14 of the perfect charcoal BBQs in 2024, reviewed by consultants
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Charcoal Barbecues – Patrons’ Information video
Comply with our tips about shopping for a charcoal barbecue to seek out the correct one on your backyard
Greatest charcoal barbecues at a look
Our experience
That will help you discover the correct charcoal barbecue on your backyard, we examined a spread of latest and persistently standard fashions cooking a spread of meals on every. Each barbecue has an in depth listing of professionals and cons for readability and has been rated in keeping with meeting, ease of cooking, cooking outcomes and worth for cash. Each barbecue in our round-up has scored a minimal of three out of 5 stars, so you should purchase with confidence.
Soar to:
Greatest Purchase charcoal barbecues
Char-Broil Kettleman
RRP: £259.99
Our ranking: 4.3/5
Professionals:
• Good trying
• Beneficiant measurement
• Storage rack at base
• Latch to lock lid
• Vents present good temperature management
• Straightforward to maneuver
Cons:
• Unclear directions
• Instruments not offered
• Not loads of area between grill and coals
With sufficient grilling area to feed a household of 4 this sturdy and sturdy kettle barbecue is a dependable alternative for summer time grilling and was awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Journal Greatest Purchase for the perfect charcoal barbecue for households. It boasts a pretty design, clean opening motion and durable wheels that make it straightforward to maneuver across the patio, decking or garden. The Char-Broil Kettleman provides exact temperature management: the vents present good airflow, permitting you to regulate the warmth and smoke to your liking, plus, there’s a responsive temperature gauge on the lid. Nevertheless, we discovered the guide slightly unclear owing to the diagram-only directions and this, coupled with the numerous part elements to this barbecue, made meeting a little bit of a problem. It wasn’t solely clear the place the coals ought to sit both. Regardless of the difficulties with meeting, as soon as the Kettleman was up and operating, we loved a improbable grilling expertise. The grill is generously sized and produced even and constant browning throughout all of our check recipes. This mannequin does lose warmth rapidly when opened, nonetheless, that means some meals took longer than anticipated to cook dinner.
Specs
• Dimensions: 66 x 66 x 99.1 cm
• Grill measurement: 52cm
Kamado Joe Collection III
RRP: £2,149
Our ranking: 4.8 out of 5
Professionals:
- Very top quality
- Very versatile
- Good trying
- Nice enjoyable to cook dinner with
- If smoking and low, sluggish cooking are your forte then that is excellent
- Comes with a lifetime guarantee
Cons:
- Heavy to maneuver – 130kg
- Costly
- Wants slightly getting used to
A BBC Gardeners’ World Journal Greatest Purchase award-winner for a premium charcoal BBQ, it is a big (130kg) egg-shaped ceramic charcoal grill with a hood. It has a thermometer and a system of vents to simply management airflow and temperature, making it straightforward to attain a scorching 400°C (752°F). It is extremely environment friendly; with the lid on it will probably preserve warmth for hours, and can be utilized to sluggish cook dinner. It has a singular smoker – the Slōroller – which circulates smoke across the inside the grill, with scrumptious outcomes. It may well even be used to roast a Christmas turkey and you should purchase a rotisserie attachment as nicely. It’s very versatile for all types of cooking, scoring near-perfect marks in our cooking exams. This can be a very excessive finish barbecue, and all of its elements – even hinges – are heavy responsibility and of the very best high quality. Nevertheless, at over £2000 it is a lifetime funding for critical barbecuers.
Specs
- Dimensions: 148.336 x 136.398 x 90.932cm
- Grill measurement: 61cm
Learn the total Kamado Joe Collection III evaluate.
Weber Grasp-Contact GBS E-5755 Charcoal Barbecue
RRP: £350
Our ranking: 4.5 out of 5
Professionals:
- Very straightforward to assemble
- Massive grilling space
- Distinct sizzling and funky areas for precision cooking
- Massive ash catcher
- Straightforward to maneuver round
Cons:
- On the costly facet
- Exterior will get extremely popular
- Deal with is difficult to carry
The Weber-Grasp Contact E-5755 is a BBC Gardeners’ World Journal Greatest Purchase-winner for the perfect kettle charcoal barbecue. This generously sized charcoal barbecue isn’t solely designed for conventional grilling however may smoke, and Weber provides extra equipment together with a pizza stone, wok, poultry smoker and extra, making this one of many extra versatile barbecues we’ve examined. It was the best barbecue to assemble, due to the App Bilt which supplies you a 3D step-by-step information to the constructing course of. Grilling is a pleasure on the Grasp-Contact GBS E-5755. It rapidly reaches searing temperatures in the midst of the barbecue which are excellent for burgers, whereas additionally providing a cooler ring of oblique warmth across the edge, for sides like corn on the cob that want slower, extra managed cooking. It’s a superb all-rounder that’s preferrred for entertaining, however keep in mind it’s slightly costlier than different barbecues. We additionally didn’t just like the wedge-shaped deal with, however it is a minor criticism.
Specs:
- Dimensions: 118cm H x 65cm W x 76cm D
- Grill space: 2,342 cm²
Lotus Grill G340
RRP: £165
Our ranking: 4.5 out of 5
Professionals:
- Very straightforward to make use of
- Tremendous fast to gentle
- Smoke free
- Elements could be cleaned within the dishwasher
- Easy design that stays cool to the touch
Cons:
- Wants batteries, lighting gel and charcoal chips
- Grill measurement restricted, though bigger fashions can be found
A BBC Gardeners’ World Journal Greatest Purchase award-winner for a transportable charcoal barbecue, the Lotus Grill is in contrast to another we examined. As it is a charcoal barbecue assisted by an electrical fan, it takes just a few minutes to rise up to cooking temperature. It’s easy and nicely thought out, providing straightforward, fuss free cooking. It takes up hardly any area, produces no smoke and might even sit on prime of the desk; nice for small gardens and courtyards. It’s maybe not for barbecue aficionados however is right for anybody new to charcoal grilling. The secure, cool sides additionally make it nice for introducing teenagers and older children to barbecuing.
Specs
- Dimensions: 23.4 x 35 x 35cm
- Grill space: 35 x 35 cm
Learn the total LotusGrill evaluate.
Weber Basic Kettle E-5710
RRP: £219.99
Our ranking: 4.3 out of 5
Professionals:
- Good, nicely thought out options
- Straightforward to make use of
- Temperature gauge
- Helpful lid hook
- Nice accompanying handbook
Cons:
- Takes up room in storage
- Lacks software hooks
A BBC Gardeners’ World Journal Greatest Purchase winner for finest finances kettle barbecue this traditional kettle charcoal grill is sturdy with a easy intuitive design and is right for brand spanking new customers and anybody who needs tasty outcomes simply. Sufficiently big to feed as much as six individuals, it’s straightforward to maneuver out and in of storage and has helpful options together with straightforward cleansing, ash assortment and a hook on the hood for tucking it out of the way in which while you’re turning the burgers. The useful handbook ensures nice cooking outcomes.
Specs
- Dimensions: 100.3 x 57.2 x 63.5cm
- Grill space: 48 x 48cm
Learn the total Weber Basic E5710 evaluate.
Vonhaus Barrel Charcoal BBQ
RRP: £119.99
Our ranking: 4.3 out of 5
Professionals:
- Very top quality
- Cooked very nicely
- Large cooking floor
- Good peak
Cons:
This barbecue was awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Journal award for the perfect barrel BBQ. Providing an environment friendly cooking floor that’s good for catering to massive crowds, its large grill delivers scrumptious and fast outcomes – we completely cooked a complete spatchcock hen in simply quarter-hour. This was charred and crispy however not dry, remaining juicy all through. This barbecue was straightforward to load and fast to warmth up, reaching cooking temperature in simply 20 minutes. Its cooking floor is 79cm off the bottom, which fits most customers. It has a helpful warming rack, and its carry deal with can double as a relaxation for barbecue tongs. Its lid is weighty however not heavy, with a really clean opening motion, and suits snugly over the grill to seal in warmth. There’s additionally a thermometer on the entrance of the lid, which makes it straightforward to see the temperature. The one drawbacks are its massive measurement and the low-quality wheels, however these are minor points.
Specs
- Dimensions 96 x 89 x 90cm
- Grill space 73 x 39cm
Learn the total Vonhaus Barrel barbecue evaluate.
Kamado Joe Kettle Joe charcoal barbecue
RRP: £599
Our ranking: 4.25 out of 5
Professionals:
- Excessive-quality, sturdy elements that felt secure
- Cooks nicely
- Environment friendly warmth and cooking
Cons:
- Sits low for cooking
- Tough to assemble
Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Journal Greatest Purchase award for finest massive, inexpensive ceramic barbecue, this generously-sized barbecue provides greater than easy grilling. We love its placing purple exterior and design, which makes it an announcement crowd-pleaser that cooks and smokes massive portions nicely. Constructing it’s a two-person job and the ceramic inside panels are hefty sections to piece collectively, however on the plus facet, they maintain and launch warmth very effectively to offer you loads of cooking time. Provided that this BBQ isn’t very tall, it was a bit uncomfortable to stoop over for lengthy cooking stints, and also you additionally need to lean throughout the most well liked elements. Nevertheless, it cooks nicely and also you get loads of cooking choices on your cash.
Specs
- Dimensions: 122 cm x 111 cm x 74 cm
- Grill space: 56cm
Learn the total Kamado Joe Kettle Joe charcoal barbecue evaluate.
Napoleon 22″ charcoal kettle grill barbecue
RRP: £274.99
Our ranking: 4.25 out of 5
Professionals:
- Compact and transportable
- Straightforward to make use of
- Nifty hook to hold lid while cooking
- Hinged grill
- 10-year guarantee
Cons:
- Fiddly to assemble
- Exterior will get sizzling
The Napoleon 22″ charcoal kettle grill barbecue earned a BBC Gardeners’ World Journal Greatest Purchase award for its user-friendly options. This can be a easy, well-designed kettle-style barbecue, preferrred for newbies or those that respect a hassle-free cooking expertise. It provides loads of sensible options, equivalent to an integral hook so you’ll be able to grasp the lid off the facet of the BBQ if you’re checking meals, chunky wheels for good manoeuvrability, hinged grills for topping up gasoline, detachable ash catcher and a temperature gauge on the lid with useful temperature zones. It distributes warmth evenly, which makes cooking straightforward. The skin of this grill is cool, providing helpful oblique warmth so you’ll be able to cook dinner meals slowly, or preserve it heat. Courgettes and potatoes cooked nicely with properly outlined grill traces. Due to with the ability to management the temperature, the kebabs have been well-cooked, and the buns have been properly crisped and charred, however not burned. It additionally comes with a canopy and a reassuringly beneficiant 10-year guarantee. Nevertheless, it’s fiddly to assemble and the outside will get sizzling.
Specs
- Dimensions: 112 x 59 x 70cm
- Grill space: 57cm
The very best of the remaining
Though some fashions didn’t fairly obtain a BBC Gardeners’ World Journal Greatest Purchase award, they nonetheless have options that make them value recommending. Browse our decide of the perfect of the remaining on check.
Cobb Premier Air
RRP: £169.99
Our ranking: 4 out of 5
Professionals:
- Straightforward arrange
- Mild and really transportable
- Efficient vents on the lid
- A lot of equipment obtainable
Cons:
- Laborious to gentle the Cobb cobblestone
- Sluggish to cook dinner and restricted area
- Meals slides on the flat grill grid and no char traces
- Moat stains and really tough to scrub
Weighing simply 4kg, this neat little barbecue is designed for portability, and comes with an ideal zip up bag to hold it round in. There are not any directions within the very prolonged guide however when you’ve labored out the order how all of the items go collectively, it is able to go in lower than 5 minutes. It makes use of charcoal briquettes or its personal Cobb cobblestones, that are smoke free and supply as much as two hours of gasoline. Nevertheless, we discovered them extraordinarily difficult to gentle and wanted firelighters beneath a cobblestone to get it going. As soon as lit although, it burned effectively and nicely and the barbecue took simply 5 minutes to warmth up. It’s straightforward to regulate the temperature with the vents on the lid, which you alter through the deal with to create hotter temperatures with a wider hole and cooler with a slim hole. Not like many charcoal barbecues, you’ll be able to solely cook dinner on direct warmth and since the grill grid has an nearly strong floor you get no char traces and a few meals, like sausages, tends to slip round like they might in a frying pan. Though this barbecue is comparable in measurement and design to the Lotus, this customary cooking floor included with the Cobb, is nowhere pretty much as good and though you should purchase different grills and griddles these come at an additional price. The Cobb additionally has a moat that sits across the gasoline basket and permits you to add flavourings equivalent to wine or cook dinner greens and many others alongside no matter’s on the grill grid, however after cooking, we discovered this extraordinarily tough to get clear. Ours stained after the very first use and though it’s not soiled it detracts from the shiny stainless-steel look the Cobb had when it first arrived.
The potatoes and vegetable kebabs we cooked, did so moderately rapidly however we discovered uneven warmth throughout the grid. The hen we cooked had a layer a burn relatively than charring. This barbecue is straightforward to move and strong and steady as soon as going however, as a barbecue we discovered it disappointing. With its efficient lid and temperature management it‘s extra like a mini tenting oven and could also be finest for foodies eager to experiment on the go relatively than straightforward, profitable barbecuing. It comes with a two yr guarantee.
Large Inexperienced Egg Minimax
RRP: £795
Our ranking: 4 out of 5
Professionals:
- Sturdy, and sturdy design
- Straightforward to assemble
- Protected to make use of
Cons:
- Excessive warmth might take some getting used to
- Heavy, not transportable with out help
- Excessive price ticket
The smallest, and most inexpensive charcoal barbecue launched by Large Inexperienced Egg, the Minimax is an effective alternative for {couples}, or small households keen to pay extra for reliability and ease of use. It comes partially pre-assembled and with useful directions which are accompanied by a video information accessible through QR code. Compact and attractively designed, this ceramic barbecue takes up little area, and is straightforward to slot in a backyard or shed for storage – nonetheless, it is heavy, regardless of the carry deal with on both facet and desires two individuals to elevate it. Its sturdy, insulated physique, heatproof handles, and 4 rubber-tipped ft additionally make it a secure alternative to make use of on a desk or garden.
The Minimax is straightforward to gentle, attending to temperature inside simply ten minutes, and this preliminary load of charcoal is all it wants, because it burns gasoline very effectively. It has a temperature gauge and vents in its base and lid, which let you monitor and handle the cooking temperature by altering its airflow and it cooks greens and meat nicely and with good char, however it cooks rapidly sufficient to imply vegetable skewers needs to be watched to stop burning. Cleansing the Minimax Large Inexperienced Egg is straightforward too, simply take away all residual coal and brush its inside elements down. Its premium price ticket could also be sufficient to place some individuals off, however these keen to pay extra for will discover this mannequin a robust and easy-to-use little barbecue.
Specs
- Dimensions: 50cm x 56cm
- Grill space: 33cm
Everdure by Heston Blumenthal CUBE charcoal BBQ
RRP: £199
Our ranking: 3.8/5
Professionals:
- Engaging
- Compact
- Straightforward to move
- Cool-touch handles
- Deceptively massive floor space for cooking
Cons:
- Restricted area for coal
- No temperature gauge
- No lid
- Uncovered to the weather because it’s left open throughout cooking
These with restricted outside area can be nicely served by this compact field barbecue. Out there in three colors, it comes with built-in storage and helpful bamboo chopping board for fast meals prep on the go and at dwelling. Regardless of its sturdy construct, the porcelain enamel firebox is impressively light-weight and comes with cool-touch handles on both facet, so you’ll be able to simply decide it up and carry it round. Set-up can also be simple, and although the directions lack some element, no precise meeting is required. In testing, getting this barbecue to gentle and retain warmth and not using a lid was tough, and and not using a temperature gauge there was no means of understanding how sizzling it was. As soon as it bought going although, we discovered it produced good outcomes. The vegetable skewers have been inconsistently charred however flavoursome, and our potato slices had a crisp chew with grill traces. The hefty price ticket comes right down to the title connected to it, however should you’ve the finances and eye for model, the everdure Dice is definitely value contemplating.
Specs
- Dimensions: 23 x 42.5 x 34.7 cm
- Grill measurement: 670cm²
Boss Grill The Egg XS
RRP: £149.97
Our ranking: 3.75 out of 5
Professionals:
- Straightforward to assemble
- Fairly priced
- Small, table-top measurement
- Temperature gauge
Cons:
- Warmth-proof handles will get sizzling
- Laborious to regulate warmth and grill will get extremely popular
This barbecue guarantees to be an attention-grabbing addition to the backyard but there’s extra to this mannequin than beauty, because it additionally provides nice worth and loads of versatility. Able to grilling, roasting, baking, smoking and even cooking pizza, the Boss Grill Egg XS is straightforward to construct and use, taking simply 20 minutes to rise up to temperature. The supplies are good high quality, it feels strong and durable as soon as it’s on its stand, and the hood is spring-loaded and closes firmly. The Boss Grill Egg XS is a perfect measurement for a small household, permitting you to cook dinner 4 burgers at a time. Nevertheless, we discovered that its glorious heat-retention signifies that it will get so sizzling it scorches meals. On check, the courgettes and kebabs cooked nicely with clear grill traces, however the potato slices burnt earlier than they cooked by way of, and the buns toasted inconsistently, as there are just a few cool spots above the ceramic tiles. Not like different fashions we examined, it doesn’t have a lot of options, however does embrace a temperature gauge and thick, sturdy wood handles. Designed to be a table-top BBQ, it doesn’t have wheels and must be positioned on a heat-proof floor. Although small, it is a heavy barbecue, so it’s not the apparent alternative should you’re on the lookout for a really transportable choice, and the handles get fairly sizzling, regardless of being heat-proof. It comes with a one-year guarantee, which is disappointingly brief, however does include a canopy and a pizza stone.
Specs
- Dimensions: 62cm x 55cm x 54cm
- Grill space: 47.5cm
Vonhaus Compact charcoal barbecue
RRP: £149.99
Our ranking: 3.75 out of 5
Professionals:
- Adjustable smoke / temperature management
- A lot of options
Cons:
- Small grill space
- Poorly outlined grill traces
This low cost however cheerful charcoal barbecue and smoker is full of loads of options for the value. It comes with a thermometer, two facet tables, inbuilt storage, a bottle opener and helpful wheels for shifting round. Probably the most notable characteristic is an adjustable firebox, so you’ll be able to select the peak of your charcoal or smoking wooden and alter the temperature. It additionally has a entrance door, so you’ll be able to simply add extra wooden whereas smoking. It provides a shocking variety of options for a BBQ of this value and compact measurement. It’s nice should you’ve bought slightly backyard or courtyard, however beware should you’ll be catering to a crowd – this BBQ had a fair smaller grill space than a tenting BBQ that we needed to hand as we examined.
As with lots of the elements of this BBQ, the grills have been poorly machined, and didn’t fairly match. The grill additionally has broad gaps, so smaller components like halloumi fell onto the coals. This additionally meant that grill traces have been poorly outlined. Although it’s easy to assemble, it’s very fiddly. All of the elements must be screwed into one another, so meeting took us about an hour. Whereas it’s an ideal value, it feels wobbly and low cost. We predict this BBQ fits {couples} and small households on a finances – you could possibly comfortably stretch it to 4 individuals, however no more.
Specs
- Dimensions: 108cm x 36cm x 96cm
- Grill space: 45 x 32cm
Weber Go-Wherever charcoal barbecue
RRP: £111.99
Our ranking: 3 out of 5
Professionals:
- Pleasant grill measurement for each direct and oblique cooking
- Effectively becoming lid with two vents
- Keep cool ergonomic deal with
Cons:
- No temperature gauge
- Exterior and floor beneath get extremely popular
- Legs not sturdy
- Meals rapidly burns if not watched
This easy, field barbecue from Weber is transportable and straightforward to make use of, with a grill sufficiently big for a pair or small household. Effectively designed to be used at dwelling or on the transfer, it is fast to arrange and pack down and a lot of the supplies are sturdy and sturdy and include a ten yr guarantee. As soon as lit, it heats up and cooks quick, so meals like greens will want watching to make sure they do not burn, however regardless of its small measurement, the grill is massive sufficient for cooking on each direct and oblique warmth, with room to warmth meals within the centre after which transfer it to the facet to remain heat. Vents within the lid can assist you management the warmth, however there is not any temperature gauge, which may make it difficult to know precisely how sizzling it is getting. The skin of the barbecue additionally bought ferociously sizzling and although the grill is raised off the bottom, warmth builds up beneath, so wherever you utilize it, care have to be taken to solely cook dinner on a warmth proof or concrete floor.
Specs
- Dimensions: 37cm x 53cm x 31cm
- Grill space: 42cm x 26cm
How to decide on a charcoal barbecue
Contemplate the next factors when selecting a charcoal barbecue on your backyard:
- Dimension. Greater isn’t at all times higher – should you’re solely entertaining just a few, a small kettle barbecue is all you want. Make sure that your barbecue suits comfortably in your backyard, away from fireplace hazards.
- Particular options. A number of the finest charcoal barbecues include extras as customary – look out for warming racks that can preserve meals sizzling till you’re all able to eat, thermometers to gauge cooking instances exactly and warmth vents within the lid to assist management the temperature if you’re cooking. Aspect tables for preserving plates and sauces shut at hand and power racks are additionally very helpful.
- Further capabilities. For those who’re a eager cook dinner or simply fancy giving one thing new a go, preserve an eye fixed out for charcoal barbecues with a number of capabilities. A lot of the perfect charcoal barbecues may also be used as people who smoke, ovens and even tandoors.
Charcoal barbecue gasoline and lighting
Though it is simple to choose up charcoal on-line, in backyard centres, even supermarkets, sustainable charcoal is now straightforward to seek out, and whereas it may be costlier, you need to want much less of it as a result of it burns extra slowly, and provides out higher warmth, which can offset a number of the price. Search for the FSC emblem of the Forest Stewardship Council, the worldwide certification scheme of wooden merchandise, on the pack to make sure charcoal is sourced from correctly managed forests.
Keep away from briquettes and self-lighting charcoal that include chemical compounds and provides off sturdy odours as they’ll have an effect on the flavour of your meals and by no means use petrol, chemical compounds or firelighters supposed for coal fires to gentle your barbecue. As a substitute search for pure firelighters, that are broadly obtainable.
How we examined charcoal barbecues
Along with our colleagues at Good Meals Journal, the BBC Gardeners’ World Journal evaluations staff examined a spread of charcoal barbecues. Every was unpacked, assembled, used to cook dinner quite a lot of meals after which cleaned and packed away. We assessed in keeping with particular standards with BBC Good Meals placing explicit emphasis on how nicely every barbecue cooked whereas we assessed the barbecues inside a backyard context, together with how straightforward they’re to assemble, transfer round and retailer. They have been assessed in keeping with the next standards with equal marks attributed to every:
- Meeting. Regarded on the ease of meeting, readability of directions, warmup time and the way straightforward the barbecue is to retailer.
- Ease of use. Centered on consolation and ease of use, how straightforward it’s to maneuver across the backyard, and to gentle and cook dinner.
- Cooking outcomes. We cooked quite a lot of frequent barbecue meals to evaluate the non-stick capacity of every grill, its grid-cooking capabilities, and the way nicely it chars, softens, and seals meals. We additionally checked for outlined traces, even cooking, sticking and sizzling spots. Above all, we examined how lengthy it took to cook dinner every dish and the way nicely every dish tasted.
- Worth for Cash. Thought-about the entire above in addition to high quality, design, guarantee and value.
For extra data on our testing course of see How We Evaluate.
This evaluate was final up to date in March 2024. We apologise if something has modified in value or availability.
