Though it only needs a Phillips screwdriver, this barbecue is very fiddly to assemble, relying on an overly complicated system of nuts and bolts. The parts feel thin and cheap, and our testers even had to hammer one of the legs into place for it to stand up. Its instructions are easy to follow diagrams, but it would’ve been a help to have some written instructions too. It comes with an excessive amount of plastic wrap.
What's the George Foreman Kettle Charcoal Barbecue like to use?
Once assembled, this barbecue is light and compact and thanks to its wheels, it’s easy to move around as needed. The heat guards on the handles give great peace of mind and the ash catcher at the bottom of this barbecue makes cleaning up a breeze. A thermometer on the lid makes it easy to judge when the coals are hot enough. However, we dislike how low this barbecue is. Because the cooking surface is just 65cm from the ground, you have stoop to use it, which is uncomfortable. Its materials are also poor quality and it suffers from a weakness of many kettle barbecues, which is that the lid is not attached; when cooking it can be annoying to find a safe place to rest it. Because of its round shape and poor ventilation, this BBQ is also a little tricky to light and when it does light, it takes more than 40 minutes to really get going. It has quite a small cooking surface; one spatchcocked chicken takes up most of the grill.
How does the George Foreman Kettle Charcoal Barbecue cook?
Despite its other problems, this barbecue cooks well, charring and sealing food with beautiful, crisp grill lines. Food stayed moist despite the heat and this was especially evident in our chargrilled courgette test, producing delicious slices of courgettes. The spatchcock chicken we cooked was gently but thoroughly cooked, with an even char and rich, crispy skin. However, the grill lines are quite wide – when cooking thick-cut potato chips some fell through. We also found poor heat coverage. The temperature was perfect in the centre of the grill, but much too cool at the edges.
Is the George Foreman Kettle Charcoal Barbecue good value for money?
Although this has fantastic cooking results, it's uncomfortable to use and made from low-quality materials. Its one-year warranty isn't as long as others in our test and at £70, this is poor value for money.
Who is the George Foreman Kettle Charcoal Barbecue good for?
This barbecue makes delicious food and is ideal for small spaces. It would suit little courtyards and gardens, and its easy storage works well for occasional barbecuers. However, it is low quality for its price.
If you're in the market for a grill, check out our tests of the best gas BBQs, the best charcoal BBQs, and our guides to barbecue accessories.
