Best Charcoal Grills In 2024

What We Looked At Before Buying Charcoal Grill

These are the things that you must consider before purchasing your charcoal grill.

1. Materials and stability

   The materials used to produce the charcoal grills range from porcelain to stainless steel or enameled steel. Each kind has a unique set of benefits and drawbacks. There is no incorrect choice for grill grates because it all depends on the food and cooking method you wish to use.
   
   Although they are built of a variety of materials, including cast iron, aluminum, and stainless or enameled steel. If you do not focus on the design, it will have rust patches, will not hold heat, and will not survive very long. Many charcoal grills come with wheels that make them more stable and also movable. As you may have noticed, there are several types of units available, ranging from models that can be relocated a few yards about your courtyard to ones that are built to be transported.
   

2. Price

   Charcoal barbecues will cost between $50 and $2000 (or higher). From low-end to high-end versions, their grade, manufacturer, and features determine their price. Before choosing to purchase the grill, you must adhere to the spending limit you have established for it.
   
   There are budget, mid-range, and luxury charcoal grills available in the market. For those who want the simplest, most affordable grilling experience imaginable, budget barbecues are a terrific alternative. Grills in this price range are probably composed of aluminum rather than stainless steel and lack several features.
   
   An improvement in entry-level versions is provided by mid-range barbecues. These grills are often built with more stainless steel, are bigger, and may have additional amenities like rotisserie kits or movable charcoal beds. At your next get-together, a high-end charcoal barbecue will make you the talk of the neighborhood. Large proportions, very tough construction, and visually beautiful designs—these grills have everything you could possibly desire in a charcoal barbecue.
   

3. Heat Retention And Manipulation

   We searched for charcoal grills that retained heat well while also enabling simple airflow changes via dampers, vents, or even other features like a movable charcoal tray. On a charcoal grill, you must regulate the flame as well as temperature level for food to be cooked properly.
   
   Simply change the quantity of air the flames take to ignite to do this. While the hood’s compartment and vents are utilized to regulate airflow. For optimal lighting and cooking, one of these will allow oxygen to enter the grill, while the other will allow fumes to escape.
   
   To manage the space between burners and food, you also need to elevate or lower the grill’s cooking panels and charcoal. As a result, controlling the heat is simple.
   

4. Size

   It is wise to question oneself: How many guests will you typically barbecue for when choosing the size of the grill? What would be the largest group you could grill for at once? And how frequently will you need enough room to cook multiple racks of ribs or other large chunks of meat at once, like a brisket?
   
   Remember that size refers to more than just the number of hamburgers. You can simply establish twin zones on a larger charcoal grilling area for more flexible cooking. On the cooking surfaces, small charcoal grills have a maximum width of 26 inches. They are therefore ideal for smaller families or partners, and they work well as portable barbecues for camping and tailgating vacations.
   
   Next are medium-sized charcoal grills. This size makes it simple to regularly serve a big family, with cooking surfaces that range in width from 27 to 33 inches.
   
   There are also large charcoal barbecues. A huge charcoal pit would probably work the best for you if you frequently cook for large events like family gatherings or Game-day celebrations. We are talking about grilling surfaces that are at least 34 inches wide, giving you practically unlimited options for cooking setups and methods.
   

5. Grill Features

   Some grills come with several unique qualities. Many grills have a rack on the grill’s base for convenient charcoal storage. A removable trash bin makes cleanup simple. Several grills also include smoker trays. A ledge is attached to hold the food thermometer close to the cooking grate for temperature monitoring. Hooks for hanging kitchenware on the sides and a few movable racks as well.
   

6. Cleanup

   Invest in charcoal grills that are easy to clean up after every session. Make sure that most parts of the grill are dishwasher safe and detachable. Remove the grease and dust and food particles from each corner to ensure proper cleaning. Keep the grill in a safe place away from direct sunlight and away from accident prone zones.
   

7. Construction And Air Control

   The charcoal grill should be durable and sturdy enough to absorb any shock from accidents. The legs of such grills should be strong and should be made from excellent quality steel. Invest in top-rated charcoal barbecues as they are made from high quality elements such as cast-iron and so on.
   
   Almost all charcoal grills have vents or holes at their base. You may obtain more air and a hotter fire by opening the vents widely. Vents can be partially closed to reduce airflow and to cool the flames. When lighting the charcoal and assembling the grill, ensure the vents are open. The vents of a charcoal grill can be blocked with ash if you are having difficulties getting it to light.
   

8. Functionality

   A simple charcoal grill can serve many purposes and functions. They facilitate both higher as well as lower temperature cooking, giving you more control. They promote versatile cooking through indirect and direct heat.
   
   You may grill, barbecue, fry, bake and do other things depending on the grill’s design. Charcoal grills give incredible flavor to the meat. They are less expensive as they do not have burners or valves, which increases the price of any appliance.
   

9. Thermometers

   Many charcoal grills in the market come along with thermometers to gauge the temperature of the heat. Thermometers help the user in cooking their food perfectly and not leaving the food either undercooked or overcooked. These thermometers sort of give a food safety guarantee and also promote sharper consistency as you cook at the same temperature for a long time. There is less wastage of food. It also saves time and money. The food, when cooked at the same temperature, tastes much better and juicier.