Grills are one of the most versatile cooking appliances that you can buy. There are a lot of models that you can choose from, but we have here the best charcoal grills under $1000.
Cooking at home is very easy and convenient since you can edit the recipe to your liking. You get to choose which ingredients you want to put in the food and which ingredients to avoid.
Grills allow you to make all the right choices in terms of cooking. You also get to cook almost any food in any way you want because of how versatile grills are.
Compared to their gas-fired counterparts, charcoal grills are much less expensive.
There are also many advantages of charcoal grills over gas grills. They can put up the right authenticity to the food you are cooking, which you don’t get from gas grills.
It is a challenge in itself that you have to choose from so many options. You might get confused and choose abruptly without actually looking deep into the grill’s features and performance.
That is why it is essential to do your research and see which grill is the best for you. Luckily, we have already made the comparison for you, so you need to choose.
You can be sure that these grills on the list are of the best quality. We have chosen the charcoal grills that will surely fit your standards, not to worry about the features.
Of course, if you still need to look more into it, we will give you a simple guide that will help you choose. So please read on as we take a look into the charcoal grills sold for under $1000.
WHY choose A Charcoal Grill
In this part of the post, we have compared charcoal grills and gas grills to see what advantages the charcoal grills can give you. So please read on as we take a look at the benefits of a charcoal grill.
High Temperature
Despite the widespread belief that gas grills are more powerful than charcoal grills, they are weaker in producing high temperatures. Charcoal grills do it better and faster than gas grills.
See, gas grills have limited power of the burners that the grill has. On the other hand, Charcoal grills are more powerful and can sometimes produce temperatures for cooking pizzas.
It does depend on the setup and the type of charcoal grill that you have, but mostly, charcoal grills can reach temperatures of up to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, making them more powerful.
Versatility
Because of the temperature range of charcoal grills, they are very versatile when it comes to cooking. You can use them in cooking almost any type of food in almost any style you want.
When used properly in the right environment, Charcoal grills can function as an oven. They can cook any baked goods that you want and even authentic pizzas.
Because of the type of fuel they use, charcoal grills are also perfect for low and slow cooking. You can use them to initiate smoke that you can induce in delicious slices of meat.
Charcoal grills are also better at holding temperatures. They can heat up to a certain point, and they will stay at the set temperature without actually going lower or higher abruptly.
Fuel Used
Despite being called charcoal grills, these types of grills can hold and use other fuel forms such as coconut shells. You can switch the type of charcoal that these grills use.
They can use premium coals that are made by many grill companies. You can also switch to cheaper charcoal types as long as they can heat the grill’s entire chamber.
Charcoals such as premium lump coals are perfect for charcoal grills. However, you do not have to spend too much money on the fuel as you can use even the cheapest charcoal on the grill.
The Best Charcoal Grills Under $1000
Now that you know the benefits of charcoal grills, let us get into the list of the best charcoal grills that you can buy for under a thousand dollars. These are the best options that we have found for you.
1. Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill
Even if you look for another list of charcoal grills on the internet, you will always find this grill included on that list. This is considered one of the best charcoal grills for the money.
It is worth noting that this grill does not cost much, yet it is one of the best, even compared to larger, more expensive charcoal grills. This is because of its classic design and features.
This grill is considered one of the best because it has a familiar design. That way, the user will not be confused about using it and what to do to control the features.
This grill has the classic shape of dome lids and a hemisphere firebox. With three standard legs with two of them with wheels, you can move this charcoal grill anywhere you want.
In less than 15 minutes, I started cooking with this charcoal grill as it does not need too many steps for setting it up. You will be able to heat it within minutes and cook right away.
It has 22 inches in total diameter and spreads on a circular grill grate. With that size, you will be able to cook more than ten standard burgers all at the same time and some space to work on.
It has a built-in lid thermometer that allows you to keep track of the temperature without actually opening the lid constantly. You will be able to retain as much heat as possible when cooking.
Another feature that I loved with this grill is the hinged grill grate. I continued cooking while adding charcoal in the firebox by simply lifting one side of the grill grate.
The cleaning process is also not a hassle because, despite its size, the company could add an ash-catcher to the grill, making it easy for me to clean up the firebox once done with cooking.
2. PK Grills Original PK Charcoal Grill and Smoker
If you love to switch up your cooking style now and then, this charcoal grill is perfect for you. It can cook perfectly in both high temperatures and low-slow cooking methods.
If you want your food to cook fast, you can use the high temperatures this grill produces. If you need to cook the food at a much slower pace, this charcoal grill also has that option.
The setup for this charcoal grill is very easy, and within 10 minutes, you will be able to cook right away. It does not have any complicated settings or parts that you need to connect.
With its quite heavy lid, you will be able to seal the heat inside. The grill is all cast aluminum, which means the lid is pretty heavy, improving the grill’s heat retention.
The cart that it comes with can be removed or separated from the grill itself. That way, the charcoal grill becomes portable and can be brought with you on campings and tailgating trips.
However, if you are just like us who are stuck at home, then I suggest that you keep the grill set on the cart. This cart has a platform underneath where you can store ingredients and tools.
The cart also has a built-in side table, which you can use to prepare food. It has 300 square inches of cooking space, making it possible to cook a whole turkey inside it.
I loved this grill because it was able to properly smoke meat. The firebox was large enough for a fully-loaded box to last for almost two hours without needing to refuel.
That way, I was able to cook large chunks of meat in the slow and low cooking process. I just enhanced the smoke by adding a chunk of wood on top of the charcoals, and the result was astounding.
3. nexgrill Cart Grill
If you want a slightly more modern look on your grill, then this Nexgrill cart grill will fit perfectly for you. It has high-quality materials and additional features for ease of use.
With its solid construction alone, this grill has received rave reviews from many critics. It is all enameled iron, which makes it resistant to weather conditions and prevents rust build-ups.
It has a total cooking area of more than 400 square inches. With that size, you will cook up to 19 hamburgers at once, which makes this charcoal grill perfect for backyard parties.
The cooking grate of this charcoal grill consists of porcelain-coated cast iron. This kind of material does not rust and is very sturdy, making it possible to hold large foods.
If you have side dishes that you also need to be cooked or warmed up quickly, this grill provides the space for it. It has a top-level warming rack to keep your soup or buns warm.
Cleaning is also not an issue with this charcoal grill as it has a removable ash-catcher. It allows you to make the grill cleaning as easy and convenient as possible for the next foods.
What I loved most about this charcoal grill is the space that it provides both for cooking and food preparation. It has a side table that I used many times to prepare food on.
Aside from that, it also has a foldable front shelf that made it easier for me to transfer food from the grill grates to the table and vice versa. It is perfect for large parties in the backyard.
It truly is a comfortable charcoal grill to use with the built-in thermometer and adjustable vents. That way, you will control the temperature without opening the lid of the grill itself.
4. Big Green Egg Large
If you want a grill with a slightly unusual shape and look, you should get a Kamado grill. Kamado grills are the perfect heat-retaining grills that use charcoals as fuel.
The most famous brand of Kamado grill in the market is Big Green Egg. The name comes from the shape and color of the grills they produce, as they look like big green eggs.
The BGE Large model is the biggest model that you can buy for under $1000. It is one of the most decorated grills globally because of the quality of build and amazing cooking prowess.
It has a slightly smaller cooking space with only 18 inches in diameter. However, it is large enough for you to cook a whole turkey in it or a dozen burgers all at the same time.
Ceramics are used in the making of a Kamado grill. The Kamado grill’s thick wall allows it to keep the heat inside and create a chamber with intense heat evenly distributed inside the grill.
The BGE Large comes with two side tables that you can use for preparing the food. The lid of this Kamado grill has a thermometer that reads the actual temperature inside the grill itself.
Despite the thick insulation, the thermometer gets deep into it and penetrates to measure the temperature inside. That way, you can keep the heat inside and continue cooking.
What I love most about this Kamado grill is the temperature control. You have two vents, one at the bottom for large increments of temperature and the other on the lid for smaller temperature changes.
The Big Green Egg also includes a cart with a large grill for users to move it easily. I did not have any trouble with this grill in cooking with both high and low temperatures.
5. Kamado Joe Classic Joe I
Despite many users and critics considering the Big Green Egg as the best Kamado grill, some competitors come close or sometimes make better Kamado grills for its users.
One of those competitors is Kamado Joe, and it truly shines with its unique features. The Classic Joe I model is one of the best Kamado grills that offers many functionalities and features.
It has the same 18-inch diameter for its cooking area, which you can use to cook dozens of burgers at once. It is also perfect for any kind of cooking style that you want to do.
Because of the thick ceramic insulation, this Kamado grill can cook at a consistent temperature. You can make it go as low as 225 degrees Fahrenheit for smoking meat.
It can also get up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit, which is enough to sear any food you want to cook. It has a unique grill grate that you can use in many ways.
This is the feature that I liked the most because you can cook in different temperatures with it. The multi-tiered Divide & Conquer grill grate system makes the cooking capabilities even more versatile.
This model also comes with two side tables that you can use to prepare or place the food on. Plus, these tables did great for me because of the hooks I used to hand my tools.
The same thermometer goes on the lid and the unique vent that I used to control the temperature. The vent had its rain cap, which allowed me to use it even when it rained outside.
6. Lodge Sportsman’s Grill
This is another type of grill that uses charcoal for heating up. It is a hibachi-style grill, an open grill that originates from Japan and is used for cooking multiple foods.
Cast-iron is used to make this Hibachi Grill, which makes it a bit heavy for its size. I loved this grill because it could retain heat for a long time, and it is very durable.
The cooking area or grill grates of this charcoal grill is also pre-seasoned. That means that I could cook any food in it without having to worry about the meat or food sticking on the grill.
I love with this grill the charcoal door, which allows you to put more coal in the firebox without lifting the grill grates. Controlling the temperature was fairly easy to do.
7. Masterbuilt Digital Charcoal Grill
This is one of the more unique charcoal grills on the list. It is controlled via a computer installed on the grill’s side and contains all the controls that you will need for the grill.
It is a large grill that contains a large hopper on the side. You fill up the hopper with charcoal, and it uses gravity to push down the charcoals into the firebox to keep the fire going.
The large firebox can hold up charcoal that will last up to 12 hours of cooking. This makes it perfect for smoking meat as that process is really slow and usually takes half a day.
With its powerful firebox and gravity-dependent feeder, this charcoal grill can reach a temperature of 700 degrees Fahrenheit in just 13 minutes, making it one of the fastest grills.
I love the technology that comes with this grill, like the Digital Fan. This feature allows you to control the temperature without actually opening the firebox or the hopper.
You can control the temperature, and the fan through your smartphone as this grill is WiFi-compatible. It is also large as it has a total cooking space of 500 square inches.
Buying Guide For Charcoal Grills
There are certain things or features that you need to look for in a charcoal grill before buying it. Here, we have a general guide that you can use to select the best charcoal grill that you want.
Size
First things first, you need to see how large the charcoal grill is. This is to know if it fits the area where you would like to set it up and if it gets right with the environment.
The size also determines how large of food you can cook in it. So aside from the grill’s physical and overall size, make sure to see the total cooking area of the grill that you want.
Build Quality
Charcoal grills are outdoor grills, so you need to choose the grill you know will last no matter the weather. You have a lot of options for choosing the most durable charcoal grills.
From stainless steel, cast-iron, and metals, to porcelain coatings and enamels, make sure that you get the best quality for the materials used in making the grills.
Features
Make sure to look for the features of grills. These features allow you to expand the cooking area or make the cooking process a lot easier.
Conclusion
There are many charcoal grills that you can choose from in the market. The ones listed above are surely the best ones to find under $1000 as many users like them.
We also tested them, and really, there are almost zero complaints that I can find. These grills are amazing as they can all cook any type of food while putting authentic smoke in the recipe.
They are perfect for small parties or even just a small dinner with your family. Be sure to select the grill that fits all your preferences and start cooking the best meals for your family and friends.
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