But at least there’s a barrier to keep hot embers from falling on the grass or your deck. At 20 pounds, the Grill2Go X200 is also 10 pounds lighter than the Weber Q 1200, even though it fits the same amount of food (six burgers, or a whole cut-up chicken). The Q 1200’s small fold-out side tables are handy for keeping grill tools within reach, though we wouldn’t feel confident resting a large tray brimming with meat or other heavy things on them. The thermometer in the dome lid is nice, but it isn’t necessary other than for letting you know when the grill is hot and ready. My testing of the grill consisted of turning it on and seeing how long it would take to get to max temperature.
It’s ultimately a reliable compact grill that does double-duty as an indoor or outdoor workhorse. The Weber Q 1200 remains at the top of our list of tabletop gas grills because it packs the performance of larger grills into a small form. Assembly is simple thanks to the manual providing pictogram-style instructions, and the whole task took just 12 minutes weber charcoal grill for us to be ready to cook. Attaching the gas bottle took a little manipulation that sparked safety concerns but ultimately resolved once connected. After the easy task of lighting the grill with the pushbutton ignition, the grill grates came to cooking temperature in just eight and a half minutes — a tough task for most portable grill competitors.
While an extra burner would make this grill a little more versatile, I think most people that buy this are looking to keep it simple. 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. It’s definitely on the hefiter side—we wouldn’t recommend strapping it to your back for a mountainside hike—but that makes it ideal for new and sometimes-grillers who don’t want to invest upwards of $1,000.
It’s also pleasantly easy to clean, thanks to foil inserts that can be used to line the removable drip tray. As one of the sturdier models we tested, one tested noted it was a good option for apartment dwellers and those looking to grill occasionally. It packs up efficiently, and when fully assembled has two wing-like side tables that are helpful for prep and tool storage. We particularly liked the nonstick coating inside the firebox, which made it easier to clean (a removable drip tray did, too). This grill is refreshingly easy to light, with an indicator button on the knob.
Portable gas grills are also usually easier and more intuitive to set up, use, and keep clean, so they’re great for beginners, or anyone who doesn’t want to invest too much effort into cooking a few burgers. That aside, foods cooked fairly evenly and sported aesthetically pleasing grill marks in our tests. And with generally good cooking results, it’s an easy model for weber bbq someone to get started with gas grilling. More space between the coal bed and the grilling grate also lessens your chances of ending up with charred food and allows you to create hot and cold spots for searing and indirect cooking. There are plenty of older portable gas grills on the market, but in my opinion, they’ve either been too small or inconvenient to transport.
Finally, we should note that, at 40 pounds, this grill is more suited to car camping or picnicking, where it’s only a short walk to where you’ll be cooking. It would also fare well as a supplemental grill when cooking for a crowd in your backyard. Everdure designs premium grills in collaboration with chef Heston Blumenthal, so you can’t expect a run-of-the-mill weber gas grill design. The grill has nicely sized handles for carrying, and setting up this grill is foolproof – place your pieces in position, and it’s ready to go. Our test load of two burgers, two brats, and two ears of corn consumed most of the acreage but still left enough room that the food wasn’t touching and the grill wasn’t overloaded.