Outdoor grilling enthusiasts come from two different schools. There are those who prefer gas barbecues and those who prefer barbecues charcoal grills. The ardent gas barbecue fanatics can’t fathom why anyone would waste their time or resources on charcoal, when food can be prepared so much quicker, easier and consistently with gas.
Sure, charcoal may be more of a hassle to get going and cook evenly, but they’re also cheaper in price and give you that coveted smoky flavor that your average gas barbecue simply can’t deliver. If you want to sear your steak BBQ recipes to perfection, then you’ll need charcoal and its 500+ Fahrenheit temperatures.
Or if you want to slow roast a slab of pork, you’ll find twelve hours rotating over charcoal is much more economical than running propane barbecues for that long.
From review site to review site, Weber leads the pack in charcoal barbecues. Perhaps you’re not looking to spend a fortune on custom barbecues, but you don’t want some piece of junk that will blow away or burn your food either.
The Weber One-Touch Silver retails at $75 to $100 (depending on the size) and the Weber One-Touch Gold runs between $120 and $150. The Gold features a stainless steel cleaning system, while the Silver contains an aluminized system.
Reviewers praise the oval-shape that aids in uniform cooking, their proven fifty-year track record and the one-touch ash-cleaning mechanism. While Derrick Riches of www.about.com praises the Weber One-Touch as “the best,” he also admits there are a few shortcomings.
The grills lack side tables, thermometers and lid-catchers, which are common features on other grills. Additionally, the porcelain-enameled bowl exterior could be prone to rust and cracking over time, as can the steel cooking grates. Even so, Weber provides a great barbecues charcoal experience for the money.
The Weber One-Touch models may satisfy the basic backyard chef, but for those who want a little more from their charcoal barbecues, the Weber Performer Charcoal Grill ($300) offers the next level of accessories and special features, like a hinged cooking grate, thermometer, worktable, thermometer, lid catcher, utensil storage and gas-assist lighting system that heats up coals in 10 minutes or less.
Because of the unique starting system, this portable barbecues grill has been mentioned on the Today Show and the CBS Early Show. One drawback is that the worktable is made of plastic, which isn’t as sturdy as wood or metal.
If you do more than the average backyard barbecuing for your family and you’re looking for barbecues charcoal that’ll win out over the competition and entertain a crowd, then you may consider a luxury model.
While luxury stainless steel barbecues grills can cost upwards of $8,000, you can find an impressive high-end charcoal grill for less than $1,000. The Big Green Egg ($870), for instance, is a ceramic cooker that can hold specific temperatures for long periods of time, making it ideal for smoking, baking and grilling.
Though its size is relatively small, the versatility offered by this barbecues charcoal grill makes it appealing. To avoid problems with your warranty and chipping, be sure you purchase one at an approved retailer, rather than online, experts say.
