Old Smokey Charcoal Grill #22 (Large)

I did so much research to find a really good charcoal grill that I could smoke or make drunk chicken. Most grills are not high enough to stand a chicken up. I found a site that listed the top 10 charcoal grills and the Old Smokey was one of them (but was number 7 or 8). Long story short I picked the Old Smokey to purchase. I bought the #22 and freaked when I took it out of the box. It is so large! My husband and I are full-time RV’ers so everything we carry must be light and space efficient. Light, it is, but space efficient it is not. I immediately found a place to store it so my husband would not make me send it back. I plan to be an expert griller and have done so much research on how to grill and smoke with charcoal. I recommend that you buy wood chunks (not chips) of all flavors (cherry, apple, hickory, etc...) and fire starters. I have been using it almost every day for 2 months and it makes such delicious food. I have cooked everything from meats, poultry, fish, and vegetables. My husband said it is one of the best purchases I have made…we love our Old Smokey #22 and you can’t beat the price and it is 100 times better than the small inadequate weber we had.

I was looking for a charcoal grill/smoker with a larger cooking surface. On a whim, I purchased this Old Smokey grill. Although it's made in Texas, I really began to question the quality when putting it together. Supposedly, it's made of aluminized steel. I really don't know what that is, but it felt kind of flimsy. However, I was absolutely shocked as to how well this thing worked! I started some Royal Oak hardwood charcoal in a Weber RapidFire and chucked it in there. Within minutes, I was already at 250. I added some pre soaked orange wood and barbecued a rack of chicken. It stayed right at 250 the entire time without any adjustments. The chicken came out absolutely perfect with a crisp skin and a very juicy interior with a nice smoke ring - some of the best I've made to date. (I love using orange wood because it literally turns your food orange, looks great, and tastes even better! Would not recommend with fish.) Then, I wanted to smoke some ribs. I added a little more charcoal and messed around with the dampers until the temp dropped to 200F. I placed a pan of apple juice on the side. They turned out perfect and were falling off the bone. I was really expecting this thing to lose temperature quickly because it feels so thin. However, it stayed at 200 for hours on end! The temperature today was 30 with no wind, so not bad considering. (*I had the ribs in a vertical rib rack for about an hour. Not shown.) I'm calling it; this is the bargain buy of the summer! You can cook for a small army on this thing. It's super light and you can take it almost anywhere. *I bought the temp gauge (two pack) off Amazon for just under nine bucks.

I'm an avid griller and I have to say that I love this grill. Having said that there is one thing that I need to mention. The build quality will take some people by surprise. Upon first glance most people would say that it's flimsy. The legs and vent covers are pieces of aluminum and its handles are wooden pieces. It's not as solid as say, the Weber One-Touch Gold Charcoal Grill. I own both this grill and the Weber and love both. What it lacks aesthetically it makes up with it's functionality. For grilling, this item is outstanding. The thing that separates this from other grills is its design. With its "barrel" shape the heat and smoke surround your food during the cooking process and make for delicious results. There's less of a chance of your food getting burned because the grate sits higher above your fire than other grills. The top of the lid sits high above the grill grate which allows you cook beer can chickens and whole turkeys easily. You could even smoke meats with this if you wanted too. Overall, I love this grill. It's lovable unique design make for a great conversation starter, and the food that it makes will make you a believer.

I've had a Weber in the past and this #22 Old Smokey seems larger and more versatile than that. It sits closer to the ground like a fire pit but longer legs are available. I believe it'll be easier to smoke larger cuts of meat on this, such as turkey breast, pork butt, shoulder and brisket. It's doesn't come with a temp gauge but they're cheap and easy to slap on. I had a piece of steel laying around so I made a heavier charcoal grate, because I can't leave well enough alone. Also the Old Smokey sticker fell off first burn if that's a deal breaker for ya. Really can't go wrong if you're looking for a grill/smoker, especially for the price. I'm considering the #14 for camping trips. Seems pretty portable, but probably better for grilling. Great product made in USA that I'm sure will last a long while.

A very sturdy, simply made charcoal grill. Great quality and versatility. Very easy and simple to assemble, takes 15 minutes with a screwdriver and ANYONE could do it...no stereo instructions needed to put it together! This grill is simply the best and backed by a company that truly values and appreciates its customers. In addition, all parts are replaceable at a very reasonable price so you never have to buy another grill! Can also be used as a smoker and be easily modified to add a smoke box if you want to although it isn't necessary. The 22" is HUGE but can line bottom with a few bricks to use less charcoal or only use one side for smaller uses. TIP 1: It doesn't have a thermostat so I purchased one ( you don't need the $15 model, you can get a cheaper one with a longer probe..up to 6".. as the deep cover on this grill allows for it) and it took 10 minutes to install it by drilling one small hole in the cover. TIP 2: Get the 12" leg extensions, it's definitely worth it!! I guarantee you can buy this with confidence and you'll never buy another...Thank you Old Smokey!

I purchased this a few weeks ago and have already have used it 4 times. I smoked brisket twice and the meat came out BEAUTIFULLY. This was my first time smoking meat, I've just grilled before. It also works great as a grill if you want to cook burgers or otherwise cook hot. I got the biggest grill and glad I did. It is much bigger than I had visualized in my mind but the space it gives is worth it. I do wish that it had a door or some other mechanism to easily add more charcoal to the pit. But b/c of the price, I still give it 5 stars. I also purchased the thermometer made by Old Smokey and attached to the pit. This is absolutely necessary in my opinion to help maintain the temperature. Love this purchase.

After over 30 years I dumped the propane for lump hard wood. After a few hours of research, I chose this grill. I'm glad I did. The surface area accommodates whatever size area I need for direct and indirect cooking, or smoking. I recommend the long legs, Magic Bracket and a Weber 7401 Tool Holder which fits perfectly on this kettle. The vents work well and I drilled a 3/8" hole and attached an F&C 2" Barbecues BBQ SMOKER PIT GRILL THERMOMETER TEMP GAUGE on top. The only reason I didn't give five stars is the bottom grate has warped slightly from the heat and the bottom damper doesn't seal perfectly as it isn't tapered correctly at the bottom rim. These minor annoyances aside, I can't get enough of this contraption. And it looks really bada$$, too. A man's grill, for sure.

nice smoker great for grilling and smoking