Weber Original Kettle 22-Inch Review

Weber is a world-renowned brand whose image evokes an easy cookout on a warm summer’s afternoon. It’s a handy grill to have stored away for when the craving for a good barbeque strikes or simply load it up in your car for an impromptu tailgating party.

So how does a charcoal grill for under $200 perform? The Weber Original Kettle 22-Inch Premium is a solid choice for any barbeque enthusiast.

Find out why you should create space for this little grill in your back yard.

Overview

You will need the following to assemble the grill:

Assembling the unit should take roughly half an hour.

Premium Looks & Aesthetics

This Original Kettle maintains its iconic compact design which barely takes up space in your back yard. It is the grill for people with limited outdoor space.

The black color, while nothing to write home about, blends in with any outdoor décor you might have. The built-in thermometer gives it a professional aesthetic so it doesn’t look too much like a cheap grill despite its small size.

The three-legged design and two rear wheels give the impression of a portable grill that you can carry with you at a moment’s notice.

Overall this Original Kettle Premium isn’t too intimidating for a first-timer while maintaining the aesthetics of a professional grill for the seasoned cook.

Weber Original Kettle Premium in Use

The grill offers 363 square inches of primary cooking area which is enough to cook for up to 8 people. The grill itself looks small but it cooks for a decent number of people which is a nice surprise. There is enough room to grill a whole turkey in this grill.

This Weber also has great airflow. The adjustable dampers allow you to kill the fire or leave the vents open to increase heat. The adjustable dampers also make it good for a variety of cooking other than grilling. You can also smoke meat or cook with indirect heat. You can even buy a rotisserie attachment sold separately for your shish kebobs.

There is a heat seal between the grill’s body and the lid to help maintain a consistent temperature while cooking. This insulation is also perfect for smoking. The built-in thermometer on the top of the lid is great for keeping tabs on the internal temperature.

The steel grates are good for giving your steaks a perfect sear. The grates swing open to pour in coals. Finally, there is a detachable ash catcher at the bottom of the grill that slides out easily for cleanup.

What did we like?

Easy to use

The Weber Original Kettle 22-inch Premium is precisely the kind of grill you can fire up and bbq with little or no prior experience. The insulated grill also maintains a consistent temperature so novice cooks don’t have to worry too much about burning the food.

Good Quality Build

Despite being a small, cheap grill; the Weber 22-inch Kettle is not flimsily built. It sports a rust-resistant aluminum damper, plated steel grates, heavy-duty wheels, glass-reinforced nylon handles, and porcelain-enameled bowl.

This is a grill that you can expect to use for many years to come without problems aside from normal wear-and-tear.

Portable Charcoal Grill

This grill weighs a mere 32.3 pounds so it is easy to carry. It has convenient carry handles and two rear wheels for even easier transport. This is precisely the kind of grill you can take tailgating or to a camping trip.

Great Features for the Price

The rear wheels, detachable ash catcher, adjustable damper, and built-in thermometers are all great features to have on a charcoal grill. This Weber may be an inexpensive model but you get more value than you pay for in terms of features.

What did we not like?

Despite its great features and impressive temperature control, there are a few things that aren’t quite right about the Weber Original Kettle.

Lack of Dedicated Charcoal Access

We appreciate the design constraints but a dedicated charcoal access door is always a welcome feature. You have to swing open the cooking grate to insert the charcoal. This is inconvenient if you have to add coal mid-cooking.

The good news is this is a well-insulated grill so it is highly unlikely you will need to add coal while cooking.

Misplaced Lid Thermometer

A lid thermometer gives you control over your cooking temperature so it needs to be accurate. Unfortunately, the thermometer on this model sits at the very top of the lid which is a little too far from the actual coal to give an accurate reading.

This isn’t a problem for the most part but it can be an issue if you need to cook with precise temperatures.

Final Thoughts

The Weber Kettle series is certainly nostalgic and has been featured in famous movie scenes for decades. It is more than just a familiar grill. This little charcoal grill does a great job searing steaks and cooking meat and vegetables evenly.

It is also a versatile grill that will handle indirect heat cooking, smoking, and you can even add attachments for rotisserie cooking. The small grill has a surprisingly generous cooking area that will fit a whole turkey.

You get a lot more than you bargain for with the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-inch. The manufacturer was not stingy with useful features, good quality construction, and overall positive cooking experience despite the grill’s low price.