PK Grills
PK Grills PK360
$999.99
Best Charcoal Grills · head-to-head
PK Grills PK360 vs Char-Broil Kettleman TRU-Infrared
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Char-Broil Kettleman TRU-Infrared is cheaper at $199.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
Char-Broil
Char-Broil Kettleman TRU-Infrared
$199.99Cheaper
Released 2015
Which is better: the PK Grills PK360 or Char-Broil Kettleman TRU-Infrared?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Char-Broil Kettleman TRU-Infrared is the cheaper at $199.99.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | PK Grills PK360 | Char-Broil Kettleman TRU-Infrared |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $999.99 | $199.99 |
| Brand | PK Grills | Char-Broil |
| Released | — | 2015 |
| Type | kettle | kettle |
| Primary cooking area sqin | 360 | 360 |
| Material | Cast aluminum body with marine stainless steel cooking grate | Porcelain-coated steel with TRU-Infrared porcelain grate |
| Hinged cooking grate | No | No |
| Ash catcher | No | Yes |
| Built in thermometer | Yes | Yes |
| Diameter or size (in) | 24.8 x 15.8 in | 22.5 in |
| Release | — | 2015 |
Sources — PK Grills PK360: pkgrills.com (verified 2026-06-19). Char-Broil Kettleman TRU-Infrared: charbroil.com (verified 2026-06-19).
What's the difference between the PK Grills PK360 and Char-Broil Kettleman TRU-Infrared?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (3 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Material: PK Grills PK360 Cast aluminum body with marine stainless steel cooking grate vs Char-Broil Kettleman TRU-Infrared Porcelain-coated steel with TRU-Infrared porcelain grate
- Ash catcher: PK Grills PK360 false vs Char-Broil Kettleman TRU-Infrared true
- Diameter or size (in): PK Grills PK360 24.8 x 15.8 in vs Char-Broil Kettleman TRU-Infrared 22.5 in
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
PK Grills PK360
One whitelisted hands-on source: WIRED's Joe Ray tested the PK360 across multi-day cooks (chicken, steak, ribs, brisket), rating it 9/10. He praises the tank-like cast-aluminum build and excellent temperature control, holding within 10-20°F all day. Main gripes: 360 sq in is small for crowds, and side tables and interior are hard to clean. No Popular Mechanics, Serious Eats or Wirecutter PK360 test found. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Excellent temperature control on long cooks — held within 10-20°F of target all day; Tank-like cast-aluminum build expected to last for decades; Versatile two-zone direct/indirect grilling and smoking.
Flagged: 360 sq in cooking surface too small for large cuts or big groups; Side tables' etched crosshatch and interior bottom are hard to clean; Utensil hooks placed on the back; no notch for thermometer probe cables.
Char-Broil Kettleman TRU-Infrared
One whitelisted hands-on tester survived verification — Reviewed (USA Today), whose chef-tester ran the Char-Broil Kettleman TRU-Infrared through a live cook-off against seven rivals and ranked it near the bottom. It praised the TRU-Infrared grate's sear and the hinged lid, but flagged a wobbly build, a v-shaped grate that traps grease and burnt bits, grates with no hinges (forcing hands into a dangerously hot spot when adding coals), and a handle-less ash bucket, concluding better grills exist for the price. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: TRU-Infrared grate produced a beautiful sear and grill marks on burgers; Hinged lid.
Flagged: Wobbly, unstable build versus competitors; V-shaped grate very difficult to clean; grease and burnt bits lodge in crevices; Grates have no hinges, putting hands in a dangerously hot spot when adding coals.