The Bottom Line

Since 1953 the Old Smokey Charcoal grill has been one of the iconic grills of our time. Easy to use and highly durable, this 22 inch charcoal grill is perfect not only for your backyard barbecue, but can be taken most anywhere since it only weights 19 pounds. Made of aluminized steel, the Old Smokey #22 has no paint to peel or burn off and it taken care of can easily last for decades. This charcoal grill comes from a small company in Texas (where it is still made) that has been in the same location, making quality products since 1923.

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Pros

• Simple, easy to use design
• Lightweight grill
• Inexpensive
• Aluminized steel and no paint prevents rusting and chipping

Cons

• Standard configuration has a grate height of 14 inches above ground

Description

• 21 inch diameter cooking grate for 345 square inches of grilling area
• Aluminized steel construction
• Large bottom Rotary vent, two top vents
• Weighs 19 pounds
• 27-inch height
• Made in the USA by Old Smokey Products Company

Guide Review - Old Smokey #22 Charcoal Grill

The Old Smokey Charcoal Grill is one of those iconic grills that has been around for decades and has a hugely loyal following. The company has been in business, in the same location, since 1923 and has been making grills since 1953. The Old Smokey Grill you buy today is made with the same design and the same materials as the original grill nearly 70 years ago. These charcoal grills can last for decades as long as you clean out the ashes and avoid leaving them out in hurricanes.

The reason these grills last so long and have been largely unchanged in all this time is because of the simplicity of design. Let's be honest, there isn't a lot to a charcoal grill in the way of parts and complexity. The Old Smokey works well and lasts because it is so simple. Simple to use, and simple to take care of. The Old Smokey company got their start making large cans and buckets. Basically this charcoal grill is two metal buckets stack at the opening.

The Old Smokey #22 is 27 inches high and sits on the ground. There are optional leg extenders that will lift it to a full grill height if you wish. The grill is 22 inches in diameter at its widest part and has a 21 inch cooking grate. The bottom has a 16 inch damper and there are two vents on the top for temperature control. The whole unit fits together tightly and you have sufficient temperature control for low and slow smoking. Best part is that you can buy this on their website for $63.95 plus shipping and handling (about $21USD).

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There are a lot of different kinds of charcoal grills that offer many different features. I've picked the best charcoal grills from the simple kettle grill to large full functional charcoal grills that can cost well over $2,500. Pick the grill that is right for you and right for your pocket book. These grills represent the diversity of charcoal grills on the market whether you are looking for one that can smoke, one that can grill like no ones business or just let you cook up a simple meal. Updated for 2012.

Photo Weber Stephen Products Company

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Recently Napoleon added a charcoal grill to their product line, predominately made up of gas grills. This charcoal grill looked familiar. A 22 1/2-inch kettle style grill, the Napoleon unit was billed as an improved version of the iconic Weber Kettle. With an adjustable height cooking grate, pull out ash catcher, and unique air baffle to even the heat, this really is a good charcoal grill. Of course, at around $200USD typically, it was also much more expensive.

For 2012 Napoleon has taken this grill one step further by adding several attractive features and putting the grill in a cart configuration. Of course, this makes it much more like the Weber Performer that has been available for many, many years. But consider this. The Napoleon version has a 20-pound porcelain coated, hinged cooking grate that can be placed at three different heights. The cart has a fold down table reducing the footprint to little more than the 22 1/2-inch diameter of the grill itself. The lid on this version is hinged and angled so you can easily lift it out of the way without having the reach over the fire. The grill itself can be turned 360 degrees inside the cart so you can get to any part of the grill, again, without reaching over the fire.

The Napoleon Charcoal Kettle Grill on Cart is available now for a list price of $399USD.

Find out more at Napoleon Grills

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Are you a charcoal griller? Do you have a favorite charcoal grill? I've collected the nominations and now it is your time to vote for the best charcoal grill in the 2012 Barbecue & Grilling Readers' Choice Awards.

Vote

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The Bottom Line

The history of the Kamado Charcoal Grill is too long and confusing to recount. Suffice to say that when Dennis Linkletter stumbled across these ceramic charcoal wonders, he knew he could make them better. From a reinvention of airflow, spring assisted lid, and laser cut stainless steel parts this is one loaded grill. Anyone who knows anything about Kamado grills know that they grill at incredible temperatures and smoke at a perfect low and slow pace. This unit takes it to the next level and does it inside a shell of pure beauty.

Pros

• Superior insulative construction
• High quality stainless steel components
• Attractive design
• Efficient cooking abilities

Cons

Description

• 375 square inches of grilling space with a total cooking area of 978 square inches on three levels
• Dual layer refractory shell - inner layer high temperature - outer layer insulative
• 3/8-inch rod stainless steel cooking grates
• Four leg design with heavy duty rubber wheels
• All metal components are laser cut 304 stainless steel (82 pounds worth)
• 588 pounds total weight (about 140 pounds per square inch on its wheels)
• Spin cap top vent, daisy wheel, and damper vents
• Spring loaded lid for weightless lift and locking latch to hold lid closed
• Removable coal basket
• Manufactured in Indonesia by Komodo Kamado

Guide Review - Komodo Kamado OTB 23-inch Charcoal Grill

Since the 1970s the Big Green Egg has been synonymous with the Kamado style of cooker. Many companies have tried to cash in on their popularity by imitating their design and business method. The Komodo Kamado isn't one of those. Probably the first thing you will notice about this charcoal grill/smoker is the price. This 23-inch version will run you nearly 5 times what a comparable Egg would cost at around $3,600USD. Of course there is very little comparable between the two, other than the fact that they are both Kamado style grills.

The Komodo Kamado is the epitome of over-engineering. Weighing in at nearly 600 pounds of which 82 pounds are stainless steel, this is the space age of charcoal grills. That is more than just hyperbole. The bonding agent that holds the tiles on the shell is similar in composition to what NASA uses to hold heat tiles on the space shuttle. The cooking grates are 3/8-inch welded 304 stainless rod and the remaining stainless steel pieces are CNC laser cut plate.

This Kamado style grill has a thick, heavy shell. The lid would literally be too heavy to lift but the covered spring mechanism makes the lid virtually weightless. The lid is held closed by a simple locking latch (that thumped my fingers a few times until I learned to move them out of the way). The top vent is actually a rotating cap made of the same refractory materials and covered in the same tiles as the rest of the grill. While the cap, once installed, won't fall off, it does wobble a little to allow for the expansion of the metal bolt that holds it in place.

In the area of thinking of everything, the Komodo Kamado has the only rotisserie system (sold separately) that lets you close the lid completely while in use. There is even a space to install the popular BBQ Guru airflow control mechanism that lets you control the temperature of this grill with computer precision.

This grill comes standard with three cooking grates, giving you up to nearly 1,000 square inches of potential cooking space. The bottom grate fits down inside the grill and has an open space in the front to feed the fire. The main grate has a hinged door in the front for the same purpose. The top grate sits on top of the main grate. These would be primarily used for smoking, giving you plenty of space for lots of barbecue.

The Komodo Kamado is a luxury grill. Is it better than other similar grills? Yes. Is it 5 times better? No. You buy this grill because it is attractive, extremely well built, and because you can (I personally can't). It is available in virtually any color you want and in multiple tile patterns. There is even a brushed copper design coming soon.

You buy this grill directly from the manufacturer and it is shipped to you in a big crate. Have several strong people on hand when it shows up. It is very heavy and if you are placing it on a wooden deck I suggest something to put under it so that it doesn't dent the wood. Special orders are available.

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Lately I've seen a subtle but growing bashing of charcoal grills by makers of indoor rotisserie toaster ovens and gas grills. Charcoal grills are popular, less expensive than gas grills, and tend to be more durable. Companies out to make a quick buck by convincing you that charcoal grilling is too difficult or just too much trouble have been spreading some pretty nasty rumors about charcoal grills that you should not believe. Yes, when deciding between charcoal versus gas you do need to understand that gas is more convenient and generally easier to use. Charcoal, however, has its advantages, particularly when it comes to flavor and the authenticity of the outdoor cooking experience.

1. Gas Grills Produce the Same Flavor as Charcoal Grills

The typical argument says that, "hot juices which drip on the briquettes and vaporize to produce a flavor" (1). These people, typically gas grill manufacturers, tell you that there is no difference in flavor between charcoal and gas. What they say is that the flavor you get from any kind of grill is due to the drippings from the food you are cooking, falling onto a hot surface, burning, and creating smoke. Two problems with this theory. First of all, most gas grills these days don't burn off the grease as much they drain the grease out of the grill. The second problem with this theory is that it is simply not true. Taste tests done by Good Housekeeping, Vanderbilt University, and Cook's Illustrated all prove that there is a taste difference and most people can detect it in most cases. I know I said "most", the exception is that about half the people couldn't tell the difference with burgers or chicken breasts cooked at high temperatures. They certainly could tell the difference with steaks.

2. Charcoal Grills are Harder to Clean

It is true that charcoal is messier than gas, probably because it is charcoal. You are going to get your hands dirty when you use charcoal, but the idea that your charcoal grill is considerably harder to clean than a gas grill simply isn't true. This myth is based on the idea that you don't need to actually clean a gas grill. You know the sales pitch, turn the burners on high for 15 minutes and brush off the grates. Clean, right? No, it isn't clean. Gas grill have to be cleaned out and this process requires removing the grates, the heat tents and maybe the burners. Cleaning out a charcoal grill requires removing the grate, brushing off the surfaces and dumping the ashes. Most good charcoal grills have a way for you to empty out the ashes pretty easily.

3. Charcoal Grills are Slow to Heat Up

This is also true but claims that charcoal grills take up to, "40 minutes to heat up"(2) are utterly ridiculous. The truth is that if you are good about building a fire, and understand how your particular charcoal grill works you can be cooking in 10 to 15 minutes. Compare this to the recommended preheat times for most gas grills, 10 to 15 minutes. Of course lighting a charcoal grill is more complicated and time consuming than lighting a gas grill, but that is the classic trade-off between gas and charcoal. The truth is, however, that lighting a charcoal grill, depending on the type of grill, doesn't take much more time than it does for a gas grill to heat up.

4. Charcoal Grills are Hard to Use

Several years ago the fine people at Ronco ran an infomercial for their indoor rotisserie toaster oven that showed a man trying to light a charcoal grill in a blizzard with wet charcoal and bad lighter fluid. Not only are they trying to say that grilling is too hard, but that most of use simply are not smart enough to do it. Don't believe the marketers who say you are not smart enough to use a charcoal grill. While it might take a little practice, it isn't hard to learn how to use a charcoal grill and you are certainly smart enough to do it. Once the routine is down, lighting and using a charcoal grill is nearly as convenient as using a gas grill.

5. Temperature is Hard to Control on a Charcoal Grill

A gas grill has control valves and typically a hood mounted thermometer. Charcoal grill, those that have lids, come with vents in the bottom and the top and maybe a thermometer. I recommend buying one with a thermometer so you can learn temperature control better. What the gas grill people say is that charcoal grills have to be refueled every hour, which might be true if you have a very hot fire and not enough fuel to start with. The truth is, that most charcoal grills can hit temperatures much higher than many gas grills and can hold temperatures for several hours. The key to temperature control on a gas grill starts with how you build a fire and then it simply becomes a matter of vent adjustment to control the heat. The truth is, with a little practice and a charcoal grill is a precise cooker that is both versatile and powerful.

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Charcoal grills have been around for a very long time and are recognized for their versatility and the authentic flavor they bring to foods we grill. Yet, recently there has been an attack on charcoal grills by the makers and sellers of gas grills. We are being told that charcoal grills are hard to use, difficult to control, and simply not versatile enough for the modern griller. These false accusations need to stop and people need to realize that charcoal is simply the better way to grill. Educate yourself and be ready for those salespersons who are going to tell you that you are not smart enough or skilled enough to use a charcoal grill.

Read Charcoal Grill Myths

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Pork ribs are among the most popular items to cook and the one that gives most people the most trouble. If you have a smoker and know how to use it you shouldn't have any difficulty (see my article on BBQ Ribs. If, however, you are using a grill then you need to learn how to keep it low and slow to get tender, perfect bbq ribs. For this demonstration we will be looking at making barbecue ribs on a charcoal grill. If you are using a gas grill see my article on making Barbecue Ribs on a Gas Grill. Now, let me walk you through some simple steps and you will be "grilling" the best ribs you've ever eaten.

Photo: Regarding BBQ Inc.

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