When you’re buying charcoal barbecues, it could be tempting to snag the first one that you see at Target. However, there’s more to charcoal grilling than a bare bones $20 hibatchi grill. Today’s charcoal portable barbecues vary in shape, size, construction material, airflow control and warranty.
Even though the top sellers are still barbecues gas powered, charcoal grills still account for a third of the market share and many avid cooks say there’s nothing like the taste of chicken BBQ recipes or beef BBQ recipes cooked on a charcoal grill. While the grills are cheaper, it will take longer to heat up and you will need to do more cleaning. Even so, charcoal gives you that smoky flavor that characterizes some of the best dishes.
Other models of charcoal barbecues to consider include the Char-Griller Outlaw, the Char-Griller Smokin’ Pro and the Meco Swinger Line. The Char-Griller Outlaw ($160) offers 1,000 square inches of cooking space, a wooden worktable, three shelves, a warming rack, a thermometer and a durable cover.
The Char-Griller Smokin’ Pro ($180) comes with less cooking space at 830 square inches, yet has a special smoking box. The Meco Swinger II Deluxe Smoker Grill ($150) appears on many review lists but fares worse than Weber and Char-Griller due to its messy clean-up and difficult assembly, despite its sturdy constitution.
If you do more than the average backyard barbecuing for your family and you’re looking for charcoal barbecues that’ll win out over the competition and entertain a crowd, then you may consider a luxury model.
While luxury barbecues gas grills can cost upwards of $8,000, you can find an impressive high-end charcoal grill for less than $1,000. The Big Green Egg ($870), for instance, is a ceramic cooker that can hold specific temperatures for long periods of time, making it ideal for smoking, baking and grilling.
Though its size is relatively small, the versatility offered by this barbecues charcoal grill makes it appealing. To avoid problems with your warranty and chipping, be sure you purchase one at an approved retailer, rather than online, experts say.
To read more Cooking Beef With Charcoal Barbecues
