Weber Smokey Joe Portable Grill Review

Posted in Barbecues

The Weber Smokey Joe Portable Grill is a ‘small but mighty’ grill to use Weber’s own words. It’s perfect for patio dinners and traveling adventures, and although small and compact it can easily handle six burgers or three large steaks.

It’s another top-quality Weber charcoal grill from their range of best selling grills. Weber fans will notice it’s similar to their really popular Go-Anywhere model, but comes in at an even lower price point.

Setup and Design Features

The model in question is the Weber 10020 14-Inch Portable Grill. Not to be confused with the Smokey Jumbo Joe which is much larger, or the Smokey Joe Premium that has some additional features.

The 14-Inches diameter of the 10020 may not sound like a lot, but that’s 5-6 burgers, three large steaks, or a whole lot of other food. More than sufficient for a group of 2-4 people.

There is very little to speak of in the way of setting up the grill. Just slot the cooking grate in, add some coals, food to the grill, and start cooking.

The lid has a glass reinforced nylon handle, which for those of us who have burned a hand grabbing a handle on a grill lid before comes as a welcome design feature.

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One of the only real drawbacks users cite about the grill is the legs. The metal is thin as it’s designed to be lightweight.

If you don’t store it properly or put too much pressure on the grill they may bend. But why would you mistreat your Weber, right?

The body and lid are made from porcelain coated steel. This helps keep rust and decay away while providing great insulation when cooking.

If using coals isn’t you think be sure to check out the Weber Go-Anywhere Gas Grill. It’s everything you’d want from a small portable grill with the ease of using gas.

Weight – Around 9 and a half pounds, with 147 sq/inch of cooking space.

When purchasing a Smokey Joe there are some package options available which are worth considering:

Smokey Joe Grill & Charcoal Companion Starter Pack
Smokey Joe Grill & Cuisinart 3-Piece Grilling Tool Set with Gloves
Smokey Joe Grill & Super Economy Box of Lightning Nuggets
Smokey Joe Grill & Weber Original Instant-Read Thermometer

Some of these make great present ideas. If you need grilling tools or lighting materials it’s also handy to pick them up at the same time and get quality items recommended by Weber.

The Pros

Constructed with Weber’s usual high-quality materials and buildmanship
Affordable
Lightweight and portable
Comes with a 10-year limited warranty

The Cons

Underside vent can get clogged up
Legs are on the thin side and can bend if care is not taken

Insider Tips

If you cannot keep the coals hot enough make sure you open both vents all the way to increase the airflow.

Even pulling the top off for a few minutes will help increase the heat of the coals. Then replace the lid to keep the heat in and use the vents for a little ventilation.

Another tip when using coal burners like this one is to stack the coals into a pyramid shape. It’s always tempting to level them out or just throw them in, but forming a pyramid allows ventilation through the coals lighting them quicker and warming faster.

Weber Smokey Joe Portable Grill Summary

If you’re looking for a charcoal grill to cater for a small group this is the grill for you. It ticks all the boxes for functionality, it’s a Weber product, and is even one of the more affordable grills in its class.

With Weber’s track record and reputation for making long-lasting, quality products, there is no doubting this grill will be cooking up food for you for years to come.

Conclusion

The Weber Smokey Joe Portable Grill does exactly as advertised. It’s portable, lightweight, reliable, and cooks up a large dinner for a small grill.

It’s well designed to allow enough airflow to keep the coals warm and is just as useful in the yard as it is the outback. Certainly worth a closer look.