Customer Reviews

Weber 758001 One Touch Gold Charcoal Grill, Blue

5 star:		(231)
4 star:		(45)
3 star:		(17)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

When it came time for us to get a new charcoal grill I searched every site and checked out dozens of different grills, some costing many hundreds of dollars, all promising some advantage.

Some units were really interesting, and not too expensive, but upon close inspection many of these proved to be tinny and cheaply made. The very expensive systems were very nice, but did not offer rotisseries and other useful accessories and were just too expensive for us anyway.

So, we ended up with another Weber, the Gold Model. In the many years since our last Weber, there have been a lot of improvements that kept it attractive. The ash catcher really does make cleanup much easier and the vent system is more functional. The grill itself has the new flip-up hatches that allow you to add more coals and move them around without having to lift up the grill. I did that all the time with the old grill.

The optional little bent-wire style of charcoal retainers do help to keep the coals out to the side when you want to use a drip pan in the center.

Others have recommended the chimney style charcoal start for ecological reasons. It is also just plain faster to use as well, and it is made of heavy gauge metal that is both attractive and long-lasting.

I love the optional rotisserie (see those reviews) and it comes with an extension ring that is also useful for other cooking options.

We got the green colored kettle and it looks very nice on the patio. The general design and those odd white-wall tires give it a kind of vintage look.

This is a well-made and very functional grill with all sorts of interesting available accessories that really work well. There is a reason for the popularity of the Weber. I looked, I bought. Hard to beat.

You're probalby thinking that there's no reason to update the 10-year-old Weber you've got in your back yard. Well, turns out Weber has made some smart improvements over the years-- the new "gold" model is worth the upgrade.

The ash-catcher is super, the one-touch vent system is a big improvement (no more knocking each vent with a trowel), the plastic handles stay cooler... you get the idea. Nothing dramatic, but good progress.

But here's the clincher: setting one of these up (takes about 20 minutes, even if you make a mistake or two) just makes you feel like you're in heaven. It's summer embodied. People rhapsodize about the new car small... well, fughettaboutit. The look of a shiny new grill that you've assembled yourself is about as good as it gets.

Highly recommended accessory: the charcoal companion. Put your lighter fluid (or your MatchLight) away and use this instead-- it works flawlessly, and it's better for the environment.

We bought this grill as our first grill based on reviews. The Weber grill is a solidly built grill. You don't feel they skimped on materials when they built this. Assembly was only difficult when installing the base ring for the ash catcher but once I got past that, it was easy. The metal grate for the charcoal is smart for allowing air to come up beneath the charcoals, helping keep them hot, which the cooking grate is smartly designed, with two sides able to be flipped up so that you can add more charcoal if you need to. The two handles on the cooking grate make it easy to move the grate. The wheels make it easy to roll the grill around, although I would have preferred rubber wheels as opposed to plastic wheels.

The only complaint I have about this grill is that the handle for the lid can get really hot when it's been sitting on the grill for a while. You can remedy this by wearing a grilling mitt when removing the lid. I'm not sure if a wood handle would make a difference. Just a minor complaint.

The big cooking grate is terrific. I can throw all kinds of stuff on the grill at once and it doesn't matter where it lies, if you spread your coals evenly, everything cooks great whether on the outskirts of the sides of the grate or on the center of the grate. I attribute this to the Weber design and the grill's ability to distribute heat evenly and well.

The ash catcher is one of the nicest features on this grill. If you are trying to decide between the silver and the gold Weber grill, make no mistake that this is the better option hands down. The ash plate on the silver model will most likely get filled up with ash quickly, not to mention it is a possible fire hazard if hot charcoal bits fall off the side of the ash plate. The ash catcher on the gold model is like a pan and can hold a lot of ash and hot charcoal bits with no problem. Spend a little bit more and get the better feature and you won't regret it.

After using a 22 1/2 inch Weber for 12-13 years and never paying any attention to taking care of it, I decided to get the new One-Touch with the bucket ash catcher--the "Gold" model. I also went with the blue color for an extra ten bucks.

There is nothing wrong with the Silver model but the addition of the enclosed bucket-type ash catcher is enough of an improvement to make the Gold model the top choice. As much as I loved my old Weber, I always had ashes scattered around on the patio after using it. That open pan-type ash catcher could be mighty messy, especially in the wind. It's not a concern with the One-Touch Gold.

It's easy to love a Weber grill. The design is a classic and it has proven itself for around 50 years. The grill is incredibly versatile. I only rarely use my big smoker since it's pretty simple to slow cook roasts, ribs and briskets on the Weber. And it's ideal for direct grilling of steaks, burgers, sausages and vegetables.

The one accessory you should get is the Weber chimney starter. Take it from me, you won't regret it at all. I've owned three or four other chimney starters and ended up going back to charcoal lighter because none of them ever worked well enough to reliably get a fire going. Well, the Weber works and it saves the expense of the lighter fluid and the time it takes to burn off the odor and taste.

If you're on a budget, the Silver model will work just as well as the Gold. If you're willing to spend extra for more convenience, the Gold One Touch is the way to go. The blue one looks nice too.

I'll admit from the start that I'm biased. I swear by Weber products. I've been happy with my Smokey Joe, but I just needed a bigger grill. Enter the 22" One Touch Gold. A friend of mine has an 18" One Touch, but I think that the ~$20 price difference is a marginal cost for the extra size. Four inches doesn't seem like a lot of extra room, but it really is.

Installation was a snap. No tools required, except for a hammer to tap the wheels onto the base. The kettle itself is porcelain-enameled, which means it doesn't rust. All of the parts seemed to be built to last. The lid forms a nice seal with the base of the kettle, and the "one touch" vent adjustment works well.

I debated whether to get the Silver version or go for the Gold. The grills are basically identical, but the Gold version has a hinged cooking grate and an enclosed ash catcher (and costs $50 more). The Silver has a standard cooking grate and an ash pan. The hinged cooking grate is an essential feature for anyone who likes to grill indirectly. Adding charcoal or wood chips without disturbing the food on the grill is quick and easy. However, Amazon sells a hinged cooking grate for under $20. I'm not sure if the enclosed ash catcher is worth $30 because you could just set a coffee can on the ash pan. Then again, if the grill lasts about 10 years (which it should with proper care), then it's only $3 more per year.

I saved the best for last. I noticed that the assembly manual pictured two parts, a pair of charcoal rails, that were not included in the box. I called Weber customer support, and they explained that the wrong manuals were sent out with some of the grills, and I wasn't actually missing the charcoal rails. Then they offered to send me the charcoal rails for free anyway! That kind of customer service is rare in my opinion and sets Weber apart. I'm very confident that they'll stand behind their products if anything happened to go wrong.

To sum up:
THE GOOD
- quality construction
- great customer service
- good ventilation
- lots of cooking area
- hinged cooking grate
- enclosed ash catcher
THE BAD
- Silver version may be a better value

I'm a big Weber fan-- I've used a Genesis gas grill for six years and a Smoky Mountain Cooker for two. Recently purchased the Kettle Gold. Great charcoal grill! The enclosed ash catcher is particularily useful if you grill with lump charcoal versus briquettes, like I do. It catches any sparks and small pieces of lump that drop through the charcoal grate. Hinged grate is also a big plus. I like to use the Weber charcoal holders to hold my lump when grilling steaks-- push them together in the center to sear (brings charcoal about 2 inches from meat) then push them to the outer edge for indirect cooking. I also added a thermometer to the lid to check and adjust cooking temps.

This baby would get five stars if Weber was still offering the cast iron grate upgrade for the kettles. It's been discontinued this year, but I hear some are still out there to be found. Even without cast iron, you can't go wrong with this as a charcoal grill, and being a Weber, it will last for years and you'll get great customer support if it is ever needed.

Before I get to the review I'd like to mention something I've seen debated about this grill way too much in other reviews. Made in the USA. Is it really so hard to figure this one out? I don't get it. Just look at the box "Made in USA." Look at the grill itself "Made in USA." Look at the manual that comes with it "Made in USA."

On to the review.

This is the second grill I have ever owned in my life (well, actually it's the third, but the first one wasn't really a grill in the same sense so it doesn't count). The previous grill I bought from that massive retailer whose name must not be mentioned here but it rhymes with "wall-cart." That one cost me $100 and featured plenty of plastic covering and side tables. I only mention this because it's my only frame of reference here.

This Weber I love. Everything about it seems perfect. I have some complaints (and I'll get to those soon, I promise) but overall I couldn't be happier with my purchase. I know it makes no sense to say that a grill has improved my cooking, but as far as I'm concerned it has. My pork chops have been consistently cooked properly and juicy. My steaks have been delicious. My kebabs out of this world. My wife thinks I deserve all the credit for this, but I'm putting most of it on the grill since the last one didn't produce results this good. In fact, my wife is begging me to grill now, whereas last summer she'd find excuses not eat my overcooked food that chewed like rubber and was garnished with burnt spices that tasted like the coals I cooked it over.

I don't know what it is about this grill, but I'm inclined to believe it's the shape and depth which cradle the charcoal and burn it thoroughly and evenly eliminating my previous nemesis which was cold spots and blazing hot spots.

It seems very sturdy and very well made. It weighs the perfect amount (hasn't been blown over even in this horrible weather with gusts of wind in excess of 100mph, and yet it's still light enough for me to lift and carry as I see fit). The ash catcher is large enough to accommodate 3-4 loads before needing emptied. The propellers above the catcher are perfect for allowing air to vent for the fire (or to kill it) and they also move the ash into the catcher very efficiently. The grill part (where you put the meat) has two folding sides that you can lift to add things to the fire while you're cooking and without needing to lift the entire grate off. Lastly, assembly was a breeze (well, for my wife. She put it together with the help of my 19 month-old daughter in 10 minutes while I did some yard work).

Now the cons. I didn't remove any stars for any one of these in particular because most of them I knew about before I purchased this and I believe you should never subtract stars for features that you know are not included when you buy. I did however take away one star for all of these put together (with some weighing more than others).

OK, so:
*Very dangerous for young children. This is my biggest complaint and the main one for removing a star. Don't get me wrong; all grills are dangerous for young children, and you should never leave them around a grill that's in use unattended. BUT, my last grill was covered in plastic guards all around it so I could cook without worrying if any kids were beside me. With this Weber I have to keep half my focus on the children because if any of them come too close they could get burned by the scolding hot base. Even after I'm done cooking and everything has been put away and the coals have burned out, this thing stays hot for hours. My daughter, of course, wants to be where I am, and do what I'm doing, so we've had several crying fits because I had to keep her far away. And then when the meal is done and the kids want to run in the yard and play I have to find a safe hideaway for it or stand guard around it. This has become a major problem recently.

*Hot handles. Why? I don't understand. They are plastic handles. My last grill had plastic handles and they never got hot (or even warm). I'm simply not use to using an oven-mit to grill and the result is that I'm constantly touching the darned hot handles with my bare hand. Aggravating.

*Nothing to hang the lid from. Why? Why couldn't they put it on a hinge so that I could pull it up like with my last grill? With this one I have to find a spot for the lid to rest. I mostly grill with the lid on so when it's time to add the coal, put the meat on, take it off, and other times, I have to find somewhere to rest the hot lid. Annoying.

*Working space. I didn't take any stars off for this because it's obvious it has none from the picture. I knew this before I bought it, but at the time I hadn't realized how much of a problem this would be. Because the grill gets so hot I have to take it far away from any children and pets (I forgot to mention the pets earlier. One of my dogs burned its nose on it the first time). So while I'm so far away I have no place to put any dishes, the required oven-mit, any spice or sauce bowls etc. Oh sure, you can BUY the extension, but to me that feels like buying a car with no windows and then getting charged extra to have some installed.

*No utensil rack. Seriously? You're going to make us buy this separately? A simple little hook rack to hang my grilling utensils, is that really too much to ask for? Yes, I did spend the money and bought one.

*The vent is metal. This might seem absurd since I complained earlier that the plastic was getting hot, but the lip on the top vent doesn't even have that much. I open and close the vent several times while cooking (depending on the food of course). With no guard on the lip you have to be cautious or you'll burn yourself. I guess I should just accept that everything with this grill requires an oven-mit.

Like I mentioned earlier: I didn't take any stars off for any ONE of these complaints, but all together they do (and should) add up to a "not perfect" rating. For this much money I'd expect more, not less than what I got from my last grill. Maybe the extra money is for longevity, because the last one was a piece of horse-dung that started falling apart from the first day I used it.

I just ordered another one of theses grills.My 17 year old Weber kettle grill is ready to be "semi-retired".When was the last time YOU bought a charcoal grill and it lasted 17 years??My Weber grill has faithfully grilled a ton or more of food...no kidding!! I live in upstate NY and this grill sat out in all kinds of weather and lasted this long.As far as one of the other reviewers saying they could not get grill marks.....what were you using,charcoal or sterno???!!!I get grill marks on everything.Once you have your coals ready,put on the grid and let the coals get it really hot....then put your food on.You will have all the grill marks you want.I think I could get grill marks on a rock,if I wanted to.Buy this grill,you won't be disappointed!Enough said....I need to go tend to my semi-retired grill as I am going to grill some steaks on this kinda warm leap day Feb.Bon apetite!!

Although I have only been using Weber grills for ten years, I feel that I can safely comment on the longevity and craftsmanship of the Weber One Touch Gold. There are a lot of Weber charcoal grill imitations out there, but there is nothing quite like the original in terms of cooking surface, oxygen flow, temperature control, ash removal and durability. I recently purchased the One Touch Gold to compliment my Weber Performer (The model before the disastrous makeover...IMHO). The versatility and control that I have for grilling is second to none. I also cannot say enough about Weber's customer service. My Performer had two warranty replacements because of how much I used it...thus the reason for the second kettle. Both times, the Weber CSR was able to ship me the parts needed to keep my grill going. If you are looking at buying a charcoal grill, do not be fooled by the cheap imitations that fill the shelves at your local big box retailer. Get a Weber. In fact, get a 22 ? inch Weber and skip the 18 ? inch model. You will regret it if you don't! If you believe in buying the right tool for the right job and doing something right the first time, you cannot go wrong. I'm a Weber devotee for life.

BTW, one additional request. Unlike the Performer, the One Touch does not have a protective rubber tab on the top vent. I of course found this out by burning myself while adjusting my air flow. Along with a built-in thermometer, these would be simple additions in future models.

I use this grill at least once a week. When I have guests, they leave happy (and full too). Seriously, what I find extraordinary about this product, is the quality. This grill is so well made, you can leave it outside year round, and it will still last 10 years. My guests have told me that my chicken (follow the instructions on how to cook using indirect heat) is the best that they have had anywhere. I'd love to take the credit, but its not me, its the grill. I use the grill for steaks, london broils, chicken, kebabs, vegetables, hamburgers, hot dogs and an occasional roast. If you take 10 minutes to read the accompanying instruction/cook book, all of these foods and more will come out perfect every time.