Weber
Weber Master-Touch 22
The Weber Master-Touch 22 is the upgraded version of Weber's iconic charcoal kettle, adding a hinged Gourmet BBQ System grate, a built-in thermometer, and a Tuck-Away lid holder. It's a benchmark backyard charcoal grill.
Specifications
Features
Pros
- ✓It's incredibly versatile - direct high-heat searing, two-zone grilling, and even low-and-slow smoking with the Snake method all work great in one inexpensive grill
- ✓The hinged Gourmet BBQ System grate lets you add charcoal mid-cook and drop in accessories like a sear grate, pizza stone, or wok
- ✓The One-Touch cleaning system sweeps ash into a sealed catcher, making cleanup faster and tidier than basic kettles
- ✓Porcelain-enameled steel bowl and lid resist rust and hold heat well, and routinely last 10-15+ years
- ✓At ~$235 with a built-in thermometer and Tuck-Away lid holder it's an outstanding value in charcoal
- ✓It reaches blazing searing temps that no pellet grill can touch, giving real charcoal flavor and crust
- ✓It's light and portable at 32 lbs, easy to move around the yard or take to a campsite
- ✓Weber's 10-year warranty and universal parts availability mean you can keep it running indefinitely
Cons
- ✗Charcoal cooking has a learning curve - managing vents and fuel for steady temps takes practice versus push-button gas or pellets
- ✗There's no app, probe, or automation, so long smokes require hands-on vent adjustments and refueling
- ✗363 sq in is modest, so cooking for a big crowd means batching or stepping up to the 26-inch model
- ✗Holding low temps for a long brisket is doable but fiddly compared to a dedicated smoker, with temps prone to drifting
- ✗Ash and charcoal handling is messier than gas or pellets, and you deal with lighting and disposal every cook
- ✗The lid thermometer is approximate, so serious cooks add a separate probe
- ✗Wind can swing temperatures noticeably, requiring vent babysitting on gusty days
- ✗It needs a chimney starter and charcoal on hand, adding small ongoing fuel costs and prep steps
Owner Insights(7,100 discussions)
If r/grilling had a mascot it might be the Weber kettle, and the Master-Touch 22 is the upgraded version everyone points beginners toward. The pitch is unbeatable value and versatility: for around $235 you get a grill that sears hotter than any pellet cooker, does two-zone cooking, and can even smoke a brisket with the Snake method — and it'll last 10-15+ years.
The caveats are the inherent charcoal ones: a learning curve for vent control, fiddlier low-and-slow than a dedicated smoker, and messier ash cleanup. The Master-Touch's hinged Gourmet BBQ System grate and One-Touch ash sweep are exactly the features people cite for making those annoyances easier.
The overwhelming sentiment is that everyone should own a kettle — it's the cheapest path to real charcoal flavor and serious versatility, and it pairs perfectly with a pellet grill or griddle. The only common upgrade advice is to consider the 26-inch if you regularly cook for a crowd.
Pros
- +Endlessly recommended on r/grilling and r/BBQ as the best value in all of cooking
- +Does it all — high-heat searing, two-zone grilling, even Snake-method smoking
- +The hinged grate and One-Touch ash cleanup are beloved quality-of-life features
- +Lasts 10-15+ years and parts are cheap and everywhere
- +Light, portable, and works as a camping/tailgate grill too
Cons
- −Charcoal has a learning curve — vent and fuel management takes practice
- −Holding low temps for long brisket is fiddly versus a dedicated smoker
- −Ash and charcoal handling is messier than gas or pellets
- −363 sq in is modest for big crowds (the 26-inch fixes this)
- −Wind can swing temps and require babysitting
Common Questions
Compare the Weber Master-Touch 22
Related grills
More from Weber →
Weber
Weber Spirit E-310
The Weber Spirit E-310 is a compact 3-burner propane gas grill and one of the best-selling backyard grills in America. The latest redesign adds Snap-Jet ignition and a more modern cart.
Weber
Weber Genesis E-325s
The Weber Genesis E-325s is a 3-burner premium propane gas grill with a dedicated sear zone and side burner, part of Weber's redesigned Genesis line. Weber is the benchmark brand for backyard gas grills.
Weber
Weber SmokeFire EX6
The Weber SmokeFire EX6 is Weber's WiFi pellet grill, notable for reaching 600°F to sear and using a steep-walled firebox for direct grilling. The 2nd-gen revision fixed many early reliability issues.