Weber Master-Touch 22-Inch Charcoal Grill Review And Rating

The Weber Master-Touch 22″ Charcoal Grill is a feature rich version of the basic Original Kettle 22″. Master-Touch comes standard with Weber’s Gourmet BBQ Cooking System which had been available only as an option. The system consists of Weber’s plated steel 22.5″ grate with hinged sides for replenishing coal and  a removable round center grate that let’s grillers insert optional cook surfaces like a Wok, Griddle or Pizza Stone. A removable curved warming rack rests on the primary grate surface.

In 2015 Weber made a few changes to some of their classic BBQ kettles that are incorporated in Master-Touch. It has a new nylon lid handle that adds a protective heat shield between your fingers and the lid, and the side handle has useful, integrated tool hooks. Previously the legs just popped into brackets. Now they are secured to the body with spring loaded pins, which also enable them to be easily removed. Additionally, Master-Touch comes with two char-baskets to hold and easily move charcoal under the grate to create hot direct and cooler indirect zones.

A tuck away lid holder cradles the lid off to the side while you tend the feast. Like the Original Kettle Premium 22″, formerly One-Touch Gold, Master-Touch has an enclosed receptacle attached to the bottom to capture and hold ash so it cannot blow around. It comes off quickly for easy disposal of ash. The obligatory lid thermometer is thrown in to sweeten the deal, but these antique heat indicators are inaccurate. Do yourself a favor and pick up a digital thermometer. You’ll see an immediate improvement in your grilling.

Weber Kettles enjoy evergreen popularity from one generation to the next because they are durable and you can cook just about anything you want on them. Pile up coal on one side to sear steaks or set up 2-zone roasting, Build a nice even bed of coal for general cooking. Add a Slow ‘N Sear and make great smoked ribs and brisket. Another useful accessory is the Smoke EZ Grill Conversion Kit, which not only turns your kettle into a smoker, but increases capacity as well. The tight seal between the lid and body makes the dampers very effective and provides excellent heat control.

Let’s debunk a myth: The parabolic shape of the Weber 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.

Weber offers their kettles in a variety of sizes and colors.