Grilling is a popular activity during the warm months of the year, and year-round in places where it doesn't get that cold. People have a choice of several types of grills when they shop for these outdoor appliances. One of the most popular fuel types for grilling is charcoal. Charcoal grills can get hotter than other grill types, which helps cooks your meats and other foods quickly to retain their natural juices while infusing them with a classic smokey flavor. Here are some of the best charcoal grills you can buy in different categories and some perks of charcoal grilling.
Best Kettle Charcoal Grill: Weber 14401001
Weber offers this 22-in. freestanding model from its Original Kettle Series that gives you 363-sq. in. grilling surface and built-in lid thermometer. The lid and bowl feature a durable porcelain enamel coating that protect it from the elements, including heat. The removable, high-capacity aluminum ash catcher makes it easy to clean the grill's charcoal remnants after use. The One-Touch™ cleaning system has three aluminized steel, rust-resistant dampers that help to regulate airflow during cooking and sweep the ash after grilling. Your hand is protected when you remove the lid, thanks to the lid handle with heat shield.
Best Built-In Charcoal Grill: Coyote C1CH36
If you need space to grill a lot at once, the Coyote C1CH36 may be one of the best charcoal grills you can get. The 36-in. built-in model has a spacious 875-sq. in. of grilling surface. With this grill, you get 304-grade stainless steel construction that gives you a sleek, modern look while being more rust resistant than grills made from lower grades of stainless steel. The stainless steel grates are a good conductor of heat, providing even cooking and producing the restaurant-quality grill marks that people are after when they grill. The stainless steel burners are durable over time due to their excellent corrosion resistance. With this option, you also get a warming rack and a continuous weld on the grill box for smooth edging.
Best Kamado Grill: Primo PGCXLC
From Primo's Oval Series, with the Primo PGCXLC you're getting a 31-in. kamado egg-style grill with a grilling surface that is 400 sq. in. The advantages of the patented oval shape include exceptional cooking efficiency and true two-zone cooking with distinct cooking zones that allow you to grill and roast simultaneously. It's constructed from premium-grade ceramics that are made from a proprietary blend of natural materials that provide superior heat and moisture retention, keeping your meats juicy and allowing them to cook faster. The ceramic materials also make maintenance easier, and the grill can act like a self-cleaning oven. Primo Natural Lump Charcoal is made from American hardwoods, and it infuses your food with a distinctively mild smoky flavor. You have total control over your cooking temperature, going as low as 150°F for a task like smoking salmon or sizzling ribeyes at 850°F or higher. This grill is built to withstand the worst of weather, so you can depend on it regardless of what climate you live in.
Best Charcoal Grill Smoker Combo: Napoleon PRO605CSS
If you want a charcoal grill that can pull double duty as a smoker, this freestanding unit from Napoleon's Charcoal Series is one of our absolute favorites. Its 68-in. width provides 845 sq. in. of grilling area, making it suitable for heavy-duty use over the long term. It also comes with many of the features we've come to expect from Napoleon over the years, including a warming rack and a LIFT EASE™ roll top lid that pivots around the grill's center of gravity. The unique charcoal-powered rear rotisserie burner adds yet another level of versatility. Meanwhile, sliding air vents let you control the level of heat in the grill, and the ash and drip pan slides out easily for cleaning when you're done. Finally, the ACCU-PROBE™ temperature gauge ensures accurate, consistent cooking temperatures every time you grill.
Best Camping Charcoal Grill: Fire Sense 60508
Appliances Connection is also proud to carry some of the best portable charcoal grills on the market. This small charcoal grill from Fire Sense's Notebook Series is slim and lightweight, and it folds up easily for camping, travel, and storage. It stands 13 in. high, allowing you to easily access your campfire, and it provides nearly 205 sq. in. of grilling area, so you can use it to cook for a crowd. When you fold it up, it's barely an inch wide, so you don't have to worry about it taking up space in the back of your car! The 3.5 millimeter cooking bars allow a lot of heat through, while still providing visible sear marks on many food items.
Best Charcoal Grill with Electronic Ignition: Everdure HBCE4KGUS
Grilling with charcoal doesn't have to mean messing around with huge amounts of lighter fluid. This freestanding charcoal grill from Everdure comes with fast flame ignition. Tap the glass touch controls, and the grill does the rest! It also has smart features, including Bluetooth connection for iOS and Android devices, and a powerful internal light if you want to grill at night. At 21 in. wide, it's suitable for even a small backyard, while still providing you with plenty of space for cooking. Its meat and ambient probes, ignition countdown, and food temperature display make it suitable for anything from smoking food to cooking pizza at high heat. Even better, you can choose between five distinctive colors, so whether your outdoor kitchen is sleek or you want your grill to stand out, Everdure will have an option that suits your needs.
Benefits of Charcoal Grilling
There are a lot of reasons why many outdoor chefs prefer to grill using charcoal, rather than other types of fuel. First of all, charcoal allows you to maximize the infusion of flavors into the food you grill: not only does charcoal add a smoky flavor to the food you cook with it, but you can add wood chips to the top of your coals for wood-fired flavor as well.
Charcoal is cost-effective and easy to store, and because of this, charcoal grills tend to be more cost-efficient than other fuel types. If your area is prone to rolling blackouts in the summer, all you need is a charcoal grill to cook a hot dinner without worrying about electricity. Moreover, it's incredibly versatile: you can use charcoal to sear, smoke, and bake as well as grilling.
Unlike a gas grill, a charcoal grill has no maximum temperature setting, which allows you to really turn the temperatures up for high-temperature cooking. Meanwhile, you can easily create multiple temperature zones by rearranging the briquettes. Cooking with charcoal also results in juicier food, as the infrared energy charcoal generates helps preserve your food's moisture barrier.
Related Questions
Why are charcoal grills better?
Charcoal has many advantages over other forms of grilling. If you're looking for more flavor, a charcoal grill is right for you. Charcoal produces more smoke, giving your food a distinct flavor. In addition to getting hotter than other grills, charcoal grills are typically more budget-friendly than comparable models with other heat sources.
Is steak better on charcoal or gas grill?
Steak is better when prepared on a charcoal grill than a gas grill. When people make steak, they often like it to be seared, which helps to caramelize the meat and bring out its flavor. Because a charcoal grill produces more direct infrared heat than a gas model, it gives you better searing and more flavor for your steak.