The two most impactful low-and-slow accessories for a Weber Go Anywhere are a stainless steel heat deflector that creates true indirect heat, and a lower-vent damper adapter that lets an automatic temperature controller feed the fire. Add a dual-probe leave-in thermometer, a compact chimney starter, and a few hardwood chunks, and this roughly 160-square-inch portable grill can genuinely hold 225–250°F (107–121°C) for hours.

Can a Weber Go Anywhere really cook low-and-slow?

Yes — with the right setup. The Go Anywhere is a small porcelain-enameled charcoal grill (about 14 pounds, with a grate of roughly 15 x 10 inches), and its tight lid and close quarters actually work in your favor: a tiny fire can heat the whole cook box. The challenge is that small grills react fast. A few extra lit briquettes or a gust of wind can swing the pit temperature 50°F in minutes.

Low-and-slow means cooking with indirect heat at a steady 225–250°F for several hours, so collagen in tough cuts like pork shoulder and ribs has time to melt into tender, juicy meat.

Everything on the list below either tames that temperature volatility or makes a small cooking surface behave like a much bigger smoker.

What are the best low-and-slow accessories for a Weber Go Anywhere?

1. A heat deflector that doubles as a drip pan

This is the single biggest upgrade. On a grate this size, food sits inches from the coals, so without a barrier you're grilling, not smoking. A stainless steel deflector slides between the fire and the food, blocks radiant heat, and evens out hot spots. As a bonus, it catches drippings instead of letting them hit the coals and scorch into bitter flavors.

The Heat Deflector for Weber Go Anywhere Grill is built from stainless steel and shaped for this exact cook box, so there's no fiddling with folded foil or pizza stones that almost fit.

2. A damper adapter for automatic temperature control

Manual vent control works (we'll cover it below), but on a grill this responsive, a fan-driven controller is a genuine game changer. A damper adapter mounts at the lower vent and gives a controller's fan a sealed, precise opening to blow through — no drilling or permanent modification to the grill.

The Damper Adapter for Weber Go Anywhere Grill is made for exactly this job, pairing the Go Anywhere with a controller like the BBQube TempMaster Pro.

3. A leave-in, dual-probe thermometer

The lid thermometer on a small grill reads the air at the top of the dome — not the temperature at grate level where your meat sits. A dual-probe digital thermometer with one probe clipped at grate level and one in the meat tells you both numbers in real time. This one tool will teach you more about your grill's personality in two cooks than a season of guessing.

4. A compact chimney starter and quality briquettes

For low-and-slow, briquettes beat lump: their uniform size burns at a predictable rate, which matters enormously when your whole fire is 30–40 coals. A small chimney starter lets you light just 6–8 briquettes at a time for the minion method (unlit coals topped with a few lit ones), rather than dumping a full hot load that instantly overshoots your target.

5. Hardwood chunks and a small water pan

Skip the handful of chips — they flare and vanish in twenty minutes. Two or three fist-sized hardwood chunks (apple or cherry for pork and poultry, oak or hickory for beef) smolder for over an hour. A small loaf pan of hot water set next to the coals adds thermal mass that smooths out temperature swings and keeps the cook chamber humid, which helps smoke adhere to the meat.

How do you set up a Weber Go Anywhere for 225°F?

  1. Bank the fuel. Arrange 30–40 unlit briquettes along one side of the charcoal grate, or in a C-shape snake around the perimeter.
  2. Set the deflector. Place your heat deflector over or beside the coals so the food will sit shielded from direct heat.
  3. Light a few coals. Start 6–8 briquettes in the chimney; when they're ashed over (about 10–15 minutes), pour them on one end of the unlit bed. Add wood chunks near the lit end.
  4. Add water. Set a small pan of hot water beside the coals.
  5. Load the food. Grate on, meat over the deflector side — never directly above the lit coals.
  6. Manage the vents. Start with the lower vents cracked to about a quarter open and the lid vents fully open, positioned over the food so heat draws across it. Give the grill 15–20 minutes to settle before touching anything, then adjust the lower vent in tiny increments.

Realistic expectations: a Go Anywhere excels at chicken, ribs (trimmed or rolled to fit), sausages, tri-tip, and a pork butt in the 4–5 pound range. Depending on weather, expect roughly 2–3 hours per load of charcoal at low-and-slow temps, with a quick refuel through the grate for longer cooks.

What mistakes ruin a low-and-slow cook on a small grill?

Is an automatic temperature controller worth it on a portable grill?

Honestly, a small grill benefits more than a big one. The Go Anywhere's compact firebox means tiny airflow changes have outsized effects — exactly the problem a fan controller solves. The BBQube TempMaster Pro mounts to the lower vent via the damper adapter, then meters air with a variable-speed fan to hold your set temperature for hours while you watch pit and meat temps from your phone.

The payoff is the day itself: ribs or a pork butt on a camping trip or tailgate without hovering over vents, repeatable results every time, and fuel that stretches further because the fan only blows when the fire actually needs it. You still learn the manual craft — and you should — but the controller at bbqube.us turns a fiddly little grill into a set-and-forget smoker.

FAQ

Can you really smoke meat on a Weber Go Anywhere?

Yes. With a heat deflector, a small minion-method fire, and wood chunks, a Go Anywhere holds 225–250°F surprisingly well. It's best suited to smaller cuts — chicken, ribs, sausages, and pork butts up to about 5 pounds.

How much charcoal does a Weber Go Anywhere need for low-and-slow?

Plan on 30–40 unlit briquettes banked to one side, with 6–8 lit coals on top to start. That's typically enough for roughly 2–3 hours at 225–250°F, depending on wind and ambient temperature.

How long will a load of charcoal last in a Go Anywhere?

Expect about 2–3 hours per load at low-and-slow temperatures. Keeping the lid closed, shielding the grill from wind, and using an automatic temperature controller all extend burn time by limiting wasted airflow.

Do I have to drill or modify the grill to use a temperature controller?

No. A purpose-built damper adapter fits at the lower vent without any permanent modification, giving the controller's fan a sealed mount. Your grill stays stock and fully portable.

What size pork butt fits on a Weber Go Anywhere?

A boneless pork butt around 4–5 pounds fits comfortably over the deflector. Plan on roughly 1.5–2 hours per pound at 225–250°F, expect at least one refuel, and pull it when it probes tender around 195–203°F internal.