Barbecue Season And Outdoor Cooking, Summer Is Here!
As the sun comes out, so our gardens become an extra room, complete with kitchen in the shape of the ubiquitous barbecue; and the Weber Q 200 will definitely add a splash of style to those outdoor spaces . While most of the year, the lady of the house finds the kitchen to be her domain, once outdoor cooking becomes a possibility, the man of the house suddenly discovers his inner chef! The tradition of Thanksgiving dinner is another area of gender reversal, as the turkey fryer is often an outdoor cooking device and many a man is put in charge of them, especially where they involve a lot of hot oil!
Given the size of the USA, the seasons are varied across the states, so that for some Thanksgiving is an outdoor occasion, while others will be found sitting in front of a log fire with the curtains tightly shut! For those of you contemplating barbecues over the next few months, here is a review of a time and effort saving propane grill, the Weber Q 200, so much easier than cooking with charcoal!
Weber Q 200 Portable Propane Grill
Style File of Weber Q 200
Whilst we all want our cooking appliances to work efficiently, it is an added pleasure if they also look good. Weber has made a portable propane grill called the Weber Q 200, Silver Series, which has a review rating of 4.5 out of 5 and has been around awhile for it to have been thoroughly tested. They have a newer model out, The Weber Portable gas grill, the 300 series, which has a slightly lower customer rating at 4.3 and which has not been around as long as the model I am reviewing. However, where there are features that have improved, I shall let you know, and then you can decide which model you may prefer.
The Weber Q 200 propane grill is made from cast aluminum with a glass reinforced nylon frame, and measures around 18 by 32 by 15 inches. The 300 series model Weber portable gas grill is larger, but both models have the same cooking space, with a porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grate measuring 280 square inches. The fold-out side tables are made from polypropylene you can slot tools onto the side, and it all tucks away for carrying. The whole Weber Q 200 grill weighs a hefty 40 pounds, mostly because of the cast iron grill, but it fits into the boot of all cars so is portable for the beach or a picnic.
Product details and customer suggestions for Weber Q 200
The Weber Q 200 Portable propane grill uses standard 14.1 ounce propane cylinders for 1.5 hours of continuous grilling, but if you are going to use it a lot it is worth investing in the larger 20-lb tank adapter hose for use with a larger propane tank. For a longer usage time, and portability, buy a 10 lb external tank; the limited availability of the 14 ounce cylinders is one of the criticisms made by customers.
The 300 series gas grill runs on 14.1 or 16.4 ounce cylinders and the 16 ounce bottles are available everywhere.. The gas lights with an electronic ignition, it has a 12,000 Btu stainless-steel burner, but customers advise buying a gas lighter also, as in very windy conditions, the ignition does not always perform well. According to Weber, you can cook up to 10 large strip steaks or 18 burgers and brats on the grill. This is borne out by customers who report cooking 8 hotdogs, four burgers and buns on the side; another customer did a real test drive, and covered the grill in fish steaks, then hotdogs, then hamburgers, and finally, steaks, all cooked according to the time and temperature guidelines, all cooked evenly and the capacity was as stated!
Taste test and maintenance, customer views
A gas grill is never going to make your food taste the way charcoal does; however, there are flavorings you can sprinkle onto your food and marinades you can use to add flavor to grilled meals. The true test of the portable gas grill is in the cooking outcome, using a variety of foods, the “burn likelihood” and the evenness with which the food is cooked. The temperature affects the time for cooking, and the propane cylinder capacity affects the length of time you can keep cooking. In addition, it is important to know how easy or not a grill is to clean, as one of the worst aspects of barbecue cooking is the mess you need to clean up afterwards!
Customers report that, once the Weber Q 200 grill is seasoned, after two or three uses, the cooking results are perfect! The food is cooked evenly wherever you put it on the grill, and you get attractive griddle marks from the cast iron plate. The cooking times suggested are accurate and food is cooked through without being burnt on the outside. Clean up is reported to be easy; take a piece of foil, put it on the grill, shiny side down, and switch it on to high heat for about 15 minutes to clean up after cooking a lot of food.
Generally speaking, if you use a grill brush during preheat that will take care of any previous debris. There is a removable drip tray underneath the grill, which as well as the bottom of the Weber Q 200 grill is easy to take out, empty the ash and drippings and then clean. The porcelain coated grill plate will wash clean with soapy water and some elbow grease.
Suggestions for additions
The Weber Q 200 propane portable gas grill can sit on the tailgate of your car, or on your patio or a wall, but for the easiest way to use it, you really need to invest in a stand. Weber makes one and at a cost of around $44 you can get a rolling cart with wheels which will make this a lot easier to move around than carrying it. You can buy a $9 cover to protect your grill although some customers do not use a cover and report that the grill seems pretty weather proof! The issue with the 14 ounce propane cylinders has been addressed in the 300 series, but the Weber Q 200 will need an adapter for a larger cylinder, or a lot of cylinders to cook for longer than an hour and a half.
Availability and Price, and extras
The list price for the Weber Q 200 Portable Propane Grill is $199, but it retails at between $167.60 at Amazon, up to $174.99 elsewhere. For comparison, the Weber portable gas grill, 300 series is around $189 from Amazon. With the grill, you get a 5 year warranty and a detailed instruction manual, plus there are loads of recipes and advice on the Weber website. Grill brushes and barbecue tools are available from Weber, but you can find cheaper versions from other manufacturers!
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If I haven’t spelled it out, let me simply say — the Weber Q 200 is the one to buy.