Performance
Can grill or smoke a wide range of foods. Experts love the versatility of the Weber Original Kettle Premium, saying the circular shape, large cooking space and superior venting give owners a high level of heat control, enabling both grilling and smoking. Users overwhelmingly agree, saying the Original Kettle Premium can cook virtually any type of food, using indirect or direct heat as well as long, slow cooking with superior results. This grill is as popular with those who are new to grilling and just exploring the various methods as it is with those who are experts at even the most challenging foods to grill. The Weber Original Kettle Premium has a 22-inch cooking surface with 363 square inches of total cooking space, large enough, most users say, for a family of six. It also comes in an 26-inch version as the Weber 26-inch Original Kettle Premium (Est. $300) [B00N65AAW4], and in three finishes, black, green and copper.
Ease of use
Nearly foolproof. Owners report that the Weber Original Kettle Premium can be assembled in about 15 minutes — although we saw a few complaints that the legs were hard to attach. While some users say they felt there was a learning curve when first using this Weber, many of them had simply never used a charcoal grill before — quite a few came back and edited their review once they were more experienced to rave about the grill. Most also agree its “one-touch” ash emptying makes it easier to use and clean than the more basic, open ash catcher on the more basic Weber Original 22-inch Kettle (Est. $100) [B00004RALU] and is worth the upgrade — especially if you live in a windy area. Other upgrade features from the basic model that users appreciate are the extra handle on the kettle, four tool hooks, hinged cooking grate and built-in lid thermometer. However, Max Good at AmazingRibs.com notes that the thermometer is wildly inaccurate, as are most thermometers integrated into grills. We suggest heading over to our report on meat thermometers to find a better choice.
Durability/safety
Minimal safety concerns. We saw very few complaints about safety issues with the Weber Original Kettle Premium. The dampers make shutting down the fires easy and safe, and there are very few reports of flare-ups — users say the design of the grill makes the occasional grease flare-up very easy to handle. A handful complain that the handle gets hot to the touch, but others sensibly point out that using a grill mitt should be standard operating procedure when grilling. Many say their grill works perfectly years or even decades after purchase. Annual maintenance involves removing the grates and cleaning with mild detergent and water. The warranty runs 10 years for the bowl, lid and handle; and two years for the grates and other parts.
Specs
