Barbecues & Grilling

  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink
  3. Barbecues & Grilling

Top 10 Charcoal Grills

Best Charcoal Grills

By Derrick Riches, About.com

There are a lot of different kinds of charcoal grills that offer many different features. I've picked the best charcoal grills from the simple kettle grill to large full functional charcoal grills that can cost well over $2,000. Pick the grill that is right for you and right for your pocket book. These grills represent the diversity of charcoal grills on the market whether you are looking for one that can smoke, one that can grill like no ones business or just let you cook up a simple meal. Updated for 2009

1. Weber 22 1/2-inch One-Touch Silver

Weber 22 1/2 One-Touch Silver Charcoal GWeber-Stephen Products Company
This is the grill that launched Weber. While there are lots of imitators this grill is built to last and has superior cooking abilities. The round design focuses heat and the multiple vents allow you to control it. This one charcoal grill can do most everything including smoking on a limited basis. The large grilling area gives you plenty of space for direct and indirect grilling. You can even get an optional rotisserie kit.

2. Big Green Egg (Large)

Big Green Egg LargeBig Green Egg
Okay, this is marketed as a charcoal grill, but its ability to hold low temperatures for an incredible amount of time has made it and other Kamado cookers very popular amongst smokers. Giving you the best of both worlds, the Big Green Egg may just be the only piece of outdoor cooking equipment you'll ever need (because it will probably last longer then you will).

3. Char-Griller Outlaw

Char-Griller Outlaw Charcoal Grill/SmokerChar-Griller
The Char-Griller Outlaw gives you over 1,000 square inches of cooking space in a charcoal grill that cooks hot and fast or low and slow (get the add-on offset firebox for serious barbecue). This is a traditional style barrel grill that gives you the best of both worlds. Heavy steel construction and durable grates will keep this grill running for many years and look like a serious grill while doing it. At around $150USD you won't break the bank with this unit.

4. Old Smokey Classic

Old Smokey Charcoal GrillOld Smokey
This is probably the best charcoal grill under $50. While it might look primitive it is very versatile. Small enough to take it almost anywhere, yet large enough to grill a lot of food. This charcoal grill was designed about 75 years ago and hasn't changed much since. The basic design makes it simple to use but it also has great grilling abilities.

5. Weber Performer

Weber Performer Charcoal GrillWeber-Stephen Products Company
This is about as close as you can get to the convenience of gas grilling in a charcoal grill. The performer uses a 5 gallon propane tank and burner unit to light the charcoal for you. All you have to do is pour in the charcoal, push a button and wait for about ten minutes. Then you can turn off the gas and start grilling. The performer is designed to be a complete cooking unit with large storage area, easy clean up ash catcher and working table space.

6. Portable Kitchen Cooker

Portable Kitchen GrillPortable Kitchen Inc.
This is another grill that takes its design from long ago. This is a solid cast aluminum charcoal grill like the ones popular in the 1950's. The simple design, great grilling abilities and durable parts make this a popular grill. It will probably last longer than you will and will keep grilling great no matter how long you have it.

7. Barbecook Arena Stainless Steel

Barbecook Arena Stainless SteelBarbecook
This uniquely designed charcoal grill is one of the easiest to light. You place a couple of sheets of newspaper in the base and light the paper. Charcoal above will be lit quickly. The base holds a small water basin. Hot ashes from the grill fall through and are extinguished in the water. When you're done grilling you can simply pull out the coal grate and drop the hot coals into the water. This makes this charcoal grill one of the more convenient to use. Designed as an open grill there is no lid and no vents. You adjust the cooking temperature by moving the cooking grate up or down.

8. The Grillery Standard

Grillery StandardThe Grillery
First of all this is an expensive grill. At about $2,500 it is one of the more expensive charcoal grills on the market. It is also a very basic grill. Though it comes with a rotisserie kit is doesn't come with a lid. This is pure grilling. Heat can be adjusted by a rotary crank that changes the cooking grate height. It is completely stainless steels and a great grill for grilling, if you want to spend the money.

9. Napoleon Charcoal Grill

Napoleon Charcoal Grill M605RBCSSNapoleon Grills
The Napoleon M605RBCSS Charcoal Grill looks like a standard gas grill. Built into a gas grill looking cabinet, this charcoal grill boasts many of the features of a gas grill, but is completely fueled by charcoal. Take for instance the rear mounted rotisserie burner. A cleverly designed charcoal basket holds a vertical column of charcoal so you can cook indirectly on your rotisserie kit just like you would on a gas grill. On addition to the features you would find on any Napoleon grill, this unit has a well engineered airflow control system, heavy porcelain coated cast iron cooking grates, and a dual layer roll top lid. This is the charcoal grill for the person who wants a full sized grill with charcoal flavor.

10. Char-Broil CB940X Charcoal Grill

Char-Broil Charcoal Grill CB490XChar-Broil, LLC.
This is a modern update of the original Char-Broil charcoal grill. This Texas Style grill is basically a large box but makes an excellent piece of grilling equipment. Made entirely from cast iron and powder coated steel this grill isn't for the person who leaves their grill sitting in the back yard all winter and then expects it to miraculously last for ever, but if you are willing to take good care of it, this is a great, versatile charcoal grill. Nostalgic and solid this is a great grill for grilling, if you want to spend the money.

Explore Barbecues & Grilling

About.com Special Features

Barbecues & Grilling

  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink
  3. Barbecues & Grilling
  4. Grills
  5. Charcoal Grills
  6. Top 10 Charcoal Grills for 2009 - Best Charcoal Grills

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.