Weber 40020 Smokey Joe Gold Charcoal Grill | You really can't beat a Weber grill

Weber 40020 Smokey Joe Gold Charcoal Grill | great little grill

outdoor living:

Weber 40020 Smokey...

	Weber 40020 Smokey Joe Gold Charcoal Grill Weber Weber average customer review:based on 46 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

You really can't beat a Weber grill

I had one of the original Smokey Joe grills when I was single (a long time ago). I used it at my apartment and took it on camping trips. It worked well at home, but it was a pain to take camping. It was tippy and always fell over in the truck, sending the grates, lid and kettle all over the place. The Gold model remedied that shortcoming. The lid locks down tight for portability. The tripod leg system still isn't as stable as a four-leg system would be but the Gold model is not as tippy as the standard model I used to have. (I wonder whatever happened to my old Smokey Joe?)

The Gold model also remedied the other shortcoming of the original Smokey Joe--that silly pan to catch the ashes and cinders. It never worked well, the vent in the bottom would clog up, the ashes blew all over the place in the wind and it was a royal pain to clean up. The Gold model holds the ashes in the belly of the kettle so there's less mess. I line the bottom of the kettle with aluminum foil, set fire to the charcoal and, after everything cools down, I just pick up the foil and dump the ashes with little left to clean up.

The Smokey Joe works great for indirect cooking of small roasts or other small, but thick, cuts of meat. Put the charcoal on a side of the kettle with a vent, put the meat on the other side. Close the vent on the kettle on the meat side, open the vent on the fire side, open the lid vent and put the vent holes over the side with the meat. It creates a draft inside the kettle that works extremely well. The size of the grill prevents true slow cooking but this modified indirect method works extremely well.

I have to disagree with a previous reviewer who said the venting system didn't work and the charcoal fire goes out. It just doesn't happen if you get the fire going properly to begin with. I love it that the vents are on the sides of the kettle instead of underneath the coals.

The Smokey Joe Gold is for our RV. It fits in the storage compartment and if it tips over it doesn't create a big mess. It's perfect for cooking and relaxing around an isolated campsite or adding a little downhomeness to those concrete parking lots they call RV parks that we sometimes have to use when traveling. It's a great improvement over the original Smokey Joe if you need a portable grill to take along with you.

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great little grill

This is a great little grill that I bought for my girlfriend who lives in a small condo. Great for two people and when you put the lid back on and close the vents the charcoal goes out very fast and cools down so you can bring it back inside. Try this with the weber charcoal chimmney for quick grill meals and easy clean-up.

Ideal for Temporary Travel companion

I bought my Smokey Joe to use while on a 30 day business trip to give me and my partner an alternative to eating at the local restaurants every night. As it turned out, we only ate out two days during the entire trip. Every other night was spent grilling on the Smokey Joe. First thing the next morning, I would clean out the ash, carry it back to my room and reload it for the evening. If you are a Weber Kettle user, you will feel right at home and have no problem adjusting. You will be suprised at how much you can really put on it. I started with the recommended 30 pieces of charcoal, but soon found that to be a little lacking in heat. Found that 35 was about right for chicken and veggies, but 40 were needed to steak and pork. Plan on putting it to work from time to time at home also. Best $35 I spent in a long time.

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Little Smokey Joe

Great grill cooks quickly and evenly. There is a slightly larger unit that can be used for indirect cooking, but this one works just fine for steaks, hamburgers and the like. This is my third Smokey Joe and I will buy another when this one gets ratty enough.

A good value for the price but design needs improvement

A good value but the design needs improvement. By not having vents at the bottom, I feel the grill does not get hot enough. The side vents are good but bottom vents would result in better convection and a hotter grill. Not fun to clean as you need to pick up the whole unit and turn it upside down. Quality is excellent as usual from Weber. In any case I still recommend highly.

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