Unless you purchase a special bundle, chances are you won’t find many grills that come with a plethora of accessories, and you'll want a few more things on hand to make sure you have a great cookout. Any device, feature, or system that a grill has that makes cleaning easier will be greatly appreciated. If you prefer, however, you can purchase a model that is permanently installed. Most charcoal grills have wheels and are mobile. Alternatively, you could purchase a separate timer. TimerĪ few higher-end charcoal grills have a timer built into the unit for convenience. If your charcoal grill has a hinged or two-piece grill grate, you will be able to add charcoal without removing the entire grill grate. This is a highly desirable feature because it eliminates the need to constantly look for a place to set the lid when flipping burgers or adding charcoal. Many charcoal grills now come with a hinged lid. For that, you will need to purchase a meat thermometer. However, it won’t tell you the temperature of the meat. Temperature gaugeĪ temperature gauge that is built into the lid of your charcoal grill will tell you the temperature inside the grill. Push-button ignitionĪ convenient option for higher-end charcoal grills is a push-button ignition that allows you to start your charcoal without the need for matches. However, many grills offer little to no storage space.

Some charcoal grills have space to store your grilling tools, while others can accommodate extra charcoal. If you anticipate needing table space, be sure the charcoal grill that you are considering has this feature. Table spaceĬharcoal grills may have one side table, two side tables, or be built directly into a table. Be sure the charcoal grill you get is appropriately sized for your needs. For example, a grill that is 22 inches in diameter can cook about a dozen burgers at once. The cooking surface determines how much food you can grill at one time. Featuresīesides overall grill type, there are a number of other features you will want to consider before purchasing your charcoal grill. A seasoned chef who grills year-round is the best candidate for a ceramic grill. This type of grill is probably not ideal for a first-time buyer. Because of the materials used and the design, ceramic grills excel at heat control. This grill looks like a giant egg, and the quality ones can run several hundred dollars. This type of grill is best for a more experienced user who enjoys smoked meats and barbecue. These larger grills are ideally used for slow cooking and smoking, but they can also work like kettle grills. Barrel charcoal grillsīarrel grills look like small metal barrels lying on their sides. This is a good type of grill for beginners to purchase because of its ease of use, versatility, and affordable price.

When you think of a charcoal grill, a kettle grill is likely what you picture in your head. Knowing how they work and who they are designed for is the best place to start your search for a new charcoal grill. Key considerationsĪlthough there are countless variations and hybrids, there are only three basic types of charcoal grills. Need some more help finding what you're looking for? Read through our best kamado grills article.Adding wood chips to your charcoal can infuse your meats with additional flavor.

If your heart is set on a ceramic kamado, the Kamado Joe is certainly worth looking at, but if price is more important, the Char-Griller is the clear winner. While ceramic is traditional, we were perfectly happy with the lighter weight of the Char-Griller. The major difference, though, is ceramic versus metal. We like the large removable ash catcher on the Char-Griller better than the Joe’s pull-out tray. Meanwhile, the Joe has the “Divide and Conquer” cooking system, a feature allows you to cook different foods at different temperatures. The Char-Griller has a cast iron grate with a removable center and a detachable warming rack. The Char-Griller has two large wheels and one locking caster, so it’s stable on uneven surfaces, while the Joe has four casters with two that lock.

While this product is billed as a grill and smoker, the smoking setup instructions required the use of accessories that were not included with the grill.

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