Weber Jumbo Joe Portable Charcoal Grill Review

The black porcelain enameled lid and base of Weber’s Jumbo Joe Portable Charcoal Grill has the same tight construction and durable coating you find on Weber’s big kettles. Rust free aluminum dampers on the top and bottom allow for good air and heat control. The 18.5″diameter plated steel cooking grate provides 240 square inches of cook surface.

Jumbo Joe has an aluminum dish under the bottom damper that serves as an ash catcher. It weighs 18 pounds and has a “Tuck and Carry Lid Holder” for easy transport.

Let’s debunk a myth: The parabolic shape of the Weber BBQ Kettle is not a more efficient heat reflector than other shapes. By far the vast majority of the heat is radiated directly from the surface of the glowing coals with some more reflected from the sides. Very little heat is being reflected off the curved bottom of the bowl. There is a solid barrier in the way: The bed of coals. Any heat that hits the bottom of the kettle just bounces back into the coal pile. So the parabolic shape of the kettle is no more efficient than a square box.

Nothing fancy, just a compact version of the grill that made Weber famous. Weber offers their kettles in a variety of sizes and colors.