PK 360 Versus Weber Kettle - Which Is A Better Buy?

We're putting the iconic Weber Kettle up against the highly regarded PK 360. Both offer cooking versatility, ease of use, and high quality. The biggest difference between them is price so the question is, which one is a better buy? We'll see how they compare including a blind taste test featuring my wife, Jeannine.
👉 Don't miss the side-by-side cook-off between the PK 360 and the Weber Kettle
▶️ Watch now and decide for yourself which grill best suits your needs.
After the smoke clears, visit us at backyardsmokem... for more insights and tips to make your next barbeque the talk of your neighborhood!
Grab this handy comparison chart to see how the Weber Kettle & PK 360 measure up against each other backyardsmokem...
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Backyard Smokemaster BBQ is your go-to destination for all things barbeque. From grilling secrets to equipment reviews, Kenyatta has the lowdown on how to bring out the best in your backyard feasts.
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[@kdranchaz3240]

Nice work Kenyatta! I’ve owned both these grills and your review is spot on! I’ve owned 3 PK’s in various sizes and if I were to choose one or the other for grilling I’d go PK as the 4 way venting rocks for reverse searing. For smoking I choose the PK for its heat retention and consumption of fuel is much more efficient than the kettle. I wish PK would come out with a large cast aluminum kettle shape PK! That would be the bomb! 💥 Great work on those birds! 🍗

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks for sharing your experiences with these grills. I agree, I would love to see PK come out with a "full" size grill. Considering all of the new models that they've released over the past few years, it's surprising that they have come out with a large grill yet.

[@kdranchaz3240]

@@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ I completely agree!!

[@gusbarnesiii8210]

Love Weber, but PK wins this match up. You can’t beat a 20 yr warranty and a pit they won’t rust.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Those are definitely aspects that help justify the added cost.

[@MrAossola]

The only add on gadget you need are Grill Grates. Or some cast iron

[@markscott4059]

Thanks for the shout out! Picked up the pk360 based on your videos…. Loving the PK…

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Congrats on your PK 360! Thanks again for watching & commenting.

[@markscott4059]

Your wife convinced me it was worth the extra money, she was right!

[@surfingonmars8979]

Always great to see the SmokeMaster dropping another video. Especially one that is actually informative and straightforward, concise.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks?

[@MarkFraley-uc4vp]

Great video Kenyatta!! I don’t know if you’ve seen it but a side company has made a heat deflector for the 360 so you can use the whole surface for smoking, I bought one and it works very well. Keep up the great videos I just subscribed to your channel.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks Mark! Someone just mentioned the heat deflector to me. It looks like a great add-on.

[@buicklimited1976]

The gamechanger, innovations by chance.

[@calvincarter1091]

What I am most curious about is, which one is easier to control the temperature during the cook. I think the taste difference can be too subject to an individual's taste.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Ease of use is pretty equal but I’d give the edge to the PK 360. Its build quality makes it less susceptible to temperature fluctuations caused by wind & bad weather.

[@patrickhenry236]

I honestly dont believe the PK outdoes the weber for a few very important reasons. 1. The weber is more versatile in the ways it can be set up. 2. The steel weber reflects heat inside the cooking chamber. 3. Its how you set up the grill that matters in terms of efficiency. Using "used charcoal", i have been able to get 5 separate cooks all over an hour long, and at least one that ran for two and a half on the same initial load of used briquettes. It may still have enough left for one more use before any new charcoal is added. Ultimately, there is a reason why the PK has to be cast as thick as it is, because Aluminum sheds heat very very fast and does not retain it. For its comparitive size you get a grill that is heavier and limited in size and shape. It is a design limited by its own shortcomings, but you can always trust a marketing person to spin them as benefits. Every company does this, Weber included. Now i dont want all the PK fans to think Im knocking them, I am not. Use what you love, just know it may not be the superior option you think it is. I say the same to everyone else, whether kettle, kamado, pellet, or otherwise. Value is in the eye of the beholder.

[@valencia-bd9yj]

I am getting the PK360

[@redstone5149]

That’s some good looking chicken! I have the PK360 and a Weber kettle. I use my PK more often but I don’t think you can go wrong with a Weber kettle. I bet Kenyatta could get great results on any type of grill/smoker!

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks @redstone5149! Much appreciated!

[@MrPanthers23]

Love my weber 26. Great video though

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

I would love the 26 too if I had one! You can't go wrong with any of the Weber charcoal grills.

[@Joker-bx4rk]

I love the weber kettle and all accessories for it from only fire range But I also like kamado joe kettle joe as all the 22inch only fire accessories fit it and it comes with the slow roller. I also really enjoy using the kamado big joe 3.... but my favourite if I'm doing direct heat cooking I love my cast iron fire pit with tripod with adjustable hight grate.. Whenever I cook whole chicken it's always on the weber kettle with rotisserie accessorie .. [ Always ! ]

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I’m not of fan of how the Kamado Joe kettle looks…. In pictures, the shiny glossy finish makes it look like a huge toy. I need to see it in person.

[@davidrussell631]

If you’re not made of money and can’t decide on which, though, maybe hunt for a great deal on a PK original (or PK300) so you can have a Weber AND a PK. I use em both for different things. For instance, with my PKTX folding cart my PK is my favorite travel grill. And since I’m not firing up my offset smoker for a single pork butt you oughta know it’s going on my PK. It just cooks more efficiently than the kettle and although I’m not sure why, for a grill I’ve found the PK to be a great little smoker. Shame a brisket won’t fit but when it comes to real estate that’s one category the Weber wins in.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Great points. I have been eyeing the PKTX for a long time. You can’t go wrong with any of the PK options.

[@juanalmanza3143]

I’ve smoked a brisket in my pktx. I just had to cut off a good piece of the flat tho. I also have a kick ash basket to better organize the lump. Comes out great!

[@davidrussell631]

@@juanalmanza3143 thanks for the feedback man! Might try a smaller one like that sometime. Can always use the trim with chuck for burgers anyhow. And I appreciate the kick ash recommendation. Hopefully Fathers Day? 😃

[@juanalmanza3143]

That’s exactly what I use the extra meat for. Render the extra fat into beef tallow and use the extra meat for burgers. I love it. I just got a 360 so I def use the pktx for travel. Thinking about smoking a brisket on Monday 😂 you can def fit a 13 pounder in the 360 after the trim

[@jorgebarrantes1386]

Your channel is awesome!

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thank you!

[@valencia-bd9yj]

she is absolutly

[@BBQChef]

My friend, more people need to be watching your content. Great stuff. Thank you for this. Cheers, Jim

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks Jim, much appreciated

[@romeshprakashpalan8895]

Just wanted to add a comment that I thoroughly enjoy your channel. One of the best BBQ YT channels out there. Straight to the point. Good comparisons. Not a lot of fluff or self-promotion. Honest and excellent work. Your channel should have way more subscribers!

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thank you for kind words, I really appreciate it.

[@gusbarnesiii8210]

The PK is definitely worth the money.

[@areyoulooney]

I have a Weber and a 360 as well. I love a Weber as it’s a classic and fun to cook with. The 360 is better though. That cast aluminum is so good at retaining heat. 360 can hold the heat very consistent and is fuel efficient. Great video!

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thank you, I agree. The PK 360 has some clear advantages due to it's build.

[@dank9288639]

pk smokin crack, almost 900 bux for a now made in china grill... Better get a hasty bake legacy for a few more bux

[@RadiusFive]

Man, you have all my sympathy. My wife keeps telling me the same thing: YOU OVERCOOKED THE CHICKEN!!!

[@michaelmurray5578]

I also own both a Weber Performer and a PK360. My advice to a novice would be get a new standard 22 inch Weber and learn about airflow and temperature control. But most importantly make sure you enjoy cooking with coals. Then move up to something more expensive.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

This is great advice. Thank you 🔥🔥🔥

[@RedRage-zp7qu]

Thank you. This is a very informative video. I have the big Weber 26" kettle and I just purchased a PK300 (PK360 was a bit out of my price range). I'm looking forward to testing them head to head.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

I'm glad the video was helpful. Congrats on your new PK300!

[@CKID-dv8tq]

Great video I’m 27 I’ve used Webers all my life they’re super easy to use and the cooking is phenomenal on them

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

You can't go wrong with Weber

[@jp4751]

When she said "spend the money" that wS your opportunity to mash on the gas and order some new stuff😂😎

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

😂 I got lucky..... she's pretty agreeable to all of my BBQ quests. On last night's podcast, she tried to talk me into getting a sausage grinder!

[@jp4751]

@@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ Let her pull your leg...and then go and "reluctantly" order a grinder....only because she wanted it of course😎

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

@@jp4751 😂

[@MikeBonesBBQ]

Great video tbh I didn’t know much about the PK. I’m gonna have to look more into it and possibly get one. Those birds looked amazing

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Yeah MIke, PKs are rock solid! If you're thinking about getting a charcoal grill, they are definitely worth looking into.

[@P3ak930]

Great video! Do you have the weber 26? Do you think its worth considering over the 22 if you already have an offset for larger cuts? Thanks!

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

I don’t have the 26 but I do think it is worth considering over the 22 especially if you think you need the extra cooking space. More is always better, right?

[@Nclght]

Because of price, the better comparison is PK 360 vs a Weber Performer. Or even better, A weber kettle 22 plus a 18 in WSM vs PK 360. Price AND performance would easily go to the kettle plus wsm, space notwithstanding.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

They are closer in price but the kettle & 360 are more comparable in terms of size & their footprint. For this reason, I think more people try to decide between the kettle & the 360 than the Performer. Also, I was specifically asked by a viewer for this comparison because I own them. I don’t have a Performer so I can only work with what is available to me.

[@Nclght]

@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ True, but the Performer is nothing more than a kettle with a ton of upgrades, so the cooking performance is the same. In my opinion, available options within the same model family are worth mentioning when discussing price. And I'm not sure I would agree that most people decide based on size compared to budget unless there is a significant difference in size.

[@MrAossola]

Pk Pros: insulation, no smoke leak, 2 zone cooking without extra tolls, temperature control, direct grill somehow has more surface area, no rust even open air storage, once you close the valves it turn off quickly and save a lots of charcoal. If we compare the High Weber the price is more than 149$ more then double. I would compare the 360 with Weber summit Kamado in terms of performance. Weber pros: hash empty system, lightweight, gadgets (most of the time non necessary). I have both by the way plus the pk go, the real ass kicker. Best regards to y’all

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks for sharing your breakdown!

[@pats9924]

Great comparison. These are always useful videos. Now you need to compare the PK with the Kamado Joe. I find chicken off my KJ much juicer than my Weber kettle. Would be interesting to see how the PK compares. Keep up the great work.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thank you, I will make a note of this video request!

[@lttv408]

So the difference in the time made the difference in juiciness of the meat? Was that the conclusion? PK retains heat better and so it cooked to temp faster and lost less moisture? I really appreciate your vid

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Lots of possible reasons…. I’d have to do the same cook a few times to form a strong conclusion. I do think that allowing the meat more time to rest will make a difference in juiciness.

[@markscott4059]

Does the pk360 have a smaller grilling surface than the Weber 22” kettle?

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

The PK360 is a little smaller. Here is a comparison chart backyardsmokemaster.com/weber360

[@pauldellie9068]

How do you do you know the temp w/o a gauge. Do you use a wireless thermometer?

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Yes, even if it had a built-in thermometer, you should use a separate thermometer. Either wired or wireless to keep track of the temperature at the grate level.

[@slacayo]

nice video man. The PK is a nice platform but the Weber easier to clean I believe?!

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

I agree, the Weber Kettle is easier to clean out.

[@buicklimited1976]

Wet/ dry shop vacuum

[@buicklimited1976]

Buy the gamechanger by innovations by chance. I have one for both the O.G. original and my 360. Also have a PK-1845-M and at one time owned a weber ranch kettle. Can't go wrong with either, I also have a 500 gallon offset and a nomad grill. There are unlimited tools for all the grills you just have to do the research.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

I’ve never heard of the gamechanger, I will check it out. How do you like the Nomad grill?

[@buicklimited1976]

@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ I have yet to use it, but I did get a free grill grate and I got 2 carbon steel griddle plates for it.

[@buicklimited1976]

The culinary fanatic on KZbin.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks for the tip re game changer. I just watched a video about it. Looks great.

[@buicklimited1976]

No problem, if you get one and want to use a water pan, I bought a 2 pack of baking sheets at Sam's that fit inside the gamechanger. Aluminum foil is our best friend for easy cleaning. I fill the right side of the pk halfway with briquettes and never have to add more. Fill it up with unlit coals and leave enough room for a chimney of coals on the far right side and it will last more than 10 hours. Don't forget to add your wood chunks....lol

[@mrantonelski]

congratulations for the video. I really like the pk and would like to buy it, but I have a big doubt: can you reach and maintain high temperatures for roasting? I mean 350-400f for one or two hours? With my cheap weber I can do it without problems.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Yes, you can stay in the 350 range for 1-2 hours. Over 400 is more challenging.

[@buicklimited1976]

Air flow, open up all the vents all the way

[@robertguy23]

the only downside to the 360 is you can't get it raging hot like the kettle because of the aluminum, but you can leave that pk out in the elements and it'll never rust.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

To compensate you basically need Grill Grates with a PK to make it great for grilling.

[@buicklimited1976]

Yes you can, all about the air flow

[@Brew-doo]

Why not? Does it melt or something?