Weber grills are great, but if you’ve seen one charcoal barbecue grill, you’ve seen ‘em all – but only if you haven’t see or tried the Weber 1428001 Performer Charcoal Grill. Why go black (boring) when you want the blue one? The Weber Performer grill comes in blue, black, green or red, the blue seems to pop.
Some make the mistake of not considering the value behind all the nuances of charcoal barbecue grills – and there are a number of little things in the Weber Performer charcoal grill that add up. For you value hunters out there, Weber Performer charcoal grills deserve a second glance. There’s more under the grill cover than you might have noticed at first glance.
Before diving into that, if you’ve been to a barbecue, you know the meat is really where the song and dance should be – not the grill. It’s the steak, not the tongs or the firebox that gets you to salivate – unless, of course, you own the Performer charcoal grill.
Have any of these grillin’ mistakes ever happened to you?
Have you ever had company over for a barbecue, with the intention of making some great steaks right before the big game begins in earnest…only to miss the kickoff or first pitch because you’re messing around with lighting the charcoal for the third time?
Been there, done that. It’s not fun – and especially not during playoffs, March Madness, or anything of any importance.
Keeping good friends waiting while you fiddle with the chimney lighter, or hunting down some more lighter fluid because you just ran out…none of that is what makes a barbecue enjoyable – they make grilling more chore and less enjoyment.
How about running out of workspace because you have one of the many budget charcoal grills, with no counter or table top space? This is a true story, and it’s embarrassing but maybe you can relate…
I had my father-in-law over, grilling for the first time. Finally, I could cook for the man and show him how to “really” prepare a steak (that was the plan, and I unfortunately had trash-talked big time). Spotlight was on me.
I had some T-Bone steaks, nice and juicy, marinating…sitting in the glass Pyrex cake pan at my feet because I had no work area: just a kettle grill. I was fiddling with the charcoal, trying to get it to stay lit, for some reason I was just having “one of those” days.
I finally got the fire to stay lit long enough to catch some briquettes on fire – when it happened: I stepped on the edge of the Pyrex cake pan anddumped the steaks onto the dirt…right in front of my father-in-law.
Wouldn’t you know it? He’s never let me live it down. Why am I telling you this? Because my new, blue Weber Performer charcoal grill features a generous work space all around, that’s why!
You can buy the Weber 1428001 Performer Charcoal Grill right here.
Believe me, it’s worth it just for that – no more embarrassment, and at least my father-in-law respects me for a smart upgrade.
He bought the green Weber Performer grill, I have the blue. And let me tell you - Weber Performer charcoal grills look hotter in dark blue than the lit coals inside on my deck!
Whether or not you’ve had these embarrassing moments, the generous table top and wire grill below decks is nice to have when you’re talking a side or baby back ribs or two. The 363-inch grilling surface, at 22-1/2 inches diameter, is plenty generous.
What other “problems” the Weber grill Performer solves nicely:
Weber didn’t stop with an easy ignition system – gas ignition using LP canisters, and their “Touch-n-Go” ignition system (yes, I wish they had went with an electric ignition, but I’ve had no problems so far).
Have you ever set out to barbecue, only to find your charcoal briquettes are damp and won’t light - unless you happen to have some hot magma ready?
That happens more often in humid climates, if you’re reading this in Arizona or the Mojave Desert – you don’t know what I’m talking about. If you live in any other place in the country, you’ve had that happen time to time (or am I the only one?).
Weber went the extra mile and outfitted Weber Performer grills with a pretty handy solution: the table top doubles as a cover for the charcoal bin. It holds two bags easily, the five pounders, and then some.
No more damp charcoal, thanks to my blue Weber Performer grill.
It simply tilts out, and keeps your charcoal at the ready. And of course – no need to worry about a chimney lighter or lighter fluid – the propane tank (it uses the 141 or 164 ounce bottles rather than the actual tanks) is all you need: no matches to lose or hunt down at the last minute.
Weber calls that their “Touch-N-Go” ignition, it will light really easily and keep those frustrated moments at bay.
Stay organized with the tool rack. This is a griller’s staple, a must-have in my book. Luckily, Weber recognizes this and they’ve included a nice rack to hang your grilling tools, right where you need them.
You can keep your spices and barbecue mop on the rack underneath the grill. Weber Performer charcoal grills don’t come with a tray for that purpose, but you can find one at the dollar store or use a rectangular cake pan for that.
The thermometer in the lid is a nice touch, too. No more guessing if the flames are too hot or if you need to step it up the heat or keep the lid on more often – this is a nice touch in recent releases of the Performer grills.
The lid swivels out of your way and blocks the wind, this you will find is pretty handy. Some reviewers complain that the lid is on the hinge and not simply free floating, but I’d rather have one less thing to worry about while blocking the wind.
The casters are durable and make this grill mobile. It’s not quite light enough to be considered portable, but you could take it to a tailgate party if you wanted to – but the casters are a nice touch considering those times when the smoke is blowing at your guests, or what have you.
I do wish the casters were rubber – but these “all weather” casters won’t go flat, they’re solid and built to last. This is the best of the Weber charcoal grills in my opinion – at least in this price range – rubber casters or not.
What about cleaning your Weber Performer charcoal grill?
Cleanup is easier on this Weber charcoal grills than on other charcoal barbecue grills – Weber calls this a one-touch system (for the ashes) and it is. You can sweep the ashes into the ash can and remove it simply, one-handed, when it’s all cooled down.
To put out the coals when you’re done, simply close the vents and you’re good, the smoke will get the fire to go out shortly.
The grates themselves are simple to clean – wire brush them while the fire cools. The manual goes over this – and I seasoned my grill first with Canola oil. Not sure if this helps, but it’s something my dad always did. Cleanup is a breeze.
Real Advantages of Weber Performer Charcoal Grills
- Generous Work Space
- Have the Best of Charcoal Grilling (Smoke Flavor) AND Gas (Convenient Ignition)
- The Blue Weber Performer Charcoal Grill Looks GREAT!
- Easy Clean Up
- Plenty of Storage for Wood Chips or Charcoal
- Weber Service and Warranty – Built To Last, Renowned Customer Service
- Made in the USA
Weber 1428001 Performer Charcoal Grill, Dark Blue Customer Reviews
It’s clear where I’m coming from with the dark blue Weber 1428001 Performer - but what do others have to say about this Weber charcoal grill?
Click the links below to read the Weber Performer charcoal grill reviews in full.
Jaronimo says this about the thermometer in the lid:
It has a thermometer on the lid. I love that feature! Normally I remove the lid, hold my hand over the coals, and start counting seconds to try to figure out what my temperature level is. Since I no longer have to heat up my hand to check temperature, my beer stays colder when I hold it. How can you put a price on a feature that important?
This way, you can get your food cooked to perfection – with less opening of the lid (and losing valuable flavor-enhancing smoke and heat), your food will be done sooner rather than later. No more guessing if the pork butt is ready, or Thanksgiving smoked turkey.
“Elrod from Cartoonsville” (funny name) says:
I grew up as a Weber Guy, went to gas and then went back to the kettle by WS. I will never go back. Performer seals the deal.
This comment by Dr. Sandra Lillie encapsulates my thoughts to a “T”:
I have long wished that we could have the taste of charcoal grilling with the convenience of gas barbecuing, but I hadn’t heard of this “hybrid” possibility until recently. We are very pleased with what we got, and I would recommend it to anyone who has the same desires.
This is a very convenient charcoal barbecue grill, the best in its class. Some may wonder if it’s worth the extra money – and that depends on what you are looking for, as well as your budget.
Sure, you can “make do” with a table sitting next to your Weber charcoal grills to store your food, tools, and the like – but with the Performer charcoal grill, you have everything right there, in one convenient place.
This is the best charcoal grill as far as I’m concerned with charcoal barbecue grills of this size, and I’d only add a few recommendations of those additional Weber grill accessories that pair nicely with the blue Weber Performer charcoal grill. See those at bottom.
Buy the Weber Performer Charcoal Grill Today on Amazon for a Great Price, and Get Free Shipping with Amazon Prime.
By the way, Amazon Prime is so worth it for me and mine – only because I know we find so many better deals on Amazon than we do elsewhere. Amazon Prime is a way to get free shipping on all orders that qualify – and in my case, they all qualify.
One final thought on my recommended accessories – these are for people who love to smoke meat, and use the grill to its fullest. If you’re just a burgers and dogs type of chef, more power to you – you only really need the cover.
I use my Weber Performer grill to smoke turkeys, chicken, salmon, pork…so my recommendation on the best way to save money by converting Weber Performers grills into a smoker is below – with fantastic results!
What Weber Grill Accessories Should You Get With the Performer Charcoal Grill?
These are all additional cost, but in my opinion and for my grilling needs, these are a necessity.
First off, the premium cover by Weber – it fits like a glove and keeps the weather from harming my Weber BBQ. Where I live, it snows – my grill’s protected and ready for the warm weather with no funky surprises when I cover it.
Another is this “Smokenator 1000″ – it converts any 22.5 inch Weber grill into a water smoker. You can also get a double-decker Smokenator so you can smoke even more meat at once. What’s a water smoker? Simply a way to smoke your meat (you have to try that!) with a place to put your water so your meat doesn’t dry out. The results are simply heavenly!
Finally, if you want to convert your Weber charcoal grill into a rotisserie for Thanksgiving, or just a great weekend dinner with all the trimmings – you should look at buying the add-on kettle rotisserie for your Performer charcoal grill. With this, you rarely need to remove the lid, and the rotisserie rotates using an electric motor for the most convenient way to a well-made bird.
Of course, you can use it for pork or roasts just as well, your meat is going to look picture perfect and taste just as good as you can imagine.
Do NOT buy any charcoal baskets – Weber Performer grills come with TWO - so you won’t need to worry about it. I like to use them to keep my wood chips in as well, and a hint for you: try to find a local apple orchard who will let you use some apple wood branches…do the same with hickory and oak…
For some reason, these free resources of natural wood smoke seem to put out the best flavor, in my opinion.
