Weber Original Kettle Premium 22 vs Weber Original Kettle 22
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Quick take: The Weber Original Kettle 22 costs $80 less.
| Spec | Weber Original Kettle Premium 22 | Weber Original Kettle 22 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$229 | ~$149 |
| Rating | 4.7★ (8,653) | — |
| Type | Charcoal Grill | Charcoal Grill |
| Cooking Area | 363 sq in | 363 sq in |
| Max Temp | 700°F | — |
| Fuel Type | Charcoal | Charcoal |
| Build Material | Porcelain-Enameled Steel | Porcelain-Enameled Steel |
| Hopper Capacity | — | — |
| Burners | — | — |
| WiFi / App | No | No |
| App control | No | No |
| Meat probe | No | No |
| PID controller | No | No |
| Side burner | No | No |
| Rotisserie | No | No |
| Searing | Yes | No |
| Dimensions | 22.5 x 27 x 39.5 in | 39.5 x 22.5 x 25 in |
| Weight | 32 lbs | 32 lbs |
| Warranty | 10 years | 10 years bowl and lid |
Pros & cons
Weber Original Kettle Premium 22
- ✓It's the default 'just get a Weber kettle' answer in owner discussions for a reason - sear, roast, and even smoke with the snake method on one $170 grill
- ✓The porcelain-enameled bowl and lid shrug off rust and weather, and it's common to see 15-20 year old kettles still cooking every weekend
- ✓Two-zone cooking is dead simple - bank coals to one side and you get a searing zone and an indirect zone that handles everything from wings to whole chickens
- ✓The Premium's hinged grate lets you add charcoal mid-cook, a big quality-of-life upgrade over the base Original Kettle
- ✓The sealed high-capacity ash catcher and One-Touch sweep make cleanup a ten-second job instead of a shovel-and-dustpan chore
- ✓Charcoal reaches searing temps north of 700°F that no pellet grill can touch, with real charcoal flavor
- ✓At 32 lbs it's light enough to roll anywhere on the patio or throw in a truck for camping and tailgates
- ✓The mod and accessory ecosystem (Vortex, rotisserie rings, Slow 'N Sear) is enormous, and cheap parts keep it running forever
- ✗Charcoal has a learning curve - lighting a chimney, managing vents, and juggling two-zone fires takes practice versus push-button gas or pellets
- ✗There's no thermometer probe, WiFi, or automation of any kind - long cooks mean checking vents and fuel by hand
- ✗363 sq in fills up fast for parties - a couple of racks of ribs or 13 burgers is the realistic ceiling
- ✗Holding a steady 225-250°F for a long brisket is doable with the snake method but fiddly, and wind or rain will swing your temps
- ✗Every cook starts with lighting charcoal and ends with ash disposal, which adds 20-30 minutes versus turning a knob
- ✗The lid thermometer sits high above the grate and can read 50°F off from food level, so serious cooks add a grate probe
- ✗No side tables or prep space - you're balancing tongs and platters on a nearby table
- ✗The Master-Touch is only about $70 more and adds the GBS hinged accessory grate and Tuck-Away lid holder, which makes the Premium a slightly awkward middle child
Weber Original Kettle 22
- ✓Cheapest route into the 22-inch grate size that nearly every kettle accessory is built around
- ✓One-Touch cleaning system sweeps ash with a single lever rather than a brush
- ✓Porcelain-enameled bowl and lid carry the same 10-year no-rust-through warranty as kettles three times the price
- ✓363 sq in is enough to bank coals to one side and still hold a full indirect zone
- ✓Replacement parts are stocked by Weber and most hardware stores for decades-old kettles
- ✗No lid thermometer, so temperature has to be read with an aftermarket probe
- ✗Open aluminum ash pan spills in wind and holds far less than the Premium's enclosed catcher
- ✗Fixed one-piece grate means the fire has to be reached by lifting the whole grate mid-cook
- ✗No lid holder, so the hot lid goes on the ground or hooks over the bowl edge