One Of Consumer Reports' Top-Rated Charcoal Grills Is Ideal For Money-Conscious Shoppers

Whether you are grilling burgers and steaks or just enjoying a weekend cookout, it's essential to have a charcoal grill you can count on. But finding a charcoal grill that meets your needs and fits your budget is not always easy. Good charcoal grills are often quite expensive, whereas the ones with cheap price tags do not have much to offer. That is where Consumer Reports' charcoal grill ratings can help narrow things down. It lists the Captiva Designs 34-inch Barrel Charcoal Grill as one of the highest-rated units, and it costs only about $360 on Wayfair right now – over $400 cheaper than the top-rated charcoal grill. In Consumer Reports' testing, the Captiva Designs 34-inch Barrel Charcoal Grill got an excellent score for ease of cleaning, as well as a nearly perfect score for convenience and evenness performance. Its indirect cooking performance was, however, just average. 

As for its specifications, the grill has a 505-square-inch total cooking area with a 289-square-inch warming rack. There are also two separate charcoal pans on the grill. Other than that, it also has two collapsible side tables, a pull-out ash tray, and a lid-mounted temperature gauge. There are also side dampers and an adjustable smokestack cap on the grill. That said, despite all of its features and a high Consumer Reports rating, the Captiva Designs 34-inch Barrel Charcoal Grill is still fairly costly and there are other well-rated options out there if you want to squeeze out more savings. You can even try building your own charcoal grill if you are into DIY and want to make a BBQ area on a budget.

As helpful as ratings from organizations like Consumer Reports can be, they do not always tell the whole story. Homeowners should also consider actual buyer feedback when shopping for a charcoal grill. On Wayfair, for instance, the Captiva Designs 34-inch Barrel Charcoal Grill currently has a 4.7-star rating from 65 reviews. The reviewers consistently mention that the grill is easy to set up, comes with clear instructions, and is durable. In total, only two of those ratings fall under four stars.

That said, not all reviews are positive. For instance, one buyer noted that the lid of the Captiva grill does not fit properly, whereas another customer mentioned that its charcoal tray does not let enough air through. Similarly, another buyer also noted that cleaning the grill is not very easy. So, make sure you learn some grill cleaning tips and tricks if you do decide to buy this for yourself.

Now, while such negative reviews are rare, they are still worth keeping in mind before you buy the grill for your home. Also, if you do buy it, make sure you know how far a barbecue grill should be placed from the house to prevent fires; charcoal and other grills with solid fuels are estimated to cause over 1,000 fires each year in the U.S. Make sure to take some safety measures before you start using your budget-friendly Captiva Designs grill for your summer BBQ party.