What are Different Types of Charcoal Grills?

Grilling food on charcoal not only provides you great tasting food, but it’s an entire experience. If you love that smoky flavored meat and can’t wait to have a grill right at your home, then you are in luck. The market has a range of different types of charcoal grills on offer.

Each of these types serves a particular purpose. Some of them cater to huge crowds, while others can handle different kinds of foods. Still, some are for the convenience and comfort of grilling food right at your home. Commercial charcoal grills are available too. Of course, there are different types; not each of them is your all-purpose grilling station. You need to understand what your demands and requirements are and choose the right kind of grill accordingly.

In the following text, we will see how each one differentiates from others and what pros and cons they have to offer.

Here are the most popular charcoal grills available on the market.

The portable charcoal grills are very compact and highly innovative. They either have a rectangular shape or a square shape. The main objective they serve is easy mobility and convenient storage. They are handy when you are short in space.

Among the different charcoal grills, portable grills perfect for back porches and apartment complexes. You can also use them in various tailgating scenarios.

Most of these grills feature foldable legs and similar other collapsible features. But they are not suitable for catering to large crowds or grilling vast quantities of food due to their limited cooking area.

Brazier grills don’t have venting systems or lids and they are pretty straightforward in design, which resembles a kettle grill.

There is a metal pan that you can fill with charcoal and has a mesh or wire grate over its top. In the 1950s, George Stephen of Weber Inc. improved its design to create a kettle grill, but you can still find braziers in stores.

They are available in different shapes and sizes but are generally small and are either round or square-shaped. These grills are also suitable for you if you have limited space availability.

It is the classic design that you find in most backyard BBQs throughout the country. This design is inspired by the first kettle grill designed in the 50s by George Stephen.

They come in different sizes, but the circular design and shape remain the same. These grills have domed lids, cooking grills, a charcoal grid, and a rounded lower chamber with legs. Most of these come with venting systems and casters for convenient mobility and easy storage.

Due to the round design, the heat remains concentrated over the entire grill area. These grills are known for their even distribution of heat and keep the flavor intact.

This grill is a combination of brazier and kettle designs. Essentially, they are brazier grills with kettle grill lids, and they also come with four legs. You won’t find any additional features like hot dog shelves or baskets, but some models do have these features. They have a large base but can quickly move around due to the casters on to legs, either front or back.

Among the different types of charcoal grills, hibachis have a distinct identity. Hibachis are very similar to shichinin, which are Japanese cooking devices. They are also small in design and offer great portability. These grills are of either aluminum, cast iron, or steel.

There are two small grills on them, and they are placed over a charcoal pan made of sheet metal. You can adjust these grills up and down to alter the heat reaching your food. They are excellent for storage, but they don’t come with any lids or other additional accessories.

A popular entry among different charcoal grills is a cart grill with a rectangular design and easy usage and mobility. They have lids that are attached to their base with hinges. There is a grill for food in it and a grid where you can place the charcoal.

You can raise or lower them both to adjust the heat. These models also come with a drawer for ash collection placed right at the bottom. These grills have wheels, and they also feature side trays and storage shelves.

You can easily access your cooking utensils and other items while cooking on these grills. They are bigger and offer a decent cooking surface to cater to a small crowd.

Among the different types of charcoal grills, barrel grills are suitable for cooking at a greater scale. These grills feature a 55-gallon barrel made of steel, and it is placed sideways and cut in two halves.

There are hinges present to join the top half with the bottom one. The lower half contains wood fuel or charcoal, and you can open and close it for cooking.

There are vents present in both the halves and a small chimney on the side. The bottom half has legs attached. These models are great smokers, and you can handle temperature quite well with the vents’ help.

Ceramic cookers are a different types of charcoal grills in Asian countries, and they are made of clay. These are also famous as mushikamados. The ceramic and clay materials can resist heat and moisture well, and the grills have an oval shape.

There is a domed lid present that is hinged to the lower half that is rounded. You can use them for grilling, smoking, and BBQs. These grills are the best when it comes to slow cooking and smoking meat.

All the different types of charcoal grills have their specialties. Some of them are best for portability and storage, while others offer a huge cooking surface to cook large quantities of food. You can choose the right option based on your preferences and requirements.

Different grills also need different types of charcoal. Some of them work better with briquettes, while others use lump charcoal. Briquettes are cheap and easy to find and have a wildly even burning time, which is usually long. But they do produce a lot of ash and take relatively long to light. These are suitable for slow cooking.

Hardwood or lump charcoal can light up fast, and they burn clean. They don’t produce much ash, but can be expensive and have a short burn time. Uneven heat is another issue, so they are suitable for fast cooking or grilling.

Now you know all your options available when it comes to cooking on a charcoal grill. No matter what you are trying to achieve, there is a grill just right for your needs!

Enjoy your food!