Should You Ditch Your Old Weber Kettle For A Shiny New Summit Kamado?

Backyard SmokeMaster BBQ

Should you ditch your old Weber kettle for a shiny new Summit Kamado? We’ll dive deep into a head-to-head comparison to find out.

The Price Difference

Right off the bat, there is a significant price difference between these two grills. You can get a Weber Kettle for about $140, making it an accessible entry point for BBQ enthusiasts. On the flip side, the Weber Summit Kamado (the E6 version, without the cart) costs around $1,250—a thousand-dollar price leap!

Build Quality and Materials

The kettle’s build comprises porcelain-enameled steel, which has proven durable over decades. The Summit Kamado, however, uses premium-grade stainless steel and has a high-tech insulating liner, making it extremely fuel-efficient.

Cooking Space and Versatility

You get more cooking space with the Summit Kamado, clocking in at 452 square inches versus the Weber Kettle’s 363. This additional real estate makes a substantial difference in your cooking experience. Interestingly, both grills are well supported with accessories, though the Weber Kettle boasts more third-party support, enhancing its versatility.

Temperature Control

Both grills have a similar control setup, featuring an intake at the bottom and an exhaust at the top. However, due to its excellent insulation, the Summit Kamado often requires fewer adjustments to maintain a stable temperature, giving it a slight edge here.

Key Comparisons

• Ease of Control: The Summit Kamado takes the lead due to its superior insulation.
• Versatility: The Weber Kettle wins this round, thanks to its extensive array of available accessories.
• Two-Zone Cooking: Both grills make it easy to achieve two-zone cooking, so it’s a tie.
• Three-Zone Cooking: The Summit Kamado edges out with its additional space.
• Low and Slow Cooking: Another tie, as both grills handle this well, albeit differently.
• High-Temperature Grilling: It’s possible on both, but the Kamado’s efficiency gives it a small edge.
• Offset Cooking: The Summit Kamado wins here, offering more horizontal and vertical cooking space.
• Useful Cooking Space: The Summit Kamado wins due to its larger size.
• Durability: The Summit Kamado takes a slight edge here again due to its enhanced build quality.

Conclusion: Should You Ditch Your Kettle?

Despite the Summit Kamado’s superior stats, should you completely ditch the Weber Kettle? My take is no. While there are clear advantages to the Summit Kamado, the Weber Kettle holds its own and serves as an excellent, versatile grilling option with a lower cost of entry. Both grills deserve a place in your BBQ arsenal.

Remember, never ditch your grills lightly. They’re like a spouse’s shoes or handbags—you can never have too many!

Grab a copy of the Weber kettle vs Summit Kamado comparison guide here!

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