A Charcoal grill gives you control over the food you are flipping and the heating zones on the grill. Unlike the other types of grills, you can control how much heat goes where on the grill. In addition, a charcoal grill allows you to try out multiple recipes that require both fast and slow smoking. It is good that you are thinking about getting a charcoal grill, and you have come to the right place to learn about the best charcoal grill in the market to make unforgettable recipes for your friends and family.
What is a Charcoal Grill?
A charcoal grill uses charcoal as the source of fuel when smoking or grilling different recipes. Charcoal is preferred by many because of the smoky flavor that it gives to food. Traditional charcoal grills allow food drippings to fall on the fire, giving off a specific aroma and flavor that might be hard to achieve on other types of grills. In addition, a charcoal grill gives you control over the heat zones and makes grilling more fun as you are always hands-on with the fire and smoke.
Best Charcoal Grills
1. Royal Gourmet CC1830 30 Inch Barrel Charcoal Grill
Royal Gourmet CC1830 30-Inch Barrel Charcoal Grill is the best for outdoor parties and backyard cookouts. Compact but beautifully created in the details, this barbecue grill model has 627 square inches of cooking surface, which makes It a great option for feeding a family or preparing some bites for a small gathering. This is a well designed, fully functional grill that we use for all our BBQs, exactly the kind that makes the experience fun and the food cooked uniformly and with a smoky taste.
The Royal Gourmet CC1830 has a highly constructed 30 inch barrel for both strength and aesthetic elegance. The grill is made up of 438 square inches of porcelain-enameled steel wire grates, and an extra 189 square inches in the form of a warming rack. The side table is quite functional in preparing sauces, spices or for keeping utensils nearby and easily within reach. Crafted from solid steel, this model comes with a movable charcoal pan: thus, under the lid, you can regulate the temperature without fuss. The feature of the built-in thermometer has been greatly appreciated because it provides appropriate temperature for those delicious meals on the grill.
Though it is immobile thanks to the absence of rollers, it has incredible stability and uniform heat, which will suit any backyard perfectly.
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2) Cuisinart Portable Charcoal Grill
- 150-SQUARE-INCH CHROME PLATED GRATE: The 150-square-inch chrome...
- DUAL VENTING SYSTEM: Features a Dual venting system, giving you...
- THREE SECURE LID LOCKS: The grill features three secure lid locks...
- COMPACT ENOUGH TO TAKE ANYWHERE: The grill measures 14. 5 x 14. 5...
- ENAMEL COATED FIREBOX AND ASH CATCHER: Features a durable enamel...
Cuisinart gives you 150 square inches of cooking surface for you to prepare your burnt offering. The charcoal grill cooking rack is chrome plated and gives enough coking space to accommodate different foods simultaneously. In addition, the rack distributes heat efficiently and evenly across the grill surface for well-done recipes with consistent outcomes and taste.
Cuisinart has dual air vents giving you the ultimate temperature control and charcoal management. You can now control the grill temperature to get the correct low and slow smoking or fast grilling. The charcoal grill comes with three secure lid locks for easy and secure transportation. The grill further weighs only 2 pounds for easy movement.
The charcoal grill has an enamel-coated surface and an ash-catcher for a neat cooking environment. The grill is perfect for a small family, holding up to six burgers at one go. The compact size is great for camping, picnics, tail-gating, decks, balconies, patios and more.
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3. Char-Griller® AKORN® Jr. Portable Kamado Charcoal Grill
Due to its outstanding features and its relatively small and compact design, Char-Griller® AKORN® Jr. Portable Kamado Charcoal Grill and Smoker is among the best models for charcoal grillers. Made with a heavy body, and cast iron grates, and a hinged lid, it features extraordinary portability and incredible cooking ability.
The Char-Griller® AKORN® Jr. has been built with triple-wall steel insulation, thus regulating the heat and the amount of charcoal required. Its cast iron cooking grates mean that heat is distributed evenly, and your food will have that great sear. It is not bulky, and the cooking area stands at 155 square inches, which is just right for small gatherings. Detachable lid makes the cooker portable and locks heat inside, The grate dampers combined with the heat vents allows for precise control of heat for grilling and smoking.
Grill is well insulated to ensure that the charcoal usage is economical to cater for the weekends outdoors. It is small but powerful which makes it a favorite to anyone who does not want to compromise portability for power.
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4) Char-Griller Charcoal Grill
- 250 square inches of cooking space, cast iron cooking grates,...
- Ideal for small decks or patios
- Features Stay Cool wood handle, side shelf, double steel bottom...
- Wheels make this grill easy to move
- Assembly required
Char-griller is the ultimate charcoal grill for anyone who loves burgers. The grill offers you 250 square inches of cooking area to play around with and try out different recipes simultaneously. The grill provides enough cooking surface while keeping a compact body ideal for tight spaces like balconies and patios. In addition, Char-griller is convenient for storage spaces as it will not eat up all the real estate.
Char-griller charcoal grillers are made to last. Each griller is made of cast iron and coated with powder to increase durability and improve heat retention. The charcoal grill is easy to clean up with a dump ash-pan that collects all the ashes to avoid mess and neat cooking space. All you need to do is pull out the pan and dispose of the ash in the right place.
Unlike most charcoal grills, Char-griller has a charcoal storage compartment that ensures your bag of charcoal is taken care of. The griller further has wheels to move the whole package from one place to another easily. Thus, you can start cooking knowing that everything is taken care of by the griller.
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5. Royal Gourmet CC1830 30 Inch Barrel Charcoal Grill
The Royal Gourmet CC1830 30 Inch Barrel Charcoal Grill with Side Table should be considered if you love barbecuing in your backyard. Large cooking area, durable construction – that makes this model is one of the best choice for a people who really like to cook for a big company, for example, for a family.
The Royal Gourmet CC1830 indoors grill has char-broiler cooking area of 627 sq in which is perfect for cooking different foods at once. Its steel cooking grates coated with porcelain have a heat dispersing layer to ensure thorough cooking of food. The grill also features a separate 183 square inches of warming rack for keeping the foods warm when preparing the final part of the main course. A side table is used conveniently for making additional preparation of the utensils, sauces, and ingredients, and with the enhanced heat control feature in the proper use of the stove, thus the built-in temperature gauge. Adjustable loading door on the lid of the grill provides a more efficient control of the air flow and temperature for grilling.
The Royal Gourmet CC1830 makes it into the best charcoal grill selection due to its rather affordable price that’s complemented by its functionality and spacious cooking area perfect for any backyard.
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Factors to Consider Before Buying Charcoal Grill
a) Cooking Surface Area
What is the occasion and how much cooking area will you need? If you are buying a grill for a small family, smaller grills will be perfect for you. A small surface will take up to six burgers at one go, and you will be good to go. However, if you are bound to throw parties with many family and friends attending, you need a big old grill to save you cooking time and make a lot of food over a shorter period.
A large surface area allows you to control the heat more easily than a small surface area. Sometimes all you need is indirect heat to keep the food warm or for slow cooking. A large surface will allow you to spread hot coals according to the areas that will require direct or indirect heat.
b) Weight
A grill is made more for outdoor activities and fun moments. You might need to move the grill a lot, depending on where the fun is happening. If you are going for a picnic, camping, or travelling upcountry, a grill should not be an impediment to all the fun you are trying to have. Smaller kettle grills are easy to move around and can fit comfortably in your car or RV.
c) Wheels
Wheels on a grill make all the difference sometimes. If a grill has no wheels, you will have to wait until the grill has cooled down for you to carry it. It might take a long time for a grill to cool down for you to carry it without the risk of getting a burn. Even a cold grill might be hard to carry alone, and therefore you might need an extra pair of hands to move the grill around comfortably.
You can easily move a grill with wheels when it is still hot. All you need to do is ensure you are not touching a hot surface.
d) Insulated Parts
A grill needs to have insulated handles. Once you are done using the grill, you do not have to wait until it cools down for you to move it out of the way. You need to secure the grill after you use it to get the time to have fun with others. The lid of the grill needs to be insulated as someone can touch it accidentally.
If the grill has an extra surface for placing the ingredients, the surface needs to be insulated to prevent any plastics from melting and ensure no one gets a burn when using the surface.
e) Easy Cleaning
Charcoal is messy to use. Unlike gas grills or pellet grills, charcoal is messy from the word go. Look for a charcoal grill that makes it easy to add charcoal briquettes and one that has an ash collector for easy cleaning after use. Stainless steel grates are easy to clean and maintain. Ensure the grill is dry before you keep it to avoid rusting.
f) Internal Temperature Thermometer
Unlike gas grills, a charcoal fire is not easy to control. An internal thermometer will tell you how much heat is being dispensed for you to open or close air vents for efficient temperature control. Unlike a gas grill where all you need to do is regulate the burner, a charcoal grill will need some level of learning. However, an original charcoal grill will still smoke your burgers in a way that a gas grill can not.