A lot is on ‘steak’ when you are in possession of the top charcoal grill in your house. Steaks become the most obvious choice for foodies especially when you are well familiarized with the potential of your charcoal grill for making delicious smoked food recipes.

There are plenty of choices in this grill domain but the best one definitely has to be the one that has the best basic features, value-added features and the ability to meet your requirements with precision for grilling steaks.

In short, charcoal grills are preferred due to their higher-level portability, easy to put on and put-out capability, lower maintenance needs, and deep smoked flavor its adds to your steaks which is not achievable through stovetop grills, propane grills and other types of grills otherwise.

Let us find out the best charcoal grills in business for grilling steaks and what exactly makes them the unanimous choice for steak lovers.

Things to Consider that Ensure purchasing the Best Charcoal Grill for Steaks

Temperature Control 

Charcoal grills provide full control over the temperature of cooking. Indoors and outdoors temperature control may vary for a grill.

It is easy to maintain the desired temperature indoors, but controlling the same outdoors could be very challenging due to the external environmental factors such as wind.

The temperature control is best maintained through the quality of damper, lid and the adjustable distance between the food (steak in your case) and the grill. This with a quality grill shows the best result with consistent practice and time.

A quality food thermometer is required to keep a check on the temperature achieved.

Hot-Plate 

This is the place where your steak directly interacts with the grill. It is usually and preferably comes in steel construction that ensures best-required heat to be produced. The size of the hot plate actually determines how many steaks of varying sizes you can grill at a time. The preferable hot plates come in 1/8, 3/8 and 1/2 inch sizes. It all depends on your requirements and capacity for cooking steak.

Lid

Lid plays a pivotal role in charcoal grill performance in capturing and retaining the required heat. Beef steaks as you may expect requires a good bit of consistent heat over a charcoal grill in order to cook it with perfection.

The idea is to ensure that the lid fits tighter over the grill so that the wanted heat doesn’t escape through the openings, which may affect steak grilling.

The Adjustable Flexibility or Ergonomics 

The burning charcoal grill may not be easy to handle. A comfortable, heat resistant handle is required to easily handle the grill. An excellent way to control the temperature of the grill is to raise or lower it from the heat, as required.

The temperature would drop when the grill is moved away from the charcoal and it would get more heat when the grill gets closer to the same. Beef steaks normally require consistent heat at a relatively high temperature to make them look well from deep inside and as well as from the outer side.

Therefore, make sure to make the adjustments by lowering or raising the grill just as it is required.

Dampers

A pair of dampers is what any charcoal grill requires, where one is the intake and the other one is the exhaust. The temperature is ideally controlled in the charcoal grill by the intake one.

This also provides the passage for oxygen to penetrate inside the feed or also to choke the fire if required. The damper must be ensured to fit in tightly as that will allow you to choke off the oxygen with precision when required.

On the other side, you may leave the damper wide open at times in order to allow the gases and smoke to exhaust from inside.

Thermometer

Thermometer is to charcoal grill just as water is for fish. You can ensure good steak grilling when you have a quality thermometer in access that doubly assures that the meat is neither undercooked, nor overcooked, but only lightly cooked.

Therefore, never go for charcoal grilling of steaks if you don’t have a good digital working thermometer in possession.

Charcoal Access 

Access to charcoal means that the grill system should provide you an easy mechanism to add in charcoal or to remove/ adjust when required. Many good quality grills come with a door to get access to charcoals or to move them around. Such access gives excellent control over the temperature.

Ash Dispense 

Ash dispense system needs to be of top-notch quality. Characteristically, ash is known as a good insulator and if that is not timely removed then it absorbs heat and affects grill performance.

2-zone grilling 

This might be a value-added feature for few steak-grilling buffs, but a mandatory feature for many who loves grilling with precision. 2-zone grilling area allows moving your cooked or partially cooked food from the hot side to the cooler area over the same grill. This allows for slow grilling with the indirect heat provided.

All you need to do for such a setting is to move the coals under the grill to one side. This obviously requires you to have a spacious grill.

Grates

The inexpensive wire grills mostly makes a good cooking surface. Cast iron is not a good candidate material here due to its difficult maintenance and potential mistreatment of the steak meat.

Ideally, the best deal is to have something that does not block the airflow and the radiant heat and also just doesn’t darken the food surface in patches. Rather, it should ensure consistency.

Top 10 Charcoal Grills for Steaks

Here are our top 10 finds you should not miss comparing:

Jumbo Park Charcoal Grill for Steaks with 384 Sq. in. of Cooking Space

This is commercial quality equipment of 384 sq. inches that meet all the standard requirements of domestic use as well. A 2-piece set up with a solid pipe-base that offers maximum stability.

The charcoal grill comes with varying steel hot plate sizes (1/8, 3/8 and 1/2 inches) which are all apt for steak grilling. The ergonomics of the unit are par excellence where you can employ its handle easily to 4 distinct heights as per the requirements.

Similarly, the handle could also be dragged out for simple cleaning. The grill box is capable of swiveling at a full 360 degree in order to get in the maximum required wind and for excellent smoke control.

Pros

Our Rating: [star rating="3.8" numeric="yes"]

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Pilot Rock Park-Style Steel Backyard Charcoal Grill

This by far is the steak buffs favorite grill particularly because of its spacious 224 sq. inch size for a compact unit. It has enough space to doing virtual partitioning to offer a hot and cold area on the same grill by intelligently adjusting the coals underneath.

It has a steel construction with a plate of 1/8 inches in size. Yu may swivel the unit full 360 degrees and that too from any angle. The swivel attachment is secure and theft-proof to give you the peace of mind in outdoor grilling or storing your unit outside.

The grate is fully flexible and you can employ it at 4 different cooking levels in order to get the most desirable heat out of the unit for perfect beef steak or any other food item grilling.

Pros: 

Our Rating: [star rating="4.1" numeric="yes"]

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Uten Barbecue Charcoal Grill Stainless Steel for Outdoor Cooking

This is a versatile charcoal grill with a hybrid design where one side act as a griddle and other as the grill. It has side holders/ trays as well to carry your sauces and other spices required while grilling. The dual vent design is an exception with the controlling of heat and releases any excessive heat without much of a hassle.

The grill has a rectangular design and it makes it easy to cook beef steaks in large quantity. Moreover, despite having a large size of the grill, the unit is very much portable with its lights weight and the legs could also be disassembled.

Pros:

Our Rating: [star rating="3.6" numeric="yes"]

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Expert Grill 24-Inch Heavy Duty Charcoal Grill

This is a unique charcoal grill that is fully covered with a lid to ensure maximum heat while grilling and open it up just as it is required. It has a total area for grilling of 372 sq. inches and then there is a chrome-plated area of 201 sq. inches that serve as a warming rack.

The cooking grates are made from heavy-duty cast iron material. Some other excellent and much-needed features include the flexible charcoal pan, folding side shelf, condiments, and dishes as well.

Moreover, it as a powder-coated covering lid that enhances your security while grilling. The manufacturer of Expert Grill doubly endorses the quality of this impeccable 24 inches charcoal grill.

Pros: 

Our Rating: [star rating="4.5" numeric="yes"]

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Guide Gear Heavy-Duty Park Style Charcoal Grill

The charcoal grill is modeled around the famous grills that you found in different parks. This is a heavy-duty grill that is facilitated with a 6-inch hot plate made from steel. The entire grill surface is one of the most spacious ones with an area of 441 sq. inches.

The hot plate is also adjustable and you can set it up at 4 different levels to get the heat from charcoals with precision. The unit is also very much portable and offers easy storage as the legs could be easily unscrewed from the pole and that makes maneuverability and storage very easy. The poles of the unit are 50 inches and that provide this unit at good enough height for convenient grilling and checking your food throughout the cooking phase.

Pros: 

Our Rating: [star rating="3.5" numeric="yes"]

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Outsunny Portable Folding Charcoal BBQ Grill Stainless Steel Camp Picnic Cooker

The Outsunny manufacturer outshines with its brilliant design of the charcoal grill that satisfies all requirements to cook perfect steaks and other food items that you want. From bottom to top, it has thick and solid stainless steel construction along with abrasive resistance as well. The unit will not catch any rust even after long-term outdoor use.

The design is portable as it comes with foldable legs, which makes it easy to carry and store. There is wide grilling space having a pair of alloy plates as in a rectangular grill setting.

The grill pan is a level ahead in quality with its refined iron material, which makes it highly suitable to use for steaks grilling.

Then, there is proper air ventilation mechanism provided that ensures the consistent and desirable temperature of the grill with the most desirable level of cooking as well

Pros: 

Our Rating: [star rating="3.9" numeric="yes"]

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Best Choice Products 18 inches Portable Steel Charcoal Barbecue BBQ Grill with Heat Control

This is one of the finest and elegant looking charcoal grill from Best Choice Products manufacturer. The grill is tagged as medium size of 18 inches and that is enough to feed steaks to a group of 4 people. The coal consumption is economical and a desirable temperature through an effective vent system is maintained throughout the cooking phase.

The unit also comes with a side lid holder that makes the placement of the lid quite easy. There is a storage rack at the bottom for placing supporting grilling stuff. The maneuverability of the grill is easy with 2 rear wheels and lightweight.

The legs are also detachable for easy storage. Its construction is ideally done keeping outdoor use in mind, where the steel construction is totally weather resistant and does not allow rust to build-up.

Pros:

Our Rating: [star rating="4" numeric="yes"]

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Weber Original Kettle 18 Inch Charcoal Grill Black

This is another elegantly designed charcoal grill, which is spacious enough to hold 9 burger size steaks in a single round of cooking. The lid is strategically designed to be porcelain enameled for protective cooking, which wouldn’t peel or rust even in the toughest outdoor conditions.

The bow with all its protection and direct coal heating retains the maximum required heat. A lid hook is conveniently provided so you have it closely attached to the main unit when needed to be removed and it also saves you from putting on the ground or to find any other suitable place. The dampers are ideally placed for allowing best temperature control inside the grill. Finally, the hot plates are durable that is easy to clean and easy to heat as well with consistent heat provided.

Pros:

Our Rating: [star rating="4.5" numeric="yes"]

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Wetlif Stainless Steel Charcoal Portable Grill

This dapper looking charcoal grill from Wetlif is all stainless steel made, which endorses is quality and durability. Despite having stainless steel made, it is light-weight and easily portable. You have the option to use it as a grill for grilling steaks or other stuff and could also be used for skewers. The package comes with 10 skewers as well.

It has a rectangular design so there is ample amount of space to be used as hot and cold areas separately. Best quality grilling is ensured with its fully adjustable vents. The total grid area of the grill is 188 sq. inches. A couple of grid holding clips are also included with the unit free of cost.

Pros: 

Our Rating: [star rating="4.5" numeric="yes"]

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Cajun Classic Round Seasoned Cast Iron Charcoal Hibachi Grill

This is the most compact charcoal grill that you can ever have. It is ideal for camping due to its small size, lightweight, and easy carrying. The diameter of the grate is generous enough to be of 15 inches, which gives good enough space for grilling a few stakes in one round.

It is made from cast iron material which is rare to find with such units, but acceptable for the convenience that it carries. The unit is pre-seasoned to the most desirable perfection and ready to be used right out of the box.

You may set the unit over a wooden table even. The grill can be adjusted at 2 heights for best temperature control and could also be flipped over if required.

Pros:

Our Rating: [star rating="3.3" numeric="yes"]

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Frequently Asked Questions about Charcoal Grills

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What are the normal grate sizes that I can get for a charcoal grill for beef steaks grilling?

The charcoal grills are available in different sizes. Some of the most preferable sizes are 1/8, 3/8 and 1/2 inches, which are considered to be sufficient for beef steak grilling. However, depending on your needs and nature of use (indoors or outdoors), you may select other size options as well.

Is the Charcoal Grill grate adjustable and why is it required?

The majority of charcoal grill grates are adjustable at different levels. This is required in order to set the distance of the meat being cooked from the coals. The further the meat away from the coals, the lighter would be the heat and Vice a Versa. Therefore, you can fully exploit the adjustable option to set the required temperature for the charcoal grill.

Does charcoal grill offers 2-zone cooking and why is it required?

Yes, this option is offered in various charcoal grills with reasonably good size. This helps in separating the hot plate or the grate with half hot and half cool side. Therefore, you can shift your food from one side to the other depending on the cooking requirements in terms of the temperature required.

Are charcoal grills portable?

The charcoal grills or in fact any other type of grill is usually preferred for outdoor use. For such usage, portable grills are there, which are easy to move around anywhere you like. Many of such grills come with compact size and also sometimes with swiveling wheels and a handle so that you could easily push them towards the required destination.

How to know that beef steaks are properly cooked over a charcoal grill?

The initial check should be to let the beef steak cook for 4 to 5 minutes or until the steak become slightly charred or brown. Then, you should flip over the steak and let the other side cook for another 3 to 5 minutes. For the required temperature or know the level of cooking, refer to the trailing question.

What temperature is required to cook beef steaks on a charcoal grill and how to measure temperature?

If you are looking to cook medium-rare beef steak then an internal temperature of steak should be maintained at 135 degrees F. For medium cooked beef steak, an internal temperature of 140 degrees F should be ensured. Finally, for the medium-well cooked beef steak, an internal temperature of 150 degrees F is required. You need to have a good quality digital thermometer to ascertain the required temperature.

What is griddle in a charcoal grill?

The griddle is same as the grate. It is the flat hot plate that heats up through coals to get the cooking done. However, the griddle part in most of the charcoal grills is used as a cold surface for low heat cooking and the word griddle is specifically referred in that context.

What material is used in the construction of charcoal grills and which is the best one?

The best charcoal grill is usually made from steel, which makes it sturdy and also easy to maintain, especially when your grill is rigorously used outdoors. The cast iron is the least preferred one as it is difficult to maintain and it also results in inconsistent temperature being produced, where half or undercooked meat is a norm to have.

In essence, the best charcoal grill for steak grilling is the one with the perfect grate size that offers excellent consumption and release of heat with fully adjustable grate levels as well.

The best steak-grilling experience is achieved if your grilling unit allows for 2-zone grate partitioning for having a dual grill area so that you easily shuffle steaks just as its heat requirement.

Finally, the construction needs to be solid for long-term outdoor use without rusting problems. We have sorted these issues and have selected the best of the best as per the customer reviews and the manufacturer’s guaranteed features to help you decide better.