PK Grill Vs. Weber Grill – We Compared Them Both!
Searching for charcoal grills can be painstaking at times. As propane and electric griddles take center stage in innovation, it becomes more difficult to lay hands on products with primitive features.
If you’re a fan of a grill on a charcoal grill, you’ll appreciate the PK Grill as well as the Weber kettle. The big question is; which of these two products will advance your steak game?
The PK Grill and the Weber Kettle offer versatility in cooking and are easy to ignite. To assist you in making the right choice of charcoal grill to purchase, we have compared the PK Grill and the Weber Kettle.
Read through to the end to find out what these products have in common and their major differences. Before we continue, let us have an overview of both brands.
PK Grills
The credibility of PK Grills and how they have managed to lead the industry with timely production dates back to the early 50s. This was when Hilton Meigs created his BBQ grill out of aluminum cash and named it Portable Kitchen Grill—now PK Grill.
The PK Grill design quickly broke ground and has lasted well in this era. They are known for manufacturing durable grills with stellar heat retention. So, PK Grills are constructed with prolonged use, with the addition of a rust-proof surface to keep them shiny.
Because of how durable and versatile this grill has become, PK Grills have become an industry staple now, making it one of the best grills for outdoor cooking.
Weber
Despite being around since the late 1800s, Weber’s first charcoal-dependent grill was recorded in the early 50s. Like the PK Grill, the Weber kettle has more than 70 years of grill production experience.
Fast forward to 2010, when BDT Capital Partners purchased major stakes, the Weber company has since broadened its horizon from making charcoal grills to manufacturing gas, wood, and electric grills.
Moreover, the company has added the manufacturing of bigger grills such as the Summit and the Genesis to the production of the original Weber Kettle. They also make little charcoal grills, which until this day, promote efficient outdoor grilling.
Having said enough about both brands, let us head straight to comparing the features of the PK Grill versus the Weber Kettle.
PK Grill Going Head-to-head With Weber – Feature Comparison
Just as you’ll guess, there is more to both brands in terms of their preferences in production. It is time to learn about the distinctiveness of the PK Grill and the Weber Kettle. This will also give you insight into what to look for when choosing your ideal grill.
Build Quality
What customers see before getting to test any grill is its appearance. The solid structure or flimsy build. Outdoor grilling usually requires pieces of equipment that are designed for such purposes.
The PK Grill is built from cast aluminum. This material is very durable as far as grill production is concerned. As a fun fact, aluminum doubles up as corrosion and rust-resistant material, which implies that PK Grill users can always grill outdoors regardless of the weather conditions.
The build quality of the PK Grill makes it all together lightweight compared to similar grills made of steel. This makes it a long-lasting and portable grill.
On the other hand, the Weber Kettle is built with porcelain, steel legs, and handles. While the build quality of this kittle can overcome corrosion and rust, it is not lightweight and as durable as aluminum.
Moreover, the Weber Kettle’s legs and handles are not very resistant to rust caused by weather conditions. In this category, the PK Grill is a better option for people who want a portable and durable outdoor grill.
Heat Distribution and Retention
Another characteristic of aluminum that stands out as a prominent grill material is its ability to conduct heat effectively and distribute it evenly across its surface area.
Being four times more conductive than porcelain-lined steel, PK Grill lets you cook and grill better with heat distribution and retention over the Weber Kettle.
The PK Grill is designed specially to allow direct transfer of heat, which creates different heat zones for practical cooking. With this design, you can cook using different techniques and at different heat stages.
Despite heat distribution and retention being fair in the Weber Kettle, it doesn’t match the cast aluminum cooking surface of the PK Grill.
Size and Design
Charcoal grills aren’t just designed to look appealing to the eyes. The role of a grill design should also be to aid heat retention and airflow.
In this comparison instance, the Weber Kettle has more appeal, but the PK Grill design gives it an edge over the Weber under different cooking circumstances.
The PK Grill has an internal ventilation system that creates an enclosed medium when there’s the need to balance the grill’s temperature.
Coming to size, however, the Weber Kettle dominates with a bigger cooking surface of 22 inches in diameter. This provides users with about 363 quarter inches, more than PK Grills’ 310 square inches.
Temperature Control
When comparing which grill to purchase, heat management is an essential feature. And when it boils down to the effectiveness of a grill in controlling temperature, the Weber Kettle takes it home.
The Weber has a built-in thermometer that informs you of the cooking temperature. In addition to that, the Weber grill has internal vents that give you control over the amount of air you want inside the medium. The exit vent at the grill top also makes temperature control easy.
The PK Grill lacks a built-in thermometer like the Weber Kettle grill, but you can detect the cooking temperature worth a PK thermometer or a probe thermometer. Similarly, you can adjust the airflow with the top and bottom vents.
Ease of Assembly
The PK Grill and the Weber Kettle grill deliver a straightforward assembly process when it comes to putting both grills together.
You will find a guide to the PK Grill on how to put its components together. Moreover, the PK Grill has a side table that makes it easy for you to transfer your steaks to the plates. This intuitiveness is lacking in the Weber Kettle grill.
Speaking of the Weber Kettle, this grill is also easy to install. Thanks to the 3D installation guide—”BLIT” that makes assembly easy.
Maintenance and Cleaning
Both brands are the way to maintain, although the Weber Kettle grill advances a step further with a smart ash collector underneath the grill, which can be disposed of quickly. Despite being easy to clean, the PK Grill can be a little messier than the Weber Kettle grill.
PK Grills Charcoal BBQ Grill and Smoker, PK300-BCX Cast Aluminum Portable Outdoor Barbeque Grill for Camping, Grilling, Graphite/Black, Premium
Specifications
- Dimensions: 16.21 x 42.75 x 37.35 inches
- Weight: 59.9 pounds
The PK Grill is designed with a charcoal smoker combination, engineered with a durable design to provide better stability, ease of use, and optimal control. Grilling has always been about adding that extra flavor to your food. This grill provides that authentic grill flavor to your food as it requires no gas or pellets.
Furthermore, this grill features a distinct ash container, side tables, and large shelf space. The four-point venting system on this grill makes it excel in any type of grilling. You will appreciate the capsule shape design adopted by this grill. It effectively encloses the vent for heat control to enjoy burgers, steak, charred meats, e.t.c.
This BBQ smoker has been upgraded with features such as an additional 3 inches in height, an ideal shape for cooking, and a hinged cooking grid for coal management. With a 300 square inches grill like this, you can handle anything from Thanksgiving turkey to brats.
Some users also appreciate that the PK Grill holds temperature pretty well and can be used as direct heat for burgers and brats or indirect heat for BBQ.
Pros
- The aluminum construction makes cooking easy.
- It is a versatile grill for cooking different foods
- It has better heat retention and distribution
- It has a side table for cooking preparation
Cons
- Ash containment can be improved.
- Vents can be tighter.
Weber Master-Touch Charcoal Grill, 22-Inch, Black
Specifications
- Dimensions: 24 x 24 x 42 inches
- Weight: 37.25 pounds
The Weber Kettle grill has a one-touch cleaning system that offers stress-free charcoal ash cleaning. You’ll need to swipe all debris into the removable ash container. You can effectively organize charcoal from direct and indirect cooking and grilling. This combination makes it easy for you to maintain the grill.
You’ll like that there is a convenient lid placement on this grill. This addition lets you slide the lid to the side of the grill, tucking it away while you go about your cooking and grilling.
You can control the cooking temperature better on this unit without having to remove the grill’s lid by adjusting the dampers. You can close the dampers to cut off airflow, which extinguishes the coals.
Pros
- Build quality is reliable.
- It is very affordable and efficient.
- It has tool hooks for hanging grilling tools, such as a spatula and tong
- It can withstand high temperature
Cons
- Heat retention is not so good in this grill
- Rust resistance can also be improved
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Lump Charcoal be used over Briquettes on PK Grill?
You can use lump charcoal instead of briquettes on a PK Grill to get it heated up faster. The benefit of lump charcoal is that it temps up your grill and keeps the heat there to maintain a steady grilling temperature. The good thing about the PK Grill is that it has solid aluminum construction to conduct heat.
What Makes Weber Kettle Grill Better?
Weber Kettle grill is considered adequate because of its quality build of stainless steel material, porcelain-lined aluminum, cast iron, e.t.c. in creating resistant and durable surfaces for grilling.
Weber Kettle grills are also resistant to water, implying that you can cook with them throughout the year.
What is The Average Shelf Life of a Grill?
An average user will replace their outdoor grill once every four years. However, when you carry out timely maintenance on the grill, a sizable factor can extend the shelf life. For instance, the Weber Kettle grill can last up to 13 years or even more when properly maintained.
How Do You Use Thermometer on a PK Grill?
You can use a thermometer on a PK Grill by placing the thermometer close to the cooking area in an offset position. You can also place the thermometer by the side of the grill where you would place your food when you’re cooking indirectly.
Final Verdict: Which Grill is The Best?
Wrapping up our comparison guide between the PK Grill and the Weber Kettle grill, we have concluded which charcoal grill is best.
As you must have noticed, the PK Grill and the Weber Kettle grill are good and offer the excellent quality that you would desire in a grill. Moreover, they are both tested and reliable in essential areas of cooking and grilling.
Going with the price of the grill, the Weber Kettle grill is the best as it is affordable; plus, Weber makes their grill in the United States which means you can quickly get one at a lower price over PK Grill.
On the other hand, PK Grill sends their grill to China for engineering. This adds to the cost of the grill. For instance, you can purchase the Weber Master-Touch for over $240, while the PK Original new goes for $500. This price range could make all the difference when planning a purchase.
When the price isn’t the problem, and you’re looking for a grill that offers a quality build, then the PK Grill is the best option. This grill is constructed with an intuitive design that helps you grill better. The rust-resistant body allows you to grill any time of the year. Lastly, the PK Grill provides better heat management and distribution to ensure practical cooking.
The best charcoal grill is based on various factors but streamlined the determinants to price and efficiency. Whatever you’re looking for in a charcoal grill, this guide will put you in the best position to find it.
