Cooking over flames isn’t an exact science and when everyone is gathered around, hungrily waiting for the first tasty morsels to come off the grill you don’t want to disappoint.
That’s why a quality charcoal barbecue is essential to help you make the most of your grill time, one that gives you the ability to control the heat easily so that your food is succulent, not singed.
Charcoal is all about controlling heat and airflow, so when we were testing we were looking at how the barbecue went about doing that and how well thought out the grate area was so everything comes off the heat cooked to perfection.
As charcoal burns hotter than gas, another thing that separates the best barbecues from the also-rans are the ones that make it easy for you to sear foods on high heat, like burgers and steaks. All while also dishing up chicken dishes that need to be cooked at a more leisurely pace, so that they’re succulent, juicy and don’t dry out.
Finally, when the smoke has cleared and the last veggie kebab and burger have long gone you need to be able to clean the barbecue and empty the ash catcher easily, so that it’s all ready to go the next time you need to call on it.
How we tested
We needed to know how each barbecue performed cooking with both high and low heat, so, each product needed to pass the sear test, giving burgers their appetising lines, as well as being able to cope with cut-up chicken cooked low and slow.
We put them all to the test over the course of a couple of weekends so that we could really highlight the differences and see how stress free the experience of cooking with each of them really was.
Char Broil kettleman
The domed design of kettles means they have a tendency to radiate heat to the centre of the grill, which can cause a hot spot that’s ready and waiting to spoil your dinner. However, cooking on this Kettleman’s grate was impressively even, which is probably in part due to the 360-degree air inlets that dot the base of the barbecue itself.
The barbecue coped superbly with searing as well as being able to hold a lower temperature across the whole grate, so that chicken pieces didn’t come off the barbecue dry, but remained succulent and juicy. In fact, the whole of the barbecue is really well vented to put you in control of how much heat gets to your food, and Char-Broil’s proprietary TRU-Infrared cooking system does seem to reduce the fatty flare ups that can spoil meat and vegetables.
The wheeled Kettleman is portable, but stands on a tripod of sturdy legs with a nice gunmetal finish so that when you do locate the barbecue, you know that it’s going to provide a solid base for cooking. Compact yet big enough to cook a family-sized meal, its removable ash bowl simply slides in and out from underneath the barbecue for a no-nonsense clean up.
Napoleon grills pro cart
The problem with barbecuing is that you often end up spending most of your time with your back to your guests. But the portability and revolving drum of the pro cart means you can always position yourself so that you can carry on a conversation while grilling.
In terms of cooking quality, the cast iron grill was supremely efficient, retaining heat well and the ability to raise it to any one of three different levels means that burned food will be a thing of barbecues past, as it gives you total control of searing and slow cooking. The hinged lid adds to the ease of cooking as does the thermometer that was one of the most accurate we tested.
We were also very impressed with the build quality of this wonderfully designed kettle that comes contained within its own cart, and was refreshingly simple to put together. And we also like that it has a detachable ash catcher which facilitated a fuss-free clean-up.
Weber master touch 70th anniversary edition
The classic kettle has been with us since 1952 and this is Weber’s limited edition shout out to its own ingenuity, as the brand has transformed the traditional Master Touch with a “Hollywood Grey” makeover that looks great. As well as extra features like a storage tray, Weber have added details that include a Fifties-style hood-ornament lid thermometer, vintage bottle opener, vintage Weber signage and even white-walled wheels to complete the retro look.
However, under the distinctive, spherical hood it is still a fantastic barbecue that cooks hot and fast and will give you enough room to keep the burgers coming until everyone’s satisfied. And thanks to the porcelain enamelled bowl and lid which retain the heat superbly, it also allows chicken time to grill to perfection.
The ash catcher makes for a straightforward clean up and you won’t have to worry about any embers going astray. A great buy that looks good and cooks even better.
Original Jerk deepbase special edition
If you want the gathered throng to be impressed before you’ve even got your tongs out, then this oil drum barbecue should do the trick. From the south London company, which regularly features in our round ups because of its bespoke, hand-made barbecues, you don’t need to doubt the quality and build of the deep base, which is top notch.
The stainless-steel body and charcoal basket contrasts with wooden side tables and storage base, and it’s all made mobile by some heavy duty off road tyres that will help you transport the barbecue pretty much anywhere in the garden.
Under the lid is a laser cut stainless steel picture grill, which just adds to the exclusivity and, more importantly, provides a huge surface that can handle all outcomes, from searing to slow cooking. There is also an extended chimney attached to take the smoke away from your guests too.
