Let us set the scene. You’ve bought your favourite cuts of meat, seasoned them to perfection, and added some delicious veggies to your meal for good measure. You cook them on your gas barbecue, and you’re ready to enjoy. Except you don’t, because the meat is too dry and the flavour just doesn’t hit the way you thought it would. Sound familiar? Charcoal grills can change all of that. Since they use a combination of direct and indirect heat, they are the best option for locking in moisture. Plus, the constant smoke adds an amazing flavour. Charcoal grills are easy to use once you’ve learned the ropes, and the fuel is also much safer than gas. They can be a lot more portable than standard barbecues, too. Do you think a charcoal grill is right for your home? Let us help you find the perfect one! Charcoal grills will vary in price, overall size, cooking capacity, and so much more. And all of the features will affect how much you like it and how useful it is to you. This comprehensive guide will investigate the best charcoal grills in Canada right now and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let’s dive right into our top five products. The Best Charcoal Grills Right Now Our Top Pick for The Best Charcoal Grill Weber Original Kettle Premium 22” Charcoal Grill Review What We Think of the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22” Charcoal Grill We are big fans of the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22” Charcoal Grill. It has pretty much everything we could ask for. It’s pretty compact and portable, but it’s still large enough to cook food for 3-4 people at a time. And the handle has two hooks to hang your tools. We love the convenience. You won’t have any trouble slow cooking or searing or anything in between with this grill—it’s great at everything. And speaking of great, the grate has a little hinged section that comes up so you can easily add or shuffle the charcoal without taking the whole thing out. And it has an extra-large removable ash catcher so cleanup is easy, too. We have nothing bad to say about this grill except that we wish it had shelves. Or a prep station. Basically, somewhere to put a plate. And although the lack of said shelving might be a bit inconvenient, it’s certainly no dealbreaker. Right? What Reviewers Are Saying About the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22” Charcoal Grill Reviewers have a very high opinion of the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22” Charcoal Grill. They actually have nothing bad to say about it at all. The height is perfect for tall and short people alike, and it does a great job cooking at different temperatures. It was also easy to assemble, and it’s pretty portable considering it can serve 3-4 people at a time. Weber Original Kettle Premium 22” Charcoal Grill Pros and Cons Buy If… Don’t Buy If… Weber Original Kettle Premium 22” Charcoal Grill Specifications Our Upgrade Pick Weber Performer™ 22‑Inch Smart Charcoal Grill Review What We Think of the Weber Performer™ 22‑Inch Smart Charcoal Grill We are so impressed by the Weber Performer™ 22‑Inch Smart Charcoal Grill, and we think you will be too. Where do we start? Unlike other charcoal grills, this one is large enough (and fancy enough) to include a built-in cart. Not only does it have wheels for easy adjustments, but it also has a bottom storage shelf for charcoal and a side table for prep. Brilliant! We really enjoy the built-in temperature probes, too. Who wants to stress about undercooked meat? No one! In fact, this grill takes away all the stress and monitoring involved with a cookout. Smart features and a built-in thermometer allow you to set timers, monitor your internal food temperatures, and adjust the grill temperature, all from the comfort of your smartphone. There are only two things that might stand between you and this charcoal grill. The first is the price tag. This isn’t the most affordable grill out there, as you might expect, so it won’t be a great fit for people shopping on a budget. Secondly, due to the overall size and weight of this grill, it’s not a very portable option. Hopefully, you’re looking for one for home use only. All in all, the Weber Performer™ 22‑Inch Smart Charcoal Grill is our number one pick for quality and overall performance this year, for obvious reasons. Wherever your smoky cravings take you, this grill will cook your meals to perfection without any hassle. What Reviewers Are Saying About the Weber Performer™ 22‑Inch Smart Charcoal Grill Reviewers are very happy with the Weber Performer™ 22‑Inch Smart Charcoal Grill. The smart features and built-in temperature probes allow them to cook everything to perfection, even if they can’t monitor the grill in person. Plus, the side table and bottom storage shelf add a ton of convenience for meal prep and fuel management. They couldn’t be happier with this grill and would all choose it again. Weber Performer™ 22‑Inch Smart Charcoal Grill Pros and Cons Buy If… Don’t Buy If… Weber Performer™ 22‑Inch Smart Charcoal Grill Specifications Our Extra Large Pick Dyna-Glo DGN405DNC-D Heavy Duty Charcoal Grill Review What We Think of the Dyna-Glo DGN405DNC-D Heavy Duty Charcoal Grill The Dyna-Glo DGN405DNC-D Heavy Duty Charcoal Grill is our top recommendation if you’re searching for a charcoal grill that’s got a similar capacity to a standard gas barbecue. It’s got a large rectangular cooking surface to take care of your meat, veggies, and other sides. It also has a storage basket underneath and two side shelves to make your life easier. The thing we like most about this option is the charcoal system. The charcoal is added through a little door at the front, and it’s placed on a tray that can be moved up and down to change the temperature of the grill easily. A steel smoke stack at the top has an adjustable flue to help you control the airflow too. As a result, this grill can be used for any type of cooking. Sweet, right? This option is pretty solid, but we do have a few things to point out that we aren’t so fond of. Aside from the higher cost of this one, our other minor concern is the size—a large capacity means a large overall grill, and it won’t be a travel-friendly option or suited to apartment balconies. Our main concern is durability. This option is advertised as heavy-duty, but that’s a stretch by anyone’s imagination. What Reviewers Are Saying About the Dyna-Glo DGN405DNC-D Heavy Duty Charcoal Grill Reviewers really like the Dyna-Glo DGN405DNC-D Heavy Duty Charcoal Grill. The main complaint that pops up is with the durability—it’s not as heavy-duty as they were led to believe. But it still performs really well. It’s got a decent temperature range and a great capacity so they can cook for their entire family at once. It’s easy to keep clean, too. Dyna-Glo DGN405DNC-D Heavy Duty Charcoal Grill Pros and Cons Buy If… Don’t Buy If… Dyna-Glo DGN405DNC-D Heavy Duty Charcoal Grill Specifications Our 2-in-1 Pick Masterbuilt MB20041220 Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo Review What We Think of the Masterbuilt MB20041220 Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo The Masterbuilt MB20041220 Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo has a lot working in its favour. And yours, of course. One of our favourite features is the 2-in-1 design. It is a 2-in-1 pick, after all. With this grill, you get all the benefits of a true smoker without needing to purchase an entirely separate product. What a bargain. The serving capacity is another wow factor—you can fit 45 burgers on this thing at a time! Cooking in bulk is assisted by the storage options, too. It has two warming racks so you can keep your food ready-to-serve while the rest is still cooking, a side table for plates and cooking utensils, and a great bottom shelf for storing your charcoal. Talk about convenience! With a digital temperature control panel and a Bluetooth companion app, monitoring a grill has never been easier. Enjoy it. There are a few things we’d change about this option if we could. First, it’s incredibly expensive (very near the top of the price range), so it won’t be a suitable option for every budget. It’s also incredibly large, so if portability is something you’re looking for, you’d do best to move on. Lastly, the durability leaves something to be desired, and you might run into quality issues with the companion app and digital temperature control. All in all, the Masterbuilt MB20041220 Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo is our favourite choice for folks looking for all the benefits of a charcoal grill and smoker all in one. It doesn’t offer the best reliability, but when it works, you simply can’t beat it. What Reviewers Are Saying About the Masterbuilt MB20041220 Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo Reviewers have mostly great things to say about the Masterbuilt MB20041220 Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo. It’s incredibly easy to use when the digital control panel works, but many people have experienced some real inconsistencies there. Same with the companion app. However, the extra-large serving capacity is a truly impressive feature, and the gravity-fed smoker is a big hit. Masterbuilt MB20041220 Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo Pros and Cons Buy If… Don’t Buy If… Masterbuilt MB20041220 Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo Specifications Our Kamado Pick Kamado Joe KJ23RHC Classic Joe II 18” Charcoal Grill Review What We Think of the Kamado Joe KJ23RHC Classic Joe II 18” Charcoal Grill The Kamado Joe KJ23RHC Classic Joe II 18” Charcoal Grill has so much going for it, it’s not even funny. Since it has a thick, heat-resistant ceramic shell and a fibreglass mesh gasket, this thing seals in heat like nothing else. What does that mean for you? Exceptional grilling performance, of course. These features are paired with a top tower vent to give you precise control over the airflow and temperature. The extras are pretty great too. It comes with a cart that has locking wheels (a major plus for safety!), and it has two collapsible shelves attached to its sides as well. They even have hooks for hanging your grilling tools. The two-tier design is one of the best things about it. You can cook your meat and veggies at different temperatures at the same time. Pretty cool, right? When it comes to (almost) everything about this grill, we have no critiques to make. At all. It’s basically flawless. It’s exceptionally heavy, though, so you’ll want to find a permanent home for it somewhere on your property. The price tag is also very high, and while this grill is definitely worth that much money, it won’t be a reasonable purchase for everybody, and that disappoints us. Everyone should get to experience the joy of this grill. What Reviewers Are Saying About the Kamado Joe KJ23RHC Classic Joe II 18” Charcoal Grill Reviewers are thrilled with the Kamado Joe KJ23RHC Classic Joe II 18” Charcoal Grill. They absolutely love the two-tier design since they can cook two different dishes at the same time, and the temperature range is perfect for all of their grilling needs—this thing can slow cook, sear, and everything in between. The shelves and rolling cart are both a big hit. Kamado Joe KJ23RHC Classic Joe II 18” Charcoal Grill Pros and Cons Buy If… Don’t Buy If… Kamado Joe KJ23RHC Classic Joe II 18” Charcoal Grill Specifications Our Portable Pick Weber Jumbo Joe 18” Portable Charcoal Grill Review What We Think of the Weber Jumbo Joe 18” Portable Charcoal Grill We like just about everything about the Weber Jumbo Joe 18” Portable Charcoal Grill. One of the best features is, of course, its portability. Since it weighs only 18 pounds and is quite compact, it’s the perfect solution for beach days, camping trips, and so much more. Its affordable price makes it an easy one to choose on any budget, too. You’ll also love the built-in ash catcher, carry handle, and Tuck-N-Carry lid lock (that also acts as a lid holder so you never have to set it on the ground). Talk about a ton of convenience in a small package! Since the bowl and lid are both rustproof and burn-resistant, you’ll get to enjoy this grill for years without any defects. What a relief! One of the only reasons this charcoal grill might not be right for you is if you prefer to rely on precise temperature control to make sure you cook your food properly. While this one offers an adjustable temperature, there’s no thermometer, so it’s a bit of a guessing game. The cooking surface might also be a bit small if you’re trying to feed more than six people at a time. All in all, the Weber Jumbo Joe 18” Portable Charcoal Grill has more to offer than you’d ever expect from its compact size. Whether you’re tight on space on a balcony or plan to travel the country with it, you’ll be happy and well-fed at all times. What Reviewers Are Saying About the Weber Jumbo Joe 18” Portable Charcoal Grill Reviewers have great things to say about the Weber Jumbo Joe 18” Portable Charcoal Grill. Since it’s fairly compact and lightweight, it’s really easy to travel with, and they love the built-in ash catcher that protects surfaces. It easily cooks for a family of 4-6 and is even easier to clean afterwards. They highly recommend it. Weber Jumbo Joe 18” Portable Charcoal Grill Pros and Cons Buy If… Don’t Buy If… Weber Jumbo Joe 18” Portable Charcoal Grill Specifications How to Properly Choose Your Charcoal Grill Price Charcoal grills can range in price from less than $75 to well over $1,500. That’s a large price range, and there’s a lot of variability in quality in there too. In general, more expensive grills will have a larger cooking surface, more durable/heat-retaining housing, and a larger frame/cart setup with shelving and storage. Cooking Area The cooking area of a charcoal grill is one of the most important features. It’ll determine how many people you can serve at once, so if you’ve got a larger family (or like to host gatherings), you’ll want at least 500 square inches of cooking space. If you’re a couple or an individual, 300 square inches or less should do just fine. Built-In Thermometer A built-in thermometer is a great addition to a charcoal grill. It lets you keep an eye on the temperature and make adjustments right away—this is super important for getting well-cooked and great-tasting food. Portability Lots of people choose charcoal grills for their portability, since charcoal is a lot easier to move around than a heavy propane tank. But some grills are more portable than others. You’ll want to look at weight and overall size to make a decision here.
