Once the coals have turned white and you’re ready to cook, the Weber comes into its own. It’s a serious barbecue that cooks evenly and reliably. While it’s one of Weber’s most affordable BBQs, it’s certainly not inexpensive. However, the Smokey Joe is worth splashing out on if you’re an avid camper looking for a high-quality portable option that won’t need replacing a year or two down the line. The snake method, or the fuse method as it’s also called is a technique that allows you to smoke a brisket to the quality you’d expect from an expensive smoker.

By leaving both wide open you are allowing cool fresh air to be drawn in through the base, and the warm air can be vented overboard through the lid. Close the bottom grate and fresh air can not make its way in, and the temperature will rise. Close the top grate and the hot air can’t escape, again causing a temperature rise. By managing the cooler air coming in, and the hot air leaving the grill you can tweak the heat setting depending on how you like to cook. Direct and Indirect Grilling There are only a few parts involved. You’ll need a cross-headed screwdriver, and a flat-headed screwdriver, but don’t worry, it’s really simple. As a final point by using fluids you may also find that you get a slight chemical taste imparted on your food. Not good. Essentially all you need to do is pile your charcoal on one side of the grills substantial charcoal grate. The area directly above the coals is the ‘hot’ zone. This area is perfect for searing and getting those signature barbecue stripes all over the food. The Weber Smokey Joe, for such a simple grill you sure can do a lot with it. This grill is small yet mighty and very easy to get to grips with. In this article we are going to offer some practical advice, give you a few tips on how to use a Weber Smokey Joe grill and talk about some techniques to ensure you get the very best out of this fantastic grill. What is the Weber Smokey Joe?Alternatives worth considering include the speedy, fan assisted Lotus Grill, the foodie Cobb Premier and the stylish Thuros Tabletop Grill, but the Weber is more affordable and versatile than all of them. Verdict

The cooking area measures 35cm diameter, generous for a portable barbecue. And the design inside is simple, drawn from Weber’s heritage making kettle barbecues. A grill at the bottom to support the charcoal, a grill at the top to support the food, large adjustable air vents at the sides to control heat, and again large vents in the lid that can be adjusted. You would slowly cook the steak by indirect grilling, keeping the lid on and altering the airflow in your Weber Smokey Joe to keep the temperature inside the grill relatively cool. Once the steak was cooked through to your liking you could remove the lid, move your steak to the hot side and char it on the outside, getting all of those delicious flavours and lines. Low and Slow Smoking Another, albeit small, gripe I had with this BBQ was with the dampeners. In general, I found the Smokey Joe to be a robust BBQ, but the dampener mechanism felt a tad flimsy and awkward to use. While this certainly isn’t a deal breaker, it’s a little disappointing given its price. And speaking of price, there’s no denying this is expensive for what is, on the surface, a basic kettle BBQ.To reach the right temperature for cooking, a Smokey Joe takes around 15- 20 minutes, depending on the weather. Our best tip is to use the right charcoal briquettes along with a charcoal lighter, such as our Lighter Cubes, in conjunction with the Rapidfire Compact Chimney Starter, all available through Weber. A Rapidfire chimney starter is a fantastic way to start a charcoal grill, with the coals held in a canister-shaped cylinder, accelerating the combustion process. Don’t forget your oven gloves and tongs! Is barbecuing with a Smokey Joe allowed in parks? READ NEXT: Our full roundup of the best BBQs available Weber Smokey Joe Premium BBQ review: Should you buy it? The vents are on the top and bottom of the standard model, and on the side of the Smokey Joe Premium. I find the side vents a little easier to use, but it’s just a preference thing.

Well, this is the fun part of grilling using charcoal. Ask 20 people how to light a barbecue and they will tell you 20 different ways and swear that their way “really works”. The truth is that there are numerous options available. The best way to do this is by regulating airflow. The Weber Smokey Joe has two air sources. On the lid, there is a rotating grate, and there is also a similar inlet at the base of the kettle. Then it’s really as simple as placing the meats on your grill and keeping an eye on the temperature and how evenly they are cooking.

You can get up to 8 hours too using this method. You place coals in a snake-like shape around the edge of the grill, they then slowly burn as the heat travels through. Handy connects you with a professional in your area who has the tools and know-how to get the job done.

The Weber Smokey Joe is essentially a conventional Barbecue. You can use whatever fuel suits your style of cooking. Weber recommends hardwood charcoal briquettes. They are relatively slow-burning which is exactly what you want in a kettle barbecue. They also tend to burn quite evenly, this allows you to more accurately control the temperature as it doesn’t fluctuate as much as fierce burning lump wood charcoal. How to Light a Weber Smokey Joe You have a good deal of control over the temperature. There is damper system, which means you can increase or decrease the ventilation to adjust the heat. Klarna's Pay in 3 / Pay in 30 days are unregulated credit agreements. Borrowing more than you can afford or paying late may negatively impact your financial status and ability to obtain credit. 18+, UK residents only. Subject to status. Late fees may apply. Ts&Cs apply.You may have seen Weber offering a chimney start as an add-on to their grills. Chimney starters are handy to speed up lighting your grill and makes it easy handling the coals. Lighting the barbecue is straightforward but it’s slow to get started compared with more hi-tech barbecue designs. It feels very much like a mini version of a traditional kettle barbecue. Out of the box, assembly is surprisingly easy. You will be able to get it assembled and ready to grill in around 10 minutes. There are remarkably few steps. You will need a couple of screwdrivers, however (both flathead and Phillips). Here’s all that you have to do: –