Is it the latent hunter gatherer in our men that drives them want to cook out on a charcoal grill or something more? Why else would the lure of literally flame grilled food (with a possibility of food poisoning) drive so many to opt to break out their best charcoal BBQ at the glimmer of a sunny day?
Personally I am a huge fan of the easy peasy, won’t burn your food but cook it to perfection in a decent time gas BBQ. However my husband is one of those BBQ Kings who can be found sweating over a portable charcoal bbq with beer in hand and looking like he won the lottery!
So for all those Kings of the BBQ out there here is my review (thanks to my husband and his pals who was more than happy to road test these wood smoked bbqs) of the best charcoal bbqs for your delectation.
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Looking for the best Charcoal BBQ then you need to consider a few key points.
- What type of Charcoal BBQ suits your needs?
- How many are you cooking for?
- Where are you going to be using your BBQ?
- Whats your budget for a charcoal BBQ
Types of Charocal BBQ
There are 3 types of Charcoal BBQ to choose from – kettle charcoal, ceramic grills, and barrel grills
Kettle BBQ – Kettle grills are the most simple and versatile bbqs and very affordable. A good budget priced charcoal kettle bbq will cost £50 – £100. For the best charcoal kettle BBQ (think WEBER) you can pay anything upto £500.
Kettle BBQs normally have a bbq grill of about 22 Inches (thats cooking space of 360 inches) however there are xl kettle bbqs that go up to 26 or even 36 inches.
Kettle grills look like a globe with their lids. The lid allows indirect cooking where the heat is reflected to cook food like an oven making it tender (so it doesn’t have to be charred or watched all the time!). A quality Kettle BBQ have removable ash bins making it easy to clean.
Barrel BBQ Grill – Barrel grills are designed particularly for barbecuing, grilling, and smoking. Size wise they are normally 36 inches or larger too. This type of BBQ Grill looks like a big steel drum. You place the charcoal is placed in the bottom half and there’s a lid on the top half. To get the charcoals hot they a quality Barrel BBQ will have a chimney and air vents.
Other things to look for in Barrel BBQs are wheeled stands (make moving them easy) and warming racks. As the cooking area is bigger you might want to keep what’s cooked warm before eating! Barrel grills are more expensive as compared to the kettle BBQ grills. You can get a good one for around £200 – £400.
Ceramic BBQ Grill – These are for the true BBQ enthusiasts as they are heavy and expensive but amazing. A mid-range Ceramic Grill will start off at £700 and the high-end ones are more expensive.
The solid ceramic construction of these Ceramic BBQs allow amazing heat control. The amazing heat control feature means you can BBQ whatever the weather!.
Ceramic BBQs cook at 200F to about 500F and come in a variety of sizes. The larger ceramic grills can weight over 100KG!
Size of Charcoal BBQ
Consider the amount of space you have to put a BBQ in and how many people you are grilling for.
Grills can range from 18in to 36in (a few ceramic BBQs are even bigger)
A 22 inch grill can do 13 burgers no worries at all to give you an idea.
Review of the 10 Best Charcoal BBQs
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Pros
- In lid temp gauge & lid hook so you don't need to take lid off if not using
- 5 year WEBER Warranty
- Fast grilling & easy to use
- Easy to clean (ash bin under BBQ)
- Moveable on wheeled stand
Cons
- Some reviewers felt stand a little unstable
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Pros
- Versatile Ceramic Barrel BBQ can grill, roast & smoke
- Precise temp control with cast iron vent & in lid temp gauge
- Strong lid clip holds lid open without needing to be held
- Limited lifetime warranty on ceramic parts
- Can add a rotisserie for chicken etc
Cons
- Takes two people to move
- Ceramic lids etc can be broken if knocked over
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Pros
- In lid temp gauge & lid hook so you don't need to take lid off if not using
- 5 year WEBER Warranty
- Tool clips & prep table
- Easy to clean (ash bin under BBQ)
- Moveable on wheeled stand
- Slide away lid holder for ease
Cons
- Wheels on trolley are cheap some customers reported
- Wheels on trolley are cheap some customers reported
- Reviewers felt stand takes too long to put together
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Pros
- Chimney & vents for easy adjustable temp
- Sturdy wheeled stand easy to move
- 2 collapsable prep shelves & under trolley storage
- Coal tray means heat adjusted quickly & easily
- Bottle opener on front of BBQ
Cons
- Takes a little time to make up the BBQ
- Grilling experts felt too much smoke escapes from sides when using it to smoke (sealing the holes works well to remedy this)
- MUST BE COVERED when stored or will rust!
- Cleaning charcoal draw needs dust pan, brush & patience!
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Pros
- Holds up to 5 burgers at a time
- Lid holder on side useful! Doubles as carry handle!
- Dampers make temp control easy
- Lightweight & portable
- Legs mean can stand on table or picnic bench safely
- Enameled grill of highest WEBER quality so won't rust
Cons
- No in lid Temp gauge
- Lack of side air vents means takes longer to get up to temp
- Does not burn as hot as larger grills
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Pros
- Great portable little duel fuel BBQ
- Great for camping or on a balcony etc
- Legs lock over the BBQ so you can carry it to picnics etc with top handle
- Great for camping or on a balcony etc
- Can do direct/indirect cooking whilst camping etc
Cons
- Small so for large cook outs you will need two
- Need the chimney or smoker box to get coals started well
- In lid temp guage would be a bonus
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Pros
- Chimney & vents for easy adjustable temp
- Sturdy wheeled stand easy to move
- 2 collapsable prep shelves & under trolley storage
- Coal tray means heat adjusted quickly & easily
- Bottle opener on front of BBQ
Cons
- Takes a little time to make up the BBQ
- Grilling experts felt too much smoke escapes from sides when using it to smoke (sealing the holes works well to remedy this)
- MUST BE COVERED when stored or will rust!
- Cleaning charcoal draw needs dust pan, brush & patience!
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Pros
- Weights just 3.3kg - totally portable!
- Great for a beach BBQ or picnic
- Folds up to size of tiny briefcase so easy to pack in car/carry in backpack
- Perfect for family of 3/4
- UK based company so great customer service
Cons
- Needs you to carry charcoal/lighters with you - gas models are easier here
- Little fragile so overuse might see it break...
- Take care dumping the coals out after use...make sure you damp fully!
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Pros
- In lid temp gauge & lid hook so you don't need to take lid off if not using
- Removable ash bucket underneath for easy cleaning
- 22 Inch grill cooks for 5 adults easily
- Easy to assemble BBQ
Cons
- Wheels on trolley are cheap some customers reported
- Enamel will heat off over time - but this is your budget option!
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Pros
- Tiny weeny lightweight grill for backpackers and outdoor lovers!
- Packs flat for transport in its fabric case
- Quality lasting and lightweight stainless steel creation
- Takes seconds to assemble and get ready to cook on
Cons
- Only cooks for 2 max
- Needs to be 100% cold before packing away or melts its cary case and your picnic backpack! (yes i did that)
Frequently Asked Questions About Buying the Best Charcoal BBQ
Most frequent questions and answers
How to light a charcoal bbq?
How to cook on a charcoal grill bbq ?
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Whats the best portable Charcoal BBQs
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How much does a Charcoal BBQ cost?
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