The Best Stainless Steel Charcoal Grills For Family Barbecues

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Our Picks For Top Stainless Steel Charcoal Grills

The winner in our search for the best stainless steel charcoal grill is the Napoleon Professional Freestanding Charcoal Grill. It is a grill which gives you plenty of cooking area, to both cook your food in the first instance and then keep it warm whilst you prepare everything in order to serve it.

With a manual rotisserie and an adjustable charcoal bed, any chef who is responsible for the steak, chicken, burgers or the roast has everything they'll need to cook it all to perfection.

Shortlist Of Our Favorite Stainless Steel Charcoal Grills

1. Napoleon Professional Freestanding Charcoal Grill
2. Blaze 32-Inch Stainless Steel Freestanding Charcoal Grill
3. Bull Bison 30-Inch Freestanding Charcoal Grill
4. Hasty-Bake Gourmet Stainless Steel Charcoal Grill
5. Fire Magic Legacy 24-Inch Freestanding Smoker Charcoal Grill

The Blaze 32-Inch Stainless Steel Freestanding Charcoal Grill has everything necessary for great BBQs with the added appeal of lots of storage. This is very useful if you like plenty of sauces, condiments, and spices handy to add that little bit of extra flavor to your cooking.

The Bull Bison 30-Inch Freestanding Charcoal Grill is a simple affair but this is why it appeals so much. Not everyone who cooks at a BBQ needs all the extras so if it's a grill that'll cook your food without a fuss you need, then this is the one for you.

Something a little bit different is how we'd describe the Hasty-Bake Gourmet Stainless Steel Charcoal Grill. It does all you want a grill to do but you get the added pleasure of being able to watch your food cook through the tempered glass window in the hood.

Finally, we have the Fire Magic Legacy 24-Inch Freestanding Smoker Charcoal Grill which is perfect for smaller family BBQs and cookouts. The offer of a free 5-piece BBQ tool kit gives this grill even greater appeal.

#1 Napoleon Professional Freestanding Charcoal Grill

Our winner in our quest to find the best stainless steel charcoal grill is the Napoleon Professional Freestanding Charcoal Grill. This is a grill that the nominated (or volunteer) BBQ chef is going to love cooking with.

Firstly, the main cooking area is an impressive 605 square inches which allow for plenty of burgers, chicken, steak, and veggies all to be cooked simultaneously. If that wasn't enough there is also a further 240 square inches of warming area so as items are cooked they can be placed there in readiness for serving them up to your guests.

To add further to the cooking options there is a manual rotisserie which can be used to evenly roast meats such as beef or pork joints. For added control, the charcoal bed can be adjusted up or down to intensify or reduce the cooking heat so that everything is cooked just right.

For convenience and ease charcoal is added or removed via the front-loading door and once it is up to full temperature the heat can be controlled further using the adjustable heating vents.

The grill can be used to simulate oven cooking by closing the lid and allowing everything inside to cook evenly, and you can keep an eye on the temperature by checking the hood thermometer.

A small shelf on either side provides space for cooking tools, cutlery, and condiments and when you need to move the grill it is easily maneuvered thanks to the four base wheels which can be locked in place when the grill is in use.

Things We Liked

• Large cooking area
• Adjustable charcoal bed and heat vents
• Additional heating area
• Rotisserie for roasting
• Lockable wheels

Things We Didn't Like

• No storage drawers
• Side shelves are rather small

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#2 Blaze 32-Inch Stainless Steel Freestanding Charcoal Grill

If you prefer products that simply do what they are supposed to without all the fancy bells and whistles, then you should love the Blaze 32-Inch Stainless Steel Freestanding Charcoal Grill.

To look at there is nothing extraordinary about it, but when you fire it up and get cooking you'll be delighted with how well it cooks and how easy it is to use. To start with you have a reasonably sized cooking area, with 550 square inches on the main grill. Depending on how much heat you require as you cook, you can raise or lower the cooking tray using the side-handle.

For further heat control, there are rear vents in the grill which can be opened or closed to regulate airflow and if you need additional fuel, the grill incorporates a ‘hook and hand' system to lift the grate so you can safely add more charcoal. The double lined hood enables you to close it whilst food cooks underneath and you can keep tabs on the temperature using the build in thermometer.

To keep all your cooking accessories neatly and safely stored away there is a double door storage area under the grill and the two small side shelves can be used for holding sauces, seasoning, and cutlery. When you are finished cooking for the day, cleaning is made ultra easy as both the charcoal tray and ash pan are removable.

What We Liked

• Simple to use
• Rear vents to control air flow
• Grate lifting system to add fuel
• Plenty of storage underneath
• Easy to clean

What We Didn't Like

• No warming area
• No rotisserie

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#3 Bull Bison 30-Inch Freestanding Charcoal Grill

There are plenty of BBQ chefs who want their grills to be simple and the cooking experience to be a pleasurable one. If that sounds like you then you should check out the Bull Bison 30-Inch Freestanding Charcoal Grill.

This is a charcoal grill that lets you get on with the job of cooking wonderful steaks, ribs, chicken, or corn without needing a 30-page instruction manual to operate it. You simply light your charcoal, place your food on the grate and let it cook, simple as that.

To help the air, smoke, and (best of all) the flavor to circulate, there are air vents on the firebox and the hood. The hood's thermometer will let you keep an eye on the temperature when it is in the closed position.

The charcoal holders can be raised or lowered so that you can cook quickly with a high heat, or slowly with a gentler heat. When your food is cooked and waiting to be served there is a warming rack where it can be placed, and on either side of the grill, you have small serving shelves which can also be used for cutlery or condiments to sit on.

What We Liked

• Very easy to use
• Warming rack
• Hood thermometer
• Charcoal bins can be raised or lowered
• Air vents to circulate air and smoke

What We Didn't Like

• No storage cupboard or drawers
• No rotisserie

==> Get It Here!

[https://www.bbqguys.com/bull/bison-30-inch-charcoal-grill-freestanding-67530]

#4 Hasty-Bake Gourmet Stainless Steel Charcoal Grill

We're going to be up front with you and say that this specific review is not going to award any prizes for the best looking grill, but the Hasty-Bake Gourmet Stainless Steel Charcoal Grill isn't far off the top spot when it comes to functionality and cooking capacity.

This will come as great news if your BBQs and cookouts are more about the food you are cooking for guests and how quickly you can serve them all, than them standing around hungry whilst admiring your grill for its looks.

Your Hasty-Bake grill has a generous 834 square inches of cooking area which will easily cater for even the busiest of BBQ crowds. You have a 523-square inch main cooking area, which is enough for 24 burgers, with the additional area being taken up with a convenient warming rack.

The charcoal tray can be adjusted to three different levels which are marked on the front of the grill so you can pick whichever is applicable to the food you are cooking. The options are sear, bake or smoke and to select whichever you need, you simply turn the adjustment handle until the indicator is pointing to your choice.

Other features to make your cooking experience easier are a tempered glass viewing window in the hinged hood, air vents to promote heat circulation, a front shelf and a grease drainage system to make cleaning up afterward less of a chore.

What We Liked

• Simple to use
• Plenty of cooking area including warming rack
• Adjustable charcoal tray with cooking indicator
• Grease drainage for easy cleaning
• Folding hood with viewing window

What We Didn't Like

• Not very stylish
• No storage for cooking tools

==> Get It Here!

#5 Fire Magic Legacy 24-Inch Freestanding Smoker Charcoal Grill

When it comes to offering a grilling solution that is ideal for family BBQs,  the Fire Magic Legacy 24-Inch Freestanding Smoker Charcoal Grill covers all the bases.

At 432 square inches, it doesn't have the biggest of cooking areas but unless you are catering for a lot of guests, that is not an issue. This size is perfect for cooking for the family and even if one or two unexpected guests show up, it has a warming rack to either keep food warm or heat up side dishes.

Getting up and running is easy as you can add charcoal via the access drawer at the front and then light it. At the front of the cart, you have a cranking handle which allows you to adjust the charcoal tray to whichever temperature you want to cook with, whether that is high for searing meat or low for smoking some gammon or chicken.

If you want to cook with an indirect heat you can use the charcoal shield, and with the hood closed you can monitor the temperature thanks to the built-in analog thermometer.

Each side of the grill has a shelf for laying out condiments, cutlery or salad items and to give you the best possible excuse to get started cooking right away, this grill comes with a free 5-piece BBQ tool set, which includes a spatula and a carving fork.

What We Liked

• Simple layout
• Adjustable charcoal tray
• Warming rack
• Charcoal shield for indirect cooking
• Free BBQ tool kit

What We Didn't Like

• No storage drawers
• Difficult to clean

==> Get It Here!

Buyer's Guide For Stainless Steel Charcoal Grills

The beauty of stainless steel charcoal grills is, when it comes to making a buying decision, they are not particularly complicated so you don't have a multitude of complicated functions that you need to compare. That being said, there are some basic features that are worth your consideration.

The first is the cooking area which is important to note, especially if you expect to be cooking for several guests instead of just your immediate family. As well as differences in the size of the main cooking area, there are some grills which come with an additional warming rack, which is very useful when cooking larger volumes of food.

With large choices in the types of food that can be cooked on your grill, you'll want to look at what functions each grill has in terms of being able to make heat adjustments. Remember there will be times when you are searing food, and others where a gentle heat is required, so ensure your grill gives you the means to do both.

If you like everything to hand when you are cooking, then a grill with plenty of storage and shelving areas is what you'll want to look for. There are considerable differences between grills, with some giving you loads of storage and others barely any, so it's important you ascertain what you get before buying.

Cooking food for a BBQ can be a messy affair, with grease, ash and other mess accumulating on, in and around the grill. Some grills make the task of getting everything clean afterward much easier with features such as grease drainage, ash pans, and removable trays. If cleaning is something you hate then you might want a grill with plenty of these cleaning aids built in.

Finally, as we are looking at stainless steel, versus any other type of material, then you may want to check the grade that has been used on your grill. It should be at least 304 stainless steel to ensure it has a solid construction and is durable.

Have The Best Of Both BBQ Worlds Cooking With Stainless Steel Charcoal Grills

No matter what physical product you are buying there are bound to be huge differences and choices in the types, sizes, prices, and functions available. BBQ grills are no different with, at one end of the scale, huge island grills and at the other end of the scale, grills that are very basic charcoal camping stoves.

The best island grills give BBQ chefs lots of additional cooking options such as rotisseries, warming racks, adjustable heat and because of their size, you get larger cooking surface areas. Island grills also come with very stylish designs that make them part of your garden furniture. All highly desirable, but they do come at a price, often running into several thousand dollars in most cases.

With smaller charcoal grills, some of which cost less than $100, you don't get a lot of added extras, and in some cases, all you have is the grill base and a rack for the food to cook on. However, something else you get, which can never have a price put on it, is the joy of cooking food over charcoal. And it isn't just the actual act of cooking that is thrilling but also the amazing experience of watching your food cook, whilst you take in all the wonderful smells and sounds as it does so.

With stainless steel charcoal grills, you can bridge the divide between a grill that makes the cooking of food as easy and convenient as possible, and one giving you the experience of cooking food with all the aromas and noises triggering your senses.

This is why we believe using a stainless steel charcoal grill gives you best of both worlds. Many of them have similar cooking aids to those on lots of the top of the range island grills such as:

• Warming Rack
• Rotisserie
• Adjustable Tray for Variable Heat
• Thermometer
• Air Vents

These can give a BBQ chef lots of the flexibility they need to cook food at different temperatures and for varying lengths of time. The best grill islands also allow for different types of cooking such as grilling, roasting, and baking which is exactly what most stainless steel charcoal grills enable you to do. Grilling is obviously a given but those that have a rotisserie will let you roast pork or chicken, and if your stainless steel grill has a charcoal shield you can bake with the hood down.

When it comes to the experience of cooking with a charcoal grill you get the full range of sensations, that frankly cooking on a gas-powered grill can never recreate. First, there is the visual appeal of the glowing charcoal and the kaleidoscope of colors you can see as it heats up and then starts to cook your food. Staying with your eyes, there's the enjoyment of watching your food cook in such a natural way, with the juices dripping, and it’s changing colors as it gets closer and closer to being ready.

Then there's the wonderful sound of cooking food with charcoal as it sizzles, pops, and hisses especially when fat or juice drips into the red-hot charcoal underneath. Last but not least there are the smells and aromas which only charcoal can bring to a BBQ. For many people, these smells ARE the BBQ and with a charcoal grill, you'll have them all.

All of this is why stainless-steel charcoal grills give you the best of both worlds when it comes to cooking BBQ food. Convenient, useful features that a top grill island might offer, with the sensations that only cooking with charcoal can give you.