Weber 1421001 Performer Charcoal Grill, Black
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Weber 1421001 Performer Charcoal Grill, Black" Good news! You can purchase
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Price: $349.00 
Product Feature
- The Weber Performer charcoal grill features a Touch-N-Go gas-ignition system
- It has a total cooking are of 363 square-inches
- It comes with a rolling steel-frame cart, work table;,3 tool hooks, and a lid-mounted thermometer
- Also included are 2 charcoal fuel holders, and a charcoal storage container
- Measures 28-1/2-by-50-1/4-by-40 inches
Product Description
The Weber Performer Charcoal Grill features a Touch-N-Go gas ignition system that ignites charcoal briquets with the push of a button. Organizational features enable you to keep your focus on the food, including an attached work table, a weather-protected charcoal storage container, a wire bottom shelf and three tool hooks. This grill is built to last, as demonstrated by the heavy-duty steel cart frame, heavy-duty plated-steel hinged cooking grate, no rust aluminum vent, a glass-reinforced nylon handle, two crackproof all-weather wheels, and two locking casters. Its One-Touch cleaning system with a removable black aluminum ash catcher allows for easy clean-up. Comes in black, green, and dark blue.
Weber 1421001 Performer Charcoal Grill, Black Review
NOTE: This review was updated on 08/10/2011. The update will follow my original review.
First I'm going to compare/contrast the various Weber grills, then for the new Weber user I'll explain why the Weber Kettle grill is such a fantastic choice. I have used and abused my Weber One-Touch Silver for over six years now, and though the Performer has quite a few advantages over the other models, is it really worth the extra cash? I say yes, and here's why -
I've used just about every variation of the Weber kettle grills over the years, and I currently own a One-Touch Silver. The following features are the advantages over the Silver.
- Hinged Cooking Grate
One of the first upgrades I bought for my Silver was a hinged grate, it's nice that this one (as well as the Gold) comes with it; I have found this instrumental for indirect cooking.
- Ash Pan
Also like the Gold, the Performer comes with a much higher quality ash pan. The Silvers ash catcher has been problematic in the past (it's fidgety, cheap and doesn't function well in high winds).
The features above apply to the Gold, which is roughly half the cost as the Performer. Here are the advantages over the Gold, justifying the extra cost -
- Table Surface
This is a huge advantage. Having plates, condiments, spices, etc nearby as well as being able to do some prep right next to my grill has been awesome. I've used separate tables in the past with my Silver, but having a dedicated table is far more convenient.
- Storage Bin
The storage bin is designed to hold a couple bags of charcoal, but I actually find it more useful for storing everything other than coal. I have a place for charcoal in the garage and I actually find this more useful for storing things like wood chunks, grill mitts, the grill cover (when not in use) trash bags, paper towels, and things of that
nature.
- Gas Ignition
I wasn't sure how much I would actually use this when I bought the grill, because chimney starters are easy to use, but there are a couple distinct advantages with gas ignition -
First, it's easier to light the coals more evenly. With a chimney starter, by the time the coals near the top are ready - the ones near the bottom have burned for some time, which means the coals will not be lit as evenly when it's time to cook. With gas ignition it's easier to obtain a more even heat across the coals. Also, the coals are ready a bit faster with gas ignition.
Second, it's far easier to re-light previously used coals. With a chimney starter this is a pain because you have to collect the previously used coals, which can be messy. With gas ignition all you have to do is rake the coals towards the center and press a button.
- Wheels and Locking Casters
In my neighborhood we like to do cook-offs during the summer and everybody brings their grills out in the front, so we can easily talk trash with each other :). Moving my Silver around is far more cumbersome than moving the Performer around. I always had problems with the legs sliding out of the slots, and it's just more of a pain because you have to drag it around on two wheels. The Performer is MUCH easier to move around.
- Swing Away Lid Holder
It's much easier to move the lid to the side rather than using a hook under the lid. The lid can also act as a bit of a wind-guard in this position. The downside is that the lid does get in the way a little bit, but overall I prefer this method.
- Thermometer
Having a lid-mounted thermometer is great! I was a little disappointed because when I purchased the Performer I thought I was going to get the version with the removable thermometer (takes temps at the lid, remove it and it doubles as a meat thermometer). Unfortunately my version's thermometer is in a fixed position, but it's still great to have.
- Better Overall Construction
One thing I don't like about the Silver and Gold Kettles is the cheap construction feel, especially the legs. The legs are extremely light-weight hollow aluminum, and though I haven't had any issues yet, they feel like they could buckle if, say, my dog ran into my grill. Also, while moving my Silver I've had problems with the legs sliding out of the slots. The Performer feels FAR sturdier. Nothing feels cheap here. Some reviewers think the table top is a bit cheap, but I disagree, it's a very thick and sturdy plastic that feels like it could last forever without weathering.
Other perks include the built-in tool holder, which is better than the add-on you can purchase for the lower-end models (doesn't fall off, doesn't look cheap-ish, etc), the storage under the table and the better-designed vent tab on the top vent (has plastic heat shield making it cooler to the touch).
Overall I'm extremely pleased with this grill. The only tiny issue I can really think of, which another reviewer mentioned, is the leg slots on the bottom of the grill. It looks like they just used a standard Silver or Gold kettle and welded on a few parts to fit the Performer specs. It's really not a big deal at all, but it does 'cheapen' the grill a little bit. Also, the price is a bit steep. Overall the price does seem worth it (though for the same price you can buy two Golds), but I think at this price they should have included the grill cover as a bonus, ah well.
Why Weber?
There are many grill choices out there today, both gas and charcoal, but I will always use a Weber Kettle. Why? Well, charcoal certainly does have a distinct flavor that many prefer, and really, cooking with charcoal isn't much more cumbersome than cooking with gas. I have used many different grills in the past and I've found that, for charcoal, the Weber Kettle is the most versatile, most predictable charcoal grill available. Weber uses high quality components that last for years, and the performance is unmatched. The dual-vent system allows you to do anything from smoke at low 200s to sear at high 500s with ease. Also, the one-touch feature makes cleaning up a simple process.
I highly recommend using a chimney starter with the sub-Performer kettle grills. Chimney starters make lighting charcoal a snap, you just load the starter full of charcoal and either light newspaper, oil-brushed paper towel, or any other starter (such as a paraffin starter) underneath. This allows you to very easily light non-pre-soaked coals, which saves money, time and gives you a better flavor by avoiding lighter fluid or pre-soaked off-flavors.
Webers are extremely consistent - typically higher end Weber Kettles just offer more convenience, so even a lower end Silver Kettle can cook just as good as a higher end Performer, you really just pay for convenience rather than performance. I have used my lower-end Silver for years and it can easily keep up with the much more expensive Performer. So, which Weber Kettle is right for you? Here are the various Kettle's I've used in the past and my thoughts on them -
- Weber Silver 18.5 Inch
This is a great starter grill. For the low price of $70 you can own one of the best charcoal grills around! The biggest downside in my opinion is the cheap ash-pan and the non-hinged cooking grate. I really don't like the Silver's ash pan, I have accidentally dumped mine one too many times. Also, with the 18.5 inch you will have to spend money to upgrade to a higher quality hinged grate, which is a godsend for indirect grillers. If you want to get into a Weber Kettle at a great price and you have a smaller family then I'd recommend checking this one out. Indirect cooking on the 18.5 grills is not as good as the 22.5 inch variety.
- Weber Silver 22.5 Inch
This is my previous every-day grill and also the one I'd recommend last. Like the 18.5 inch Kettle you get the cruddy ash-catcher, but you also get the non-hinged grate and this Kettle costs $90.00 new. I would recommend upgrading to Gold for an extra $60.
- Weber 22.5 Inch Gold
This is the sweet-spot for Weber Kettles. Here you get an excellent ash-pan and a much higher quality hinged cooking grate. This is the grill I would recommend to most people.
- Weber 22.5 Inch Performer
This is the fully-loaded Weber Kettle. You get all of the conveniences of the Gold, but you also get a table surface, electric ignition, charcoal bin, lid-thermometer and other goodies that make grilling with charcoal more of a convenience. This is the big-daddy Kettle, but it comes at a high cost - about twice as much as a 22.5 inch Gold!
Really, you can cook just as well on all Weber Kettles (except indirect-cooking is more convenient on the 22.5 inch variety). You are really spending extra money on convenience, so pick a Kettle grill that fits your budget. In my opinion the 22.5 inch One-Touch Gold is the best bang for the buck, but the Performer makes charcoal grilling much more convenient. Pick one that fits your budget, but make sure you pick a Weber! There's nothing else that really compares.
The Performer offers great features that really make charcoal grilling a convenience. The price is a bit steep, but if you have the extra scratch and the added features appeal to you then you really can't go wrong with this grill. I only have a couple minor qualm. For these reasons I give the Perfomer a 4.5/5, rounded up to 5 for Amazon.
*** REVIEW UPDATE ***
I'm not sure if people are still reading this review or not, but I just wanted to update it with the following tips -
I've had the chance to use this grill for around five months now and I have completely fallen in love with the gas ignition. Mainly because it makes it so darn easy to conserve charcoal. I can literally make 2 to 3 20lb bags last nearly all summer (typically grilling for two people), and I grill just about daily.
I constantly see people waste charcoal. Either they will put WAY too much in for what they are grilling, or they will throw all of the ashed over charcoal out, or they will leave the vents open (or the top off) when they are done, burning up the remaining coals. DON'T DO THIS! I have grilled up to FOUR times on a single heap of charcoal (without replacing any coals) and this grill makes it a breeze! Here are some tips for you guys who might need them -
- You don't need a ton of charcoal if you are just grilling a few burgers, chicken breasts, dogs, etc. I can grill a burger with probably less than ten coals, I typically use just enough to surround the food on the grate. There are times when you just need a lot of coal, for instance if you are searing steaks, but for day to day use - you just don't need all that much.
- REUSE your charcoal! This can be a pain with a chimney starter, but it's very easy with gas ignition. Just shake off the dust, pile them up and press a button. I typically light my used-up coals and if I need more I'll throw just enough fresh briquettes on top for what I need. I never ever throw away coal.
- This works well for smaller families, here's what I do...
Store a small pile of fresh charcoal (20-30 briquettes perhaps) inside the grill off to one side. Pile it up the wall of the grill. Light just enough used coal as you need and if you need more simply transfer a few fresh briquettes over to the lit side (using tongs). Just make sure you have the coals far enough to the side so they don't catch with the lit coals. Doing this makes it very easy to transfer coals when you need them, plus since there is less reflective heat coming from the bottom of the grill (the coals act as a bit of a heat-buffer), you will have a better 'cool zone'. I love this technique because I don't have to dig into my charcoal bag when I just need a few more coals, I just move them over!
- Shut down your grill ASAP. Close all vents and put your lid back on the second you are done cooking. I typically begin shutdown a few minutes before my food is even finished because it takes a little time for the grill to cool down. With a single heap of charcoal, if I am being real conservative (and just grilling simple fare) I can get up to four uses before I need to start replacing coals. This is a HUGE money saver. And like I said, just throw a few fresh coals on from your side-pile as you need them, you don't need fresh coals for every grill session.
- If you will be using gas ignition, then shut down the gas as soon as the bottom layer of your coals is lit and let the lit coals finish the job of lighting the others. This really only takes a few minutes. I get MANY uses (25 or more, I'll count next time and update) out of a single mini propane tank (like the ones you use for camping).
Well, this review is certainly taking up a lot of space now! I hope you found these tips helpful!
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