A compact space saver that grills BIG.

I have always lived in apartments where storage space is limited. Having things outside is not usually an option for me. Having a compact Weber Smoky Joe grill, the size did not always satisfy my needs. So I decided to shop for a new grill, one that was slightly larger yet still compact enough for some portability. I found what I was looking for at an Ace Hardware.

What came in the box:

The original Weber 18 1/2" One-Touch Gold kettle came packaged in several parts: The leg and wheel assembly, the ash catcher and holder, bowl, lid, hinged cooking grate, and a standard charcoal grate. enclosed were two sets of instructions: One detailing the assembly process, and another describing the grills usage and giving some recipes. Also enclosed was a registration form and a small accessory catalog.

Assembly:

Assembly was reasonably easy. However, it did take some effort to place the legs in their respective sockets. The holder for the ash catcher can be tricky, but only if the instructions are not read and followed carefully. Everything was spelled out, and I did the assembly sequentially. The result was a very attractive, free-standing living room ornament for the time being. That is, until I started feeling hungry.

The fun begins:

Inexperience can teach us a few things, and my Weber kettle was no exception. After taking an hour to grill some ribs without getting the desired results (not done enough in the middle and an uncharred surface), I learned the first point of this appliance's operation: Always use enough charcoal. The ribs got finished in the microwave, but still turned out adequate. But then I learned something else: Cleaning is easy. After going through the innards with a blue kitchen scrubbing pad (never use green, it'll scratch the finish), I did the same to the exterior. A reasonable amount of Dawn Dishwashing Liquid and a good rinse, and my grill once again graced my kitchen area by the dining room table.

The next day arrived, and I took my shiny new kettle out for another run. This time, I used more charcoal and learned the true meaning of indirect cooking: Nicely charred and carmelized on the outside, moist and tender inside as well as nicely done. A tangy flavor and the carmelization of the sauce along with the charring exterior lent a blackened touch to the ribs, very much like what one would experience at a fine restaurant. I was in business!

The ribs were the beginning. Later came the chicken, then the burgers, then the pork chops and eventually acorn squash among other specimens that fell prey to my Weber kettle. Each and every experiment performed, of course, yielded very desirable results. As a side benefit, I dined well at a fraction of the cost of going to steak houses. As long as I had charcoal, I didn't have to worry about extravagant prices, tips, or taxes. Not to mention, the time savings and reduced wear and tear on my car. Grilling has since become a life-long passion and the Weber kettle is a tool that I don't care to do without.

How I light the charcoal:

After fiddling with lighter fluid a few too many times, I acquired a desire for a cleaner, surer, and quicker way to get the fire lit. So I took another trip to Ace, and brought with me one of Weber's fine chimney starters and some fire starters. Having filled the chimney starter with briquettes, I placed one fire starter on the charcoal grate and touched a lighter too it. Then, I placed the chimney starter loaded with charcoal over that. After about 15 minutes, viola: coals with a white ash covering and a red glow. What more could I ask for? The investment was well worth it, and the Weber Fire Starters were only 10 cents each ($2.30 for a package of 24). So, why not save some grief and a mess with charcoal fluid? The chimney starter was $12.99 well spent!

Indirect Cooking:

OK, so now I'm down to describing some of what I like doing with my Weber. Their claim to fame is the "indirect method" of grilling, and the importance of the lid. I use Weber's charcoal rails for such an occasion, and positioned them as instructed on the charcoal grate. After lighting the briquettes (with my handy chimney starter), I fill each side with glowing read coals. Then, I place one of Weber's larger drip pans in the middle (I fold the sides up so the pan fits better, no biggie). Having placed the cooking grid in place, I put my meat over the pan on top of the grid (not in the pan). Placing the lid on the grill causes it to act somewhat like a convection oven, only with the added bonus of charcoal flavor. It's what grilling is all about. Barbecue sauce gets brushed on once every 5 minutes or so, during the last 15 minutes of cooking. Since chicken takes an hour to fully cook, for example, that means I start brushing on the sauce after 45 minutes. Obviously, your mileage will vary so it's important to experiment some.

Direct Cooking:

This one is easy. I load up the chimney starter almost to the top, light it as described above, and then dump the coals on the charcoal grate. Steaks, chops, burgers, hot dogs, chicken split breasts, and the like just permeate the neighborhood with that mouth watering aroma that can drive some folks into an Applebees restaurant with big open wallets (unless they grill like me)! As a general rule, I turn burgers after 8 to 10 minutes and steaks after 10 minutes, depending on thickness. Grilling is an art, and not an exact science, so it's very important to go by the looks and characteristics of the food to get the desired results. I use the lid during cooking because that causes the smoke from the drippings and charcoal to permeate the food, adding more intense flavor without flare ups.

So what about flare ups?:

I have never had a problem with flare ups in a Weber that the lid could not handle. There are some times when extra greasy hamburger meat will cause some light flame when the lid is up, but the lid extinguishes that quickly. Each time that happened to me, I got a flame broiled finish that went down nicely with an ice cold Pepsi or Coke and resulted in a very full stomach.

Charcoal falling through the grate?:

I have never had a problem with briquettes falling through the charcoal grate as they get smaller during grilling. So obviously, I have never had trouble with the vents clogging. If it ever does happen, the solution is easy: Just move the one touch lever from side to side to clear it and you're set.

Cleaning:

When I'm done with the grilling, I move the one touch lever from side to side to sweep any charcoal ashes into the ash pan. Then, I close the bottom vent with the one-touch lever, and use my spatula to close the lid vent. After waiting for an hour for the grill to cool, I scrape the food grid with my spatula and a wire brush. Then, I remove that to the sink. Next, I grab the charcoal grid with my hand, position my chimney starter over the grills bowl assembly, and empty any unused charcoal into the chimney starter. I shake the chimney starter to sift out any left over ashes. Then, I open up the bottom vent with the one touch lever, and brush the remaining ashes into the ash pan and dispose of them in a Waste Reciprocal. I then wash out the bowl assembly with water and dish soap, scrubbing with a BLUE scrubber sponge (I never use a green scrubber sponge). The bowl gets rinsed out, then I wash the lid and the ash pan in the kitchen sink (after brushing all the ashes out of the ash pan). Obviously, I do all the cleaning steps after the fire is fully extinguished and the grill is completely cooled. Thus, my grill gets admired until its next job comes up.

Features I like the most:

The Weber One Touch Gold features a lever on the bottom, over the ash pan handle. That lever serves both to close the bottom vent, and also to sweep ashes to the pan below. The ash pan on the Weber One-Touch Gold, unlike the One-Touch Silver, attaches directly to a holder underneath. There is less chance of ashes getting scattered by the wind, and the pan is easily removed for the dumping and disposal of the cooled ashes. The ash pan can also be handy to catch rinse water when washing out the grills bottom bowl assembly. The lever also closes the bottom vent to put out the fire, thus saving charcoal for later use.

The lid has a hook which can be used to hang on the side of the grill while tending the food. This keeps the lid handy for placement.

The hinged cooking grate makes it very easy to add more charcoal during cooking: Just move the food over to one side, lift the hinge, add more charcoal, close the hinge and replace the food back over the hinge. Do the same to the other side. When adding more charcoal during Weber's Direct Method, use a long fire tending stick to spread the new charcoal under the cooking grate on each side.

My overall impression:

This is a very compact grill that is light in weight. The size is large enough for me to grill larger quantities for later storage and reheating. Yet, it is small enough to where it takes up very little space. The ash pan makes dealing with the used charcoal easy, and convenient. I can add more briquettes during the cooking process with the hinged cooking grate. The grill is very pleasant to look at when it's not in use, and it can be easily cleaned well enough to store indoors. Weber has a known reputation for making products that are durable and long lasting, the 18 1/2" One-Touch gold is not an exception. The grill is well engineered for effectiveness and ease of use given its smaller size. With Weber's parts availability, I will be able to service my grill for many years to come, without having to worry about buying a new grill from somebody else.

Accessories:

Weber makes several accessories available for their grills. Among them are charcoal rails, skewers, racks, work tables, covers and numerous others. Some accessories are specifically designed for their 22 1/2" kettles, and will thus not work on the 18 1/2". I would like to see Weber make more extras for this smaller design, as I feel that it is worthy given that some would prefer a smaller sized grill with all the features of one that's larger.

A bit about Ace Hardware:

When I lived in Minnesota, I moved into a new apartment that did not allow the use of charcoal grills. My original Weber 18 1/2" One-Touch Gold ended up being donated to a friend in my church, after 4 years of continuous service. The old grill got banged around numerous times and suffered at the hands of careless movers on more than one occasion. However, it was kept in service over the years and its scrapes and dings show its character. The old grill soldiers on, having found a new home. It will continue serving its new owners for many years to come.

Recently, I once again found a place that allows the use of a charcoal grill. Having remembered the trusty Weber I once owned, I purchased a new one in the blue color. Taking the contents out of the package, I noticed some barely detectable scratches on the lid. I showed this to the manager at Ace Hardware, and he immediately ordered me a new lid to match, with no questions asked. I also get to keep the lid that came with my new grill for a spare! I therefore highly recommend going to Ace Hardware when considering a new grill, especially a Weber. Ace Hardware has never disappointed me with a grill purchase.

Additional Info:

All Weber grills have handles that are made of glass-reinforced nylon. They are cool to the touch while the grill is in use, and do not require gloves. The handles are almost totally immune to the elements: They just will not crack or fade and stand up very well to heat. The wheels on all Weber One-Touch grills are made out of durable plastic, and will not rust due to weather or moisture. The One-Touch mechanism is of stainless steel construction. The ash pan, ash pan holder, and legs are of cast aluminum. Rather than paint their grills, Weber uses a Porcelain enamel coating. Porcelain enamel is a far more durable finish than any paint. To illustrate: I left my Weber Smokey Joe outside in a snow bank for several months, totally uncovered, and it came out unscathed except for one or two minor scratches. It was still full of charcoal from its last use. And that was during a time when they were doing some construction around the buildings where I live!

With the experiences I've had with my Weber grills, I decided to update the ratings. I have yet to encounter a charcoal grill that has the same durability, compactness, ease of cleaning, and ease of use for this price range. Therefore, I have updated the ratings accordingly. I suppose the only way to really damage a Weber kettle enough to make it useless would be to run over it with a truck. What more can I say?