Weber Smokey Joe, Small in Size, Big in Performance

The Tuck n' Carry Smokey Joe is probably the best value mini-charcoal grill on the market. For a small family, apartment dwellers, or campers/tailgaters on a budget, it is hard to beat this performance of the Tuck n' Carry Smokey Joe. And even though you didn't spend a lot of money, that doesn't mean you'll be disappointed in this grill's performance. On the contrary, you'll be delighted.

The Hook... Cooking with a (any) Weber kettle is all about the science and the nature of fire. The people who invented the Weber kettle created a device that keeps charcoal with enough oxygen to burn a cherry red glow, but it does not allow sufficient oxygen into the cooking chamber for an open flame that could scorch your food (if you keep the lid on, very important). If you follow the cooking directions, it is very hard to fail using a Weber kettle, and the small model functions on exactly the same principle as the larger ones.

Size: There is enough room to cook a couple of large steaks, four filets mignon, a couple of snapper filets, four or five bratwurst, three large hamburgers, etc. It is really a great little unit for a small family or an apartment dweller with a balcony. The grill grate is approximately 12 inches across and the dome has about a six inch maximum clearance. The unit empty weights about four pounds.

Indirect Cooking: This little cooker will perform very well with indirect cooking tasks if the quantities are reasonable. A pair of Cornish hens is viable, a small chicken, a small pork roast (two or three pounds maximum). Indirect cooking on the Smokey Joe is done by using the small drip pans for the Weber gas grills. Place one on the charcoal grate and stack 15 briquettes on each side and lite. Now you're cooking indirect. Please don't even think about getting any part of a turkey on this little grill, the top clearance is too low. It does a great Cornish hen, and it is very easy if you take your time!

Economy: If it's just you or you and your significant other, this is a unit to consider at any price. It is very economical to operate because it uses such a small amount of charcoal in such an efficient manner. Speaking of charcoal, don't skimp and buy cheap charcoal if you can help it. Cheap charcoals have fillers of coal and other things you don't want to cook with. I prefer, and am happy recommending Kingsford brand.

Durability: Weber uses only the finest quality parts and hardware with its grills, and that goes for the little ones as well. This kettle is porcelained like the other kettles, which makes its steel impervious to heat, corrosion and other such maladies. You'll need to clean the charcoal ash out with regularity, though, because the base of the Smokey Joe is quite small. Regular maintenance should be performed on the grill grates to keep them clean and corrosion free. Spare parts can be found almost anywhere should something eventually wear out.

Portability: You can pack up your tuck n' carry with such ease that you'll take it to the beach, the park, the movies (kidding). The lid bracket bar folds over the top of the grill and snaps into the wooden handle on the dome to snap the unit closed, hence the Tuck 'n Carry name. It basically seals itself up into a single unit, and you don't have to worry about it coming unglued in the trunk and sullying your other cargo with ashes and grease. Someone put some thought into this cooker being conveniently portable. It is easily the most convenient charcoal fired mini-cooker I've had the pleasure of using.

Bottom Line: Like all Weber products, this is an excellent product. A little practice and you'll be the master of this little grill in a snap. Still, the real magic of the Weber kettle is lost if you cook with the lid off, so don't let me catch you with the lid off!

Good luck and good cooking with this timeless classic!