Weber Kettle Master Touch: Best grill for the money? 

*Bought for my son. We have had one for years, works great. Can cook indirect and smoke meat. Done chicken, ribs, turkey, and the regular **MyBest.Kitchen** hot dogs and sausages. Excellent grill*

thanks for the nice concise honest review! 10/10

Love it! Weber makes fantastic grills. Nice review

Another good feature is that the master touch is 3-4 inches taller than the lower model Weber grills which many may like, especially if you are a taller person. Also the master touch top rack is thicker and heavier than the lower models. Great review, thanks!

Warming rack is awesome for different grilling techniques ( indirect heat) and also when the grill is used as a smoker it gives you additional way to add more meat.

Never knew i should place the lid air vents over the food. It makes a difference to the cooking. Thank you

Got mine today can't wait to put it together

I bought the master touch myself. I absolutely love it. I bought the vortex for the center to make different chicken dishes. I also bought the slow and sear for lower temp smoking applications. I have a pellet smoker but the Weber slow and sear just taste better. When you combine the charcoal and chunk wood it just has a better flavor. Good video.

Love my Weber Master Touch. - before I bought it, I thought the open lid position mounted in the lid bale would bother me. It doesn’t. -the P vents provide amazing low temp control. -the deciding factor prompting my Master Touch purchase over the Original and the Original Premium was the additional overall height of the Master Touch. Worth ever penny.

Very informative review. Thx

Weber kettle was always the essential getting away on weekends grill while using gas at home. Gas grill rusted out and I am going back to the classic weber kettle as our everyday grill. Pretty excited!

I recently purchased a new 22” Weber Performer. This is the one with the folding side table. It was $289 but I think we’ll worth it. The cart really adds additional stability over the 3 leg design.

I would use the warmer for bbquing at the beach this 4th of July. Thanks so much for the review

Good break down. So about that lid. I believe if you stand facing the lid when it is up you will find it easier to cook. It opens up better. I know you shouldn't have to do this but it does work. The thermometer placement doesn't matter all that much because honestly the webber is so well designed that you have a very good even temperature throughout the kettle. Now about that table. There are some really great mods making tables for the kettle. I suggest checking out Justin's Baby back Maniac episode on this subject. For your next episode if you don't already have one get a webber chimney starter. And while on the subject of tables,consider getting a steel Dutch oven table. They are made so you can put charcoal or brickets directly on the table and not hurting anything. Grill on the webber and bake a pie or whatever in a camp Dutch oven and have a place to start all your charcoal and brickets. Ahhh, its always fun helping others spend their money. Good luck.

City Escape Griller Great video! I was thinking to buy one of the Master Touch Premium with some additional features - like smoking setup and hinged lid but still couldn't find decent review like this one. Do you have any thoughts about MT Premium 2019?

Glad to see ya back, bud! The Weber kettle is a classic, I think it's the best straight-ahead charcoal grill out there. The only thing Weber can really do with it is add bells & whistles because they really can't improve the design. It regulates heat very well, and can maintain a steady temperature for a long time. I've smoked pork shoulder on mine, it's that consistent. Great job, thanks for re-starting the videos!

Nice review of your Weber kettle I have the premium Weber kettle I have some of the features yours have except the grill grate and the lid holder. I agree that there should be two thermometers on the lid I can get the same grill top as yours and been thinking about because I like the sear great for the steaks

On the lid not going a full 90 degrees: my guess is the lawyers stepped in here. The Performer and 26” Kettle grills are heavier (and wider in the Performers case) and can tolerate that little bit of extra weight just off of center. They reduced their liability by keeping it just a tad less prone to toppling.

Worth it, 100% The perfect size.

I was on Amazon’s site...thinking and thinking...on the 165 or the 210... your review...helped a lot. 210 it is...thanks

I was wondering if you could just spin the lid around till the thermometer is above the food and wait a bit just to take a reading then spin it back around to where it normally sits, if that would work till you add a thermometer on the food side?

You can buy a larger gapped replacement lid holder for the performer that will work. Lid then stands straight up vertically. Fits the existing holes, etc.

i got the Master Touch last week after weeks of research . To me it was the best value for the money

Just picked one up at Lowe's for $96 on clearance I only took out the grill grate and warming rack put them on my performer Deluxe the master Touch also has a different design on the bottom vent for low and slow I'll keep the rest of the grill and put it in my collection I think this makes 18

Do you have to buy the gourmet accessories

Great video. I have the basic and it has performed well. Try cooking your Thanksgiving day turkey. - amazing results over the offset method! Best wishes for a great adventure in grilling! Cheers!

I have one and use it more than any grill in my collection!

got my master touch premium for $327.00 canadian .last spring and i love it . all around versatility ! A++

Appreciate your detail review, clear and concise. Thank you :)

I agree that’s a total design flaw. I have the Basic one Touch and couldn’t be happier. I don’t need all the accessories, I make my own

Excellent glad i purchased one

Excellent review. Love your channel. What do you think about the Weber 15301001 Performer Charcoal Grill, 22-Inch, Black $279 amazon

I love my master-touch, but am frustrated with a few things - namely the lid bail and the lack of availability of the head-shield/charcoal ring found in the Euro MT-Premium models. The saving grace for the lid bail is that you can replace it with the one for the Performer and get the same 90-degree tilt. The replacement is about $30.

Is it possible that the angle of lid cover was purposefully done that way to be used in conjunction with the "heating rack". Perhaps the angle was meant to keep in a bit of heat, in the event you had to add meat/charcoal?

I'm not a fan of the lid holder either. Good overview of a classic grill. 🔥

I went to order the master touch 22" and started reading reviews was lots of complaints about the metal being thinner then used to be. And legs not made as good. Several people said lid didnt get a seal anymore cause was much lighter. Wanting to make a good purchase decision. Thoughts?

Just bought a Master Touch !! The main reason was the center of the grate coming off so I can use a vortex for wings!!

I fricken love mine. But I’ve come from a base model that I picked up on the side of the road😮. The lid opener or holder, does yours touch the painted part of the lid?? I just worried because it so shiny and new I don’t want the paint to wear of on the ring.

I heard when cleaning the middle circle grill rack, it keeps falling off when you scrub it. Is this true or does it stay in place?

I just got one of those bad boys for $109 from Lowe's. Couldn't pass it up. So excited to fire it up this weekend.

good charcoal organiser

Totally agree with the lid... what was they thinking

I have the Weber Performer. I really like the side table. I didn't get the regular kettle because, like you said, the lid not opening straight up was annoying. I have the sear grate for the middle and it works really well. But I don't use it much now because I picked up a set of Craycort cast iron grates with a few accessories. And they work really well. Pricey though but should last a lifetime. I use the warming rack for small cuts of meat mostly when I'm doing a low and slow cook. It looks useless but I like it. Had to hunt it down as it didn't come with the Performer for some reason.

That sucks, I don't want my cover getting in the way. Thanks for letting me know about the flaw, I was about to purchase this big one :o/

Ordered this recently over my current Weber, which is basically the same but doesn't have the plastic handle on the top vents, nor the lid holder or master touch grate. I also thought their newer models held the lid lower. Might just keep using my old lid with the hook instead... :S Does the lid holder come attached already in the box? Thanks for the video.

struggling to understand why the angle of the lid in this design is a problem. you can access the entire grate to move the food. my performer from 2003 is at that angle, and its never been a problem.

The 26" kettle lid goes back completely I believe.

I red below, dont use in balcony. I bought a Spirit 2 E310 but failed. I made 3 barbecues and stoped. In a first floor with a 40m2 and open... could i use this one? The perfóremer has the advantage that you can light charcoal with gas...

Does this Weber have air leaks around the rim? You can see smoke coming out of there while grilling? Thank you👍

Master Touch is awesome!!

So, no charcoal ring and deflector pan with this model?

All the bells and whistles are nice but ive always used the most basic 22in weber for anything. Get yourself a $5 oven thermometer and charcoal baskets about $20. Which you dont really need the baskets even either but they're more convenient.

I just order master touch from target. I did not know you can buy tables for them separately. Looking for table now

Hey mate- quick question. Do you think you could use a kettle in an apartment balcony? I'm worried about smoking out my neighbours lol

I went for the Performer for the side table, The charcoal bin and the gas assist for getting the coals going . I'm not very handy so the thought of building a better table never crossed my mind! lol. Looks like you have already gotten some good use out of the kettle look forward to those videos!

I decided to buy the Master Touch yesterday. I got it up to 600 F I grilled a bunch of whole rainbow trout and veggies. Even though it is sourced in China, this grill worked better than expected. I recommend buying it for the 219 or less. You are going to need another 100 or 200 in accessories as well.

I think the vent is intended to be placed on the opposite side to the food to facilitate convection of hot air, while the thermometer is placed above the food in this setup.

I think the premium model is a better deal. That grill grate seems gimmicky to me. Only complaint I have with the premium is it's not the 26" model.

Weber have an updated lid holder for the Master Touch and standard Kettle. Part #8411. My dad got one for his MT and it works great and the lid slides back all the way. Edit: Almost forgot, he also has the BBQ dragon hook on table and it too has worked really well. Not big enough to hold a big tray of ribs but will easily hold a plate of burgers or some seasoning bottles and has some more hooks for accessories.

Has Weber ever addressed the thermometer location?

Can you use the snake method on the master touch premium

Nice review, bro ... as i mentioned in last video‘s comments, I own the smaller version of that kettle. One thing for sure, if you place the lid in its holder, it doesn’t have that angle than yours does. Strange. Nevertheless this grill gives you a huge variety of methods to grill your food. My favorite is chicken, like beer can chicken. I wish you all the best and lots of fun with it Dietrich from Germany Sent best regards

Another difference is that the Master Touch is a few inches taller than the Original 22” kettle.

I love my $109 model. Wouldn't trade it for this one.

Best grill I ever bought

Have you thought about adding the Kettle Zone Cooking Systen and do four 8 lbs Boston Butts at once? :-)

Why kind of table do you recommend?

Bought one today

👏👏👏

I agree about the lid...but also charging extra for a different color...doesn't change the taste...crazy talk

My only complaint on mine so far is I wish I had bought it at 2019 prices!

It's a great grill and video. It's dangerous to cook with charcoal on a deck that's connected to your home. At a minimum, please consider putting a large, flame proof grill mat underneath.

They are great grills, but in the UK very expensive. That said my last one lasted nearly 15 years untill it rusted through.....

Why do all these rust at the bottom? Quality?

The Performer is actually $279 MSRP.

I seen the regular performer is only 50 dollars or so more than this one at 279 + tax.

👍

These have increased in price significantly. The premium is now $219 and the master touch is $280 at Home Depot. I just bought a Master Touch second hand for $140.

If you don’t want the heating rack I’ll take it lol. They don’t sell it separately for some reason

I have the Premium kettle and I'm not convinced the Master Touch is worth the additional $50. The only practical add-on between the two is the lid holder and I have no problem hanging the lid on the side on my Premium. In fact, I might be annoyed at the slanted lid over the grill. The Performer is definitely not worth the money in my opinion.

The warming rack is the business for hot dogs.

I thought all the old schools had the little hook inside to hang

The lid holder is made to be a wind deflector.

Definitely not getting that BBQ.. Thanks for the heads up

Great bbq I have one and get good results 🇬🇧

Talking about the Performer.... the table justblooks cheap and cheesy....

Weber designers miss a ton of things. It seems like they don’t ever use their products?? The lid, the air venting system, the thermometer, no slot for a proper thermometer….it’s crazy. Haven’t they heard of RU-vid?

99% of people don't use the warming rack.

That rack is useful for cooking tin foil wrapped veggies.

Just get the Weber Original, the rest of those features really aren't that big of a difference for the price.

J

haha really? doesnt know why youd have a warming rack.... not cooking for big groups i guess?

The lid sitting like that is enough not to buy this. Thanks for showing it.

Made in China?

Gosh your such a wife! Complaining about everthing!

Try another profession dude!!

This is a total ripped off, we bought it today and right after assembling it, I wanna return it, the design is nothing special, it's just the same as other ordinary grill, for the price of 219$? We should have get the ordinary one! After watching this review I realize there is nothing but a piece of junk, imagine using only the middle of the grill? It was so small! And they said it as designed so u can cook something in the middle? Common! We bought this to grill! Weber should give our money back! .now! How can I reassemble this and return? I guess u would not be able to do that and just use this ordinary nothing special grill!!!

I have a 4 year old Master Touch. Cook at least once a week. Love it. Still like new and hardly do any cleaning or maintenance