 A Serious Grill For Serious Grillers, But Not For Everyone |
| Review Date: June 6, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Palsgraf, Arlington, VA United States |
I recently purchased the Weber Ranch Kettle after several years of using Brinkmann charcoal grills. I cook on a charcoal grill A LOT; I use my grill several times per week in the spring and summer and I cook my Thanksgiving turkey and a big Christmas meal every year on my grill (we usually have about 12-20 people over for each holiday). I've never considered a gas grill because food cooked over wood or coals tastes so much better, and I've got a gas stove in my kitchen, so what's the point of cooking with gas in my backyard?. In the past 6 years I've worn out 2 Brinkmanns, which each lasted 3 years before the heat of cooking severely warped some of the key parts of each grill. I went to my local home improvement store to replace my latest grill, and I was dismayed to observe that the new Brinkmanns seem to be made of a lower grade of steel. There's no way the new Brinkmanns would stand up to really heavy usage. So I decided to treat myself to the Ranch Kettle, which costs about five times as much as my last grill. Overall, I'm pleased with the Ranch Kettle, but it's not for everyone.
PROS:
Performance
I've prepared two meals on the Ranch Kettle, one for my family of three and one for a party we hosted for fifteen people, and it performed admirably. I've cooked 2 large tenderloins, a variety of vegetables, and a couple of steaks, and everything came out perfectly. And I mean PERFECTLY! Even the large tenderloins cooked evenly, with a slight pleasing char and beautiful grill marks. The heat is easy to control by manipulating the amount of fuel or moving the food in relation to the coals. The hinged cooking grate folds up easily in 2 places, so adding coals during cooking is simple. However, sometimes it's difficult to manipulate the hot hinged portions of the grate to return to a completely flat position. Even so, the huge cooking area makes it possible to cook several items at once. From that perspective it's by far the best grill I've ever used. I'm looking forward to using the Ranch Kettle for slow-cooking ribs or brisket; I'm confident that this grill will do a good job with these difficult dishes.
Construction
I've only has the grill for a short time, but it seems very solid. Assembly took about an hour, with clear instructions provided. During cooking, the system for holding the heavy lid on the side of the grill is very sturdy (though you have to use 2 hands with thick oven mitts to protect yourself from the heat). I keep my grill on a brick patio, and the four plastic wheels (two large, two small; the small wheels lock) rotate freely over the uneven surface, making it easy to move the grill even while it's in use. I am a little concerned about the lower grate, which supports the coals under the cooking grate. The lower grate has already warped slightly under the intense heat necessary for preparing a large meal. I suppose I'll be able to replace the charcoal grate, but it's a little soon to see it warp like that.
CONS:
No shelf
I'm used to having shelves on the side of my grill. These come in handy for tools and keeping sauces and other items nearby. The Ranch Kettle is huge, but I have to use a separate table to keep these things close at hand. The grill has several hooks for keeping tools, but I'd prefer a shelf on the side, especially one that folds down when not in use.
Cleaning
The Ranch Kettle is a bitch to clean. The removable cooking grates from my old Brinkmann would fit in the dishwasher, or in my kitchen sink for soaking. The large round cooking grate on the Ranch Kettle has to be cleaned without these conveniences. I use a sturdy wire brush with a metal scraper on the tip, which is effective at removing chunky food residue, but it isn't sufficient to get all the grease and residue off the grate and get it truly clean. I may invest in a Grill Daddy, but the grill has to be heated for that to work properly, which is a lot more convenient for a gas grill than for one which uses wood or coals for fuel. I may buy a big tub to soak the grate, but that's another hassle. I won't use any of the commercially available chemical grill cleaning solvents because it would be difficult to wash off the chemical residue, since I can't fit the grate in the sink or dishwasher.
Also, the large amount of charcoal necessary for the Ranch Kettle produces a prodigious amount of ash. I'm accustomed to dumping grill ash in an unused corner of my yard, but the Ranch Kettle makes so much ash I'm going to need a large ash can to dispose of it. The ash has to be scooped out of the lower portion of the kettle; the large ash catcher beneath the kettle is effective at keeping hot ash from blowing around, but most of the ash remains in the lower portion of the kettle.
Vertical clearance
As I indicated earlier, I grill my Thanksgiving turkey over coals and wood each year. However, I'm concerned that, for all it's size, the Ranch Kettle's lid doesn't seem to provide enough vertical clearance for a good-sized bird to fit underneath. I measured about 10 inches from the top of the middle of the lid down to the cooking surface; that's probably not going to be enough. The Ranch Kettle is unsurpassed for cooking most foods, but cooking something tall like a turkey may pose a problem.
Cost
As I indicated, this thing costs as much a five Brinkmanns. It also uses a huge amount of fuel. During our recent party, I tore through 1 1/2 large bags of regular charcoal, plus a full bag of mesquite wood chunks. Furthermore, I need to buy an ash can and some unique cleaning implements to service this large grill. And now that I've spent more than $1000 on this thing, I need a big waterproof cover to protect my investment. I suppose no grill comes with it's own cover, but the Ranch Kettle is a costly specialty item and I naively hoped Weber would provide one. I've ordered a round outdoor table cover, which I hope is sufficient to protect the grill from the elements. So there's a lot of stuff to buy even after you've plunked down a grand and change for the Ranch Kettle.
Despite these shortcomings, the Ranch Kettle is a pleasure to use and produces spectacular results no other grill can match. It's pricey, but it performs. Just know what you're getting into before you buy.
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Awesome
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| Review Date: January 17, 2009 |
| Reviewer: John Sorrick, Kansas City, Ks |
| I have had this product for over 2 years now and I love it. I have read other response about how difficult it is to clean. You are talking about a massive grill that sits in your yard get some degreaser and blast it with your hose. cleans up great. I have no problems with this grill. It is a must have for the true BBQue enthusiast. I use my for BBQ comp, I am able to have a fire on one side and cook passively. I took the charcoal grate out because of how close it keeps the coals, if you remove that one and put in a 22" grate for a standard weber and put it in the bottom it will keep your coals at a better distance and it is big enough so the 3 vents on the bottom can still breath. Love the lid design and the holder system that is made for it. I would recommend this product to anyone. |
A little disappointed
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| Review Date: December 16, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Snoopy, |
It was packaged in such a way to almost guarantee the dent in the lid caused by a charcoal vent. There's no one-touch cleaning, making the three vents inadequate for cleaning. There's no place for a thermometer (like the performer series). Grill has no handles. I would expect a little more in the way of features at that price! Its pretty darned expensive for what it is.
If you're buying a weber charcoal chimney, the large one does NOT hold the correct amount of charcoal, you need two small ones (which is even better for indirect heating). At least that's the case if you follow their guidelines for briquette counting.
Shipping was through a freight company (that I had never heard of), and delivery is NOT guaranteed by the date Amazon gave me - unless you happen to be home when they call to set up an appointment. I called them by 10 AM and it was too late to set up an appointment for that day.
But, other than the above, the grill is HUGE, nothing like it for a large gathering! |
Charcoal guys and gals rejoice!
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| Review Date: May 6, 2008 |
| Reviewer: D. Siewert, Tucson, AZ |
| If you are a true charcoal kind of guy/gal, you owe it to yourself to get this grill. Go ahead, reward yourself. You'll finally have the landscape to cook everything simultaneously for that great tasting meal you've grown accustomed to (sorry gas users). I take pride in grilling, and like you, I'm often disappointed in paying top dollar for a meal that I could have done better (if I was home grilling). This Weber does not disappoint. Yes, it's big but that's the beauty and convenience of it. Trust me, after your first grilling session; you will not know how you ever grilled on a 22" kettle. Enjoy my fellow charcoal lovers, enjoy! |
Whatta grill!
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| Review Date: June 4, 2004 |
| Reviewer: , |
| I was in the hardware store today and I saw the regular Weber 22 inch kettle. How did I ever cook anything on that tiny little thing? This grill's huge cooking space gives you plenty of room for indirect cooking. It's impossible to sear steaks then move them off the heat in a small grill unless you're doing one or two. With this one, you've got acres of space -- my culinary success rate went way up with this one. There is a similar model out there called the Whalen King Kettle. It has virtually the same cooking space but takes a smaller bite out of your wallet. Anyone know anything about it? Happy grilling... |
Best giant Charcoal grill I've seen
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| Review Date: June 20, 2003 |
| Reviewer: , |
| I have a family of 7 with a few extra around a lot of the time. Grilling used to be a step by step process which usually meant I ate after everyone else because I was still cooking when most were eating. We like to do meat and vegetables on the grill and with this grill I can do it all at once and sit down with the family and enjoy! You can build your fire off center and spin the grate to move one item off and another item over the flame. You can also build small fires on two sides and put meat in the middle and smoke anything. Easy to control vents allow you to regulate the heat and burn time of the coals. Also it doesn't use a bag of cahrcoal at a time as you might think. You can use one Weber Chimney Starter (which I also recommend)full to cook most items. The grate is TOP quality. I used to go through a grate a year on my old Weber Kettle. This grate is beefy and I think must be finished better. No rust at all after two years. The only thing that keeps me from rating this 5 stars is dealing with ashes. You have to remove both grates (and the cooking grate is a handful)and shovel ashes out. The bottom has three vents that are not made for ash removal. At least you can cook a ton before ashes become a problem. It is expensive and a load but I would do it again in a heartbeat if a tornado came and blew it away. That is about the only thing I can think of that would keep this thing from lasting for 20 years or more. |
L"Let the flames begin"
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| Review Date: September 16, 2002 |
| Reviewer: , Albany, NY |
| This is the title of Chris Schlesinger's new book. This book also has been an inspiration and recommedation for me to purchase this grill. I can cook anything on this baby. I have the room to do pizza perfectly and much easier. I have grilled 7 bone in Rib steaks on a multi level fire with delicious results using natural lump charcoal and a nice Oak log. Grilling just doesn't get any better. I don't have to worry anymore if I have enough room to grill for a large party. This is built to last. Your right Chris, I believe this grill has changed my life. |
What-a-Deal
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| Review Date: July 8, 2002 |
| Reviewer: , |
| I have used a 22" kettle for 18 years and have always wanted a kettle where I could use the inderect style of cooking with more accuracy. This kettle allows me to cook for one, two, or fifty,(people) with little problem. The setup for this grill is easy, and the first use was great. My neighbor looked over the fence, "Man, what a barbecue!" The hinged grate is sturdy, and allows easy access for adding wood to the fire. The lid works very well in the holder. The entire kettle is sound and the heat neaded to sear meat properly does not deform the grate (I keep a very hot fire). The price ... shipped is a very good value. |
Prepare to Entertain!
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| Review Date: October 9, 2001 |
| Reviewer: Mark Dillon, California |
| If you like the 22" or 26" Webers you will love the Ranch Kettle. Cooks just like its smaller kin but with the "Grande Meals" in mind. Plenty of room on the grill to move things around from direct to indirect heat. Weber says you can put 27 game hens at once on it. Heck with the little birds, to give you an idea of the cooking surface - I filled the grill with 20 chicken halves. A great investment! |
skoke up a fire with those mesquites and warn your arteries
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| Review Date: June 26, 2001 |
| Reviewer: Bruce E. Hogge, Houston, TX |
| Want to "que" Bevo or his fourlegged brethern...well this is the grill for you. you can stir up a fire with some good ol mesquite from "w's" beloved west texas city of choice and have a fire hose handy because this dude can stoke up a fire big enough for a hearty beef eaters family reunion. yep, bubba jo and bobbi gene can wrestle up their partners around this pit...pop a top again on a few Shiner Bocks and send a shock wave to the arteries fit for a vice president. yep...that's no bull. but in all seriousness...with the foolishness aside...once you get away from the lavish super bar b que pits custom made in the lone star state...this product will do a great job for any wanna be texan that wants to entertain a crowd...or feed their buds from the stockyard. don't forget the shiner bock...helps to keep the temperature just right when the summer heat is on. |
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