Weber Original Kettle 22-Inch Review
Still the charcoal grill
As an Amazon Associate, Karen Verified earns from qualifying purchases. That never changes our verdict.
Verdict: Karen Verified
Karen VerifiedThe short answer: The Weber kettle is the charcoal grill by which we judge the others, and after a year it has not given us a reason to look elsewhere. You will need a chimney, a thermometer, and some patience with the vents.
- Buy it if
- Anyone who wants real charcoal flavor and is willing to learn vent control.
- Skip it if
- You want to press a button and cook in five minutes, or you need a built-in thermometer.
- Best feature
- Even heat, tight lid, the one-touch ash system, and parts you can still buy in ten years.
- Biggest annoyance
- No lid thermometer on this base model, and the ash catcher is shallow.
- The catch
- Charcoal takes patience. Between lighting and cooking you are looking at twenty minutes, and the vents take a few cooks to understand.
- Evaluation
- In use since September 2025
- Model
- Weber 741001
The 20-second verdict
Still the charcoal grill The Weber kettle is the charcoal grill by which we judge the others, and after a year it has not given us a reason to look elsewhere. You will need a chimney, a thermometer, and some patience with the vents. Best for: Anyone who wants real charcoal flavor and is willing to learn vent control. Skip if: You want to press a button and cook in five minutes, or you need a built-in thermometer.
What we loved, and what annoyed us
What we loved
- Tight lid and simple vents give real temperature control
- One-Touch ash sweep works
- Replacement parts available for years
- Light enough to move
What annoyed us
- No lid thermometer on this model
- Ash catcher is shallow
- Charcoal takes time
What We Loved
Burgers over direct heat, a chicken banked to one side with the lid on, a pork shoulder for six hours with a handful of coals and the bottom vent cracked; it has done all of them without fuss. The lid seals well enough that closing the vents chokes the fire and saves the coals. The ash sweep is a lever and a twist, and the bowl has not chipped. It has been rained on all year with a cover and looks new.
What Annoyed Us
The base model has no thermometer in the lid, so you add a probe or guess. The aluminum ash catcher fills after two cooks and blows ash around when you empty it. The grate hinge flaps are small for adding coals mid-cook.
The Catch
Charcoal is a hobby, not a convenience. Twenty minutes from match to cooking, vents that reward attention, and cleaning up ash. If you want dinner in ten minutes a gas grill is the honest answer.
Who it is for
- Anyone who wants charcoal flavor
- Low-and-slow cooks on a budget
- People who like to tinker with fire
Who should skip it
- Weeknight speed
- Balconies where charcoal is banned
How we evaluated it
- Evaluation period
- A full year, ongoing
- Where
- A back patio, all seasons, with a cover
- What we did with it
- Direct grilling, two-zone roasting, long smokes, pizza on a stone
- Compared against
- A previous Char-Broil kettle and a Weber Smokey Joe
- What we looked at
- Heat retention, vent response, ash handling, rust
- Limitations
- Did not test the Premium or Master-Touch versions
- Product source
- Purchased at retail
- Dates
- September 2025 – ongoing
Read how we evaluate products and our editorial standards.
Performance
Once the vents are understood it holds a low temperature for hours on a small pile of coals and roars for searing with everything open. Heat is even across the grate when the coals are spread. Recovery after opening the lid is quick. Nothing has rusted, warped or loosened.
Ease of use, design, and build quality
Ease of use
Assembly took half an hour. The lid hook on the side is handy. Vents are a little stiff when cold and free up warm.
Design and build quality
A black enamel bowl on three legs with a domed lid. It has looked like this for decades because the shape does the work.
Privacy and connectivity
No app, no account, nothing to connect.
Safety notes
Hot lid and bowl; keep it away from siding and off wooden decks without a mat. Never use indoors.
Cleaning, maintenance, and ongoing costs
Sweep ash after each cook, scrape the grate while hot, and wipe the inside of the lid when flakes start to fall. Cover it.
What it keeps costing you
| Consumables | Charcoal, and eventually a grate |
|---|---|
| Expected life | Fifteen to twenty years |
Value
You get a grill that will still be cooking when cheaper kettles are in a landfill, for a modest premium over them. The extras you will want, a chimney and a thermometer, are separate purchases.
Alternatives
Weber Original Kettle Premium adds both for a bit more.
Weber Original Kettle 26-inch has room for two chickens and a brisket.
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Specifications
| Brand / model | Weber 741001 |
|---|---|
| Cooking area | 363 sq. in. (manufacturer states) |
| Bowl and lid | Porcelain-enameled steel |
| Grate | Plated steel |
| Ash system | One-Touch with aluminum catcher |
| Weight | About 32 lb (manufacturer states) |
| Warranty | Bowl and lid 10 years (manufacturer states) |
Only specifications that affect the buying decision are listed. Figures marked “manufacturer states” are the maker's claims, not our measurements.
Warranty and returns
Manufacturer states 10 years on the bowl and lid; returns are set by the retailer.
Reader questions
Do I need the Premium version?
Can it smoke meat?
Final verdict
Verdict: Karen Verified
Karen VerifiedVerified. Still the charcoal grill, still the one we would buy.
- Best for
- Anyone who wants real charcoal flavor and is willing to learn vent control.
- Skip if
- You want to press a button and cook in five minutes, or you need a built-in thermometer.
- Main strength
- Even heat, tight lid, the one-touch ash system, and parts you can still buy in ten years.
- Main weakness
- No lid thermometer on this base model, and the ash catcher is shallow.
As an Amazon Associate, Karen Verified earns from qualifying purchases. That never changes our verdict.
Update and correction history
- Published.Why: Initial evaluation.Verdict unchanged
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As an Amazon Associate, Karen Verified earns from qualifying purchases. If you buy through links on this site we may receive a commission. You do not pay more because of this. Affiliate relationships do not determine which products we evaluate, recommend, criticize, or reject. Brands cannot buy a Karen Verified verdict. Full affiliate disclosure. Photographs on this page illustrate the product in use and are not test evidence; see our image policy.