The ball-shaped kettle grill is a classic of the genre that has long defined backyard cooking, and on its own, is remarkably versatile. Beyond burgers and hot dogs, it excels at roasting and, with some fire management technique, smoking barbecue. For years, backyard grillers have turned to digital thermostats to regulate airflow and charcoal’s temperature – turning kettles into very capable smokers. But adapting one to a kettle often requires drilling a hole into the bowl – not exactly great for your warranty.
Weber’s new Kettle Smart Ring offers a cleaner solution for your standard 22in-wide grill. The three-piece donut-shaped ring rests between the bowl and lid, adding a controller, fan and ambient temperature probe that work together to regulate airflow to maintain your target cooking temperature. Paired with Weber’s smartphone app, and with the proper charcoal setup, it can hold temperatures from about 180F to 450F (82C to 232C), to handle everything from smoking pulled pork to roasting a turkey.
