Is a Compact Grill Right for You?

There’s nothing quite like a big steak grilled to tender, juicy perfection. But preparing a steak of this caliber calls for a grill, and that’s not always practical. Take camping and road trips, for example.

Imagine toting around a full sized monstrosity of a grill in your truck or van! And if you live in an apartment, that thing will take up a huge amount of patio space that could be used for lawn chairs. What do you do to satisfy your inner carnivore under these circumstances? Answer: Get a compact grill.

Compact grills such as the Weber 386002 Q-100 Portable Gas Grill comes with loads of benefits. They pack up neatly inside your car when you go on road trips, leaving enough space for your tent and cooler. Depending on the brand, you can even buy a specially made case that allows you to pull the grill behind you like a wheeled bag at the airport.

And although many of them are weather resistant, you won’t have to test that feature by leaving your portable grill out in the rain and snow; you can easily bring it inside and store it in a closet when you’re not using it.

Going small doesn’t mean sacrificing quality. The best ones are durable, stable, and made to last. Some are designed to be placed on a tabletop surface, while others stand upright on wheels for smooth mobility.

Many have handy features such as adjustable burners and interchangeable grilling plates for different kinds of cooking. So you can whip up some pancakes, roast a chicken, or cook some hamburgers when you’re on the road.

That’s all fine and good, but the real question is: Do they get the job done? Will a grill that small reach the proper temperature and cook your meat evenly? Yes, if you’re dealing with a good compact grill.

They may not blast out as much heat as a king-sized grill, but they get more than hot enough to sizzle your steak. Like anything, they vary in quality, so don’t rush out and buy one without doing your research. You’ll find plenty of compact grill reviews online to help you make your choice.

You might still have some reservations about getting a compact grill if you live in an apartment, since landlords often ban the use of grills–compact or otherwise. But what they’re really concerned about is the dangers of cooking over an open fire, and you can always get around that with a small electric grill like the Weber 526001 Q 140 Electric Barbeque Grill.

If you really want to be low-profile and avoid driving your neighbors insane with the wonderful smell of grilled chicken (though what fun is that?), you can get one made for indoor use instead.

If you have a big backyard, hate camping, and never go on road trips, then you probably won’t have much use for a compact grill.

If that’s you, go biggie-sized. But if you’re a true carnivore who spends a lot of time on the road, or if you have limited space, you owe it to yourself to get one of these babies. You won’t regret it.

Article: by, J. Kelly

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