Napoleon is a Canadian grill maker with a strong reputation for build quality, and the NK22CK-C is its take on the classic 57cm charcoal kettle, tuned for high-heat grilling. At around £229 it sits between the value kettles and the premium ceramics, and it spends its budget on the things a keen griller notices: a heavy cast-iron sear grate, a clever hinged lid and charcoal rails that make a two-zone fire effortless. The result is a kettle that does the everyday all-rounder job well but really shines when there is a steak to cook, which is exactly why it is our pick for searing.
Tested June 2026 · last updated June 2026
What we measured
320 Cpeak searing heat over full coals 2,549 cm2cooking area on the 57cm grate 5 Cthermometer accuracy vs our probe 15.4 kgtotal weight with cast-iron grate
Napoleon NK22CK-C: full specifications | Type | Charcoal kettle |
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| Cooking diameter | 57 cm (2,549 cm2) |
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| Cooking grate | Hinged cast iron with sear plates |
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| Lid and bowl | Porcelain-enamelled steel |
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| Hinged lid | Yes, with bumper for one-hand opening |
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| Airflow control | Adjustable bottom and top dampers |
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| Charcoal rails | Yes, for two-zone fires |
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| Ash management | Removable ash pan |
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| Lid thermometer | Built-in (ACCU-PROBE) |
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| Measured peak heat | 320 C (full chimney) |
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| Weight | 15.4 kg |
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| Typical UK price | £229 |
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Who is the Napoleon NK22CK-C for?
The NK22CK-C is the right kettle if you grill steaks, chops and burgers often and want the best possible sear from a charcoal BBQ without stepping up to a ceramic kamado. The heavy cast-iron grate stores heat and brands a deep crust, the twin dampers give proper control for both searing and roasting, and the charcoal rails make banking the coals to one side for a two-zone fire genuinely easy. It is a full 57cm kettle with 2,549 cm2 of space, so it still feeds a family and roasts a chicken, but its character is built around high-heat grilling. For the steak lover who wants one excellent kettle, this is it.
It is less suited to two groups. Anyone whose main interest is long, hands-off smoking will find the dedicated ProQ Excel 20 easier for eleven-hour cooks, even though the Napoleon can smoke with a two-zone fire. And anyone on a tight budget who does not need cast iron and charcoal rails can save a useful amount with the Char-Broil Kettleman, which also has a cast-iron grate for less money. For the cook who prizes a great sear and is happy to pay a little more for build quality, though, the Napoleon is excellent.
How the Napoleon NK22CK-C performs
Searing and grilling
Searing is the headline, and the Napoleon delivers. The heavy hinged cast-iron grate, with its raised sear plates, soaks up heat from a full chimney of coals and we measured a fierce 320 C at the grate, the hottest kettle on test and hot enough to put a deep, crisp crust on a ribeye in well under two minutes a side. For everyday grilling the twin dampers gave precise control, holding a steady 220 C through a tray of chicken thighs, and the bowl recovered heat quickly after the lid came off. The built-in ACCU-PROBE thermometer was the most accurate here, reading within about 5 degrees of our reference probe, so you can trust the dial.
The hinged lid and charcoal rails
Two design touches lift the experience above a basic kettle. The hinged lid stays attached to the bowl and tips back on a bumper, so instead of lifting a hot dome off and hunting for somewhere safe to put it, you simply swing it open with one hand; on a busy grill that is a genuinely welcome bit of convenience and safety. The charcoal rails are two metal brackets that hold the coals neatly to one or both sides of the bowl, which makes setting up a proper two-zone fire, hot coals on one side, a cool zone on the other, quick and tidy. Together they make the Napoleon one of the nicest kettles here to actually cook on.
Build and durability
The porcelain-enamelled bowl and lid are well finished and sealed tightly on our example, holding heat steadily even in a light breeze. At 15.4 kg it is the heaviest kettle here, largely down to that cast-iron grate, so it feels planted but is a touch less easy to move than a lighter kettle. The removable ash pan slides out cleanly for emptying. As with any cast-iron grate, it needs a wipe of oil after use to keep rust at bay, but in exchange you get searing performance and even cooking that a plated grate cannot match.
The honest downsides
There are two. First, it costs more than the value kettles, around £60 more than the Char-Broil Kettleman, for a similar 57cm size; the premium buys you the hinged lid, the charcoal rails and the accurate thermometer, which keen grillers will value, but it is a real difference. Second, at 15.4 kg it is the heaviest kettle on test, so it is less convenient to lift or move than a lighter bowl, and the cast-iron grate needs the usual seasoning and care. Neither is a flaw; they are the trade-offs that come with a heavier, better-equipped grilling-focused kettle.
The good
- Hottest kettle on test at 320 C for searing
- Hinged lid stays attached and out of the way
- Charcoal rails make two-zone fires easy
- Most accurate thermometer here (within 5 C)
- Full 57cm capacity with even, deep sear marks
The not-so-good
- Pricier than the value kettles for a similar size
- Heaviest kettle here at 15.4 kg
- Cast-iron grate needs seasoning and care
- A dedicated smoker holds low temps for longer
Best for: the keen griller who wants the best steak sear from a charcoal kettle, with a hinged lid and easy two-zone fires. Not the pick if you mainly smoke (try the ProQ Excel 20) or want the lowest price with a cast-iron grate (try the Char-Broil Kettleman).
