your car or RV.

c) Wheels

Wheels on a grill make all the difference sometimes. If a grill has no wheels, you will have to wait until the grill has cooled down for you to carry it. It might take a long time for a grill to cool down for you to carry it without the risk of getting a burn. Even a cold grill might be hard to carry alone, and therefore you might need an extra pair of hands to move the grill around comfortably.

You can easily move a grill with wheels when it is still hot. All you need to do is ensure you are not touching a hot surface.

d) Insulated Parts

A grill needs to have insulated handles. Once you are done using the grill, you do not have to wait until it cools down for you to move it out of the way. You need to secure the grill after you use it to get the time to have fun with others. The lid of the grill needs to be insulated as someone can touch it accidentally.

If the grill has an extra surface for placing the ingredients, the surface needs to be insulated to prevent any plastics from melting and ensure no one gets a burn when using the surface.

e) Easy Cleaning

Charcoal is messy to use. Unlike gas grills or pellet grills, charcoal is messy from the word go. Look for a charcoal grill that makes it easy to add charcoal briquettes and one that has an ash collector for easy cleaning after use. Stainless steel grates are easy to clean and maintain. Ensure the grill is dry before you keep it to avoid rusting.

f) Internal Temperature Thermometer

Unlike gas grills, a charcoal fire is not easy to control. An internal thermometer will tell you how much heat is being dispensed for you to open or close air vents for efficient temperature control. Unlike a gas grill where all you need to do is regulate the burner, a charcoal grill will need some level of learning. However, an original charcoal grill will still smoke your burgers in a way that a gas grill can not.

Ian Mutuli

About the author

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
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