Weber Performer Review: This Grill Delivers Iconic Design and Great Charcoal Flavor With Upgraded Features
Updated: Jun. 30, 2024
Learn why this upgraded design tops our list of the best charcoal grills. Here's our full review of the Weber Performer charcoal grill.
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For many grilling enthusiasts, nothing compares to grilling with charcoal. Charcoal is approachable, providing exceptional flavor and control over quick sears or slow cooks. And consistently at the top of the list of the best charcoal grills? Weber Grills has taken the top spot for decades thanks to the brand’s recognizable kettle grill design.
In testing the best Weber Grills, grilling expert and Taste of Home Test Kitchen team member Catherine Ward found the Weber Performer charcoal grill to be the best pick for its ease of assembly and use, sturdy, clever design and excellent performance when cooking steak, chicken and baby back ribs. Here’s what we found out while testing.
What is the Weber Performer?
Weber is well-known for its iconic dome-shaped kettle grill design. It’s the same design that has been going strong for the last 70-plus years. And while the original Weber Kettle grill is an excellent budget-friendly option, the 22-inch Weber Performer is the ultimate upgrade. The charcoal grill is designed with the same classic dome shape, but instead of a three-legged system, it is built into a four-legged cart with wheels on each leg. The grill is also designed with a holder to easily move the lid over while checking on what you’re grilling, along with a side prep table that folds down and utility hooks for grilling tools and accessories. It has a 363-square-inch cooking surface to cook everything from multiple burgers and chicken legs to a small grilled pizza.
TASTE OF HOME
We Tried It
Weber Performer Charcoal Grill
This charcoal grill's powerful performance and convenient features is your excuse to ignite the coals every day.
Weber Performer Features
Weber charcoal grills are constructed from steel, and the Weber Performer has a porcelain enamel coating to maximize heat retention while also protecting the exterior against rust or other damage. Inside, there are heavy-duty grates designed with a hinge system. This allows you to add more charcoal while grilling. You can also customize the way you use the grill by removing the center grate and adding a Weber grill accessory such as a griddle.
The Test Kitchen noted the convenience of the side table, which was very sturdy. The locking wheels made it easy to move and then lock and keep in place.
When the grill is lit, the temperature can be read on the built-in thermometer on top. If you need to adjust the temperature, the top and bottom vents, each with silicone handles, are easily accessible and safe to touch when in use.
How We Tested the Weber Performer
The first step in testing the Weber Performer charcoal grill was to see how simple it was to assemble straight out of the box. There weren’t too many parts to put together with this grill, and the instructions were clear. The Test Kitchen noted that it was simpler to put together than the Original Weber Kettle Grill, and the spinning wheels made for easy access and movement while assembling.
This grill was tested with a variety of foods and cooking methods. Grilling expert Catherine Ward cooked a 1 1/2-inch steak on high heat at 450 degrees, searing each side for one minute and cooking the steak covered for four minutes in between each sear. It took one hour to cook a whole cut-up chicken at a medium temperature of 350 degrees. Baby back ribs were also cooked on the charcoal grill at a low and slow temperature of 275 degrees for three hours.
During cooking, Catherine found it easy to control and maintain the grill’s temperature by adjusting the vents; additional charcoal didn’t need to be added while cooking. It took less than 10 minutes to get the grill up to the desired temperature, and the grill stayed consistent the entire cook time. The steak test resulted in a juicy steak with a beautiful sear on both sides, while the tender ribs had light grill marks. The chicken had crisp, browned skin with grill marks and a juicy, tender texture. Catherine also loved the convenient hooks for holding go-to grilling tools.
Cleaning the Weber Performer grill after cooking was simple with a grill brush, and the grates were not scratched by the bristles of the brush. The grease drip tray at the base of the grill was big enough to catch all of the drips while cooking, and it was easy to remove the solidified grease when cleaning out the tray.
After a week of reviewing in our Outdoor Test Kitchen, Catherine then took the grill home for further evaluation. She’s particularly smitten with all the features on this charcoal grill, noting it’s a nice step up from a standard kettle grill. “The lid cradle makes it easy to store the lid when the grill is uncovered; the removable center grate for indirect grilling is a very useful feature; the silicone handle on the lid vent means you can adjust the vents without getting burned or having to use tongs to adjust it,” Catherine says. “I have used and appreciated all of these features when testing.”
Catherine also appreciates all the storage the Performer offers. “The hinged side table is very sturdy, so I can easily load a pan or platter with food on and off the grill. I have the table folded down for a smaller footprint when storing. There is a rack under the grill which is handy too; I store my chimney starter there. There are also hooks on the front of the grill to hang utensils and grill brush that I use while cooking,” she explains. The cherry on top? “The large wheels make moving this grill a cinch. I store my grills in a different area of my patio than where I cook, so moving smoothly is a huge plus for me.”
Pros
- Easy and intuitive to use
- Sturdy design with 4 wheeled legs
- Sturdy, large folding side table for prep
- Cradle to hold lid when opening the grill
Cons
- No char basket included for indirect cooking
Why You Should Trust Us
The Taste of Home Test Kitchen tested this Weber Performer charcoal grill, along with other Weber charcoal and gas grill models, with grilling expert Catherine Ward taking the lead. The grill was thoroughly evaluated for assembly, performance, design and ease of cleaning.
I am a writer specializing in food and lifestyle, with a specific passion for outdoor cooking and grilling. While I love to keep my eye on the latest food trends and kitchen gadgets, I primarily focus on testing established products. I strive to recommend items that are worth the investment and will last, including pizza ovens, fire pits, grills and smokers.
Product Comparison
The best grills are simple and safe to use, perform well and can be cleaned easily. The Weber Performer grill is an excellent choice for those who love charcoal grilling but want upgraded features. It has all of the intuitive, easy-to-use features of the Original Weber Kettle Grill, but with helpful additions such as the folding side table and rolling legs so you can use your grill anywhere in a variety of ways. It functions very similarly to any charcoal grill but comes with the same clever design that Weber has been known for over decades of use.
Because charcoal grills can simply be turned on and off, they have a bit more of a learning curve in controlling temperature and managing the flame compared to gas grills. However, because of its design and features, the Weber Performer charcoal grill would be a good fit for beginners just getting started cooking with charcoal.
Final Verdict
The Weber Performer charcoal grill offers all the benefits of exceptional flavor you get from a charcoal grill, coupled with helpful temperature control and additional features such as easy-to-roll wheels and a folding side table. It’s all that people love in the iconic Weber Kettle Grill, but with clever, convenient upgrades to make a grilling session that much more fun.
Where to Buy the Weber Performer
TASTE OF HOME
We Tried It
Weber Performer Charcoal Grill
This charcoal grill's powerful performance and convenient features is your excuse to ignite the coals every day.
Time to fire up the grill for great flavor? The Weber Performer grill can be found at Amazon, Weber, Walmart and Home Depot for $349.
Originally Published: June 18, 2024
