Stepping out into the backyard on a sunny afternoon, the smell of grilling food is one of life’s simple pleasures. For years, I struggled with inconsistent results from my old grill, often ending up with food that was either burnt on the outside or raw in the middle. This constant frustration took the joy out of what should have been a relaxing activity. Finding a reliable grill that could handle everything from quick weeknight burgers to low-and-slow ribs wasn’t just about better food; it was about reclaiming that simple pleasure and avoiding the disappointment of a failed cookout.
- Spacious Cooking Area: 384 sq. in. porcelain-enameled steel wire cooking grates and 106 sq. in. stainless steel warming rack provide a total of 490 sq. in. cooking space respectively, serving up to 10...
- Height-adjustable Charcoal Pan: The crank handle controls the distance between the charcoal pan and food for fine-tuning temperature and regulating heat. The charcoal pan holds charcoal up to 4.5 lb....
- Convenient Access Door: Front charcoal access door with heat-resistant spring handle provides more convenience for adding charcoal and controls heat loss to a minimum during cooking
Important Considerations Before Purchasing a Charcoal Grill
Anyone looking to capture that classic smoky flavor and achieve perfect searing knows the appeal of a charcoal grill. These grills are fantastic for backyard enthusiasts who appreciate the ritual of building a fire and the control it offers, but they might not be the best fit for someone seeking instant on/off convenience (gas grills are better for that) or precise, set-it-and-forget-it temperatures (pellet grills excel here). Before investing, consider the size you need (how many people will you typically cook for?), desired features (like a warming rack, ash catcher, or side tables), material durability (important for longevity and heat retention), and your budget. Think about where it will live – do you need portability, or will it be a permanent fixture? Also, consider how easy it is to clean and maintain, as ash disposal can be a factor.
- 811 Square Inches: Includes 443 sq. in. porcelain-enameled steel wire cooking grates, 184 sq. in. chrome-plated warming rack and 184 sq. in. offset smoker
- This Weber kettle grill has space to hold up to 13 burgers made with a Weber burger press; The durable-plated steel cooking grate, crafted from premium steel, offers a resilient surface that stands up...
- Main Smoking Area: 443 sq. in. porcelain-enameled steel wire cooking grates with 184 sq. in. chrome-plated steel wire warming rack offer enough space to cook large cuts of meat.
Introducing the Royal Gourmet CD1824M Charcoal Grill
When I was in the market for an upgrade, the Royal Gourmet CD1824M 24-Inch Charcoal Grill, BBQ Smoker with Handle and Folding Table caught my eye. It promised a blend of ample cooking space and useful features, positioning itself as a solid option for families and small gatherings. It comes with the grill body, legs, side tables, internal grates, and the ash pan mechanism. While not the most premium grill on the market (compared to, say, a Weber Kettle or higher-end steel smokers), it offers features often found on more expensive models, like a height-adjustable charcoal pan and a built-in thermometer, at a more accessible price point. This particular grill is well-suited for the home grillmaster who enjoys cooking with charcoal and wants a bit more control and convenience than a basic kettle grill provides, but perhaps isn’t ready for a complex offset smoker. It’s likely not the best choice for someone needing a heavy-duty, commercial-grade unit or expecting the build quality of grills several times its price.
Here’s a quick rundown:
Pros:
* Generous cooking area suitable for family meals.
* Height-adjustable charcoal pan allows for better temperature control.
* Front access door makes adding charcoal easier during longer cooks.
* Built-in thermometer is convenient for monitoring temperature.
* Folding side table adds valuable workspace.
Cons:
* Assembly can be tricky in some spots.
* Material gauge feels somewhat light compared to premium grills.
* Paint finish may not hold up perfectly to high heat over extended use.
* Some parts could potentially arrive damaged or missing (though this isn’t universal).
Exploring the Grill’s Capabilities and How They Benefit Your Cooking
Having used the Royal Gourmet CD1824M charcoal grill for a considerable time now, I’ve really gotten a feel for its various components and how they impact the grilling experience. Let’s dive into the details.
One of the first things you notice is the Spacious Cooking Area. With 384 sq. in. on the porcelain-enameled steel wire cooking grates and an additional 106 sq. in. on the stainless steel warming rack, you get a total of 490 sq. in. of space. What this translates to in practice is the ability to cook for a crowd – easily up to 10 people without feeling cramped. I can lay out a couple of racks of ribs, several chicken pieces, and still have room for corn on the cob or bell peppers on the main grates. The warming rack is invaluable for keeping cooked items warm while the rest finishes or for gently cooking delicate vegetables. It significantly reduces the “juggle” of trying to time everything perfectly to come off the grill at once. Having this much real estate is a huge step up from smaller grills and makes entertaining much less stressful.
The Height-Adjustable Charcoal Pan is a standout feature on this charcoal grill, controlled by a crank handle on the front. This isn’t something you find on every grill in this price range, and it makes a real difference. By raising or lowering the charcoal pan, you directly control the distance between the heat source and your food. Need a high-heat sear for steaks? Crank the pan up close to the grates. Want to slow-cook a pork butt or smoke some chicken? Lower the pan to create a cooler zone for indirect heat. This adjustability gives you a level of temperature regulation that manual charcoal arrangement alone can’t provide as easily. It allows for more versatility, enabling you to tackle different cooking styles beyond just direct grilling. The pan is rated to hold up to 4.5 lbs of charcoal, which is generally sufficient for most cooks, though you might need to add more for really long smoking sessions.
Another practical feature is the Convenient Front Charcoal Access Door. Located on the front of the grill body, this door lets you add more charcoal or wood chips during a cook without having to lift the entire lid and disrupt the temperature inside the main cooking chamber. This is particularly useful for longer smoking sessions or when you realize you didn’t load quite enough charcoal initially. The door has a heat-resistant spring handle, which is a nice touch, allowing you to open it without needing gloves immediately (though caution is always advised around hot grills). Minimizing heat loss is crucial for maintaining consistent temperatures, especially during smoking, and this access door helps achieve that much more effectively than constantly opening the main lid.
The Built-in Thermometer Gauge on the lid is a standard but essential feature for any grill, and this one performs adequately. It gives you a quick read of the temperature inside the grill without needing to lift the lid, which, as mentioned, is key to maintaining heat and smoke. While I always recommend using a separate digital thermometer for precise food and ambient temperature monitoring for critical cooks like briskets or pork shoulders, the lid thermometer provides a good general indicator of the internal temperature range. It helps you get a feel for how adjustments to the vents or charcoal level are affecting the heat.
Air Flow Control is managed by two adjustable air vents – one on each end of the lid. These vents are critical for regulating the burning speed of your charcoal and thus controlling the internal temperature of the grill. Opening the vents allows more oxygen in, making the coals burn hotter. Closing them down restricts airflow, lowering the temperature and producing more smoke for flavoring. Learning to use these in conjunction with the adjustable charcoal pan is the key to mastering temperature control on this Royal Gourmet grill. They slide open and closed reasonably smoothly, allowing for fine-tuning.
The Folding Side Table is an absolute lifesaver for prep and convenience. Grilling involves lots of trips back and forth to the kitchen unless you have somewhere to put your tools, platters, sauces, and spices. This table provides that much-needed workspace right where you need it. It feels reasonably sturdy for placing plates or cutting boards, and the fact that it folds down is great for saving space on my patio when the grill isn’t in use. While the material on the table isn’t solid wood (it’s a treated material), it serves its purpose well for general grilling tasks. There’s also a handle opposite the folding table, which aids in moving the grill around.
Finally, the Removable Ash Tray located below the charcoal pan makes cleanup significantly easier. Anyone who has used a charcoal grill knows that managing and disposing of ash is part of the process. This pull-out tray catches the ash, preventing it from accumulating in the bottom of the grill body and potentially clogging airflow. Once the grill is cool, you can simply pull out the tray and dump the ash. While not completely mess-free (some ash inevitably settles elsewhere), it drastically simplifies the cleanup process compared to grills where you have to scoop ash directly from the bottom chamber. This feature alone saves a good bit of time and effort after each use.
Overall, the features on this charcoal BBQ smoker work together to provide a functional and enjoyable grilling experience. While the materials might not be the thickest gauge steel available, and I did notice some paint flaking on the inside of the lid after several high-heat cooks (a common issue with painted charcoal grills at this price point), the core functionality – the adjustable pan, access door, and ample space – make it a capable tool for backyard cooking. It allows you to achieve good results with both direct and indirect heat methods, bringing that classic smoky flavor to your food. The combination of space, temperature control features, and convenience aspects like the side table and ash tray make it a solid contender for its category. It’s not a professional-grade smoker, but for everyday grilling and occasional smoking, it punches above its weight class in terms of included features.
What Others Are Saying About the Grill
Having read through comments from other users, it seems my experience aligns with a good number of people. Many users praise the design and the range of features you get for the price, specifically highlighting the adjustable charcoal pan and side table as major positives. The assembly process is often mentioned as being mostly straightforward, though some reviewers did note a few tricky spots or minor alignment issues during setup. On the flip side, the concerns about the material thickness and the paint’s durability under high heat were also echoed by others. There were a few isolated reports of damaged parts upon delivery, which can be frustrating, but many reviews indicate satisfaction with the grill’s performance for standard backyard cooking.
Wrapping Up Your Grilling Decision
Facing the disappointment of inconsistent results from an old grill can really dampen the spirits of a backyard cook. Nobody wants to serve undercooked chicken or charred burgers when they’re trying to enjoy time outdoors. Solving this problem means finding a grill that offers better control and reliable performance. The Royal Gourmet CD1824M 24-Inch Charcoal Grill, BBQ Smoker with Handle and Folding Table is a great fit for solving this common grilling dilemma. Its key features like the adjustable charcoal pan for heat control, ample cooking space for versatility, and convenient front access door make it a capable and user-friendly option for mastering charcoal cooking. If you’re ready to upgrade your backyard BBQ game and enjoy more consistent, delicious results, click here to check out the Royal Gourmet CD1824M charcoal grill.
Last update on 2025-09-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API