Several of the chefs we talked to recommended Weber grills. The Weber Charcoal Grill is probably my overall favorite piece of grilling equipment, said Bolling. I just think it s so versatile and useful. You can do so much on it, and it s cheap. It s a little bit of a pain to clean, but all things considered, I think it s one of the most versatile grills out there, and it s so approachable. The Weber Original Kettle Charcoal Grill is the best overall pick in our charcoal grill guide.
Hughes stressed the importance of cutting your teeth on the Weber. No matter how many smokers you have (I ve got five) and no matter what type, if you can t smoke meat on a basic Weber Kettle Grill, you have no business spending your money on the more expensive smokers with all of the bells and whistles, said Hughes. Get good on a Weber kettle: controlling and maintaining the proper temperature for the right amount of time to get the desired results that s all you need.