At 1,300 BTUs, the Weber has a good punch of power for a portable grill so I expected some serious heat. The internal temp quickly rose to just about 500 degrees F with the lid closed but didn’t exceed that temp. Worth noting that 500 is a good mark to hit for high-heat grilling — things like steaks, burgers and in my case, tuna. The tuna steaks and sausages I plunked down on the grill grates got a nice sear with pretty grill marks in about 10 minutes (five on each side). We tasked long-time OGL review editor Jed Porter with heading up our analysis of portable grills. When you ask Jed’s friends what his favorite food is, they’ll likely answer either “chips and salsa” or “meat.” Jed regularly cooks 1-2 meals a day outside over an open flame, near and far, rain or shine.
From custom-sized bedding to teak mats and replacement curtains we have all the custom goods that are made especially to fit your home on wheels. I purchased an American Muscle Grill and they took care of me, this is a very large grill that I had to get used to and had questions after the sale and he took care of me. I came across BBQGrills.com while I was looking to buy a new grill for retirement. At first, I was reluctant to buy an expensive grill online, until the owner personally called me back and reviewed th …
One tester noted that the cast iron grates produced enviably golden-brown sear on a steak, although the surface of the grill did not produce consistent heat, which resulted in burning in some places. While it is larger and a bit heavier than the Q1200, this Weber grill offers many of the same features, including two large side tables that fold in weber portable grill for storage and sturdy porcelain-coated cast iron grates. Its electronic ignition makes it easy to start up, and the sturdy grill body helps to distribute heat for even cooking. Just keep in mind that the grill is bulky to carry, especially when the grates are inside, so it’s not the best option if, for instance, you’re hiking out to a campsite.
Cleanup is easy using a top-down approach of wiping the inside of the lid with soapy water, cleaning the grates with a grill brush, and emptying the grease collector. We’ve tested an older version of the Lodge Sportsman’s Pro Cast Iron Grill, a hibachi-style grill that generates an intense amount of heat and weber charcoal grill excels at searing, making it ideal for steaks. But the lidless design limits its ability to tackle slow-cooking tasks. At 30 pounds and with a long cool-down time (again, cast iron), it’s also not going to be very portable. The Weber Q 1200 Gas Grill is the best of the portable propane models we’ve tested.
We also evaluated how secure or not secure they were, the noise during transport, and the cleanliness on the ride home. Among the charcoal models, the Weber Go-Anywhere scores top marks for control. Thanks to a relatively deep basin, we were able to build and stoke a substantial volume of coals to achieve the exact heat we desired. Since the area of the basin exactly matches the surface area of the grill, we were then able to spread out those coals to create targeted heat zones.
First, the setup was challenging as the legs were difficult to install properly. Next, the heat distribution was very uneven, where a uniform layer of coals still resulted in a hot spot in the center. Weber has a great reputation for reliability, and when we surveyed Wirecutter readers about their grills, Weber owners were overwhelmingly satisfied with their choice. As long as you clean your grill properly and shield it from the elements, it should last many years.
If you want to grill steaks, burgers, chicken and hot dogs having one single burner won’t be a problem. As for performance, this model knocked it out of the park, with some of the highest scores we collected for heat regulation and we observed no flare-ups due to rendered fat. We recommend this grill to cooks who are interested in grilling for a crowd, as the XL surface area tends to lose heat quickly when accommodating just one or two pieces of steak or fish. Add to that the spacious cooktop area (320 square inches), and the Weber Traveler is a great grill, period.