In our tests, the Weber Q 1200 topped the competition in grilling performance. Its heavy-duty cast-aluminum firebox was the best at evenly absorbing and reflecting heat, providing the most consistent grilling of all the portables we tested. An electric push-button ignition and easy-to-read heat-control dial make the Q 1200 simple to start and adjust. Though the grill weighs a hefty 30 pounds, the comfortable side handles make it easy to carry.
Preventing grease and fire contact is especially important since the cooking grates on portable gas grills sit very close to the heating element (usually a 1- to 1½-inch clearance). Steel inserts that sit over the flame ports can help, as can a cleverly designed grilling grate that channels grease away from the fire. “Performance” is one of the series of Char-boil, but What does “300” mean? Having 300 square inches of primary cooking space, which is why it’s called “Performance 300”.
Here’s a video on how to assemble the Char-Broil 2-Burner gas grill. As we stated earlier, you’ll need to assemble this grill when you get it out of its box. However, several users report that they needed a hand to put everything together. The grill’s top holds the swing-away warming rack in place and has a heat shield. This way, you won’t get third-degree burns from touching the grill.
In our tests, the Jumbo Joe produced the best seared burgers, barbecued chicken, and grilled bratwurst. The two adjustable vents, in the lid and firebox, allowed the quickest and easiest temperature control of all the grills we tested. Even after loading the Jumbo Joe with a full chimney starter’s worth of red-hot embers , we could still tamp down the temperature to medium heat.
The side shelves are Gear Trax enabled for extra workspace with custom accessories . It has a simplified design with standardized hardware for quick and easy assembly. The electronic ignition for reliability starts every time makes grilling hassle-free. The durable cart design with convenient LP tank storage is a plus and the removable grease pan makes for easy cleaning.
The Q 1200’s warranty covers most parts on the grill for five years. Cast-aluminum fireboxes are durable, corrosion resistant, and excellent at evenly absorbing and reflecting heat, so you have fewer hotspots. This means you don’t have to obsessively babysit your barbecued chicken to prevent excessive charring. Porcelain-coated cast-iron cooking grates are best at searing foods.
Charcoal is smokier than gas, a possible issue for smaller, fenced-in spaces. Food grilled over charcoal has that coveted backyard-grill smoky flavor. This larger version of our pick offers more cooking area and higher heat output. Maintaining any grill is a good way to make it last for many years. Thankfully, if you follow the right steps, cleaning the Char-Broil Performance 300 shouldn’t take much time.
Like the Weber models, this Char-Broil grill has a thick cast-aluminum body for even heat distribution. But unlike its Weber competitors, the Grill2Go is incapable of searing food beyond grill marks, because its perforated grate blocks a lot of ambient heat from the firebox. We also had a few more flare-ups with the Grill2Go than with our other picks.
After we preheated it for five minutes on high, the Grill2Go reached over 600 degrees Fahrenheit, while the Weber Q 1200 never broke 525 °F. Char-Broil claims its “TRU Infrared cooking system” eliminates flare-ups, but we still had to manage moderate flares while cooking burgers, chicken, and brats. Flipping burgers is easy and straightforward with the non-stick porcelain coated cast iron grates, and the ample cooking space easily accommodates at least 16 burgers. The burner tents effectively reduce the occurrence of flare-ups, so there’s less danger while cooking and no burn marks on your food.
This control helps to mitigate flare-ups, excessive charring, or undercooking. Gas grills are better for people who want to grill more than once a week and can sacrifice a little heat and the classic Blackstone Adventure taste of charcoal for convenience. So, you can use it to indirectly cook or grill, but it won’t char your food. The Performance 2-Burner gas grill scores averagely in terms of evenness.