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Charcoal grilling gives barbecue its best flavor. The catch is that it demands far more hands-on attention than cooking on gas.
The Weber 22-Inch Performer Smart Charcoal Grill aims to fix that. It keeps the traditional kettle shape but adds electronics that take over some of the more laborious parts of the job.
The payoff is time. You do not have to spend the next hour watching over the grill, which frees you up for other chores around the house while dinner cooks in the backyard.
A Classic Kettle on Wheels
At its core, this is a classic kettle grill. It sits on a wheeled platform, so moving it around is easy.
The platform also includes a worktop on the side. That is where you can set your tools, accessories and condiments while you cook steaks, burgers and anything else.
A Built-In Fan Does the Fanning
A traditional kettle needs you to fan the flames. This one has a built-in digital fan that blows air directly onto the coals, so you can adjust airflow and temperature with ease.
An LCD Wi-Fi enabled controller sits to the right of the grill and runs the fan. You program it to cook at whatever temperature you choose.
When the temperature drops, the fan switches on by itself. Once the grill is back at the desired heat, the fan shuts off.
The result is food that cooks at the right temperature the whole time. You never need to keep checking on the grill, the way you would with a standard Weber Kettle.
The fan also keeps air moving consistently across the cooking area, which ensures even browning and crisping.
Quick Preheats, a Knob and an App
A Rapidfire Assist mode puts the same fan to work for fast preheating. The grill reaches the temperature you want much sooner.
The controller has a large knob for quick adjustments. A companion app handles the rest if you would rather not stand out in the backyard.
The app also monitors compatible food probes. One probe is included, and there are two extra ports for more, so you can see how each item on the grill is doing at any moment.
Side Table, Storage and Other Features
The side table takes drop-in accessories, and the side rail can be reinforced with different snap-on gear. That lets you tailor the setup using Weber’s many available accessories.
The rest of the feature list looks like this:
- A bottom storage shelf
- Adjustable dampers for controlling temperature by hand
- An improved one-touch cleaning system
- A hinged cooking grate
- A steel side table
- A porcelain-enameled finish
- A tuck-away lid holder, so the lid never has to go down on a surface
Emma Harrington
Ditching overcomplicated jargon to deliver real, practical value is my primary goal as a storyteller. I love tracking what’s happening in the digital space and packaging it into refreshing, easy to digest reads that add something tangible to your day.