I never knew that Char-Broil made kettle type grills until I got over here in "Parts Unknown" and saw the one that I found here. This one (Dusty) is far cheaper than yours. Great review! Thanks for sharing this!!!
Daddy Cooks I really enjoy mine! Thanks so much for the comment! Never thought someone I watch all the time would see a video I did. That's awesome! Thanks for stoppin in.
These grills are a really good option. The Weber has definitely better air flow control. But I prefer this for several reasons. First, the price for these is equivalent to a basic Weber Kettle. If you're in a windy environment, these are the best - no ashes. Imho, the cleanup is so easy, compared to any other grill out there including the one-touch. The coals sit higher for sure. You need to consider what your' cooking and ensure you light the right amount at the start. The good part is they definitely use less coals. The downside is what you light will burn out - you can't shut it down and choke it out. Get the brush for the grate too as mentioned by Stone Mountain. One thing I can attest to, is these cook so moist. After two years still amazed. I share Stone Mountains thoughts - definitely prefer this to the Weber. (Prior owned Weber Kettles, WSM, Cookshack model 55) Best to all.
I got one of these this past Thursday (4/30/2020), just used it for the first time yesterday (5/4/2020), I will say my ribs turned out good, granted it is the first grill I owned, and the first time I grilled without the assistance. I wasn't successful on smoking, had the temperature too high for smoking but I will say, even indirect grilling, the ribs turned out better than I thought they would've. Oh, I forgot to mention... I am 40 years old.
Very nice review SM BBQ. Articulated well. I bought one but immediately made a few upgrades. I bought some 3M felt gasket to keep some of the metal/ceramic areas from rubbing on each other causing chipping and rust. I taped a ring around the bottom where the ash pan meets the SHARP edge of the bottom hole of the grill. Why manufacturers create products that rub ceramic coated metal against SHARP unfinished edges is beyond me. The felt tape works great. A dollar store pizza pan helps to keep the ash pan more serviceable. The worst part of grilling is clean up which everyone avoids talking about. ?? The felt was also used between the charcoal grate and tabs that hold it up. And a strip was used to protect the lid from rubbing on the back of the grill. Plus a couple of pieces on the lid to dampen where the lid meets the bottom rim. Again all this is ceramic coated metal rubbing against ceramic coated metal. ??? Why weren't these things incorporated in this design??? Planned obsolescence???
We had our kettleman for 3 years. Last year the grate really started falling apart (rusting through completely) also where the legs attach it is almost rusted through (actually leaning from the metal compromising). It performed great, just didnt last very long. The pros are it uses very little charcoal and cooks extremely well. Cost is not bad at all. Overall i think it would be a great grill EXCEPT for the longevity issue. Pondering on a pellet grill right now. Not settled though.
I used this thing twice in reverse, the charcoal holder was on top and my coals were in the pan at the bottom, needless to say my temp never got over about 170, so that’s why I’m here lol
Good review. My mom got this grill a few months ago and we have not been able to find a cover for it at any box stores. So went on line, and of course all they have are pictures of the cover on the grill instead of pic of grill + cover. Sheesh! Plus, we forgot what exact model/what it's called (besides charbroil) Yep this is the right model of grill we're getting cover for. :-)
I bought 1 n have been using it awhile,it's a little backwards on air flow but once u understand it it's easy,cooks great too,on minion or shake method I use mine as a smoker mostly.a few drawbacks....not many accessories you can get for it.1,I bought the charcoal manager it's pretty good ,n a rib rack.2,it needs to have it's grate raised up 3 " or dropped 3" ,if u use the snake method which is the best for long cooks the grate will be pushing down in the coals n make it uneven. Ok.for 100$ it's great ,does cook with less coals for sure . But.......if I do it again n I will I'll buy the 22.5 weber.it just has a lot more diverse accessories u can order,it's a little more though.all in all I give the kettleman a 6+ on a scale of 1-10 ,I give the Weber a 9 . Thanks
How do you set the vent to control the temp for spareribs? Open all the way or half way? I have a hard time getting it to read 250 and keeping it there
i never used this so take that as my opinion likely being meaningless, but this grill design at first intrigued me which is why i am here. this review is fine to btw, what i still question, despite what i believe to be an honest successful experience by the video poster, is that it this grill has flaws and can be improved. mainly the ring of holes need to be lower so as to more easily be under the coals and not so clse to grate. this would be more versatile imo as the ring of holes and large damper is what initially intrigued me. i don't think they executed perfect on the concept tho. just an fyi, i love weber in the sense i honestly think, no bs, that the weber go anywhere grill i own is the best grill ever made and the only way to make it better is to scae its exact design to whatever quantity you are trying to cook. in other words that grill is perfection imho, especially with mods an accessories like the rotisserie height extender etc. so much control such a perfect design lol anyway i love weber but the chharbroil has potential, not there yet tho. i think with a fes tweaks tho this charbroil can usurp the weber kettle, but not the go anywhere lol
I agree, the charcoals are a bit too close to the grates and accessories do help. Would you happen to know if the lid will close if I do a beer can chicken?
Stone, thank you. These are a real underdog grill imho. Really good quality for the body, and the key stuff. The legs are a bit wobbly, and the screws Char Broil gives us are somewhat circumspect. However you can always upgrade those. You can't underestimate the lift up lid, and the grate design = NO flareups. . Simply the juiciest chicken and whatever. It depends on what you want for cooking. But for the price these are really excellent and I think, imho, the best product Char Broil makes. Straight up. Cheers to all.
Char-Broil makes a grill brush with plastic bristles that will clean the grate without damaging the porcelain and causing it to rust. I got one, and it works great.
I own this grill and it is a little disappointing because the charcoal is too close to the grate. I used to be able to make beer can chicken on my Weber grill but this grill gets too hot. Great for chops and burgers only.
Man, I hate that it isn't working out for you. I haven't tried beer can chicken on it yet, I did just post a video of it on my offset, but I can vouche that it will do much more than just chops and burgers. I've cooked ribs, pizza,veggies, tenderloin, and I'm sure there's things I am forgetting. Ya just gotta set those coals up for each cook a little differently. I hope to do some more videos with it soon. I hope you'll stick around! Thanks for watching!
This is not a smoker! The height of the coal rack is intentional and genius! I use this Kettleman for restaurant quality steaks and it is perfect for that!
I've owned this grill for about 6 months now, I use it at least twice a week. The problems are that the charcoals are too close to the grate, the food burn really fast. Controlling the temp is pain in the ass because of all air coming in (with the vent fully closed) it's always hot inside. And finally, the infrared grate.. I've seasoned it a 100 times, I've used all the oils known to man, in seasoning and on the grate before cooking, and on the food itself, and it still manages to stick. Really frustrating experience.. and ironically, I'm stuck with it as well! Wish I went with the Weber
They say that you're supposed to use a LOT less charcoal than with a weber. But the aspect of how it is not sealed like a weber would make it a bit harder for some long cooks.
Good video! I bought a Kettleman about a month ago and I love it. Any tips on how many briquettes you use when smoking a slab of ribs? I haven't been brave enough to try smoking with the snake method yet.
Josh Sjogren it just depends on the method. if you do indirect, about 50 + about a half chimney full of lit coals. i out a drip pan with water under the rib side, it helps put humidity inside the grill and works as a makeshift heat deflector. Don't let it intimidate you. You'll do fine!
Your review of this grill was really spot on! I have the same one you have and the only thing I found as a downfall was doing handmade hamburgers on it. It was a complete nightmare to clean that special grill grate. Other than that, it cooks anything! Looking forward to trying a brisket flat on it!! Thanks for sharing your video dude!
Thanks for watching! The grate is probably my biggest complaint as well. Hard to believe I have had this thing for over a year. I hope you stay tuned for the new Premium Weber Kettle review. I just got one of the limited editions for my birthday. I'm pretty excited.
Does yours have an open space in the back above the wind reflector? I just got mine and I just noticed it, it seems like it would let a lot of heat out. Great review by the way.
the one thing i like about my Weber kettle is that i can go 8 hours with the flip grate. can this do that long of a cook. i have 7 smokers, so this could just end up being a grill. how hot can this get?
+No Hippie BBQ & Cooking if this kettle had a flip grate it would be awesome. Thats what I was talking about mostly with the accessories. I've never pushed 8hrs,but never needed to. Even as just a grill, the no flare up grate is awesome, and the even heat distribution is worth it. I've had the grill up over 450 a few times, searing steaks and things. Hope this helps, and thanks for stopping in.
I can't vouch for other kettles, but I know I usually use about 60-80 briquettes, and get about 4-6 hrs of cook. Now that isn't including the half chimney of burning coals I add to one end if I'm using the snake method. If I am cooking indirect I use about 40-50 briquettes on one side, and get anywhere from 2-3 hrs of cook. I also add wood chunks to it as well. Hope that helps, and thanks for stopping in and for the question!
I would say not so much, and really dependent on what you intend to cook. Burgers and such, and warm weather, yes. The charcoal is really close to the cooking grate. Longer cooks, this thing is really upside down compared to what I've known. The key thing is you need to know what you intend to cook and for how long. It's all about the load up and placement of the charcoal as once you set these, if you do it right they cook awesome. No ash, or sparks so much safer. But unlike the weber you don't have the air control, to the same extent. I'd recommend the charcoal manager or placing as such based on what you intend to cook. They cook really moist, it's the tru infrared thing. And honestly this rocks - if you dry out your food then it's on you. I love it for that, the flip lid, lower charcoal use, no flare ups. Two years in and this thing still interests me, and I'm still trying to figure out how it does what it does.
+Big Lew BBQ they are always open. The design of the grate does give some coverage to the holes but they wrap all the way around the kettle. Thanks for watching!
Stone Mountain BBQ: I was looking at one at Tractor Supply Co. the other day. They look great. I've an 18" and 22" Old Smokey and Weber 22". So I don't need one of these, but if I found a good deal on one I might get it. Snuffing out the coals is not a big deal with me because I usually shovel them out with a fire place shovel and snuff them out in an old # 10 can. Thanks for the reply and the great review video.
How do I control the heat with the vent for spareribs on the kettleman? Open for cooler temperature or closed? Last time, my ribs were burned after an hour!
Honestly no comparison. Teo completely different cookers. The way heat circulates and is retained is totally different. No aftermarket at all for accessories and the height from grate to lid is too low. If you're just grilling the kettleman is great though.
It was for me, but honestly, after cooking regularly for a few years. I would recommend starting with the Weber Kettle. They are just so much more versatile and the price difference isnt enough to discourage the upgrade. Hope that helps.
+joshua byrd that would be a tough one. I love the kettleman. Id probably still go with the kettleman.The ash pan, hinged lid and large vent holes would make it. Though weber has more accessories.. that all cost money. So personally I would spend over 40 buying all the gadgets lol.
Stone Mountain BBQ thanks for the quick response...I like the technology (infared) and cooking grate that prevents flare ups ...Im thinking about getting the Weber and using the kettleman grate may give me the best of both worlds...do u think it would work?
+joshua byrd I tried using the weber grate on the kettleman and it didn't work. I wanted to be able to flip up one side to add coal, wood, etc. Not sure about the other way around.
I never knew that Char-Broil made kettle type grills until I got over here in "Parts Unknown" and saw the one that I found here. This one (Dusty) is far cheaper than yours. Great review! Thanks for sharing this!!!
Daddy Cooks I really enjoy mine! Thanks so much for the comment! Never thought someone I watch all the time would see a video I did. That's awesome! Thanks for stoppin in.
Keep doing what you are doing my friend. You never know will see it!! [Phil]
These grills are a really good option. The Weber has definitely better air flow control. But I prefer this for several reasons. First, the price for these is equivalent to a basic Weber Kettle. If you're in a windy environment, these are the best - no ashes. Imho, the cleanup is so easy, compared to any other grill out there including the one-touch. The coals sit higher for sure. You need to consider what your' cooking and ensure you light the right amount at the start. The good part is they definitely use less coals. The downside is what you light will burn out - you can't shut it down and choke it out. Get the brush for the grate too as mentioned by Stone Mountain. One thing I can attest to, is these cook so moist. After two years still amazed. I share Stone Mountains thoughts - definitely prefer this to the Weber. (Prior owned Weber Kettles, WSM, Cookshack model 55) Best to all.
I got one of these this past Thursday (4/30/2020), just used it for the first time yesterday (5/4/2020), I will say my ribs turned out good, granted it is the first grill I owned, and the first time I grilled without the assistance. I wasn't successful on smoking, had the temperature too high for smoking but I will say, even indirect grilling, the ribs turned out better than I thought they would've. Oh, I forgot to mention... I am 40 years old.
Very nice review SM BBQ. Articulated well. I bought one but immediately made a few upgrades. I bought some 3M felt gasket to keep some of the metal/ceramic areas from rubbing on each other causing chipping and rust. I taped a ring around the bottom where the ash pan meets the SHARP edge of the bottom hole of the grill. Why manufacturers create products that rub ceramic coated metal against SHARP unfinished edges is beyond me. The felt tape works great. A dollar store pizza pan helps to keep the ash pan more serviceable. The worst part of grilling is clean up which everyone avoids talking about. ??
The felt was also used between the charcoal grate and tabs that hold it up. And a strip was used to protect the lid from rubbing on the back of the grill. Plus a couple of pieces on the lid to dampen where the lid meets the bottom rim. Again all this is ceramic coated metal rubbing against ceramic coated metal. ???
Why weren't these things incorporated in this design??? Planned obsolescence???
We had our kettleman for 3 years. Last year the grate really started falling apart (rusting through completely) also where the legs attach it is almost rusted through (actually leaning from the metal compromising). It performed great, just didnt last very long. The pros are it uses very little charcoal and cooks extremely well. Cost is not bad at all. Overall i think it would be a great grill EXCEPT for the longevity issue. Pondering on a pellet grill right now. Not settled though.
I used this thing twice in reverse, the charcoal holder was on top and my coals were in the pan at the bottom, needless to say my temp never got over about 170, so that’s why I’m here lol
Good review. My mom got this grill a few months ago and we have not been able to find a cover for it at any box stores. So went on line, and of course all they have are pictures of the cover on the grill instead of pic of grill + cover. Sheesh! Plus, we forgot what exact model/what it's called (besides charbroil) Yep this is the right model of grill we're getting cover for. :-)
I bought 1 n have been using it awhile,it's a little backwards on air flow but once u understand it it's easy,cooks great too,on minion or shake method I use mine as a smoker mostly.a few drawbacks....not many accessories you can get for it.1,I bought the charcoal manager it's pretty good ,n a rib rack.2,it needs to have it's grate raised up 3 " or dropped 3" ,if u use the snake method which is the best for long cooks the grate will be pushing down in the coals n make it uneven. Ok.for 100$ it's great ,does cook with less coals for sure . But.......if I do it again n I will I'll buy the 22.5 weber.it just has a lot more diverse accessories u can order,it's a little more though.all in all I give the kettleman a 6+ on a scale of 1-10 ,I give the Weber a 9 . Thanks
How do you set the vent to control the temp for spareribs? Open all the way or half way? I have a hard time getting it to read 250 and keeping it there
I have had this grill for about 3 years and love it.
Great review and thanks for pointing out how close the coals sit to the grilling grate.
I made some good food on that badboy. Just bought an akorn chargriller, i think im gonna keep my kettle because i know it so well
i never used this so take that as my opinion likely being meaningless, but this grill design at first intrigued me which is why i am here. this review is fine to btw, what i still question, despite what i believe to be an honest successful experience by the video poster, is that it this grill has flaws and can be improved. mainly the ring of holes need to be lower so as to more easily be under the coals and not so clse to grate. this would be more versatile imo as the ring of holes and large damper is what initially intrigued me. i don't think they executed perfect on the concept tho.
just an fyi, i love weber in the sense i honestly think, no bs, that the weber go anywhere grill i own is the best grill ever made and the only way to make it better is to scae its exact design to whatever quantity you are trying to cook. in other words that grill is perfection imho, especially with mods an accessories like the rotisserie height extender etc. so much control such a perfect design lol anyway i love weber but the chharbroil has potential, not there yet tho. i think with a fes tweaks tho this charbroil can usurp the weber kettle, but not the go anywhere lol
Just bought it yesterday. Can't wait to use it
I agree, the charcoals are a bit too close to the grates and accessories do help. Would you happen to know if the lid will close if I do a beer can chicken?
If I remember correctly it did not fit using a stand, but possibly with just the can and the chicken it may
I should have stated at the outset, thanks to Stone Mountain as I feel his assessment is absolutely spot on. :-)
+D Gordon Thanks for stopping in and for the kind words, stick around for more!
Stone, thank you. These are a real underdog grill imho. Really good quality for the body, and the key stuff. The legs are a bit wobbly, and the screws Char Broil gives us are somewhat circumspect. However you can always upgrade those. You can't underestimate the lift up lid, and the grate design = NO flareups. . Simply the juiciest chicken and whatever. It depends on what you want for cooking. But for the price these are really excellent and I think, imho, the best product Char Broil makes. Straight up. Cheers to all.
Char-Broil makes a grill brush with plastic bristles that will clean the grate without damaging the porcelain and causing it to rust. I got one, and it works great.
I own this grill and it is a little disappointing because the charcoal is too close to the grate. I used to be able to make beer can chicken on my Weber grill but this grill gets too hot. Great for chops and burgers only.
Man, I hate that it isn't working out for you. I haven't tried beer can chicken on it yet, I did just post a video of it on my offset, but I can vouche that it will do much more than just chops and burgers. I've cooked ribs, pizza,veggies, tenderloin, and I'm sure there's things I am forgetting. Ya just gotta set those coals up for each cook a little differently. I hope to do some more videos with it soon. I hope you'll stick around! Thanks for watching!
Stone Mountain BBQ thanks it would be cool to see more videos of this grill in action.
This is not a smoker! The height of the coal rack is intentional and genius! I use this Kettleman for restaurant quality steaks and it is perfect for that!
Won one on a raffle today, was looking for info to keep or sell it, I already have a offset smoker and a Webber, but now I wanna give it a go
I am contemplating a Weber versus the Kettleman. Do you have a list of pros/cons?
Sell
Thanks for making this. This really helped.
I've owned this grill for about 6 months now, I use it at least twice a week.
The problems are that the charcoals are too close to the grate, the food burn really fast. Controlling the temp is pain in the ass because of all air coming in (with the vent fully closed) it's always hot inside. And finally, the infrared grate.. I've seasoned it a 100 times, I've used all the oils known to man, in seasoning and on the grate before cooking, and on the food itself, and it still manages to stick. Really frustrating experience.. and ironically, I'm stuck with it as well!
Wish I went with the Weber
you can find a used weber on-line for under $100
@@chipchaser44 I live in Jordan, the cheapest Weber cost about $450 here.. IF you find one
@@ZeidGho Jordan as in the country Jordan?
They say that you're supposed to use a LOT less charcoal than with a weber. But the aspect of how it is not sealed like a weber would make it a bit harder for some long cooks.
@@elissarose1794 your lucky in my country weber goes for 500 the normal kettle and 1000 dollars for the master touch
Good video! I bought a Kettleman about a month ago and I love it. Any tips on how many briquettes you use when smoking a slab of ribs? I haven't been brave enough to try smoking with the snake method yet.
Josh Sjogren it just depends on the method. if you do indirect, about 50 + about a half chimney full of lit coals. i out a drip pan with water under the rib side, it helps put humidity inside the grill and works as a makeshift heat deflector. Don't let it intimidate you. You'll do fine!
Your review of this grill was really spot on! I have the same one you have and the only thing I found as a downfall was doing handmade hamburgers on it. It was a complete nightmare to clean that special grill grate. Other than that, it cooks anything! Looking forward to trying a brisket flat on it!! Thanks for sharing your video dude!
Thanks for watching! The grate is probably my biggest complaint as well. Hard to believe I have had this thing for over a year. I hope you stay tuned for the new Premium Weber Kettle review. I just got one of the limited editions for my birthday. I'm pretty excited.
Nice work man
Does yours have an open space in the back above the wind reflector? I just got mine and I just noticed it, it seems like it would let a lot of heat out. Great review by the way.
Mine does as well. Have does yours work with that open space?
the one thing i like about my Weber kettle is that i can go 8 hours with the flip grate. can this do that long of a cook. i have 7 smokers, so this could just end up being a grill. how hot can this get?
+No Hippie BBQ & Cooking if this kettle had a flip grate it would be awesome. Thats what I was talking about mostly with the accessories. I've never pushed 8hrs,but never needed to. Even as just a grill, the no flare up grate is awesome, and the even heat distribution is worth it. I've had the grill up over 450 a few times, searing steaks and things. Hope this helps, and thanks for stopping in.
I've heard that they use about half the amount of coals regular kettles...any truth to that?
I can't vouch for other kettles, but I know I usually use about 60-80 briquettes, and get about 4-6 hrs of cook. Now that isn't including the half chimney of burning coals I add to one end if I'm using the snake method. If I am cooking indirect I use about 40-50 briquettes on one side, and get anywhere from 2-3 hrs of cook. I also add wood chunks to it as well. Hope that helps, and thanks for stopping in and for the question!
Cool. Thanks
Quinn Patton what's up quinn. I'm thinking about getting one. good seeing you here
No Hippie BBQ & Cooking lol. No doubt. Me too.
I would say not so much, and really dependent on what you intend to cook. Burgers and such, and warm weather, yes. The charcoal is really close to the cooking grate. Longer cooks, this thing is really upside down compared to what I've known. The key thing is you need to know what you intend to cook and for how long. It's all about the load up and placement of the charcoal as once you set these, if you do it right they cook awesome. No ash, or sparks so much safer. But unlike the weber you don't have the air control, to the same extent. I'd recommend the charcoal manager or placing as such based on what you intend to cook. They cook really moist, it's the tru infrared thing. And honestly this rocks - if you dry out your food then it's on you. I love it for that, the flip lid, lower charcoal use, no flare ups. Two years in and this thing still interests me, and I'm still trying to figure out how it does what it does.
Members Mark, Weber or Char Broil?
After having the Weber and charbroil, I'd have to say weber. The aftermarket products available for them are awesome.
@StoneMountainAdventures I'm needing a back up for my Yoder 640
Can you shut off the bottom vents to snuff out the coals? Looks like they are always open.
+Big Lew BBQ they are always open. The design of the grate does give some coverage to the holes but they wrap all the way around the kettle. Thanks for watching!
Stone Mountain BBQ: I was looking at one at Tractor Supply Co. the other day. They look great. I've an 18" and 22" Old Smokey and Weber 22". So I don't need one of these, but if I found a good deal on one I might get it. Snuffing out the coals is not a big deal with me because I usually shovel them out with a fire place shovel and snuff them out in an old # 10 can. Thanks for the reply and the great review video.
do you think this would be safe on a deck?
No Hippie BBQ & Cooking its sat on my deck about 20 feet from my back door since day one. Never thought about it, or had signs of any issues.
How do I control the heat with the vent for spareribs on the kettleman? Open for cooler temperature or closed? Last time, my ribs were burned after an hour!
CharBroil says opening the top vent reduces heat and vice versa.
Do you recommend it over the Weber?
How does it compare to Weber?
Honestly no comparison. Teo completely different cookers. The way heat circulates and is retained is totally different. No aftermarket at all for accessories and the height from grate to lid is too low. If you're just grilling the kettleman is great though.
Am getting one
Hey, im a total beginner to BBQ - Is this a good option for me?
It was for me, but honestly, after cooking regularly for a few years. I would recommend starting with the Weber Kettle. They are just so much more versatile and the price difference isnt enough to discourage the upgrade. Hope that helps.
just get a basic Weber kettle, a few mods and it can do anything.
would you buy this or the weber classic same size weber priced $40 cheaper
+joshua byrd that would be a tough one. I love the kettleman. Id probably still go with the kettleman.The ash pan, hinged lid and large vent holes would make it. Though weber has more accessories.. that all cost money. So personally I would spend over 40 buying all the gadgets lol.
Stone Mountain BBQ thanks for the quick response...I like the technology (infared) and cooking grate that prevents flare ups ...Im thinking about getting the Weber and using the kettleman grate may give me the best of both worlds...do u think it would work?
+joshua byrd I tried using the weber grate on the kettleman and it didn't work. I wanted to be able to flip up one side to add coal, wood, etc. Not sure about the other way around.
That coal grate is too too close to the cooking grate. Why in the world did the design the grill like that.
Yea they rely heavily on there angled cooking grates. They work pretty good for searing but that's about it
Dude... BREATH!!
*breathe