I’ve had a Weber kettle in my backyard for most of my adult life, and I’ve cooked on more grills — good, bad, and downright ugly — than I can count while testing gear for this site. So when people ask me if the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22″ is worth buying in a market packed with fancier, more expensive options, I don’t need to think twice.
It’s still one of the best charcoal grills you can buy. But “still one of the best” doesn’t mean “right for everyone,” and that’s what I want to walk you through here.
This review covers what the Premium actually does well, where it falls short, how it stacks up against Weber’s own Master-Touch, and who should spend their money elsewhere. No fluff, no marketing copy — just what I’d tell you if you were standing next to me at the grill.
⭐ Our Verdict: A versatile 22-inch charcoal kettle that delivers excellent grilling and smoking performance without the price tag of Weber’s more advanced models. It’s the grill I recommend to almost anyone getting serious about charcoal for the first time.
- Best for: Beginners and intermediate grillers who want a dependable, do-it-all charcoal kettle
- Biggest strength: Even heat, solid build quality, and genuine versatility for both grilling and smoking
- Biggest limitation: No Gourmet BBQ System (GBS) grate, so accessory compatibility is more limited than the Master-Touch
- Is the Master-Touch worth the upgrade? Only if you plan to lean heavily into accessories — more on that below
👉 Check Price on Amazon
Specifications & Key Specs at a Glance
Here’s the quick-reference rundown before we get into the details.
| Feature | Weber Original Kettle Premium 22″ |
|---|---|
| Grill type | Charcoal kettle |
| Cooking area | 363 sq. in. |
| Diameter | 22.5 in. / 57 cm |
| Fuel | Charcoal |
| Built-in thermometer | Yes |
| One-Touch cleaning | Yes |
| Ash catcher | Yes (high-capacity aluminum) |
| Lid attachment | Interior lid hook (not hinged) |
| Cooking grate | Hinged, plated steel |
| GBS-compatible | No |
| Best for | Everyday grilling and charcoal smoking |
Who should buy it? If you’re grilling burgers and steaks most weekends but also want the option to smoke a rack of ribs or a pork shoulder without buying a second grill, this is your kettle. It’s the sweet spot between a bare-bones charcoal grill and Weber’s premium GBS lineup.
If you’re already deep into the charcoal hobby and want to run pizza stones, wok inserts, and sear grates without a workaround, keep reading — you might want to look at the Master-Touch instead.
What Makes the Premium Version Different?
Weber’s kettle lineup can be confusing because so many models look nearly identical from across the yard. Let me clear it up.
Standard Original Kettle vs. Premium
The base Original Kettle is a genuinely good, no-frills charcoal grill — I’ve cooked plenty of great meals on one. The Premium version adds a handful of upgrades that make daily use noticeably easier:
- One-Touch cleaning system — the base model has vents you adjust manually with no built-in ash-sweeping mechanism; the Premium’s One-Touch system sweeps ash into the catcher with one motion of the handle
- Enclosed ash catcher — the standard kettle’s ash pan is more exposed, so wind and rain become an issue; the Premium’s aluminum catcher is sealed and much tidier
- Hinged cooking grate — you can lift each side to add charcoal or wood chunks mid-cook without pulling your food off the grate
- Built-in lid thermometer — the standard kettle typically doesn’t include one at all
Is the Premium upgrade worth the extra money over the base model? In my experience, yes. The ash catcher alone saves you from the classic rookie mistake of dumping hot ash into a garbage bag (don’t do that, by the way).
Premium vs. Master-Touch: The Quick Breakdown
This is the comparison most people actually want answered, so here’s the short version before we go deeper later in this article.
The Master-Touch and the Premium share the same 22.5-inch footprint, the same 363 square inches of cooking space, and a nearly identical shell. Where they diverge:
- Gourmet BBQ System (GBS) grate — the Master-Touch includes Weber’s removable center-cutout grate, which accepts official inserts like a sear grate, pizza stone, wok, or griddle. The Premium’s grate is a standard hinged design with no center cutout, so it can’t take GBS accessories without a workaround.
- Tuck-Away lid holder — the Master-Touch’s lid hooks onto a hinged cradle built into the leg assembly, so it swings out of the way and stays put even in wind. The Premium only has an interior hook on the bowl, which works fine but isn’t quite as convenient one-handed.
- Stand height and leg design — the Master-Touch sits slightly taller with a sturdier tripod-style leg setup, which some people find more comfortable to cook at.
Everything else — cooking performance, build materials, capacity — is essentially the same grill underneath. That matters a lot for the buying decision, and I’ll come back to it.
Core Features & Build Quality
Porcelain-Enameled Finish & Weather Resistance
The bowl and lid are finished in porcelain enamel, which is the same coating Weber has used on kettles for decades because it works. It holds up to direct heat without warping, resists rust far better than raw or painted steel, and doesn’t fade or chalk the way cheaper powder coatings do after a couple of summers.
I keep mine outside under a cover year-round in a climate that swings from humid summers to freezing winters, and after years of use the finish still looks presentable. That’s not nothing — I’ve reviewed budget kettles that started rusting at the vents within a single season.
One honest note: Weber kettles don’t use a gasket around the lid. That’s true of the Premium and the Master-Touch alike. It means you’ll get a small amount of smoke leakage around the lid seam during long, low-and-slow cooks. It doesn’t ruin your results, but it’s worth knowing going in — if airtight seal is your top priority, a kettle isn’t the category to shop in at all, and you’d want a dedicated offset or pellet smoker instead.
One-Touch Cleaning System & Enclosed Ash Catcher
This is one of my favorite features on any Weber kettle, Premium included. After a cook, you swing the bottom vent handle side to side, and the built-in dampers rake ash straight down into the catcher below. No scraping, no shop-vac, no mess on the patio.
The high-capacity aluminum ash catcher is a real upgrade over exposed ash pans you’ll find on cheaper kettles. It clips on securely, holds a full cook’s worth of ash without overflowing, and doesn’t blow embers around on a windy evening the way an open pan can.
Hinged Plated Steel Grate & Vent Airflow Control
The hinged grate is a small feature that makes a bigger difference than you’d expect. Lift either side and you can add fresh charcoal or a wood chunk mid-cook without disturbing whatever’s already on the grill. If you’ve ever had to pull a half-cooked rack of ribs off a grate just to refuel, you’ll appreciate this immediately.
Airflow comes from two adjustable vents — one in the bowl, one in the lid — and they’re what actually control your cooking temperature. We’ll get into using them properly in the performance section below, because this is where most beginners struggle.
Cooking & Smoking Performance
This is the section that actually matters, so let’s talk about how this thing cooks.
Direct High-Heat Searing: Steaks, Burgers, and Weeknight Grilling
Loaded with a full chimney of charcoal, the Premium gets plenty hot for a proper sear. I’ve thrown ribeyes on this kettle and gotten a hard, dark crust in a couple of minutes per side — the kind of crust you just don’t get from most gas grills.
For everyday grilling, the 363-square-inch cooking area handles a realistic backyard cookout comfortably. As a rough guide:
- 6–8 burger patties at once
- 4–6 bone-in chicken thighs
- 4 steaks with room to spare
- A full tray of vegetables alongside your protein
If you’re regularly cooking for a bigger crowd — a dozen-plus burgers in one go — you’ll be doing it in batches, which isn’t a dealbreaker, just something to plan around.
Low-and-Slow Smoking & Airflow Control: Ribs, Pork Shoulder, Brisket
Yes, you can genuinely smoke on this kettle, and it’s one of the reasons I recommend it over a basic grill for anyone who wants to eventually try low-and-slow cooking without buying a dedicated smoker.
The trick is setting up a two-zone fire: banking your charcoal to one side (or using a snake/minion-style ring around the perimeter) and cooking your meat over the empty side with the lid closed. Add a small water pan opposite the coals and you’ve got a passable makeshift smoker.
For fuel consumption, expect to babysit and add charcoal every 45–60 minutes on a long cook like a pork shoulder or brisket, since the smaller firebox of a kettle burns through fuel faster than a dedicated offset smoker. Ribs (3–5 hours) and a pork butt (8+ hours) are both realistic on this grill; I wouldn’t attempt a full packer brisket unless you’re comfortable tending the fire closely, since kettle capacity and burn time make marathon cooks more hands-on.
If you want to push the smoking side of things further, a third-party accessory like the Slow ‘N Sear is worth knowing about — it’s a charcoal basket insert designed specifically for kettles like this one, and it noticeably extends burn time and improves heat separation for long cooks. It’s not a Weber product, but it’s a popular upgrade among kettle owners for exactly this reason.
Temperature Management & Lid Thermometer Accuracy
Your two vents are your entire temperature control system: bottom vent controls fuel burn rate, top vent controls airflow and smoke exhaust. More open on both means hotter and faster; closing them down means lower and slower.
The kettle responds to vent adjustments within 10–15 minutes, so the biggest beginner mistake I see is overcorrecting — cranking a vent shut because the temp spiked, then wondering why the fire nearly dies twenty minutes later. Make small adjustments and give the grill time to catch up before adjusting again.
The built-in lid thermometer is genuinely useful for a rough read on ambient grill temperature, but I wouldn’t treat it as gospel. Like most built-in dome thermometers, it reads the air near the lid rather than at grate level, so it can run 10–20 degrees off from what’s actually happening where your food sits. For anything you’re serious about — especially meat doneness — pair it with a separate digital thermometer. More on that in the accessories section.
Weber Original Kettle Premium 22 vs. Master-Touch: Which Should You Buy?
Now for the comparison most readers came here for.
| Feature | Original Kettle Premium | Master-Touch |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 22.5″ | 22.5″ |
| Cooking area | 363 sq. in. | 363 sq. in. |
| Built-in thermometer | Yes | Yes |
| Hinged grate | Yes | Yes |
| GBS-compatible center grate | No | Yes |
| Lid holder | Interior hook | Tuck-Away cradle |
| Ash catcher | Yes | Yes |
| Leg/stand height | Standard | Slightly taller |
| Price | Lower | Higher |
| Best for | Everyday grilling and smoking | Grilling + specialty accessories |
Is the Master-Touch Worth the Extra Money?
Here’s my honest take: cooking performance between these two kettles is nearly identical. Same bowl, same cooking area, same heat retention, same fundamentals. You are not paying for a better grill — you’re paying for two specific conveniences.
Buy the Original Kettle Premium if:
- You want everyday grilling and occasional smoking without extra accessory investment
- You’re budget-conscious and don’t need GBS-specific inserts
- You’re a beginner or intermediate griller who wants proven performance at a fair price
Buy the Master-Touch if:
- You already know you want to use GBS inserts like a pizza stone, sear grate, or wok
- The Tuck-Away lid holder and taller stand height are meaningful conveniences to you
- You don’t mind paying more for those extras on top of an otherwise near-identical grill
For most people reading this, the Premium is the smarter buy. Save the difference and put it toward a good digital thermometer or a bag of quality lump charcoal instead.
👉 Check Original Kettle Premium price on Amazon
Must-Have Accessories for the Kettle
I’m not going to hand you a giant shopping list — most kettle accessories are unnecessary. These are the ones that actually improve your cooking experience.
Charcoal Chimney Starter — Skip lighter fluid entirely. A chimney starter gets your coals evenly lit in about 15 minutes and keeps that chemical taste off your food. This is the single most useful accessory you can own with any charcoal grill.
Digital Meat Thermometer — As I mentioned above, don’t rely solely on the lid thermometer for doneness. A cheap instant-read or leave-in probe thermometer will save you from overcooked chicken and undercooked pork more reliably than guesswork.
Charcoal Baskets or a Slow ‘N Sear — Either option makes two-zone setups faster and more consistent, and the Slow ‘N Sear specifically extends your burn time for longer smokes.
Kettle Cover — Since this kettle doesn’t have a gasket and lives outdoors, a proper cover is cheap insurance against rust and weather damage, especially if you’re storing it uncovered through rain or snow.
Wood Chunks and a Drip Pan — For smoking days, a few wood chunks (hickory, apple, or oak are solid starting points) and a simple drip pan under your meat make a real difference in flavor and cleanup.
👉 Shop Weber Original Kettle Premium accessories
Cleaning, Maintenance & Assembly
Assembly: Out of the box, expect about 20–30 minutes to put the Premium together — attaching the legs, wheels, and ash catcher to the bowl. It’s a two-person job if you want it done quickly, though one person can manage it alone without too much trouble. The legs and wheels are sturdy once assembled; just make sure every bolt is fully tightened, since a wobbly leg is almost always a loose-assembly issue rather than a product defect.
Emptying the ashes: Let ash cool completely (ideally overnight), then swing the One-Touch handle to sweep it into the catcher, unclip the catcher, and dump it into a metal container — never a plastic bag, even a full day later, since embers can smolder longer than you’d expect.
Cleaning the cooking grate: A stiff grill brush after each cook, plus an occasional deeper scrub with warm soapy water, keeps the grate performing well and food from sticking.
Cleaning the bowl and lid: Wipe down the interior periodically to prevent heavy grease buildup, which can affect airflow and flavor over time. The exterior porcelain just needs a damp cloth.
Cleaning the One-Touch system: Every so often, brush out the vent mechanism itself so ash doesn’t build up and restrict airflow — this directly affects your temperature control.
Preventing rust: Keep it covered when not in use, avoid leaving wet ash sitting in the catcher for days, and touch up any chips in the porcelain with high-heat paint if they occur.
Outdoor storage: A cover is non-negotiable if this grill lives outside year-round. Given the lack of a lid gasket, moisture can find its way in more easily than on sealed grills, so a snug-fitting cover matters more here than on some other charcoal grills.
Weber Original Kettle Premium 22 Pros & Cons
Pros
- Excellent all-around charcoal grill for both grilling and smoking
- Even heat distribution and reliable temperature control once you learn the vents
- One-Touch cleaning and enclosed ash catcher make cleanup genuinely easy
- Hinged grate lets you refuel without disturbing your food
- Durable porcelain-enameled build that holds up outdoors for years
- Proven kettle design with decades of refinement behind it
- Strong value relative to the Master-Touch
Cons
- No GBS grate, so official Weber accessory inserts aren’t compatible
- No lid gasket, meaning some smoke leakage on long low-and-slow cooks
- Lid thermometer reads ambient temp, not grate-level — needs a digital thermometer for accuracy
- Temperature control takes some practice for total beginners
- Smaller firebox means more frequent refueling on marathon smokes
- Less workspace than larger grills if you’re regularly cooking for a big group
Final Verdict & Scorecard
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Grilling | 9/10 |
| Smoking | 8/10 |
| Temperature Control | 8/10 |
| Ease of Use | 9/10 |
| Cleaning | 9/10 |
| Build Quality | 9/10 |
| Value | 9/10 |
| Overall | 9/10 |
Is the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22 a good charcoal grill? Yes, without hesitation. It’s the grill I point beginners and intermediate cooks toward more than almost anything else in this price range, because it does grilling and smoking well without demanding a big accessory investment or a learning curve steeper than it needs to be.
Is it worth buying over the Master-Touch? For most people, yes — you’re getting nearly identical cooking performance for less money. The Master-Touch only earns its higher price if GBS accessory compatibility and the Tuck-Away lid holder genuinely matter to how you plan to cook.
If you’re ready to get a kettle in your backyard this season, this is a safe, well-tested pick that will serve you for years if you take basic care of it.
👉 Check today’s price on Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22 worth it? Yes. It delivers strong grilling and smoking performance, a durable build, and genuinely useful conveniences like the ash catcher and hinged grate, all at a lower price than Weber’s higher-end models.
What is the difference between the Weber Original Kettle Premium and Master-Touch? The core cooking performance is nearly identical. The Master-Touch adds a GBS center grate for specialty inserts and a Tuck-Away lid holder, along with a slightly taller stand — features the Premium doesn’t include.
Is the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22 the same as 57cm? Yes. The 22-inch and 57cm labels refer to the same kettle size; Weber uses inches in some markets and centimeters in others for the identical grill.
How many people can a Weber Original Kettle Premium 22 cook for? Comfortably enough for a family or a small gathering — think 6–8 burgers or 4 steaks at once. For larger groups, you’ll cook in batches rather than fitting everything at the same time.
Can you smoke on a Weber Original Kettle Premium? Yes. Using a two-zone or snake charcoal setup with the lid closed, it handles ribs and pork shoulder well. Longer cooks like brisket require more active fire management due to the smaller firebox.
Does the Weber Original Kettle Premium have a built-in thermometer? Yes, in the lid. It’s useful for a general read but runs less accurate than grate-level readings, so pairing it with a digital thermometer is worth doing.
Does the Weber Original Kettle Premium have an ash catcher? Yes — a high-capacity aluminum ash catcher that works with the One-Touch cleaning system for easy, mess-free ash removal.
Does the Weber Original Kettle Premium rust? Not easily, thanks to its porcelain-enameled finish, but no outdoor grill is fully rust-proof. Using a cover and keeping ash from sitting wet in the catcher will keep it looking good far longer.
What accessories should I buy for the Weber Original Kettle Premium? A charcoal chimney starter and a digital meat thermometer are the two I’d call essential. A cover, charcoal baskets or a Slow ‘N Sear, and some wood chunks round out a solid starter kit.
Is the Weber Original Kettle Premium good for beginners? Yes — it’s one of the more forgiving charcoal grills to learn on, with straightforward vent controls and an easy cleanup system that removes a lot of the friction new charcoal grillers run into.
FREE BBQ KETTLE COOKING GUIDE Want to master two-zone grilling, dial in charcoal temperature control, nail a steak sear, and pull off your first low-and-slow smoke? Grab our free Weber Kettle BBQ Cheat Sheet and cook with confidence from your very first fire.