I still remember the first time I ever saw a Weber chimney starter, one of the most tried and true Weber grill accessories. It was on an Alton Brown Good Eats episode. He filled the chimney starter with charcoal, doused some oil on a piece of paper towel, stuffed the paper towel sheet into the base of the chimney, and those coals were off to the races!
Photo Credit: Jalapeño
Fitting, that as I began years later to delve more deeply into the world of the BBQ Smoker, I learned that this ain’t just a tool for the “Grill” crew. Nope. You’ll see these babies rocking in two’s and three’s at most competition BBQ cook sites across our great nation. Why? Shoot, that’s easy! Because no single item in the BBQ Grilling or BBQ Smoker arsenal can get natural lump charcoal up to proper cooking temperature faster than a chimney starter. And whether it’s the competition turn in clock or your family’s hunger pangs urging you on, time is always a factor!
Weber 7416 Rapidfire Chimney Starter
 |  List Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $13.17 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Eligible For Free Shipping   |
Product Description
Weber's chimney starter makes starting your charcoal a snap. It also cuts down the amount of time it takes for the coals to get ready. Just load up our extra large cannister full of coals, light up a fire starter or crinkled up newspaper, and set the cannister over the flame. In a matter of minutes the coals will be red hot. Who ever thought it could be so easy?
Details
- Chimney starter system lights charcoal quickly and evenly
- Made from aluminized steel with a stay-cool thermoplastic handle
- Holds enough briquettes for a 22-1/2-inch kettle grill
- Cone bottom ensures a fast start; eliminates need for lighter fluid
- Measures 7-1/2 by 7-1/2 by 12 inches
There are of course different ways to get your Weber chimney starter burning. You can use cooking oil on a paper towel or the nifty paraffin cubes that are climbing the ranks among the Weber grill accessories “must haves.” Avoid newspaper, as the smoke output is not anything you’d want near your food – for sure!
In any case, you’re sure to be very happy with your chimney starter. Happy grilling and smoking!
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Based on what I’ve been able to ascertain, the best selling Weber grill on the market today is the Weber One-Touch Gold Charcoal Grill. When you think of Weber’s history, it makes sense. The shape of nearly ever kettle charcoal grill you see today can be traced to the Weber Grill Company. As such, the Weber grills brand is synonymous with BBQ and Grilling not only in America, but abroad as well.
We owe a great deal as a BBQ culture here in America to Mr. George Stephen, inventor of the Weber Grill. In 1952, a metal worker from Chicago, Stephen used good old American ingenuity to overcome what he saw as a problem with the brick, chimney-style or “brazier” style barbecues of the day. He used half-spheres the Weber metal works company at which he worked made for bouys utilized in Lake Michigan. (So that’s where the kettle bottom idea comes from!)
Check out this video at about the 2:24 min. mark for a neat little visual history of Weber grills:
Our good friend Hanneke Eerden, who writes the Smokin’ with the Dutchess posts for the BBQ Smoker Site, uses a Weber over in the Netherlands. Take a look at what she’s cooking up for some really great ideas about what you can cook on Weber kettle grills.
The Weber One-Touch Gold charcoal grill gets top marks from backyard BBQ-ers and nationally acclaimed BBQ pros as well. Adam Perry Lang, renowned chef and proprietor of Daisy May’s BBQ in New York, gives this take on the Weber One-Touch Gold grill:
The 26.75 (as in inches in diameter) is Weber’s biggest family-style kettle grill, affording a 508-square-inch cooking surface and enough space below to create different temperature zones by shifting coals. “It’s not super heavy-duty, but it’s universal enough to get good charring on steak while also handling fish,” Lang says. “If you’re into active cooking, this one really is a soldier.” - Adam Perry Lang
With a stamp of approval like this, you can see why the Weber One-Touch Gold charcoal grill is a favorite.
Weber 751001 22.5-Inch One-Touch Gold Charcoal Grill, Black
 |  List Price: $159.70 Sale Price: $149.00 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Eligible For Free Shipping |
Product Description
Heavy-guage porcelain-enameled lid and bowl, factory-assembled stainless steel One-Touch cleaning system, sweeper system, rust-resistant aluminum legs, removable high-capacity ash catcher, glass-reinforced nylon handles, hinged cooking grate. Available in 18 1/2" and 22 1/2" diameter models with a limited 10-year warranty.
Details
- The Weber One-Touch Gold charcoal grill has a heavy-gauge porcelain enamel that prevents rust
- The One-Touch cleaning and venting system allows you to empty the ash in seconds without getting your hands dirty
- The grill is made of black heavy-gauge porcelain-enameled steel lid and bowl
- The hinged cooking grate allows for easy re-fueling
- 10-year limited warranty
As you can see, the Weber One-Touch Gold charcoal grill continues to receive high marks. There are a few items you might want to consider when buying this grill. To keep it clean while not in use, a Weber 7453 Premium Kettle Cover is a great option. You’ll want to have a set of basic tools. For this, the Weber Professional-Grade Stainless-Steel BBQ Tool Set has proven very popular among true Weber enthusiasts.
Lastly, you’ll want to start your coals burning in the most efficient manner possible. A Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter is going to do the trick nicely, here, as it has proven to be one of the fastest ways to get a lot of charcoal burning fast without having to ruin your natural lump charcoal with nasty lighter fluid!
Bottom Line on Weber Charcoal Grills
You have a choice. You can go to the local Mega Mart and buy a knock off kettle grill made of thin sheet metal and poor grill grate material and end up with so so BBQ. But you’re smarter than that. You know that the Weber name carries the weight it does because when you buy a grill like the Weber One-Touch Goal Grill, you get a premium quality, guaranteed to work as promised, grilling machine that is going to last you a minimum of 10 years if you care for it correctly. Hell, it’ll probably keep cooking for you that long even if you bang it around a little!
It doesn’t matter if you’re talking about their little Smokey Joe model, a Weber Smokey Mountain cooker, or the Granddaddy Weber Ranch Kettle. Weber kettle charcoal grills just work.
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