Which Weber Is Better For Your Backyard?

We compare the Weber 22" Performer Deluxe and the 26" Master Touch to help you decide which kettle grill is the right fit for you.
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00:00
00:42 Capacity
01:24 Cart
02:25 Auto Ignition
02:59 Mobility
03:58 Portability
04:21 Accessories
05:12 Versatility
05:43 Fuel Efficiency
06:31 Storage
07:05 Multifunction Grates
08:29 Cleaning
10:05 Enameled Lids
11:31 Temperature Control

[@TheCsmith321]

If Weber would just make a 26" Performer - we'd all be set :)

[@dannymartinez8522]

I saw it in person and that thing is just a prefect size!

[@ryanb4481]

I have the 22" Weber Mastertouch and I've always regretted not getting the 26". Also, if you're like me and purchase and use a lot of grills/smokers, I'd recommend passing on bigger cart options or side tables and just get one or two stainless steel carts that can be easily moved around. I have a couple and they are great.

[@SeldomFales]

I have both units that you show in your video. Both grills are used 50% of the time as smokers and both are setup with SNSs and Fireboard blower systems which makes them FANTASTIC smokers. I’ve used the Fireboard setup for 5 years now and would not smoke without them! In fact, I have a 3rd 22” Weber as a spare for when company comes and I need all 3 grills working. The 2rd 22” also is setup with a Fireboard blower system! 30+ years using Weber kettles and I see no change s in the future. B&B briquets and B&B lump works the best for me.

[@dannymartinez8522]

B&B for life

[@Buford_T_Justice1]

I don’t have a lot of space to work with so the versatility and small footprint of a Weber Premium is perfect for me. I can smoke low and slow and grill hot and fast! I use the charcoal baskets in all configurations! When I make wings I use a vortex. I even have a steel plate from Hunsaker to use as a griddle to make smashburgers and breakfast! I love my Weber kettle so much I call it “My precious.”

[@dbkfrogkaty1]

I always recommend the Weber Performer. It's so much more flexible. The surface is great for setting food, cooking tools, bowls, etc. on. Also you have the charcoal storage bid. Personally I use it for storage of grill tools, cleaning tools, and bags of wood chips. I feel the Performer is more stable and easier to move around my patio.

[@RA-rf4nz]

The 22" kettles by far have the most third party accessories available. I have a small collection of 22's with various setups (Cajun Bandit ring smoker, Santa Maria, rotisserie, pizza oven, slow-n-sear, etc.). All were rescued from Craigslist for a fraction of the price of newer ones and the older ones are better built with thicker more durable metal. Save your $$ on one or more used kettles and buy accessories.

[@great207]

I am looking to get a 26 in kettle soon. I have two 22 in kettles and use them often. Thanks for the informative video.

[@TheBarbecueLab]

Thanks for watching! I used our 26” kettle tonight for 9 chicken quarters. They were delicious.

[@sideyardbarbecue3214]

I’ve had both. The accessories for the 22” are endless. Saw you in Chuds video. Can’t wait to see a review on a wireless Thermoworks!

[@TheBarbecueLab]

Yeah, that new wireless thermometer is going to be crazy. I'm excited to put it to the test soon. Bradley's a great dude. I love his videos.

[@JM-fk5hh]

I have the 22" Weber kettle performer with the folding side table, doesn't take up much space and like the fact I can raise the table when needed. I have done some smoking on it with success but prefer to do most of smoking on my Oklahoma Joe Bronco drum smoker. Enjoy both units.

[@877-MASH-NOW]

I have had the 22in preformer for over 6 years and it has held up perfectly. The Slow 'N Sear is a fantastic accessory. I use it all the time for smoking and indirect cooking. The water reservoir makes controlling long cooks a breeze. Highly recommend.

[@TheBarbecueLab]

I need to try the Slow N Sear. I haven't worked with one to date, but they seem like they are a great accessory.

[@877-MASH-NOW]

@@TheBarbecueLab Cooking with Ry has some videos using it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJOQc4eiaNago80si=9Z-xU_OPBgZRFvaq

[@TheBarbecueLab]

I've seen some of his videos on it awhile back. One of these days I'll get around to testing it. Sounds like fun.

[@GaryORiveraSr]

​@TheBarbecueLab my number one accessory for the weber kettle.

[@wickedgrin9837]

I just bought a Weber Smokey Mountain I’m still learning it but so far so good

[@patrickhenry236]

@@wickedgrin9837 what size did you get? I have the 22 inch and love it. I highly recommend you get an Arborfab charcoal basket to go with it.

[@patrickhenry236]

@@wickedgrin9837 what size did you get? I have a 22 inch and love it. I highly recommend you get an Arborfab charcoal basket to go with yours.

[@chrisbullock6477]

Best overall review of the Performer Luxe grill. We are looking at purchasing one this black friday after seeing it online at Crate and Barrel and BestBuy. I love all the additional attachments you can get later on. I'm a fan of multipurpose products that are well made but not over the top for the money

[@JayRidah408]

I own two 22 inch performers and I recently picked up a 26 inch Weber kettle on Craigslist for $40. I love the extra cooking real estate on the 26. It’s so hard to find accessories for the 26 compared to the 22 inch. Love them both!

[@xbaconater5883]

Bought a Weber Smokey Mountain for my first home, hopefully get to use it in time for 4th of July!

[@TheBarbecueLab]

Sounds like it’s going to be a great 4th at your place. Congrats!

[@tvideo1189]

My 10 year old Performer works as well today as it did the day I bought it.

[@TheBarbecueLab]

I love hearing that. Products that last are my favorite.

[@ryanhoman1251]

So I was in this very spot earlier this year (as well as several other grills and smokers) and I ultimately went with the 26". The size for me was unbeatable, we have a family of 3 but entertain up to 10 regularly. It's also been a great introduction into smoking for me too. As far as aftermarket accessories I will mention that they are a bit more limited (a Rotisserie ring being one I've struggled to find) and are more expensive. Leg wobble is something that gets mentioned a fair bit, but people have modified performer tables and have used even baker scaffolding for tables when/if the legs or sockets give. The other thing for consideration is that performers you can also find more reliably on the secondary market vs the 26"

[@TheBarbecueLab]

Like you probably saw in the video, I broke out both kettles when we had some guys over for jalapeno chicken thighs, and the 26" was way more appropriate when cooking for 15 like we did that night. The 22" felt cramped with that many guys around, but when I'm just cooking for the family the 26" seems almost too big. I get why people buy multiple kettles now.

[@paulh6517]

I love my 26

[@jasonarmes80]

Love my 22” kettle!

[@TheBarbecueLab]

Heck yeah Jason. Keeping those Weber's lit here in the Midwest! Thanks for watching my friend.

[@erokbrewmeister9231]

Great vid David ! Love the Weber kettles and I use the 26" way more just for the extra space. Bad part is the coals don't really extinguish as there is so much air even when closing the vents. Oh well, buy more charcoal then !

[@TheBarbecueLab]

I feel like buying charcoal is a part time job around here.

[@c.atoffer1146]

I have a 26" Weber, and I love it! Too bad they stopped making them along with some of the accessories that go with it.

[@theathejtheg9834]

I had the 26” because at the time the 22” didn’t have a thermometer. It was great but the 22” performer is my workhorse. I recently got rid of the 26”.

[@rickcormier9160]

I have a 22”, 26”, and a 22” Performer. The 22” Performer is best in my opinion because of the almost unlimited amount of accessories. The welded brackets for the three legged versions are weak spots especially for the 26”.

[@TheBarbecueLab]

Dang Rick, you officially have more Weber kettles than I do here at The Lab. Thats an achievement! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.

[@Nclght]

I agree i have an 18, a 22 with a performerlike cart , and a Performer. It's the accessories. I have a spider temp controller, pitmaster Ique temp contoller, Gabbys Santa maria attachment, rotisserie, ribolator, vortex, beast basket, SnS......etc etc etc lol

[@SilatShooter]

I have both, and prefer the 26" by a wide margin. The larger space allows for better actual 2-zone cooking. Yes, the 22" has more accessories available for it but my experience is I go back to using these kettles for grilling over coals in a 2-zone set-up. The side table is nice to have but easy fix is just get a rolling cart with locking wheels. If I sounded jaded against the 22", it's because it feels soo small to me after using the 26". I use the table on the 22" more than I use the actual kettle. I use S&S accessories in both, and they're great additions to these kettles. If both were blown away by a hurricane (I live in Florida), I would replace the 26" immediately and not re-buy the 22".

[@LX-410]

Nice content, I recently picked up a VERY gently used Webber Performer on the side of the road. I'm unsure why it was Free? I can only imagine that the previous owner really didn't understand how to utilize its full potential. I already own a 22" conventional, what an addition to my Open Fire, Slow Smoker and Charcoal outside cooking arena . Thanks again 👍

[@Bigkuntry5911]

I got rid of my performer and bought a cart for my 26. LOVE the 26

[@drkrueger]

I'm on the cusp of getting the 26" but would love a cart. Can you share what you got or thinking about?

[@Bigkuntry5911]

@@drkrueger Sure, I got the cuisinart stainless steel top out door cart. Item number CPT-194. It was 199.00 on Amazon. Works great for me, it stays out side, and a little rust on screws, but top still looks good.

[@edwardprokopchuk3264]

I think if you only get one, go for the 26”. In reality, I think most of us have multiple grills so space shouldn’t be an issue for larger cooks and it gives you the flexibility to run different grills at different temperatures if needed. I think the side table on the performer and the storage bin (which I use as a trash can and find it VERY useful) are what gives me the edge over the 26” and all the accessories that are available for the 22”.

[@BjBeam]

Do you have any idea if there is a cover available for the charcoal bin on the performer? My problem is critters can get in but they can't get out. Hard to soak to get the decay smell out with the drain hole on the bottom of it.

[@johnn2557]

I currently have two performer and a 26” master touch and it would be fantastic if Weber combined them and made a 26” Performer! I find the legs on my 26” are weak and flimsy.

[@TheBarbecueLab]

That seems to be a theme that I’m reading here in the comments. I bet there’s a product development team that’ll be reading through these in the future that will find this discussion helpful.

[@russellfolkens9578]

How accurate are the thermometers?

[@reddog907]

Love your videos David , the only thing missing is your dog needs a chef’s hat , apron and a spatula. 😊

[@mrbbqlvr4274]

How do you deal with all that weight on the front leg socket on your 26”? I’ve seen many a 26” with the infamous “lean” that eventually happens.

[@aditierpconsultancy7124]

Me Using a 22" kettle. Always long for the additional side table for keeping marinated stuff and when removing the grilled food onto a cutting board . Weber performer beats a kettle any day.

[@jasonvandyke8142]

I've bought lots of grills - Kamados, dozens of gas grills, cheap charcoal grills, etc. There are certainly pros for the bigger 26", but in my opinion the Weber Performer with the cart is the best all-around grill you can buy. Is it the best smoker? No. Is it the best option if you are cooking for huge groups? No. But as a day-in/day-out grill, it can do pretty much all you want to do for up to 6 to as many as 8 people. Burgers and hot dogs - no problem. Long cook for brisket or pork butts - fantastic results if you add something like the Slow-N-Sear or similar option. It has tons of accessories for the Gourmet BBQ System, the cart gives you storage underneath along with the charcoal bin (where I also store my firestarters, lighter, and even wood chunks/chips). Easy to clean, much lighter than gas or a Kamado. You really can't go wrong with these.

[@LarryBenson-y3f]

I would like to get a 26. Do they make a rotisserie ring for it ?

[@TheBarbecueLab]

I know they make a rotisserie ring for the 22", but I'm not sure about the 26". I haven't used one on the 26" yet anyways.

[@thecrepesoul]

I have three 22in Mastertouches, one 22 in. Performer and one 26 in. When I got the 26, my 22s became decoration until I wanted to use a specific accessory. The space the 26 gives you is valuable, I only cook for 3 now, but I can cook multiple things at once. If you have a 22 at some point, you're gonna want or feel like you need a 26......just buy a 26 from the jump.

[@mrj.r.3172]

Price difference won’t allow me jump 😢

[@thecrepesoul]

@mrj.r.3172 I definitely get it, that's the reason I have so many 22's.

[@0347kali]

Where did you find the Weber craft 26" grate?

[@TheBarbecueLab]

It came with my 26”, but you can get them on the Weber website.

[@katym2879]

How good are these Weber grills for smoking?

[@TheBarbecueLab]

I use them for smoking as often as I use them for grilling. I just build the coals over to one side of the grill, drop in a few wood chunks on top of the charcoal for smoke and put the meat over on the indirect side. It’s delicious.

[@ryanhoman1251]

So I've only smoked on mine a few times but each one has been very good

[@joeschnapps1712]

Great! Space is more limited than a pellet grill, but the flavor is much better if you enjoy a stronger smoke flavor.

[@dlfendel2844]

Great information we can really use, as always David. But for some reason this time I noticed something about how you present things that maybe even you are unaware of: Just for fun, watch this with a "clicker" or counter or just a pencil to mark as you count and see how many times the word "now..." is said. AMAZINGLY huge number of times, and usually in places where it is irrelevant. And once you hear all those "nows" coming at you, it becomes a barrage of now's.

[@TheBarbecueLab]

Yeah. Making videos for people to view isn’t for the faint of heart. When I don’t script videos, I have some crutches I lean on too much. All I can do is work to get that 1% better each time.

[@dlfendel2844]

@@TheBarbecueLab Oh, I know how it is, and again, I APPLAUD your work and shared you with a bbq competitor friend recently (the face off between the green egg clones) and he was VERY impressed and subscribed. I'm just saying sometimes we don't catch our own quirks so I thought it would help. Doesn't hurt the net-net result at all. Just jumped out this time. (smile) Onwards!

[@mbord169]

Anyone would be good!

[@TheBarbecueLab]

Truth.

[@hottrod7052]

26 in bigger is always better

[@insertgoodname4809]

None of those are made in the U.S.A.

[@Jleonpolanco]

Neither. Get an SNS kettle ❤

[@dannymartinez8522]

Might explain why

[@randallsnider5025]

Really enjoy your channel I bought the Weber Summit kamado as its the best of all worlds

[@TheBarbecueLab]

Thanks for watching Randall! One of these days I hope to be able to work with the Summit E6, but it hasn't worked out yet. I'm interested to see how it fits in the world of kamado grills.

[@maxmad3943]

I bought Weber BBQ for twice the price of ordinary BBQ. The user experience is very ordinary! Grills can't be cleaned soon. Weber after-sales service, very rude and unreasonable, refusing to provide free Grill is a replacement. The new Grills are very expensive! I hope everyone can choose carefully!!!

[@patrickhenry236]

Weber is known for having amazing customer service. I can say they have replaced a body for a WSM 22 and a lid on a 70th Anniversary that came damaged, did it at no cost to me, and were not rude at all either over the phone or via email. I don't know what you did to get a "rude" response if you got one, but your comment sounds like you used the grill, then tried to demand something else for it. You probably shouldn't be trying to trash a company when it sounds like a you problem.

[@maxmad3943]

@@patrickhenry236 who the heck you are? Why you think you are qualified to comment on my experience with Weber?

[@patrickhenry236]

@@maxmad3943 Your attitude is a big hint you were the problem,, not Weber.. As for who I am, I'm someone currently with five Weber grills, two of which shipped with issues which were taken care of by weber's customer service. I've owned over seven Weber grills in the last 25 years. I am someone with experience. Let me make that clear to you, 25 years of qualification, with at least two experiences with Weber customer service.

[@dannyboyd1299]

Is this President Biden?

[@patrickhenry236]

@@dannyboyd1299 might be, he got my second response taken down. I have about 25 years of experience using and owning Weber charcoal griJoe. I have also had a few dealings with customer service at Weber. Something tells me Max was either very rude or trying to get free stuff the way Karens often do. I currently own and use at my place. Two 22 inch kettles, one a 70th anniversary model. One 26 inch kettle One 37 inch Ranch Kettle One 22 inch Weber Smokey Mountain cooker. At our family's place up north is a 22 inch kettle and a 14 inch smokey joe.