This grill is a classic for a reason. You probably know someone who has one: “This is the grill your parents or grandparents used,” says Steven Schrimpf, our procurement and inventory manager and resident grilling expert/aficionado/superfan. He's used many of the grills on this list and stands by this pick as the best. The Original Kettle is easy t See full list on seriouseats.com See full list on seriouseats.com Grill Shape Mattered When It Came to Smoking Circular grills, like the Weber Original, might first come to mind if you hear the phrase “charcoal grill.” But some of the models we tested, like the PK300, had oblong cooking areas, which were preferable for smoking and accommodating large cuts of meat. Adjustable Grates Were, Uh, Great Having a few height options for the charcoaland cooking grates was a true pleasure, especially when cooking things like steaks and fish. This allowed us to get the flames close enough for a great sear. (However, we could work around stationary grates with extra charcoal.) We loved cooking on grills that had hinged cooking grates, which allowed us to scoot the food over and add more charcoal in the middle of a grilling session. Dampers vs. Vented Lids Were a Matter of Preference Dampers allow for greater control over a grill’s temperature. The more dampers there are, the more options you’ll have. (The PK300 wins with four.) Seasoned grillers and anyone who wants to use their grill as a smoker should look for charcoal grills with dampers. However, multiple dampers might provide too muchcontrol for a beginner. In that case, we recommend grills with vented lids that allow you to close off a little or a lot of air with just a quick slide. See full list on seriouseats.com The best charcoal grills can maintain consistent temperatures without excessive monitoring or adjustments. Vented lids and dampers help get the job done, so your grill should have at least one of those features. Look for grills large enough to accommodate zoned cooking and large cuts of meat, should you choose to use your grill as a smoker. We pref... See full list on seriouseats.com What we liked:Weber’s Original 22-inch grill has name recognition going for it, and it certainly delivered on the high standards. During testing, it was equally adept at grilling and smoking, thanks to a highly adjustable damper and rotational lid. The Original Kettle has just enough upgrade features without being showy, like hinged grates that all... See full list on seriouseats.com See full list on seriouseats.com What’s the difference between a gas and charcoal grill? Charcoal grills are powered by, uh, charcoal—either briquettes or lump, whereas gas grills rely on propane. Charcoal grilling purists tend to praise the smokier flavor that comes from this style of grilling but gas grills offer plenty to boast about (namely quicker cooking and easy cleanup). You can read more about the differences between gas and charcoal grills here. Is lump charcoal better? In our review of lump charcoal, we noted that this style is often thought of as a more "premium" charcoal offering because of its clean, efficient burn, and the fact that it can burn quite hot or nice and low and slow (it's also not coated in fire-starter like some briquettes are). That said, it usually is on the pricier side. How do you clean a charcoal grill? The grill grates should be scrubbed clean with a durable grill brush when the grill is screaming hot: The best time to do this is at the beginning of a grilling session before you add any food. Oiling your grill brush with a cloth (held with tongs) will minimize sticking and crusted-on food. Remove ash once it’s cooled and store it in a fire-proof bucket, like a metal trash can. Once your bucket is full, the ash should be thrown away. Never put hot ashes or coals in a trash can! (Please!) Alt... See full list on seriouseats.com See full list on seriouseats.com