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
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