Weber
Weber Original Kettle Premium 22
The Weber Original Kettle Premium 22 is the iconic charcoal kettle that started backyard grilling in America, upgraded with a built-in thermometer, hinged grate, and sealed One-Touch ash catcher. It's the single most-recommended first grill on Reddit.
Specifications
Features
Pros
- ✓It's the default 'just get a Weber kettle' answer on r/grilling and r/BBQ 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
Cons
- ✗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
Compare the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22
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