Once I was purchasing a grill for myself I did not search before going to the market. There I saw a number of grills, because of which I got confused. However, I managed myself and asked many shopkeepers before buying one. That was a worse experience but in the end, I purchased one that had met my requirements.
A kettle grill or a barrel grill is not an article but has a comprehensive understanding of these two types of grills including their advantages and disadvantages. The two grilling items have great competition. Some people love to use a kettle grill while some prefer using a barrel grill. Both the grills use charcoal as a heating source. However, it all depends on what you are searching for in a grill.
Kettle Grill
The kettle grill is one of the most popular charcoal barbecues. Its name comes from its spherical shape. Most of the kettle grills are manufactured by a well-known company known as Weber registered in 1951. There are different forms of kettle grill but the common feature is their spherical shape.
All of the varieties have an open top with a round lid, steel cooking grates for cooking, and bottom vents to maintain heat. The bottom vents are located below the charcoal firebox. They are ideal for grilling and searing foods at high temperatures for optimum taste.
Barrel Grill
Barrel grills vary from kettle grills because they have a closed cover formed like an old-fashioned barrel. These grills have several features that make them unique around the grilling world. It gives the option for cooking on direct and indirect fire, because of its large surface area for cooking. The barrel grill is categorized into two types of designs.
- The first design has a closed top with vents or a side and bottom opening for airflow. This grill’s lid is built from the barrel itself.
- The second design type is a horizontal barrel with an open or closed entrance with side vents. Most grills have a variety of barrel grills to choose from.
Comparison of a Kettle Grill or a Barrel Grill
| Features | Kettle Grill | Barrel Grill |
| Price | Between $150 to $300 | Up to $800 |
| Temperature | Up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit | Up to 500-700 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Maintenance | Maintenance is easy due to the chimney | Maintenance is tricky |
| Taste and Texture of Food | Has a greater propensity for undercooking or boiling food | Nothing burns or is undercooked |
| Heat distribution | Less surface space for the heat to distribute | More surface space for the heat to distribute |
| Size | Smaller | Larger |
| Space | Hold 12 burgers | Hold up to 25 burgers at once |
| Direct vs. Indirect | 50/50 | Support both direct and indirect cooking |
| Weight | 25 to 30 pounds | 60 pounds |
1. Price
A kettle grill can cost between $150 and $300, while a barrel grill can cost $800. Barrel grills are also more expensive to maintain because they require regular maintenance and replacement parts. Kettles often survive longer than barrel grills since the steel does not wear down with use, unlike a barrel grill, which can rust if exposed to moisture. Which grill is perfect for you depends on your budget and tastes.
2. Temperature
Kettle grills are typically used to sear meat at up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit. Barrel grills begin at a high temperature of 500-700 degrees Fahrenheit and can down to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. This gives barrel grillers a more extensive range of temperature control, which they’ll need to accomplish things like smoking or roasting, which demand lower temperatures.
If a kettle griller wants to do more than sear, they’ll need to invest in another type of grill because it’s tough to keep the temperature low on a kettle grill if you are a newbie.
3. Maintenance
Before each usage of either type of grill, a good maintenance regimen is required, including cleaning the inside, replacing any burned-out briquettes, and wiping away excess moisture regularly to prevent build-up (inside and out). If preventative actions are implemented, the rusting issue with barrel grills can be avoided.
A barrel grill features a chimney for the draught, so you don’t have to open the door; however, if ash builds up inside the chimney, it must be cleaned out before usage, so old ashes do not obstruct that appropriate air circulation.
Kettles often last longer than barrel grills since the steel does not wear down with use, unlike a barrel grill, which can rust due to moisture falling upon it. A grill cover is advised to keep them looking new and prevent rust from accumulating for both grills.
4. Taste and Texture of Food
The grill has a great effect on the food cooking in it. If the food is not properly cooked, it can change the flavor. You must select the grill based on both its size and your level of experience. If you want to cook food evenly, consider the surface area of the grill.
Barrel grills give a large cooking area due to which food cooks evenly without burns or undercooking. While kettle grills are more likely to scorch or undercooked the food due to limited surface area for cooking.
However, the kettle grill allows you to have more control over the cooking process. It exposes the food to direct flames and smoke. Food grilled in this way is usually cooked to several levels of doneness.
5. Size
Because barrel grills are larger than kettle grills, they’re ideal for cooking huge quantities for parties or groups. If you want to cook meat over low heat with indirect cooking methods, it can also be utilized as a smoker.
However, moving around and storing the grill in tight locations makes grilling challenging, so make sure you have enough space before getting one. The fact that the grilling surface area is so significant is what we like best about the size. It’s simple to cook a lot of stuff at once.
Kettle grills are smaller than traditional grills and can be used as a regular kitchen appliance or for tailgating before a game. For smoking, these types of barbeque grills aren’t the ideal option. The grill, however, can be used to smoke. Because they don’t have as many functions as barrel grills, they’re also less expensive.
6. Capacity for Grilling
They work well for smaller gatherings, but not for large ones because of the small grilling area. The other disadvantage of kettle grills is that you cannot prepare food that takes a long time to cook because of its small size.
Kettle grills can typically hold 12 burgers and cook meals quickly! Barrels can hold up to 25 burgers at once because of their enormous size. Barrel barbecues are substantially bigger than kettle grills, with more capacity and versatility. The grills provide additional cooking space as well as more maneuvering space.
7. Cooking Methods: Direct vs. Indirect
Because Barrel Grills support both direct and indirect cooking (which most kettles do not), it’s ideal for cooking multiple meals at different temperatures simultaneously, such as BBQing chicken wings while baking cornbread muffins on another burner. Natural convection currents formed inside a closed-top barrel are easy to employ.
The adaptability of a kettle grill is not as great as that of a barrel grill. Kettle grills make up for any shortcomings in portability by being simple to transport. Smoker boxes can also be connected to barrel grills. These enable even more pungent barbeque smoke and a better outdoor cooking experience in general.
8. Weight
The weight is far higher than that of a kettle grill, weighing 60 pounds or more vs. 25 to 30 pounds for a conventional kettle grill. Although the size difference between these two versions is minor, it’s worth noting that the barrel-style grill will be heavier due to its more prominent shape.
Do The Appearances of the Grill Matter?
Grilling is more than just a method of preparing food. An entire culture surrounds this cooking process. Grilling gives home cooks a sense of accomplishment and joy. People, as you can expect, take their grills quite seriously. When you buy a kettle or barrel grill, you’ll feel the same way. Knowing how strong a bond people may form with their grills, it’s easy to see why appearances matter.
Appearance of a Kettle Grill
Compared to barrel grills, models from companies like Weber are frequently more attractive. The design is more intriguing, the materials are sometimes superior, and the whole appearance is more “at home” on a patio or in a yard setting.
Appearance of a Barrel Grill
It has a more practical and industrial appearance. Although some individuals adore the style, it isn’t necessarily the ideal fit for a modern home. However, appearances have no bearing on cooking performance, they might influence how you feel about your grill. When it comes to the formation of barrel vs. kettle charcoal grills, a kettle is the most acceptable option.
Conclusion
Both grills are extensively used, and each has its own set of advantages. Because a barrel barbecue is substantially larger than a kettle grill, it has more capacity and versatility. Kettle grills are smaller and use less fuel to maintain high temperatures.
The selection of the grill depends on your skills and requirements. Consider the area you have in your home for grilling, family members, and need of food in one grilling session can access you for selecting a grill. However, both of the options are best for cooking a wide range of food from smoking meat to searing vegetables.