Garden & Outdoor Living · Head-to-head
Weber Original Kettle Premium 22" vs Weber Master-Touch 22"
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Charcoal Grills: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Original Kettle Premium nails the fundamentals of a charcoal grill at a fair price, which makes it the pick for most people. Step up to the Master-Touch if you want the modular grate, warming rack, and Char-Rails for serious two-zone and indirect cooking.
Weber Original Kettle Premium 22"
Buy itThe default charcoal kettle for a reason: heavy porcelain build, a proper ash catcher, and a hinged grate at a sane price.
- 363 sq in of primary cooking space handles a full cookout
- Thick porcelain-enameled bowl and lid hold heat well and resist rust
- One-Touch cleaning sweep with an enclosed high-capacity ash catcher
- Hinged plated-steel grate flips up on both sides so you can add fuel mid-cook
- No warming rack or Char-Rails like the step-up model
- Fewer cooking extras out of the box than the step-up model
Weber Master-Touch 22"
Buy itThe Premium kettle plus the extras that actually matter for versatility: a modular grate, warming rack, Char-Rails, and a lid holder.
- 443 sq in total with a 363 sq in primary grate plus a warming rack
- Hinged grate fits Weber's circular Gourmet BBQ System grillware, so you can add inserts
- Included Char-Rails make setting up a direct or indirect fire easy
- Tuck-Away lid holder and One-Touch ash cleanup add day-to-day convenience
- Meaningfully pricier than the Original Kettle for gains some cooks won't use
- The modular grate accessories are extra purchases on top of the grill
Side by side
The 7 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Weber Original Kettle Premium 22" Our pick | Weber Master-Touch 22" | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Anyone who wants one grill that does burgers, steaks, and the occasional low-and-slow without overthinking it. | The hands-on griller who wants to sear, smoke, bake pizza, and run indirect cooks on one kettle. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $$$ · premium |
| Primary cooking area | 363 sq in | 363 sq in (443 with warming rack) |
| Bowl/lid material & build | Thick porcelain-enameled steel | Thick porcelain-enameled steel |
| Airflow & temp control | Lid + bowl dampers | Lid + bowl dampers, Char-Rails |
| Ash management | One-Touch sweep + enclosed catcher | One-Touch sweep + enclosed catcher |
| Grate & two-zone versatility | Hinged grate | Modular GBS grate + warming rack |
| Portability | Rolls on two wheels | Rolls on two wheels |
| Warranty | 10-yr bowl & lid | 10-yr bowl & lid |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22" if
anyone who wants one grill that does burgers, steaks, and the occasional low-and-slow without overthinking it.
Know before buying: no warming rack or Char-Rails like the step-up model.
Pick the Weber Master-Touch 22" if
the hands-on griller who wants to sear, smoke, bake pizza, and run indirect cooks on one kettle.
Know before buying: meaningfully pricier than the Original Kettle for gains some cooks won't use.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22" - The default charcoal kettle for a reason: heavy porcelain build, a proper ash catcher, and a hinged grate at a sane price. Choose the Weber Master-Touch 22" instead if the hands-on griller who wants to sear, smoke, bake pizza, and run indirect cooks on one kettle.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Charcoal Grills: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).