Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill – Iconic 22-Inch Outdoor BBQ for Authentic Grilling
The Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill combines classic design with upgraded functionality, making it an essential tool for anyone passionate about outdoor cooking. Crafted with a durable porcelain-enameled bowl and lid, this 22-inch kettle-style grill delivers exceptional heat retention and even cooking performance while resisting rust, cracks, and peeling.
This grill includes a hinged plated-steel cooking grate, allowing you to easily add charcoal while cooking without removing the entire grate. The integrated lid thermometer helps monitor temperature accurately, ensuring precise control throughout the grilling session. With a capacity to grill up to 13 burgers at once, it’s ideal for family meals and backyard gatherings.
The One-Touch cleaning system, paired with a high-capacity ash catcher, streamlines post-cook cleanup with a single swipe, while the angled lid hook lets you rest the lid conveniently without placing it on the ground.
- 22-inch diameter grill with high-efficiency heat circulation and retention
- Hinged cooking grate for simple charcoal access during grilling
- Porcelain-enameled lid and bowl resist corrosion and retain heat
- One-Touch cleaning system with detachable ash catcher for quick maintenance
- Built-in thermometer for temperature precision during grilling
- Integrated lid hook for safe and clean lid placement while in use
Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned griller, the Weber Original Kettle Premium offers a reliable, time-tested solution for achieving the rich flavors of charcoal barbecue with ease and confidence.
I would recommend to anyone
The only thing that keeps me from giving a five star review is the assembly instructions. I've had my other Webers for more than 20 years. I doubt I will need another. If I ever do, I will order locally and have it assembled and delivered.
1. Buy a charcoal chimney. It makes lighting the charcoals so much easier. You can use newspaper or fire starters along with the chimney to get the coals lit and it's slick as snot.
2. Buy the charcoal baskets. These allow you to create direct heat zones and indirect heat zones. This helps so that if you want the meat to keep cooking but not get too cooked on the outside, you can move them to a zone of indirect heat. No more burger hockey pucks...
3. Have an instant read meat thermometer.
4. One of the videos I watched online said that it takes about 15 minutes to adjust the temperature using the vents and they were right. Be patient. It does take a little more time than gas, but it's worth it.
-So my process is to pull the grill out, clean out the ash from the previous cook, and put any left over charcoals in the chimney for reuse.
-I then add any new charcoals I need to mostly fill the chimney. I set the charcoal chimney on the charcoal grate of the grill and light it from underneath using newspaper or a fire starter.
-I let the charcoals in the chimney get hot. This takes 15+ minutes for the smoke from the chimney to clear up and not be too gray.
-Once I see the smoke clear up, I pour the charcoals from the chimney into the charcoal baskets and position the baskets on the charcoal grate within the grill according to what this specific cook will need. I have some of those fireproof gloves that make doing this easy.
- I then put the cooking grate in the grill and put the lid on the grill and let it get hot for 15 minutes. This allows the fire to make the cooking grate hot and easier to clean. Once I finish cleaning the cooking grate, I adjust the vents from full open to half open to bring the temp down.
-I wait another 15 minutes and then start cooking.
So yes, it takes a bit more time to get cooking but it tastes sooooo good and the meat is tender and juicy. I also feel safer cooking with charcoal versus gas, especially when cooking burgers.
Works like a charm.
I also use the Weber Rapidfire chimney so I can cook on my mesquite without any lighter fluid taste.
I haven't smoked with this kettle yet but I did on my old one and I know it'll do great there, too.
The upgrade, for me, is the ash catching attachment on the bottom of the grill, makes clean up and ash removal a breeze!
He said he needed a charcoal grill to finish his collection .
We bought him this one and it is so sleek looking and works just great .
He is very satisfied.
We finally decided to just spend the money on another weber. Omg it's even better that the first one we had!!! I'm glad I ordered the unit with the ash catcher on it. That makes cleaning a breeze and is a wonderful option!
So far I have used this grill for over a year, even using it right on through winter. The grates are just now showing some burn and rust after all this use. The rest of the grill is still like new!!!
They say you get what you pay for. Well....these grills may seem a little higher in price than super market specials, but they are soooo worth it!
I highly recommend these grills, no matter which model you decide upon. If you grill often at all, get ya one of these and you won't be sorry!
This has a good sized cooking surface and I can fit about 8-10 - 1/4 pound burgers at a time. Love the feature where I can hang the lid on side.
Decided to go with charcoal this year and after all the researching and comparing, I had no other choice than the Weber. Takes some getting used to as far as controlling temps but it's simple. Haven't had a bad bbq on this grill, have used from hotdogs/hampburgers to steaks to hours long smoking. As a bonus, there are tons of accessories readily available for the 22" Webber Kettle.
Can recommend!!!
The grill is easy enough to transport, that I've brought it to go camping with us to state beaches and been able to use it for different types of cooks. If you're starting out and want to learn to smoke and to do grilling I would highly recommend this Weber kettle grill.
I am very happy with my purchase, and these things can last decades if treated well. I love the thermostat built into the lid, and I like the accessories that are available for a grill that has been around for so long. I'm looking forward to many summers with my grill and experimenting with all sorts of food.
the size. because it is 22 inches and a bit more it takes more space in some ways than a square or barrel shape. the finish is as expected. The grate is heave solid feeling. the grill is lighter.
For me the grill grate was too light for a 219. Price tag. The wheels are a light wt plastic but look fine. The plastic cover for the bottom part is smart and the 1 of 2 parts easy to assemble. the handle on the top is also nice and easy. Be careful with thermometer in placement and alignment before tightening.
My biggest issue putting together were the leg and skirt. . legs more so. The legs when assembling place the V shaped spring/peg . with the open part facing towards the outside of the leg. for me it was a very tight fit. The wheels . either get assistance or place so other side where wheel goes is facing the ground.
My other and biggest CON is the fact that the top air vent does not have a plastic grip it is metal. at 219. it should have a plastic grip. and that is why I will never buy a Weber again. Too much of a risk to get burnt.
But that is a choice for each of us to make.
It’s easy to control the heat with vents in the bottom and in the lid, and the thermometer has kept pretty consistent temperatures with my probe thermometers. The only drawback is that hook on the grill (which is supposed to hold the lid) is poorly designed; it keeps slipping off, so I just end up putting the lid on the ground when I check the meat.
So far I’ve grilled and smoked various meats/vegetables, and I am thoroughly enjoying this year’s barbecue season! This grill is a classic; there’s a reason they’ve been around and relatively unchanged for decades. I just wish I would have bought this sooner!
My only complain is that there’s a inch chip on the bottom that I noticed after I opened and move all parts out of the box and started assembly :(
It is also a nicely sized grill. It is small enough to store in a small space and to use for 1 person but also large enough to be able to fit enough food for family and friends. Whether cooking for 1 or a party, it’s a great size.
Assembly was also easy. The instructions are easy to follow and the pieces go together easily enough. The legs take a bit of work to squeeze into the grill base, but that’s the only part that requires any real effort.
Aside from that, it’s a charcoal BBQ… it’ll grill as well as the person using it.
I had trouble building/positioning the back legs. It took me a couple of tries before I got it right.
Had assembly been an option when I purchased the grill, I would definitely have opted in.
All in all, good buy and priced appropriately without the hassle of having to transport the grill from point A to point B.
Loving my grill.
Update: Contacted Weber through email and sent same pictures. I thought it would take at least a week for them to respond. The next afternoon got email saying they were sending me new lid. Then got email with shipping information. Haven’t gotten new lid yet but will post again when I do. Changing from 1 star to 3 stars for now but if new lid works will update.
Update. Now grill is 5 states. Weber sent new lid that fits!! Sent that didn’t back un same box with label they sent. All good !!
Temperature wise, it gets up to 500F without difficulty, and there's enough space to have a good couple of hours of grilling time.
It doesn't take up too much space and it's easy to push it away into a corner when not in use. Cleaning etc is easy. I'm replacing the one-touch cleaning system as it has over the years become stiff and now it no longer works - rusted solid. After 5 years, can't complain. I bought the cover for it too - and while it doesn't look brand new, there's no rust visible.
Would I buy again? Yes. But I don't need to - 5 years later and still going strong!
Este asador es la versión antigua a la actual publicada (adjunto imágenes) en la pagina de weber, es por eso que tiene un precio menor, en este las ruedas son distintas, no trae la media parrilla en nivel superior par conservar calientes los alimentos, no se le pueden adaptar accesorios al centro como la placa para pizzas, o sarten de hierro.
En resumen es buen asador, Funciona de manera grandiosa y es todo lo que esperas de la marca weber, pero si lo que buscas es el nuevo modelo este NO lo es.
The grill holds enough coal to last plenty of time to meet whatever your cooking needs may be.
I have read some reviews where people find it difficult to remove the ash catcher. I have not found this to be the case. It removes easily and is far more convenient than scooping or dumping ash out of other types of grills. I rated cleaning as a 3 out of 5 simply because you will need to rinse out the fire box occasionally and that's never fun... but it's certainly not overwhelming.
Assembly is fast and very easy. You won't need to spend more than 10 - 15 minutes getting it assembled and ready to use.
I own this grill and a Weber Smokey Mountain smoker. I have been very satisfied with both. If you love to grill, you won't be disappointed.
Before purchasing this I did a lot of research, and this grill was voted one if the best grills in 2018. I can see why! Now as a beginner I had no idea how this was going to go, but with just some tutorials I was able to figure out how to get things going. This is definitely the grill that will get me really enjoy barbecuing. There are many versions of this, I saw the more basic one with no temperature gauge, the more expensive one with a side table, and even one that has an igniter. I would recommend for you to just get this one. Get this one and then get a chimney starter. No need to get lighter fluid .
Pros
Food comes out with a Smokey flavor, so good!
Comes with temperature gauge and a ash catcher!
Was easy to clean and put away
Easy to move
Cons
Temperature control is not easy! You need to know how much charcoal to put, and how to put it in the grill for the best experience.
I wanted to mention some people said that it may have been difficult to assemble, but I thought it was really easy. They may have updated their manual, but it was not hard at all! I was worried that I didn’t select the free assembly option.
Can’t wait to have more barbecues and maybe update this review on the durability on it. I’m loving mine so far and I’m glad I got the black color!
I regret to be giving a 2-Star rating, as it’s a result of damage in transit, but will re-assess if and when this is resolved. Hope I can get a lid replacement...??
Follow up: I contacted Weber and received a replace my lid. 4 stars
On the downside, assembly was more difficult than it needed to be.
1. There were no written instructions but if you are careful, the visual instructions were okay. Still, it would have been nice to have some clear written directions to accompany the visuals. Note: They also have 3d instructions on the BILT app but I found the included (on paper) instructions to be better since they include pictures that clearly show you what not to do.
2. The legs were difficult to attach until I used wd-40. I wish they had suggested that in the directions.
3. The picture in the directions suggests using a regular claw hammer to but in the caps that hold the wheels on. That tears the cap up. I think they know this (They included an extra cap.). Here's what worked for me. I started putting caps on using light taps with a claw hammer. Then I used a rubber mallet to finish the job.
I'll try to remember to revisit this review in a month or two. I hope and expect to raise the rating at that time. By then, I'll probably have forgotten the assembly process. After all, I'm older retired (Yay!) guy who has been diagnosed with CRS (PG version: Can't Remember Squat).
Comment on portability. The rating on Amazon include a rating for portability. It's "portable" enough to move around the deck or garage. If that's all you need (like me), it's portable and rolls easily enough. I won't be taking it on any road trips (even to my friend's house a couple of miles away). That's not a problem for me, but If you plan on taking it with you, I hope you have a pickup truck and some tie-downs. Better yet, get one of the much smaller grills to take with you and just use this one at home.
This new Weber gets a lot of things right. It comes standard with a hinged grate and a thermometer. There are two handles with hooks for my grill tools. These are a great addition my last grill lacked.
The lid is orientated differently on this grill than my original. For instance, the top vent is located to the side of the handle rather than the top of the handle on my last Weber. It's a small change but it effects the way you remove the lid and engage the latch. Any long term Weber owner will notice and need some time to adjust.
The latch under the lid is curved and much more hook like. It is an improvement as any long term webber user has had the lid fall off many times due to the old latch not engaging properly.
The ash catcher is new, looks great but does require the user to pinch or squeeze the handle to remove the ash bowl. I can imagine this would be difficult for anyone with diminished grip strength such as and the elderly.
The legs now latch to the kettle with pins. This is a nice touch as the legs had fallen out of my old webber on occasion when I picked it up.
Beyond this everything else is what I have come to expect from a webber. The build quality can not be beat, the porcelain enamel paint is unblemished and the whole grill looks and feels like a quality tool.
It retains heat well, and has a lot of room for cooking. It's also fairly easy to clean. If you're waffling between this version and the one without the catch, I recommend this one as it helps so much with cleaning out your ashes. The built in temperature gauge is also handy as heck.
Over all I feel confident that I made the right choice, and I look forward to many more years with this grill.
►Design & Improvements:
The major improvements that I've found with this grill are really just tweaks of the tried and true design. These improvements include:
1). A shielded handle on the top lid.
2). Spring locking legs.
3). Bottom mounted, easily detachable ash pan.
4). Integrated hook to hang the lid off the side of the grill.
5). Hinged grill grate.
The design itself has been in use for longer than I've been alive and is just as great as ever. You can easily grill up 10+ burgers at one time. The hinged grill grate makes it a cinch to add more coals without having to lift a hot grate off the grill. The ash pan collects ash and debris and is very easy to remove an empty out.
►Assembly:
Overall assembly isn't too bad. There are some assembly instructions that are a bit obtuse; for example fitting the spring-locking legs and the lower shelf. Once you have the procedure done correctly it seems easy but since each component is meant to fit in a very specific way it can be a little tricky at first. You will want some basic tools handy including a hammer or mallet and a block of some sort in order to secure the wheel fasteners. All told assembly probably takes about 20-30 minutes.
►Additional Considerations:
If you're like me and have been using propane grills for the convenience then do yourself a favor and buy a good chimney along with this charcoal grill. Weber's chimney that comes suggested (on the Amazon product page) is an excellent choice. The chimney lets you consolidate your coals and place a fire source directly beneath ensuring you get properly fired coals with minimal fuel usage.
Weber 7416 Rapidfire Chimney Starter
I bought along with the grill and once those were hot and gray I put it in the grill and the cooking was underway. It took me maybe 15 minutes to set up the grill and it was at a tailgate at 8AM in the morning with a morning brew or two in my system - so at max it would take a person like 20-30 min.
I'll start off by saying that this thing has a massive cooking area. I knew I was buying the big expensive version, but holy moly this thing is large and in-charge. I was able to fit 8 medium burger patties on one half. I might buy a second chimney coal starter just to fill the bed of this thing with enough coals.
Second, this thing does the job well. The burgers cooked great, the hot dogs too. Clean up was super easy with the ash catcher underneath. I can really only say positive things about this grill and my first experience with it.
For any rookies out there, buy yourself some oven mitts or gloves for using this and using the chimney starter. I got a nice blister or two from the experience, but it was 100% my fault for not being prepared.
Now the Premium is the replacement and it has answered all of my issues with the One Touch Gold!!!!
1. They installed a heat guard on the top. This was an issue when using hard wood charcoal that gets really hot. The old handle needed a glove to use it. The new heat guard has fixed that problem. It also takes a rust issue out where the handle attaches to the dome. I had several new tops because of it and the new attachment will probably hold for years.
2. There is a thermometer on the grill now!!!! Now you can see the temperature in the grill. I had to drill and install one on the one touch gold.
3. The ash catcher has been upgraded. The old system it was very cumbersome to use the ash catcher as it needed to line up perfectly and you had to twist to get it off. This is more like a clip and is very easy.
Those are the upgrades from the One Touch Gold. Now for the customer service that this wonderful company provides. They have replaced the dome because of a spec of rust with no questions asked. They replaced the ash sweepers after I warped them from heavy usage again with no questions asked. It is the best warranty and customer service I have ever seen by any company. If you want the best made grill in the world that is now better than the original then just get it over with and buy this.
I prefer this model based on a few pointed observations that I will get to in a little bit. But let's compare this to the other models directly: that would be the Master Touch, which is 50 dollars more expensive, and the 26 inch version of that grill without the Gourmet BBQ centerpiece or warmer. The 26 inch is 300 dollars. It will all come down to personal taste here between the grills. There are some things that you should pay attention to though, as it is not cut and dry which model you will want just from looks or lists.
The 22 inch Master Touch and the 26 inch grill are a tiny bit taller, 39.5 vs 42 inches per the Weber site. I'm not sure what adds into the height to be honest or how they make it ever so slightly taller. It could just be the wheels for all I know or possibly the legs are a touch longer. It doesn't make any difference in my experience. The MT has a center piece that is removable for "gourmet BBQ". A quick point here: I don't personally like this addition. I use a nice wooden grill scraper--chinese wire brushes are the bane of existence and a real danger at times--and the center piece would screw up the burn lines on my large and heavy duty scraper. The normal plates are already a tad off on the moveable sides. You can however purchase this version and then get a different grate if you want, but that is adding a decent cost to an already extra 50 dollars.
**You must purchase a stainless steel grate for over 60 dollars with shipping from Weber directly over the phone. Part# 80728 @ 58.47 dollars--comes out to about 70 total. I advise most to actually do this. Another reason I prefer the cheaper model as I use the extra 50 for the better grate. The SS grate is heavier, larger guage steel, and in general does not rattle. I love it, though it was expensive. And it will also last a LOT longer than the mediocre plated steel grate at high heat.
I'm not entirely sure what the point of the center piece is but to sell more Weber accessories. And these accessories are not super high quality either. Anything like a cast iron griddle or pan is easily placed on the 22 and 26 inch grill surface. I don't cook pizza on my grill and have no use for extra grill patterns or a wok. IDK your mileage may vary but it just seems to me they want to sell you more things. In my case it would burn awkward lines into my expensive wooden scraper. I don't want a lot of extras hanging around for the grill that need to be cleaned and preened. And without the attachments the center piece is useless. Add in the fact that all I want is a stainless steel grate and there is no point in getting this grill for this extra feature.
They do however include two of the cheap charcoal holders on the MT. You can arrange your charcoal fine without these holders IMO, and when you actually need to move things around I find they become a bother more than anything else. If you want them they are an extra that costs 15 dollars otherwise.
BOTH the 22's have plated nickel steel cooking grates as opposed to the stainless of the 26 inch. As noted Weber does provide the little known stainless upgrade for more cash. My grilling grate has a slight uneven rattle, though, I have not cooked on it yet. It seems fairly durable but I have to somewhat doubt its longevity. I will order the SS version soon. It is thicker and heavier.
There is also the metal side holder for the lid that is engrained into the grill on the MT and 26 inch. From the pictures and videos it looks like it may actually touch the enamel lid of the grill. While pragmatic I am not sure if this will scratch the grill or not in normal practice. On the other hand the hook on this model will not be to everyone's preference, though, it lines up with the damper and is honestly pretty easy to hook onto the side with some practice. Minimal scraping of the edges of the basket will occur more than likely as opposed to the possible scraping of the top by the other method.
I'm not too keen on extra holes in the heating basket from the lid holder on the upper models, but it's hard to say how well they will seal in the end. In practice I would prefer a lid holder with some rubber protection from scratching the top of the lid. I think this is something they will improve on future versions. Beware, the enamel WILL scratch easily on these models.
The wheels are slightly different on the MT and 26 inch models, though I prefer the aesthetics of the originals by a decent margin. The gray hubcaps with a grill logo are kind of well not all that pleasing to my eyes and look no more useful. Neither seem much different in practice. The MT has black handles as opposed to grey. Both look nice. A secondary warming rack is also equipped on the MT. I personally have little need for something like this, but others may find it handy. The MT and 26 inch grills come with a heat grip on the top damper. This is really the only thing I wanted on the normal model. Why this could not be included on the normal 22 I have no idea, but it really isn't needed anyway. I'm usually only using the damper once or twice and have a grill glove on hand or a metal tool to slide it. It should be noted that the rib roaster fits fine in any model. I recommend the higher priced stainless steel version.
The 26 inch grill is wider and heavier, for twice the price again. To me, as someone that does not cook for more than 4 people, I don't need something that large. It takes a bit more charcoal to heat up a larger grill to the proper temps and the legs seem to be the same thin design that have to accomodate more weight. For a larger family you will want this option as it is quite a bit more space. The only downside again is that it's very expensive. Per the Weber site they list stainless steel for the cooking grate vs plated steel on the cheaper model. 508 square inches of cooking area vs 363. The cooking grates are honestly the biggest deal to me about these grills. It is a nice feature of the 26 inch to include a stainless as they are expensive to buy separately.
So I have spelled out the major differences here. For me it comes down to preference. I don't really care about cost, but 300 was a teensy bit more than I was willing to spend for something I am not totally sure of the long term quality. I like the MT but have absolutely no use for the center piece and the wheels and lid holder to me are very questionable. If the lid holder does not scratch I see no problem with it, but metal against metal is going to scratch a bit if it makes a lot of contact at high heat. Not a huge problem but the basket and top are easily the most expensive parts of the deal and I want to keep them looking nice. All in all the last Webers had more than a few problems that seem to have been corrected in the new models. Only time will tell.
I did also get two damaged tops with this grill. I don't mark down the grill because customer service was fantastic at Amazon. Just beware you may have to take one back if you get a damaged top. Weber should invest in some better packaging. Otherwise. this thing is a beauty. Highly recommended.
I do not however recommend the cheap and terrible cover for the 22 inch grills. It has a hanging bag sewn to it and only one main velcro strap. It looks cheap. It is cheap. Yet it's 30 dollars. I bet it's made in China for about a dollar. Just a warning. You might want to look elsewhere to see if you can find a better cover. I will wait until they improve it before I buy anything of such low quality.
I will also update this review as I keep using the grill.
I did a lot of research prior to purchasing this grill from Amazon. I chose a charcoal grill over propane because I didn't want to deal with propane tanks (a friend had his grill go up in flames because of a loose hose and nearly burned his house down--No thank you!), I like the taste and smell from charcoal grills more, and most importantly because of the cost. It was less expensive to get a nice charcoal grill like this one than to get an equally nice propane grill. The entry cost into grilling was more reasonable with a charcoal grill. This freed up funds to get some important accessories, which I recommend to anyone buying this grill: a chimney starter, grilling tools like tongs, fork, etc, a steel brush to clean the grates, the Weber Fire starter cubes, and some heavy duty mitts to protect your hands and forearms while grilling. I purchased all these from Amazon at the same time I purchased the grill.
As for choosing a which charcoal grill to get, I chose this model over the lesser expensive model because of the ash catcher, and I'm glad I did.
The grill arrived in its original box and was easy to put together on my own, with the exception of attaching the ash catcher itself. But I just kept trying (and referring to the picture-only instructions) and eventually got it. It was put together in about 40 minutes, and that was putting it together myself.
One of the best things I did was lookup videos online about this grill to see how it was used and put together. I learned about closing the vents on the lid and on the bottom to reduce heat, and how to quickly get the charcoal ready for grilling by using a chimney starter and Weber Fire Starter cubes (which I highly recommend getting).
As my brother and dad arrived to my house yesterday for our Memorial Day BBQ, each were skeptical about this charcoal grill because they have propane grills at home and like the convenience of them. "It will take an hour to get to coals ready," said my brother. "Those burgers are way too thick to cook through. They'll be raw in the middle," said my dad.
Both were surprised when the charcoal was ready within about 20 minutes using the chimney! And after getting some nice grill marks on both sides of the burgers, I put the lid on and closed the vents to let them finish cooking the middle of the burgers in a lower heat. The burgers turned out perfectly! The best compliment was Dad and others asking me how I grilled these thick burgers so well without burning them to dust. LOL! It's all in the vents! And I think investing in an awesome grill helped, too.
My brother and dad both were asking about the grill by the end of the party. I think they might be considering trading in their propane grills for their own Weber kettle grills soon. ;)
Lastly, just a bit of advice to any amateur grill masters like myself out there... Do yourself a favor and start out with this grill. All of the excellent reviews tell you that it's a good grill. The fact that so many experienced backyard chefs keep returning to their Weber kettle grills is very telling. Also, be sure to look up recipes at YouTube. I searched for "hamburger on charcoal grill" and found lots of videos with great advice on getting perfect burgers. And bonus! Nearly all of the people in the videos were using a Weber kettle grill. :)