Weber Performer Grill with Gas Ignition System Review

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(More customer reviews)My parents purchased this grill recently, and the convenience of the gas ignition counters the argument of first-to-cook from the gas grill crowd. Also, nothing beats the look of the stainless steel surfaces on the cart when you're aiming to combine good looks and great cooking.
The inaugural meal was a ham cooked with the optional rotisserie attachment. The coals (natural wood charcoal, of course) were ready very quickly, and the indirect cooking method kept the ham juicy and flavorful. The thermometer in the lid was great for knowing when to add coals or adjust the vents to maintain the temperature without having to constantly lift the lid and lose the heat.
After helping prepare the meal and tasting the food afterwards, I was sold. However, the. . . price tag was too high for my wallet, so I purchased the Weber One-Touch Platinum, which was $200 less. . . this would be a 5-star product, but the high price knocks it down a notch.

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Meet the ultimate charcoal grill: the Performer with Touch-N-Go Gas Ignition System. Now you can light those coals with the mere touch of a button from the 5-pound, propane fuel tank (included). The Char-Bin Storage container keeps 20 pounds of charcoal dry and at the ready. A hinged, triple-nickel-plated cooking grate makes it easy to add more fuel to the two welded steel Char-Basket Fuel Holders during longer cooking times. Beneath the handsome stainless steel work surface you'll find a rugged, robot-welded steel cart made of heavy-walled steel tubing sealed in weather¡resistant polyurethane enamel coating. Is dinner ready yet? A dual-purpose thermometer monitors the cooking temperature inside the grill and doubles as a traditional quick-read meat probe to accurately check food doneness. Rugged wheels and locking casters make this grilling station easy to move when you're done cooking. Bravo. Available in 22-1/2-inch-diameter size only.

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Weber 2005 Model 841001 22 1/2-Inch Performer Charcoal Grill With Touch and Go Propane Ignition Review

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(More customer reviews)I have used a Weber One Touch Gold for many years, but the truth of the matter is that in Northern Michigan winter, it is frequently more than I care to attempt to try to get the fire going. Nomatter whether I use the chimney or parrafin starters, that cold wind does not get me enthused to charcoal grill in January.
So my sons gave me a Performer as a surprise gift (Bless those lads!!)! And, like most Weber products, it's a winner.
ASSEMBLY: It took less than twenty minutes for my older son and I to assemble it. The directions are crystal clear, the parts are well and carefully packed, and the only item not included is the small propane container, which is readily available at hardware stores. (Our local Home Depot had four packs for just under $10.00.)
QUALITY: This is a solidly built unit. The kettle bolts to the frame with four large bolts, and the adjoining work surface is similarly attached. While some have complained that it is not as good as its predecessor, I can vouch for the overall quality of design and construction.
PERFORMANCE: With the gift came a demand for "RIBS!!" There were enough people here to warrant a comparison test with my old One Touch Gold. The Performer had a fire ready to go about 8 minutes before the One Touch was ready, and the fire was hotter by over 50 degrees as measured on the thermometers in the handles. (I believe that the air vents at the bottom are larger in the Performer, which would account for this.)
The work surface adjacent to the kettle is worth the additional cost of this unit over the One Touch. No longer is there a need to balance a tray of goodies on the rim of the kettle with one hand, while trying to place food items on the grill with the other. The tip out charcoal storeage bin is another neat feature.
CONCLUSION: I am an admitted Weberholic. I don't think that they make a grill that is less than excellent, and I cannot imagine any feature that a charcoal griller would want on a grill that this unit lacks. So, now there are four Weber Grills on the deck, and while I will still use the gas grills a lot, I know that this coming January will see charcoal grilling in Northern Michigan.
Thanks, Weber!!
ADDENDUM: I got some hardwood charcoal (not briquets!) and have done burgers, chops and steaks. The fire is super hot and lasts about 40 minutes, but the flavor of the meat is superb!!

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Forget charcoal lighter fluid.No more electric starters.The Performer charcoal grill uses gas to light coals fast so you get charcoal flavor with the convenience of a gas grill.There's plenty of cook space with a 22-1/2-inch porcelain-enameled bowl and lid. Other features include: a factory-assembled stainless steel One-Touch cleaning system with a removable black aluminum ash catcher; heavy-duty plated hinged cooking grate that makes it easy to add briquets; Charbin storage container that keeps up to 20 pounds of charcoal dry; Touch-N-Go gas ignition system; dual-purpose thermometer built into the lid; Tuck-Away lid holder; and locking casters and crackproof all-weather wheels.

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Weber 1428001 Performer Charcoal Grill, Dark Blue Review

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(More customer reviews)I say this is ONE of the best grills ever, only because I already said that the Weber One-Touch Gold is the best grill ever in a previous review. These are both fantastic grills, but now that I have a Performer, with its added features, I will have to say it might be better than my Weber Gold. Why? Here are my reasons...
It has a gas ignition system. So I no longer have to use my Weber Chimney Starter which works great, but 5 minutes of gas burning under my pile of charcoal is much easier. Plus its one less piece of equipment I need cluttering up my garage.
It has a decent sized work area. The tabletop area on the Performer is very handy. My Gold does not have a shelf, so I keep it near a small table and use that as a work area. Thats one less piece of furniture I now have cluttering up my deck.
It has a thermometer on the lid. I love that feature! Normally I remove the lid, hold my hand over the coals, and start counting seconds to try to figure out what my temperature level is. Since I no longer have to heat up my hand to check temperature, my beer stays colder when I hold it. How can you put a price on a feature that important?
It has a wire lid holder instead of a small hook welded to the inside of the lid. I was okay with the hook lid holder but my wife always had a problem getting it lined up. I know, why is my wife even touching the grill? The Performers wire lid holder hangs the lid much higher, and is actually pretty handy if it is windy because it blocks the wind much better than the hook type lid holder which hangs the lid pretty low down on the kettle.
It has a storage area. I know the storage area is designed to hold charcoal, but I store my charcoal in the garage because when it is stored outside it tends to absorb moisture from the air. In the garage it stays nice and dry. I use the storage area to store some tools and I roll up the grill cover and store it there when I am cooking.
There is only one negative comment I have about this grill. Weber should have stayed with the 5 lb propane tanks. I am not a fan of using the 1 lb disposable propane tanks. There are two ways around this problem, the first is to get a hose and adapter so you can connect to a 20 lb propane tank. Or you can get a Propane Tank Refill Adapter and then use it to fill up the 1 lb disposable bottles from your 20 lb propane tank. That is what I do and I am able to reuse the disposable bottles over and over again.
In my opinion a Weber charcoal grill is superior to any other charcoal grill I have ever used. Maybe something even better will come along one day, but I cannot imagine what they could do because the Weber is already charcoal grilling perfection.
Now all I need is to get a Weber Kettle Rotisserie and I am all set. Fathers day is coming, are my sons paying attention???


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Equipped with an innovative Touch-N-Go gas-ignition system, this charcoal grill allows for all the benefits of cooking with charcoal, but without the hassle of messy, unpredictable start-ups. Simply push the button to ignite the charcoal briquets--no more lighter fluid, matches, or anxious waiting necessary. The start-up function requires a disposable 14.1- or 16.4-ounce LP cylinder (sold separately)--a 14.1-ounce tank provides up to 12 10-minute ignitions and a 16.4-ounce tank provides up to 14 10-minute ignitions. Outdoor grilling enthusiasts will also appreciate the durable plated-steel hinged cooking grate, which offers a generous 363 square inches of space for anything from barbecued ribs and corn on the cob to fresh salmon or summer vegetables from the garden. Even more, the grill provides an attached Thermoset side work table with plenty of room for platters, condiments, and sauces; three tool hooks for keeping a spatula, tongs, and turning fork or brush within easy reach; and a lid-mounted thermometer for monitoring the heat at a glance. Other highlights include a 22-1/2-inch porcelain-enameled bowl and lid, a rust-proof aluminum vent, a Tuck-Away lid holder, and a glass-reinforced nylon handle, as well as a heavy-duty steel cart frame, a wire bottom shelf, two crack-proof all-weather wheels for smooth transport, and two locking casters. When finished cooking, the grill's stainless-steel One-Touch cleaning system and removable black aluminum ash catcher ensure easy clean-up. Two Char-Basket charcoal fuel holders come included, plus a weather-protected CharBin storage container that keeps up to 20 pounds of charcoal dry and ready to use. Not sure what to grill first? Weber throws in a cookbook with a variety of delicious ideas. Durably built for long-lasting performance, the charcoal grill measures 28-1/2 by 50-1/4 by 40 inches.

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Weber 1421001 Performer Charcoal Grill, Black Review

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(More customer reviews)While I love my Genesis S-320, I decided I wanted to get in to charcoal grilling when time allows. Without question, I was going to buy a Weber, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to go with the One-Touch Gold, One-Touch Platinum (knowing I'd still buy accessories for both) or the Performer.
What really sold me was the propane ignition and the cart. Having this much workspace outside is invaluable, and I just don't trust larger items like turkey to the tables on the One-Touch Platinum or the Weber 7413 Work Table that I would have got for the Gold. And when you compare the price of the Platinum to the Performer the only reason not to get the Performer is if you're completely uninterested in the propane ignition.
Ordering from Amazon was the usual experience. With Prime, my Performer was on my porch two days after I ordered it via UPS. Despite being nearly 100 pounds, this doesn't need to go through one of the local logistics companies that are usually used with big items, so that was a huge plus in my book.
After inspecting the box for damage, the first thing I looked for was where the Performer was made. As I thought (and in spite of what some have said on different grilling forums) it clearly says "Designed and engineered in the USA" right above "Made in the USA". So, yes, the Performer is (as of April 2010, when Amazon shows this model number as "new") made in the United States.
This being my third Weber grill, I didn't expect the pieces to be pristine, and wasn't shocked to see that there were a few minor paint scrapes, despite the box showing absolutely zero evidence of being mishandled. This is the same experience as when I bought my first Genesis at a local store, and my next Genesis, and... Basically, if you're expecting every piece of a Weber grill to be scratch-free out of the box, you're going to be disappointed, so be prepared.
Assembly was pretty straightforward. As they often are, the Weber manual was easy to follow and well illustrated. All you need to put this together is a hammer (for the wheels), a Phillips screwdriver, and a 3/8" wrench. I put it together by myself in about 30 minutes with no problems at all. I was mildly amused (and at the same time, a bit annoyed) that the bottom of the kettle has post holes for legs. The only thing that's different on the kettle between the Performer and One-Touch Gold is two metal flaps that let you mount it to the cart.
The Performer can use the "fat green" propane canisters that you usually see on camping equipment, as well as the type of canisters you'd usually use with a torch kit. I was quite disappointed to discover that the redesigned Performer still uses the old red-button "spark-plug" ignition, instead of the electric battery-based ignition used on all of their other grills.
That brings me to the loss of a star. There are a few other design problems with the Performer that are disappointing. The first, which I haven't seen depicted in any picture of this item here or on Weber's site, is that the propane tank hangs down below the control panel. It looks kind of chintzy, and frankly, at this price, it shouldn't. The other design annoyance is with the holder for the top of the kettle. It's almost all metal, and it's quite rough. The first time you use it, you're going to put some nice silver scratches on your black lid. I'm experimenting with high-temp silicone on the rough edges, to see if that solves the problem.
Another warning: At the time of this review, Weber's site has a mix of pictures for the current Performer. Some depict the lid with a small, removable thermometer on the handle. Some (correctly) depict the more Genesis-like thermometer mounted between the handle and edge of the lid. Additionally, Amazon's picture depicts the Thermoset surface as black, it's really more of a grey color.
All things being equal, it's a very nice grill. You get the sturdy cart, One-Touch cleaning system with ash catcher, hinged cooking grate, Char-Basket holders, gas ignition, and a place to keep your charcoal.
Is it a crazy-good value? Well... that's hard to say. If you start off with a One-Touch Silver or Gold and start adding accessories, the price isn't unreasonable. If anything, it's like buying most of your accessories in one box. But if you don't care a lot about the ignition or big cart, you're probably much better off getting a One-Touch.

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The Weber Performer Charcoal Grill features a Touch-N-Go gas ignition system that ignites charcoal briquets with the push of a button. Organizational features enable you to keep your focus on the food, including an attached work table, a weather-protected charcoal storage container, a wire bottom shelf and three tool hooks. This grill is built to last, as demonstrated by the heavy-duty steel cart frame, heavy-duty plated-steel hinged cooking grate, no rust aluminum vent, a glass-reinforced nylon handle, two crackproof all-weather wheels, and two locking casters. Its One-Touch cleaning system with a removable black aluminum ash catcher allows for easy clean-up. Comes in black, green, and dark blue.

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Weber 1427001 Performer Charcoal Grill, Green Review

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(More customer reviews)I've had a variety of grilling / bbq products. Primarily Weber, given their history of solid products and great customer service.
I've always been a charcoal purist. Apartment living, however, has made me consider propane as a primary heat source for grilling. I recently bought the Weber Q220. It's a nice product, but it just doesn't get as hot as I need it to. So I sold my Q220 and decided to go with what I really wanted, which was this Weber Performer.
It's not petite - it takes up a good 3-4 feet width-wise and it's about 3 feet high.
Charcoal had always previously required me to get a chimney starter, as I'm not into soaking my briquets with lighter fluid. That meant a lot of smoke and wait time as I waited for the coals to get hot.
The Weber performer, however, uses the little, easy to find propane tanks (hardware stores, your local drugstore's seasonal merch section) to blast the coals with propane-powered fire in 10 mins. The coals are ashen-grey and ready to go. The grill gets over 600+ degrees F so you can really get a solid sear on whatever you're cooking.
The whole setup is solid and well thought out. The one touch lighting system works like a breeze and the cook-top / prep area is a huge benefit, as is the tilt-out charcoal holder.
The only thing I'd suggest: google Craycort cast-iron grates and get a 22.5 inch cast-iron grate for this. It's a bit expensive at $85 but it's worth EVERY PENNY. If you've done a lot of grilling, you know you need cast iron to retain heat and really sear your food. I did and it makes this setup into the ne plus ultra of all charcoal grills and remedies the only weakness of this setup, which is the stainless steel grates that it comes with. Ditch those for Craycort's cast iron grates. You'll be glad you did.
I love this product as much as I can love an inanimate product. And that's a lot.

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Equipped with an innovative Touch-N-Go gas-ignition system, this charcoal grill allows for all the benefits of cooking with charcoal, but without the hassle of messy, unpredictable start-ups. Simply push the button to ignite the charcoal briquets--no more lighter fluid, matches, or anxious waiting necessary. The start-up function requires a disposable 14.1- or 16.4-ounce LP cylinder (sold separately)--a 14.1-ounce tank provides up to 12 10-minute ignitions and a 16.4-ounce tank provides up to 14 10-minute ignitions. Outdoor grilling enthusiasts will also appreciate the durable plated-steel hinged cooking grate, which offers a generous 363 square inches of space for anything from barbecued ribs and corn on the cob to fresh salmon or summer vegetables from the garden. Even more, the grill provides an attached Thermoset side work table with plenty of room for platters, condiments, and sauces; three tool hooks for keeping a spatula, tongs, and turning fork or brush within easy reach; and a lid-mounted thermometer for monitoring the heat at a glance. Other highlights include a 22-1/2-inch porcelain-enameled bowl and lid, a rust-proof aluminum vent, a Tuck-Away lid holder, and a glass-reinforced nylon handle, as well as a heavy-duty steel cart frame, a wire bottom shelf, two crack-proof all-weather wheels for smooth transport, and two locking casters. When finished cooking, the grill's stainless-steel One-Touch cleaning system and removable black aluminum ash catcher ensure easy clean-up. Two Char-Basket charcoal fuel holders come included, plus a weather-protected CharBin storage container that keeps up to 20 pounds of charcoal dry and ready to use. Not sure what to grill first? Weber throws in a cookbook with a variety of delicious ideas. Durably built for long-lasting performance, the charcoal grill measures 28-1/2 by 50-1/4 by 40 inches.

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Hasty-Bake Suburban Stainless Steel Charcoal Grill Review

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(More customer reviews)For affectionado's of true grilling, this charcoaler is a little powerhorse. It has worked none stop with minimal up keep. Stays outside all winter without missing a beat. No hassle starting charcoal using strike a lights and can adjust heat. Cannot imagine ever using a gas grill after owning this gem and after tasting food off this grill neither can family or friends. It has many converts.

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This Hasty-Bake Suburban Stainless Steel Charcoal Grill is known as the mini work horse of the Hasty-Bake product line. The Suburban features a 304 grade, 20 gauge polished stainless steel base and hood; 289 sq inches of cooking surface; 1/4 inch diameter nickel plated cooking grids; 18 and 12 gauge stainless steel lift and fire box; stainless steel front work table; an adjustable charcoal tray; and a door on side for easy charcoal access and cleaning. 10 year warranty. Front shelf measures 20 1/2 W x 9 D. Grill Dimensions (in inches): 34 1/2 W x 16 D x 38 H.

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