When it comes to good barbecue, having a top-of-the-line grill is important. But it’s not everything. You’ll need a handful of accessories to make sure you’re serving up the best food possible. And one of the first things on that list is a good charcoal basket.
Charcoal baskets look pretty simple—they’re really just a metal box—but they’re essential for good grilling. The basket holds coals in the center of the grill, which allows you to more easily control temperature and airflow, resulting in smokier, juicier meat. Most charcoal baskets will also make cleanup a breeze, as all of the ash residue will fall in one place. They’re not one size fits all, though, so take the size of your grill, and how much charcoal you plan on burning, into account when determining what size you need.
Because of this there are a plethora of different charcoal boxes to choose from for your personal own grill setup. Here are four of the top on Amazon.
1. Oklahoma Joe’s Charcoal Firebox Basket
Oklahoma Joe’s makes some of the best grilling equipment out there, so it stands to reason that the brand’s charcoal basket is one of the tops. It’s a sizable piece of equipment that’s more cube-shaped than some of the others out there, so it can hold more charcoal. That’s a real boon, as it means you won’t have to keep loading it up while grilling. Plus, it’s made of stainless steel, so it won’t break too easily.
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2. PK Grills Charcoal Basket
PK Grills’ charcoal basket is longer than most others out there, which means it can hold more kindling, but may not fit all grills. One of its biggest assets, though, is its construction: It’s made of heavy-duty steel, so it won’t break, even after years of use. And, unlike many other baskets, it has handles on either side that you can use to lift the apparatus and transport it to and from the grill. The handles fold away when not in use, so they won’t get in the way.
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3. Kamado Joe Classic Joe Charcoal Basket
Despite the name, most charcoal baskets tend to look more like a box than anything else. Not this model from Kamado Joe, though. The circular design, which works with most round grills, makes sure that charcoal stays in the center, making it easier than ever to cook meat and vegetables that are smoky and juicy. When you’re done, simply lift the basket out of the grill to separate your leftover charcoal from ashes—it’s that simple. One thing to note: It doesn’t have dedicated handles, so be careful when picking it up.
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4. Weber Charcoal Briquet Holders
When it comes to charcoal baskets, a bigger model is great, but it won’t work for every grill. That’s why an option like Weber’s is so welcome: It may not hold the most charcoal, but it’s great for those who don’t have that much grilling area to work with. You can also tweak where they’re placed in a grill more easily than you could one big basket, allowing for greater control over temperature and airflow.
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