TechGearLab

If you're looking for a portable but sturdy heavy-duty grill, check out the Char-Griller Side Fire Box. By utilizing a unique barrel shape that maximizes interior space, this Char-Griller manages to offer a cooking surface comparable to full-sized grills like the Beau Jardin 18". So, even though this grill's footprint is small, you get nearly the same capacity as a classic kettle-style charcoal grill. Our favorite feature is the slide-out drawer that allows quick access to the firebox. This simple feature &mdash; along with the grill's unique design &mdash; makes it easier to use a coal chimney to start a fire, gives you better access to the coal bed while cooking, and provides a quick and easy solution for dumping ash and spent charcoal.
The cooking grates might be cast iron, but don't be fooled by this grill's appearance &mdash; it is actually built out of heavy-duty powder-coated steel rather than a full cast iron construction like the Char-Griller Outlaw. Even though we still put this grill in the "portable" category based on size, it might be a bit much to haul the 42-pound frame out to your next picnic. Although the Side Fire Box is a bit more expensive than the other tabletop grills we tested, it is much more versatile, particularly when combined with the Outlaw to create a true Texas-style smoker.

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The cooking chamber on most grills is constructed of stainless steel, cast iron, or porcelain. The PK360 Grill + Smoker is composed of aluminum. The primary benefit of aluminum is that the metal is rustproof. PK has been around since 1952, and they like to boast that they produce grills that will be cooking for several generations. Aluminum also conducts heat extremely efficiently. With some very well-placed vents on the lid and bottom of the tub, we found that this model offers a high degree of control. The grill grate is hinged, allowing you to add woodchips and coals while you are cooking food. The PK360 was designed with portability in mind. The side tables and lid can be easily removed, and the grill comes off of the stand &mdash; all without the use of tools. If you don't want to use the stand, the bottom of the tub has been designed to sit flat on tables without it. 
The stand has a relatively small footprint, but with the side tables attached, the PK360 takes up a lot of room. In many instances, aluminum is used for things that are meant to be as light as possible. This is not the case with the PK360 &mdash; it's one of the heaviest charcoal grills that we've gotten our hands on. We appreciate that it breaks down for transport, but it would be wise to use two people to move it around. Additionally, if you're looking for a budget-friendly charcoal grill, this is not the one. The PK360 might last for generations, but it's going to require a large investment up front. Gripes aside, if you're in the market for a high-performance aluminum grill, this is the one. 

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Building on a decades-old design that has earned the love of chefs and backyard-grilling aficionados alike, Weber’s 22” Original Kettle Premium has everything we loved in our previous recommendation, the One-Touch Gold.

From burgers to chicken to slow-smoked ribs, this Weber model’s time-tested design produces great results—at a terrific price.

America's Test Kitchen

Weber’s versatile, well-designed classic kettle was an expert griller and maintained heat well, and its well-positioned vents allowed for excellent air control. The sturdy ash catcher makes cleanup a breeze, and it was the fastest and easiest model to assemble and move. We appreciate this model's updated, sturdier leg attachment system with metal tabs that snap together more securely. Our only wish is that the hinged portions of its grate were slightly larger.

expert-review

Charcoal Grill Face-Off: Weber Kettle vs. Big Green Egg

The Best Charcoal Grill

The 18″ Weber Jumbo Joe is a great little charcoal-based portable grill. It’s straightforward and works well, just like its full-size counterpart.

The classic Weber kettle grill, just smaller and portable.

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For the fans of pit-cooking out there, we offer up the Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill. This well-built barbeque is an innovative take on the manufacturer's classic design, incorporating their enameled, cast-iron construction into a convenient, compact package. The rectangular basin can hold a coal bed that is both deep and evenly spread. A plated steel top grate settles securely into place thanks to deep-seated insets cast into the grill frame, so you can easily adjust heat zones without fear of dropping your whole meal into the coals.
We cannot guarantee that the Go-Anywhere will boast the same heat output as its gas-powered competitors &mdash; that's up to you and your coal-stoking abilities. There is certainly a learning curve to mastering different heat zones, but cooking over charcoal potentially offers an accuracy that cannot be matched when cooking with gas. The tightly fitting vents are tough to adjust without gloves, and it takes time to skillfully manage these adjustments for perfect airflow. But we can assure you that with practice, this portable grill can allow you to master the art of cooking over an open flame and produce delicious food in the process, even on the go.

For the fans of pit-cooking out there, we offer up the Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill. This well-built barbeque is an innovative take on the manufacturer's classic design, incorporating their enameled, cast-iron construction into a convenient, compact package. The rectangular basin can hold a coal bed that is both deep and evenly spread. A plated steel top grate settles securely into place thanks to deep-seated insets cast into the grill frame, so you can easily adjust heat zones without fear of dropping your whole meal into the coals.
We cannot guarantee that the Go-Anywhere will boast the same heat output as its gas-powered competitors &mdash; that's up to you and your coal-stoking abilities. There is certainly a learning curve to mastering different heat zones, but cooking over charcoal potentially offers an accuracy that cannot be matched when cooking with gas. The tightly fitting vents are tough to adjust without gloves, and it takes time to skillfully manage these adjustments for perfect airflow. But we can assure you that with practice, this portable grill can allow you to master the art of cooking over an open flame and produce delicious food in the process, even on the go.
Read more : Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill Review

We'd never used a Kamado-style grill until testing out the Char-Griller Akorn Jr., but this grill design quickly won us over. A typical Kamado grill is egg-shaped and insulated by thick ceramic sidewalls, which boosts heat retention and grants you the versatility to smoke at 200℉ or sear at 700℉. The Akorn Jr. is not ceramic, however — Char-Griller has instead substituted triple-walled steel, which is how they can offer this heat-efficient grill for a fraction of the cost of traditional Kamado grills. Though the pan is only sized for a small coal bed, we were still able to sear steaks at 500℉ within minutes of getting the coals up to temperature.
There was definitely a learning curve regarding temperature management with this grill — once it gets heated up, it's a challenge to get it to cool back down quickly. Out of all the grills we tested, this one has one of the smallest cooking surfaces, and it was challenging to find a spot on the edges to move the food to so it wouldn't burn as we were figuring out how to control the heat zones correctly. If you are looking at the price-per-square-inch of cooking surface, the Akorn Jr. could be considered costly. However, with its capacity to grill, smoke, sear &#40;and possibly bake&#41;, it becomes clear that this is a small but mighty charcoal grill. If learning a new style of grilling seems daunting, Char-Griller includes helpful instructions suggesting damper adjustments to achieve the ideal temperature for whatever type of cooking you are doing. 

The convenience of gas plus the flavor of charcoal make this grill a worthwhile (albeit pricey) upgrade from the basic model. Built around our favorite 22.5-inch Weber kettle is a roomy, easy-to-roll cart (much sturdier than the kettle’s legs) with a pullout charcoal storage bin; a lid holder; and, most significant, a gas ignition system that lights coals with the push of a button—no chimney starter needed.

Consumer Reports

The Char-Broil Kamander is one of four nonceramic kamado grills in our ratings, all of which score very similarly. It hits the sweet spot between price and performance. It’s made from double-walled stainless steel, with a powder-coated finish.On high heat, the Kamander can get to 1,000° F—helping it to char pizza crust perfectly in our tests—and earns high scores for cooking performance. Like ceramic models, it has upper and lower dampers for controlling airflow, but because of its metal construction, it’s far lighter than most kamado grills, weighing in at 115 pounds. CR’s test results: Char-Broil Kamander 17302051 kamado grill

The Vision Kamado Professional is one of the least expensive ceramic kamados in our ratings—and one of the best. It delivers delicious food and is easy to use. In addition to a rolling cart and side shelves, the grill features two lower dampers for fine-tuning temperature when you’re smoking (most kamados have one). These features earn it an above-average rating for convenience. A special port lets you use an electric charcoal starter (not included) to light your coals. The grill weighs a stout 227 pounds, which is on a par with the Big Green Egg and other ceramic models.CR’s test results: Vision Kamado Professional kamado grill

The Char-Broil Kettleman is a modestly priced kettle grill with some nice features. The lid is hinged, so you don’t need to remove it entirely to add food, and it can be locked down for moving the grill. It also has a large damper. Those thoughtful touches help the grill earn an above-average rating for convenience even if it lacks the cleaning conveniences you’ll find on other grills.CR’s test results: Char-Broil Kettleman 16301878 charcoal kettle grill

If you love cooking over charcoal but haven’t bothered to upgrade, this barrel grill, one of the best charcoal grills CR has tested, will be a step up from that rusty old kettle grill. This is the standard sale price we tend to see throughout the season. The grill performs well in CR’s tests for cooking evenness, convenience, and cleaning. And it has a built-in bottle opener, a fun perk.CR’s test results: Dyna-Glo DGN576DNC-D charcoal grill

Charcoal Grill Comparison