WITH the weather warming up, our thoughts are turning to outdoor eating, and lighting up the BBQ once again to entertain family and friends.
You can’t beat a charcoal BBQ for that delicious char-grilled flavour so we’ve rounded up 13 of the best charcoal BBQs to give your gatherings a sizzling boost in 2022.
Are charcoal BBQs better than gas?
You might be wondering whether you should go for a charcoal barbecue or a gas one.
The answer is down to your preference as both have their benefits.
Gas barbecues are fast and easy to use, and can be fired up in around 10 minutes depending on the model you go for.
You can adjust the temperature up or down with ease, and you don’t have the faff of having to lift up the grill to add more fuel during cooking.
If you’re interested in an alternative to a charcoal BBQ, you might want to read our guide to choosing the best gas barbecue.
Charcoal barbecues take a lot longer to get started, but coals can reach a higher temperature than gas can achieve, which means it’s easier to sear meat for better flavour.
When the fat from cooked food drips onto the coal, it creates that lovely smoky flavour that’s hard to recreate on gas barbecues.
Great Taste Judge Ross Bearman says “One of the main benefits to using charcoal over gas BBQs is all down to the end taste result. Charcoal should be seen as an ingredient, giving great flavour to your cooking. Using single species of charcoal from the likes of oak, ash or cherry will impart different flavours and tastes. Pork will work best over cherry and beef will work particularly nicely with oak.”
And because charcoal gives off radiating heat, you can cook different things at different temperatures at the same time.
Of course, charcoal is a bit harder to work with but once you get the hang of it, the results are hard to beat.
Ross Bearman also points out “In terms of the practicality of cooking over charcoal, it’s much better to learn how to cook with live fire, as cooking on gas is no different to cooking in your kitchen at home. Not only that, but cooking over charcoal means you’re supporting local charcoal makers; just ensure they’re using sustainable trees or woodland.”
Read on for our round-up of the 13 best charcoal BBQs – including the best brands, high tech hybrid barbecue grills and lightweight portable BBQs.
Whether you’re already a barbecue master or are looking to hone your skills, the Master-Touch charcoal barbecue won’t disappoint.
- We tested out this kettle barbecue over the summer and were seriously impressed.
It’s easy to use, has a fantastic design and honestly, we have nothing bad to say about it – it practically does everything perfectly.
It’s a grill and a smoker in one, has a range of practical features such as a hinged lid, one-touch cleaning system and temperature gauge, and the quality is top-notch. Weber offers a warranty of up to 10 years on its charcoal grills, which is a testament to this.
The wheels on the bottom make it easy to manoeuvre, we found it simple to control the temperature via the ducts, and the ash catcher made clean up quicker than ever.
Size-wise, it’s ideal for families and for parties as you can grill up to 13 burger patties at once. We cooked for two people a couple of times, and although it’s probably slightly too large for that, it still produced excellent results.
Overall, we’d highly recommend it as a quality option.
2.We tested: Bar-Be-Quick dual BBQ and fire pit
For homes with smaller gardens or patio spaces, Bar-Be-Quick’s dual BBQ and fire pit is the ideal alternative to the traditional barbecue.
Its 2-in-1 design means you can use it as a normal barbecue first and then put the mesh lid on to enjoy the residual heat as a fire pit.
The rounded base is supported by three fairly sturdy legs that can also be folded up for storage.
A mesh lid fits neatly over the top and there’s a long handled hook that you can use to lift it when it’s hot.
The barbecue comes with two wire racks – a stainless steel one that rests at the top as the grill and another metal one that rests in the base to allow any ash from the coal or wood you use to fall through.
We tested it on a really windy day and, once we got the fire going, the mesh lid managed to stop all the debris flying out until we were ready to cook.
Even so, we’d recommend using a chimney lighter to start your barbecue, just to reduce the amount of ash that ends up in the bowl.
Another thing we found was that the height was a little low compared to a traditional barbecue so it works much better if you have a raised surface to set it on or you don’t mind squatting to cook.
But the barbecue itself was a good size for a small crowd and for the price and the dual purpose design, we’d be happy to recommend it.
3.We tested: Gardenesque Portable Tabletop BBQ with Charcoal Grill
Gardenesque is a relatively new brand, but it’s certainly already caught our eye for its stylish range of garden furniture, planters and other outdoor goodies.
The family-run business currently has two charcoal BBQs on offer, with this portable tabletop option being ideal for camping, park picnics, beach outings and small gardens.
It’s fair to say we fell straight in love with the design, which offers a little more style and flair than your average BBQ. Just look at that dreamy sky blue hue!
Also available in olive green, it’s a nifty little thing, with practical features that include an insulated handle, zinc-plated charcoal pan and an adjustable air vent – allowing you to control the cooking heat.
After setting it up (a relatively faff-free affair involving a few screws), we decided to try out the BBQ in the garden, standing it on a table and adding our charcoal and firelighters. It was pretty easy to get the BBQ going, and soon we were cooking. With a grill diameter of 34.5cm, we cooked for two with plenty of room to spare, and reckon you could squeeze more than the three portions advertised – one reviewer even cooked for five!
Overall, we were really impressed: at just under £40, it’s an affordable option if you’re looking for something lightweight and portable. If you’re taking it camping, just make sure you have a high enough surface to place it on, due to the low standing height, and you’re good to go.
4.We tested: Char-Broil Gas2Coal 2.0 two burner hybrid barbecue
The Char-Broil Gas2Coal 2.0 is a hybrid barbecue that combines the power of gas and charcoal in one setup.
The beauty of this option is that it combines the best features of both types of barbecues and you can use either fuel depending on what you fancy, or what’s available.
Gas mode is pretty straightforward: you just turn on the gas and press the electric igniter to get the fire going.
In charcoal mode, you use the gas to get the charcoal going so there’s no waiting around or faffing with scrunched up newspaper. And once your coal is ready, you switch off the gas and use the charcoal to get all the flavour that’s hard to achieve on a gas barbecue.
When we tested it, we found the barbecue was easy to use – the coals were ready in about 20 minutes – and the results were incredible.
Thanks to the gas lighting process, there were no false starts associated with your typical charcoal barbecue. And the grill was seriously hot, which meant that our food cooked quickly, evening and without burning.
We were especially impressed with the porcelain-enamelled cast iron grills, which produced restaurant-quality grill lines and were easy to clean up afterwards.
It’s obviously a bit pricier than your standard charcoal grill, but if you’re looking for a premium barbecue that not only looks good but delivers the results, we couldn’t recommend it enough.
5.Valiant FIR551 folding portable picnic barbecue
If you’re cooking for just a few people, this portable barbecue is a great option.
It opens up to a 32cm x 23cm cooking surface, which will fit more than a couple of burgers and sausages.
And once you’re done, it folds up into a neat suitcase that weighs just 3.3kg.
One happy reviewer said, “I love this little bbq! It’s ideal for our family of three. The cooking area is about the same size as a standard disposable one. It’s sturdy, looks good, and folds away beautifully”.
- Argos Home 43cm kettle charcoal BBQ
This kettle charcoal barbecue is great for small gatherings, and at £40 is an absolute bargain.
The grill features handles that are easy to lift if you need to add more coal, and there’s also an ash catcher at the bottom so the bowl never fills up with debris.
The two front wheels make it move around the garden or into storage.
It’s got 4.5-stars and comes with a 1-year guarantee.
- Weber Smokey Joe premium portable charcoal barbecue
Weber’s Smokey Joe premium portable charcoal barbecue is designed to be taken with you on trips.
It features a special lock that secures the lid in place, as well as a heat-resistant handle that makes carrying it around super easy.
You also get a measuring cup to help you measure out the perfect amount of charcoal every time.
It’s got rave reviews, with one person saying “The Smokey Joe Premium exceeded all my expectations, absolutely amazing”.
- Argos Home extra large charcoal oil drum BBQ
This budget-friendly barbecue is great if you’re cooking for bigger groups of people.
As well as a generous cooking area, there’s an elevated warming rack where you can keep food warm.
To one side, there’s also a fold-down table that you can use for resting sauces, spices or food that you’re queuing up to cook.
- Texas starter smoker and BBQ
This versatile barbecue combines a BBQ grill with a smoker so you can experiment with a range of different recipes.
There’s an integrated temperature gauge, with a vent in the side shelf, that allows you to adjust the temperature as you’re smoking your food.
There’s also a chimney to one side to create a smoke-free cooking environment.
10. Symple Stuff BK Cookware 118cm charcoal BBQ
For a larger barbecue with plenty of storage, try this one from Symple Stuff.
The grill is split into two so you can remove one side to add more coal, or open the door at the front, and there’s also a resting shelf over the top where you can keep food warm.
Perhaps the best feature is the height-adjustable coal shelf, which you can move up and down to increase or decrease the cooking temperature.
- CosmoGrill XL charcoal smoker barbecue
The CosmoGrill XL charcoal smoker barbecue is very similar to the Symple Stuff one, but has even more storage space.
There are shelves on both sides of the grill, as well as underneath the barbecue.
The addition of a chimney also means you can close the lid and use it as a smoker.
- Wilko Square Charcoal BBQ
If you’re on a budget, Wilko’s Square Charcoal BBQ comes with great reviews.
Featuring an enamel-coated cooking grid and a chrome-plated warming rack, it comes on wheels for easy manoeuvring around your outside space and has two grill layers for plenty of cooking space.
And as one happy five-star reviewer enthuses: ‘Brilliant BBQ! Sturdy & robust, simple to put together but you do need two people as it’s fiddly. Cooks evenly and wipes clean afterwards. The lid works great too. Highly recommend it.’
- Char-Griller Super Pro Charcoal BBQ – Black
For those who take the art of BBQing seriously, Char-Griller’s Super Pro Charcoal BBQ is a strong contender.
Made from heavy steel, this barbecue smoker has a cast iron grill which is height adjustable, allowing you to easily control the temperature and cooking time of your food and its chimney allows for that delectable smoky flavour.
It is easy to manoeuvre due to its twin wheels, and features a stylish matte black design with a wooden front and side shelf.
Once cooked, simply place your food on the included warming rack and let the party commence!
How to light a charcoal BBQ
There are two main ways you can light a charcoal barbecue.
The most basic way is to stack the charcoal into a mound, leaving plenty of space between the briquettes to allow air to circulate.
In these gaps, you can stuff scrunched up newspaper, or other natural firelighters like wood shavings or wool – these are what you light to start the fire, which will then spread to the coals.
Using lighter fluid, gels or cubes can speed up the process but these are toxic and don’t always break down while they burn, so they’re best avoided and especially if you’re cooking for kids.
Charcoal chimneys are a great alternative way to light your barbecue, especially if it’s a windy day.
It’s basically a cylinder with a handle and a shelf in the middle where you stack the coals on top and the scrunched up newspaper at the bottom.
Once you light the newspaper, the flames will travel up and the coals should catch.
How to clean a charcoal BBQ
To properly clean your charcoal barbecue, you’ll need a sturdy brush with metal bristles, old rag, wooden brush, and a strong metal scraper.
Always allow your barbecue to completely cool down before you start cleaning.
Start with the grill. Use the brush with the metal bristles to remove any stuck on food debris and grime and then wash off any grease with warm water and washing up liquid like you would with an oven shelf.
If there are any stuck on bits, soak the grill in some warm soapy water to loosen these before you brush them off.
To clean the base and the lid, you use the wooden brush to brush away any deposits of ash. If there is stuck-on food, use the metal scraper to remove these.
Finally, using the old rag, wipe down the interior with warm soapy water until it’s spotless.
You should clean your grill and lid, if you’ve used it, after every barbecue session.
If you regularly use your barbecue, you should thoroughly clean the base when you start to see build up. Or if you don’t use it very often, you should clean it before you put it away.
