Charcoal grills have been around for decades, and it remains one of the favorite ways to prepare steak, chicken, and other quick foods. Charcoal grills are easy to use and give your food even more flavor. No doubt, you’ll find countless charcoal grills when you look online. However, not every one of these grills is suitable for use.
Some charcoal grills are hard to use, set up, and maintain. Plus, some grills are made of low-quality materials and don’t stand the test of time. If you are looking to get the best charcoal grills on the market, this article has got you covered.
In this article, we’ve made a list of some of the best charcoal grills on the market. Also, we’ve provided information on how we made our list and factors to consider when buying charcoal grills. Read on to learn about the best charcoal grills to buy in 2022.
Our Top Charcoal Grill Picks:
After rounding up our research, we went a step further to review each brand that made our list. Here are the top three brands to buy charcoal grills in 2022:
- CueWay- Best Overall Charcoal Grill
- Monument Grills- Best Value Barrel Grill
- Nuke Delta- Most Versatile Hybrid Grill
#1. CueWay- Best Overall Charcoal Grill
CueWays has been operating for over five years and is one of the best places to get high-quality charcoal grills. This company was founded by a group of friends who have been working as professional manufacturers for over 20 years.
This brand was created with the aim of delivering high-quality outdoor equipment that’ll encourage young people to escape the ever-busy city life and experience the freedom and delight of nature.
One of the main reasons why we love this brand is that they deliver charcoal grills with unmatched quality. Also, their team of experts is constantly searching for innovative approaches to design the best upgrade charcoal grill.
Charcoal grills from this brand feature thick carbon steel that hardly deforms at high temperatures. In addition to quality, this charcoal grill is designed with a triple-layered system.
The bottom layer is where you place your coal, while the other two top layers are used for cooking your meat. Another feature that makes this brand stand out is its excellent customer service. CueWays boasts of offering one of the best customer services in the grill industry.
This brand always prioritizes the needs of its customers and ensures that everyone has a great shopping and barbecue experience. CueWays actively involves itself in everything you do so that you may enjoy a smooth and hassle-free shopping experience.
From the moment you place your order to the moment it arrives, this brand is there to offer you support every step of the way. Additionally, this brand offers 24-hour customer support and strives to engage with every customer as if they were close friends. You can contact their customer service team on their official website or social media handles.
Additionally, CueWays is always open to suggestions on how they can improve their services. Plus, this brand ensures that every customer review is carefully evaluated and promptly forwarded to the proper departments. Also, note that their customer service team is always on standby, ready to respond swiftly to any issue or questions you may have.
Highlight
Unmatched Quality: If you are searching for charcoal grills with unmatched quality, then you’ve come to the right place. This brand’s team is made up of well-experienced engineers who aren’t afraid to test the latest innovations.
Charcoal grills from this brand pass through rigorous testing to guarantee that they perform at the highest level possible. Grills from this brand feature quality stainless steel, a large cooking area, and a multi-rack smoker/grill. Plus, these grills come with adjustable grates and two silicone temperature grommets.
Easy Temperature Control: We also love this brand because they design their grills with an easy temperature control system. Grills from CueWays feature six air vents, two cooking racks, and a built-in lid thermometer.
Also, there’s a thermometer hole located at the top of the tandoor smoker, which helps you control the grill’s internal temperature. You can also use the vertical smoker’s bottom, lid, and griller to turn the grill into a 14-inch tabletop griller. Lastly, this griller features more than one smoker and can be quickly assembled for some backyard barbecue.
30 Days Return: Another benefit of choosing this brand is that they offer a lifetime guarantee. If the charcoal grill doesn’t work as promised, CueWays is happy to offer you a full refund. All you need do is visit the refund page on the brand’s official website. However, note that you can only request a refund if you do so within 30 days of receiving your order.
Affiliate Program: CueWays also allows you to earn some passive income with their affiliate program. To earn, all you need to do is signup with their “ShareASale” and share your unique affiliate link with friends. You can also promote their products on your website, blog, and social media profiles. You’ll receive a commission for each purchase made using your link.
Replacement Parts: If you’re having issues with your grill assembly, note that CueWays also offers replacement parts. So, if any part of your grill is lost or damaged, simply contact the brand to get a replacement.
Pros
- Unmatched quality
- Portable grill
- Large grilling space
- Easy to assemble and use
- Excellent temperature control
- Discount offers available
- 24 hours customer support
- 100% secure payment
- Fast shipping
- Available on Amazon and Wayfair
Cons
- Free shipping applies only to orders above $200
- Assemble instructions may not be clear
=> Click here to visit the official website of CueWay
#2. Monument Grills- Best Value Barrel Grill
Everyone who loves preparing barbecue will agree that this brand is one of the big names in the grilling industry. Whether you are searching for charcoal, gas, or pellet grills, Momentum Grills offers it all. Momentum Grills offer one of the best charcoal grills on the market. Moreover, this brand aims to ignite your passion for learning and mastering the skill of grilling.
Charcoal grills from this brand are designed with porcelain-coated and premium cooking grates to ensure even and thorough cooking. Also, this charcoal grill features a built-in thermometer that allows you to monitor the grill’s temperature. Moreover, this grill is designed with a deluxe Clearview glass lid.
With the dynamic Clearview lid, you can watch your meals cook in real-time without losing heat in the process. Moreover, the colorful, light-up LED knobs allow you to enjoy late-evening hosting and grilling.
On a different note, this brand has been featured on Forbes, BBQ Report, CR Consumer Reports, and 10TopTenReviews. Another reason we love this brand is that your online transactions are protected at all times.
Momentum Grills uses a secure socket layer technology (SSL) to store, encrypt, and protect your personal information. Also, this brand adheres to industry best practices to ensure that your personal information isn’t inappropriately lost, accessed, or misused.
So, you can shop on this website without worrying that a third party will obtain your credit card number or other sensitive information.
Highlights
Convenience: One of the reasons why this brand stands out is that its charcoal grills don’t take too long to heat up. Also, most people rush to this brand because they enjoy the convenience of their grills. Additionally, this grill is easy to clean and comes with a top-notch temperature control system. Another unique feature of this grill is the ability to watch your food cook without losing heat.
Grill Accessories: Are you looking for accessories to make your charcoal grilling experience more enjoyable? You’ve come to the right place. Simply head to the brand’s official website to view their grill accessories collection. Here, you can purchase a grill brush, cooking grids, and a grill cover.
Refund Policy: Momentum Grills strives to deliver high-quality products so customers can enjoy a perfect grill. This brand feels confident in its product and believes that your product will allow you to enjoy a wonderful grill time. However, if you are unhappy with your order, Momentum Grills is happy to offer you a hassle-free refund.
All you need to do is contact the brand and request a refund. However, note that open, assembled, and used grills/accessories aren’t eligible for return. Plus, this offer lasts for only 30-days after receiving your order.
Warranty And Replacement Parts: Momentum Grills also offer a full-year warranty on the grill. You can contact this brand and request replacement parts within one year from the purchase date. However, note that this offer only applies to grills that fail due to subpar design and material.
Pros
- Reputable brand
- Heats fast
- Easy to use
- Premium charcoal grill
- Features a built-in thermometer
- Steel cooking grates
- Good heat retention
Cons
- Requires two-person assembly
=> Click here to visit the official website of Monument Grills
#3. Nuke Delta- Most Versatile Hybrid Grill
The last but not the least brand to make our list is Nuke Delta. This brand aims to modernize the century-old Gauchos’ “Real Fire” style of grilling and provide you with a better way to grill. Nuke Delta has been operating for over a decade and always strives to offer its customers high-quality and innovative products.
This charcoal grill from Nuke Delta is hand-crafted by skilled Argentinian artisans’ who are passionate about grilling, like you. On a different note, this charcoal grill features a sturdy fire starter basket, giving the charcoal or logs a designated area to burn. This setup allows the red-hot coals to fall through the grate and fuel the grilling experience.
Highlights
Accessories Included: One of the benefits of choosing this brand is that they offer a special “Griller Package” alongside your charcoal grill. This package contains items such as poker, shovel, grill plate, and cover. The poker allows you to distribute the coals over the grill’s base easily.
Additionally, you can use the shovel to transfer coals for easy ash removal. Furthermore, the grill plate is usually placed on the grill’s firebox to make it more suitable for flat surface grilling. Lastly, the durable cover that comes with the product helps to protect the grill from rain and sun. This grill also comes with other items, such as charcoal briquettes, a charcoal tray, and a brown suede leather apron.
Versatility: With this grill from Nuke Delta, you don’t need to be an expert griller to learn how to cook like a real Gaucho! With this grill, you have complete control over everything from low-and-slow smoking to high-heat searing. All you need to do is lower/raise the grill deck or move the coals below the cooking surface.
Adjustable Height Grate: This charcoal grill also features an adjustable height grate. With this charcoal grill’s movable lever, you can quickly lower your meal to the heat or raise it over the coals. Furthermore, this grill has a removable firebox that allows coals to fall freely to the grill bed. This setup makes it easier to position the coals where you need them.
Under-Cabinet Storage: The storage space beneath the grill is perfect for holding your tools when the grill isn’t in use. Additionally, the cabinet heats at a comfortable temperature to maintain the warmth of your food.
Additionally, this grill’s design includes heat-refractory bricks that line the grill body to maximize heat retention. Furthermore, the bricks help direct the entire wood fire to the cooking grate.
Solid Construction: This grill from Nuke Delta is designed with premium and sturdy steel to increase durability. It also has a custom heavy-duty griddle which provides more cooking space on the grill grate. Furthermore, this charcoal grill features heavy-duty casters that make it easy for one person to move the grill around.
Pros
- Free Us-shipping
- Manuals available
- Good construction
- Huge grilling area
- Lump charcoal available
- Accepts multiple payment methods
- Adjustable charcoal tray grates
Cons
- Pricey
- Must be covered and stored in a dry area
=> Click here to visit the official website of Nuke Delta
How We Made This List Of Best Charcoal Grill?
When making our list, we took time to observe the market to see what different brands were offering. During our testing, we compared different grills on the market and ruled out those that didn’t meet our criteria.
We tested over 20 grills and monitored the grill’s cook time, tool holders, and other grill features. Read on to learn about the factors we considered when making our list.
What We Looked For?
Besides the grill’s cook time, here are the factors we considered when making our list:
- Size And Portability: The first factor we considered when making our list is the charcoal grill’s size and portability. Most people want a portable charcoal grill they can easily fit into their apartment. Moreover, portable charcoal grills are more popular, effective, and easy to use. In addition, we considered the surface size of the grills when making our list.
You want your charcoal grill to have enough cooking space to avoid overcrowding. Ideally, your grill should have at least a half inch between foods when cooking. Therefore, we only kept portable grills with a large enough cooking surface when making our list.
- Two-Zone Setup: Using a charcoal grill to cook at low temperatures doesn’t require much skill. However, you need a grill with the ability to create a two-zone setup. You can create a two-zone setup by corralling or piling your charcoal fuel on one side and a moderate indirect zone on the other.
This setup allows you to have a hot direct cooking area over the fire. Also, a two-zone setup allows you to gently sizzle and sear simultaneously. Plus, it helps you avoid exploding sausages and charred chicken when cooking. Only charcoal grills with the ability to create a two-zone setup made our list.
- Ease Of Use: Another factor we considered was the grill’s ease of use. When making our list, we prioritized charcoal grills with good, open spacing to promote airflow and cast-iron gates or sturdy stainless steel. We also prioritized charcoal grills with raised edges to prevent survival food from falling off the surface. Additionally, we only kept charcoal grills that were easy to clean and maintain on our list.
Surprisingly, there are a large number of charcoal grills on the market that don’t offer an ash-catching system. Note that an ash-catcher makes your grill super easy to clean and dispose of ashes. Therefore, when making our list, we ruled out grills that lack an ash-catching system.
- Good Construction: If you want to enjoy cooking over hot coals, go for a grill with a well-vented system. For example, a gas grill needs to be well-ventilated for optimal performance and safety. Note that depriving your gas burner of oxygen will cause the flames to go out.
Also, the gas fuel will continue to flow and build up under the hood, posing a serious fire risk. Charcoal grills, on the other hand, work the opposite way. The most effective way to control air for charcoal grills comes from sealed systems with tight and solid construction. Therefore, we only listed charcoal grills with good construction.
- Air Control: Like gas grills, charcoal grills need oxygen to burn properly. Charcoal grills with a good and solid construction system have a better air control system. To use oxygen flow to your advantage, you need a grill that allows you to easily open air dampers so that the hot coal bed can burn properly.
If you don’t want to controll your grill’s cooking temperature to be a nightmare, don’t go for flimsy grills with shaky moving parts and loose, warped lids. To make delicious curry recipes for quick meals, we only considered charcoal grills with a good air control system.
- Lid Cover: We rounded up our research by looking at charcoal grills with lid covers. Charcoal grills with lid cover work just like an oven. Lidless charcoal grills are good for grilling simple foods like shrimp, vegetables, and burgers. However, when it comes to smoking ribs and roasting turkeys, charcoal grills with lids are a better option.
This is because the lid helps the grill trap more heat and allows that heat to surround and cook your food properly. Therefore, our list grew smaller as we crossed off lidless charcoal grills from our list.
The Criteria: What to Look for In a Good Charcoal Grill?
Charcoal grills make cooking with indirect heat way more fun and enjoyable. We’ve provided you with the best three charcoal grills currently on the market. So, you can visit these brands and look at what they offer.
The Weber Original Kettle Premium Grill is also a great option for those looking for something reliable, simple, and well-rounded. However, if you still want to explore the market for more options, we’ve also got you covered. To get the best grills for indirect cooking, note that there are certain factors you must consider. Here are factors to consider when searching for the best charcoal grill.
- Size
Size is one of the first and most important factors to consider when buying a grill. Unless you plan on cooking bigger quantities of food regularly, you are better off with a small-sized portable grill. Generally, it is easier to manage and control the temperature of small-sized portable grills than large ones. Moreover, they are more effective and easier to store.
- Temperature Control
Another important factor to consider when buying charcoal grills is temperature control. Unlike electric and gas grills, charcoal drills have longer cooking times and require extra care to get the coals red hot. Most quality grills come with an in-built thermometer, which allows you to monitor and manage the grill’s internal temperature easily.
Having a thermometer to monitor the grill’s temperature also helps ensure that your food is properly cooked. Therefore, always ensure that grills with in-built led thermometers are at the top of your list. However, a common issue with most of these built-in thermometers is that they aren’t reliable and sometimes give inaccurate readings.
- Material Quality
Generally, your grill has to live outside, so you need to buy a grill with high-quality materials. When buying charcoal grills, go for products with quality materials. Ideally, a good charcoal grill should be made of premium stainless steel, aluminum, or cast iron.
For a few years now, stainless steel has been the industry standard for grates and gas BBQs. Stainless steel is a highly durable and rust-resistant material. Plus, this material requires very low maintenance and offers good performance. Moreover, it doesn’t require much cleaning after each cooking session.
- Charcoal Type
There are mainly two types of charcoal you can use in a charcoal grill; charcoal briquettes and hardwood lump charcoal. Briquettes are what you’ll find in the homes of most traditional suburban backyard grillers. Charcoal briquettes are evenly shaped bricks and are usually made of sawdust and a binding agent to keep them in place. They are cheap, consistent, and readily available at hardware and grocery stores.
Plus, they are perfect for low and slow cooking. For example, they are perfect for smoking a rack of ribs for long hours. However, the downside of charcoal briquettes is that they don’t produce enough heat and good flavor. Charcoal briquettes aren’t made of 100% wood. As a result, they don’t produce the same depth of smoke that lump charcoal does.
They also struggle to reach the proper temperature quickly. On the other hand, hardwood lump charcoal is made of 100% wood and easily reaches the proper temperature. They are fast and hot and add a deliciously unique seared flavor to your meals. They are ideal for home cooks and food enthusiasts who require high-quality cooking materials.
However, lump charcoal is way more expensive and not recommended for long cooking hours. Furthermore, they can’t cook food evenly because of their irregular shape and size. However, you can always combine the best of both worlds by adding a few pieces of lump charcoal to your briquettes.
- Special Features And Accessories
Grill and accessories are also important factors when buying a charcoal grill. When searching for grills, look for those with tool holders, storage shelves, and oversized handles. Additionally, look for grills with adjustable charcoal trays that make it easier for you to regulate the grates’ temperature.
Plus, this feature lets you see how close the coals are to the food. Features like these make your grilling experience more enjoyable. However, note that charcoal grills with special features usually have a higher price tag. On the other hand, there are dozens of accessories you can buy to make your grilling experience more enjoyable. We highly recommend getting a charcoal chimney or charcoal starter for your grill.
FAQs About Top Rated Charcoal Grill
Do you have to close the grill’s lid after lighting the charcoal?
If you’re lighting your charcoal in the grill basin, you can leave the lid open while it burns. Moreover, the increased airflow will even make the coals light faster. However, if you use a chimney starter, you can leave it uncovered while the coal burns.
When the charcoal is fully lit, cover the grill for roughly 10 minutes to allow the grill to heat up. If you are using a chimney starter, ensure you transfer the coal to the grill basin before you cover the grill. Then, you’re all set to begin cooking.
How can you determine how much charcoal you need?
The amount and type of food you are cooking will determine how much coal you put in your grill. For example, if you are preparing steak, you may want to fill your chimney starter. However, you may get away with using about a third of your chimney starter when preparing something light, such as a filet of white-fleshed fish.
However, if in doubt, fill your chimney starter and arrange the coal bed as necessary. It won’t cost you much to err on the side of caution. Over time, you’ll develop a sense of how many coals you need to prepare your meal.
How do you clean a charcoal grill?
There are different ways you can keep your grill looking good and clean. The first thing you need to do is to invest in a good grill brush. This is the tool you’ll use to clear away dirt and grease from the cooking grates. Also, note that the best time to brush your cooking grate is while it’s hot.
Additionally, take a thick piece of paper towel, dip it in vegetable oil, and rub it on your cooking grate. Do this before placing your food on the grate. When you grease your cooking grate while it’s still hot, you create a non-stick surface that prevents food from falling through. Plus, doing this helps prevent the buildup of dirt while you cook.
Conclusion: Which Is The Best Charcoal Grill For OutDoor Cooking?
Charcoal grills add unique flavor and taste to your food. This article provides you with the best charcoal grills on the market. Grills on our list are easy to use and set up. Plus, they offer a good temperature control system and guarantee top-notch performance. Also, we’ve provided you with a buying guide in case you want to explore the market and try other brands.
