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Cheap Charcoal Grills, Charcoal Grill Reviews

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Cheap charcoal grills use charcoal (or briquettes) as fuel, imparting the authentic grilled flavor that's undetectable with gas grills. But charcoal grills have their drawbacks.

If you expect to cook quick meals on one of these models, think again. They take longer to heat up than their gas-powered counterparts and the cleanup takes more effort. You must dispose of the ash and old charcoal (without getting it all over) and give the coals time to properly burn out. Part of the beauty of the Weber One-Touch Gold 22.5, charcoal grill reviews say, is the ease of use and cleanup compared with other charcoal models. One user posting on Amazon calls the Weber the epitome of simplicity and declares the ash catcher a marked improvement over older models. One advantage to a charcoal grill is it costs less initially than a gas model, but you wind up paying more in the long run because buying charcoal is pricier than filling a gas grill's propane tank every couple of months.

Ease of Use.

Whichever way you cut it, cheap charcoal grills are more complicated than the gas variety. With the latter, all you have to do is make sure there's fuel in the tank, turn on the burner, wait a few minutes, and you're good to go. Charcoal grills require users to pile up the lump charcoal or briquettes, get them to ignite (this can be tricky), wait a good 20 minutes, then scatter the fuel and you're off. Still, the word "easy" shows up again and again in reviews of the Char-Griller Wrangler 2123, our pick for best cheap charcoal grill. Backyard cooks posting charcoal grill reviews on Walmart.com say it's easy to add coals, cook, and clean up using the removable ash pan. Many users also report that the grill is easy to assemble. The Weber One-Touch Gold 22.5 also draws favorable comments in charcoal grill reviews on HomeBarbequeGrilling.com. One consumer raves about the One-Touch cleaning system, which allows ashes and charcoal to fall into a removable pan with a flick of a switch. Users also like the second handle, which allows the lid to be clamped on for added safety and convenience, a feature missing in the smaller, cheaper Weber One-Touch Silver (an 18.5-inch model that starts at $59, Amazon).

While gas models generally aren't difficult to cook with or clean, some can be tough to assemble. Several users posting reviews on Amazon have found the Char-Griller 3001 difficult to put together, with poor instructions, although others seem baffled by such complaints. Consumers note that the cooking grate is three separate pieces, which makes for easier cleaning. The Brinkmann Grill King 810-2410-SB is easy to use and clean, according to a review by the Good Housekeeping Research Institute. The Char-Broil Two-Burner Gas Grill garners a few complaints regarding assembly in reviews on Amazon. Consumers call the instructions confusing and unhelpful.

Grill Grates.

Regardless whether you choose charcoal or gas, the material composition of the grate determines whether food tends to stick, as well as how evenly the heat disperses and, thus, how well the food cooks. Experts prefer cast-iron grates because they heat up quickly, hold the heat on the surface, and last a very long time -- although cast iron does need to be oiled to keep food from sticking too much. Another good option is porcelain-coated cast iron. High-quality porcelain keeps food from sticking, while the cast iron heats evenly and fast. Maintenance is easier with porcelain because you don't have to oil the grates. When it's time to clean porcelain-coated grates, scrub gently with a metal-bristle brush; don't use a metal scraper because it will chip the porcelain. Most cheap grills, including those on our list, have porcelain grates. Consumers who have posted reviews of the Brinkmann Grill King 810-2410-SB at Home Depot note its porcelain-coated cast-iron grates, calling them heavy-duty and praising the even heat they provide. The Char-Griller Wrangler 2123 sports cast-iron grates but no porcelain coating.

by Raechel Conover (Google+ Profile)

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Brinkmann Professional Three-Burner Gas Grill Review
Char-Broil Two-Burner Gas Grill Review
Brinkmann Grill King Review
Weber One Touch Gold 22.5 Review
Char-Griller Wrangler 2123 Review
Char-Griller Grillin' Pro 3001 Review

Meco Charcoal Grill
Brinkmann Pro Series Four Burner Gas Grill 810-9415-w
Char-Broil T480 Four Burner and Char-Boil Grill2Go Advantage
Brinkmann 4 Burner Gas Grill 810-9410-S
Broil-Mate Gas Grill 13024
Brinkmann 2 Burner Gas Grill 810-9210-S

 

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