If you are a fan of grilling, you must have heard of the iconic brand called Weber. This company deals with grills that you can take anywhere to grill up anything you want. The Weber summit charcoal grill has been making its rounds in the BBQ world, and today, we are here to give it an honest review.
I have always been a big fan of grilling and outdoor barbecue parties. Naturally, I needed a grill model that could satisfy my grilling needs. I had a small charcoal grill, but it was not big enough to grill enough for a party. That was when the Weber summit charcoal grill came to my rescue.
If you are looking for a reliable charcoal grill with a big grilling area, this product is the perfect choice for you. But you can see for yourself by going through the features, advantages, and disadvantages in this article.
Weber Summit Charcoal Grill Review
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I've had one of these grills as my primary grilling equipment for a few months now. And I'm delighted with how well it was able to grill everything I threw in it. So I can speak to all the main features of this grill that I loved.
Here are the main features of the Weber Summit Charcoal Grill:
Heavy-Duty Build Quality
The Weber Summit Charcoal Grill has the body of premium-grade US steel that has excellent durability. On top of this, the coating is porcelain, both on the inside as well as outside. With these materials, you will not have to worry about its durability.
Insulated bowl design
The bowl and the lid of this grill have double walls to ensure that it retains as much heat as possible. The way this works is by trapping air in between the walls and act as an insulator. The double walls help in maintaining a stable temperature for a long time.
With this grill, I found that it quickly adjusts to the temperature change faster than other ceramic grills. As such, I was able to grill my food to perfection due to the fantastic temperature control.
Large cooking surface
Another thing I love about this Weber charcoal grill is the extra-large 452 square inches of cooking surface. This area is large enough to cook a complete meal for the whole family. So if you were fed up with grills having a small cooking area or know that you need one with a large area, then this grill will be perfect.
Hinged cooking grate
With the Weber Summit Charcoal Grill, you also get a hinged cooking grate of the Gourmet BBQ System. Also, it comes with a 12-inch insert, which you can replace with any piece of related equipment like a pizza stone. This added feature makes the Weber 18301001 Summit Charcoal Grill an excellent option for cooking a variety of food items on this charcoal grill.
Quick setup
One of my favorite things about this grill is that it is quite simple to set up the summit grill. On top of this, it takes only 15 minutes to get ready to cook. The grill has a snap-jet ignition system that uses propane gas, which allows you to use a 16-ounce propane cylinder with it.
Porcelain enamel lid
The lid of the weber summit charcoal comes with a two-wall design for added insulation. Moreover, it has an inbuilt thermometer that does an excellent job of indicating the temperature inside the grill. The enamel of the lid is porcelain, and it has a hinge so that you can open it easily.
One thing to note here is that the lid is not as heavy as the ceramic grills. However, it comes with RapidFire lid damper to enable maximum airflow or adjust them according to your preference. The lid has a braided stainless steel gasket, which keeps the cover and the bowl tightly closed to that no hot air can escape.
2-position charcoal grate
You can place the charcoal grate in two positions depending on how much heat you want your food to get. Keeping it at the lower level is ideal for smoking, while the top place is best for high temperatures, which searing needs.
If you want your temperature to be even lower, there is a stainless steel heat diffuser that you can place above the coals. This step will help in achieving low temperatures for slow cooking purposes.
Easy cleaning
The Weber Summit charcoal grill has a one-touch cleaning system, which makes cleaning the unit extremely easy. Removing the residual ash involves only one movement of rotating the handle. As you turn the handle, the three blades inside the bowl will push the ashes into the ash catcher.
The material of the ash catcher is aluminum, and it has a very high-capacity. There is an enclosure for this ashtray to ensure that any form of wind will not blow it all over the place and make a mess.
Additional features
The package of this charcoal grill comes with a charcoal storage container that has a capacity of up to 22 pounds of coal. With this storage container, you will not need to worry about your fuel getting wet or damp because it has a tight lid that can keep moisture out without any problem.
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Pros
Cons
How I chose and rate my favorite grills
Before choosing any grill, my rule of thumb is to make sure that it follows the guide below. This buyer guide will be helpful for you if you decide to go with a different grill than the Weber summit charcoal. However, if you plan to go with this grill then you can skip it as the Weber charcoal grill ticks all boxes here:
Fuel type
While this might sound a little obvious, there are two types of grills: gas grills and charcoal grills. Charcoal grills are more affordable and easy to use in the long run. On the other hand, gas grills make cooking easier. All you have to do is turn the knob, and most of your work is over.
As such, deciding on whether to buy a charcoal grill or a gas grill will rely entirely on your preference. We chose the Weber Summit as it is a charcoal grill that works excellently and is known for its quality with great features.
Budget
Your budget will have a significant effect on your choices and options. If you are on a tight budget, a similar charcoal grill to the Weber summit grill is the best way to go. However, if you want to get a high-quality product, then you won't regret getting this grill.
Budget
You will not want to buy a grill that is too small or too big for you. First of all, check the actual size of the grill. Ensure that it will fit into your designated space. Once that is confirmed, the next thing to check is the cooking surface area. If you need a big cooking surface, you will need to go for a big grill that can satisfy the requirements.
The Weber 18301001 summit charcoal grill ticks all boxes here for me. It fits perfectly at the spot I wanted to put it and is large enough to grill enough food for my entire family.
Temperature control
This feature is an absolute must for grilling beginners. It takes hours and hours of practice and cooking sessions to master the art of reaching the desired temperature manually. With charcoal grills, it can be slightly more challenging to control the temperature and keep it stable, especially while refueling. Typically gas grills are easier to manage and lets you maintain the desired temperature without much hassle.
Thankfully, with this summit charcoal grill, I had none of the issues you would usually have with a regular charcoal grill thanks to the fantastic temperature control it features.
Safety and sturdiness
Everything is equally safe as long as you read the instructions thoroughly and do not do anything rash with it. However, if you want the safest grill option, it will be the charcoal grill. Charcoal grills are sturdy, and it also eliminates the use of a gas tank, which comes with its own set of risks.
And since the Weber 18301001 grill is a charcoal griller, you'll have nothing to worry about where safety is concerned.
Durability
If you want a durable grill, it is best to go for a charcoal grill. A charcoal grill like the summit charcoal grill will last for a long time, and you will not need to invest in a new one every summer.
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Conclusion
As you can see, the Weber Summit Charcoal Grill is one of the better product options on the market for your grilling needs. It will have no problem preparing large pieces of meat or large quantities of meat. Moreover, it comes from a trustworthy brand, which means you do not have to worry about its durability or quality. And if anything ever comes up, this product does have a good warranty that will cover most issues you'd usually have with grills.
With that in mind, I fully trust that the Weber 18301001 summit charcoal grill will be ideal for you. Check the latest price of this grill here.