Weber Baby Q 100 Portable Gas Grill Review

It's hard to imagine a grill with only 189 square inches of cooking space could provide so much value for money, but that's exactly what the Weber "Baby" Q 100 does. Measuring 23.5 x 27 x 16 inches (height x width x depth) with the lid open, the Q 100 has a glass-reinforced nylon frame built to last and comes with push-button ignition for easy, dependable ignition.

The infinitely adjustable burner valve offers precision control over the 8500 BTU heat output, while a porcelain-enameled cast iron cooking grate promises even heating and a fuss-free cleanup process. The cast aluminum lid and body ensure that the grill is easily transported while the heat-resistant lid handle promises you'll never have to worry about burning yourself when checking on those burgers.

Incredibly Easy Assembly for Quick Grilling Fun

One of the first things any review of the Weber Q 100 is sure to mention is how easy it is to assemble. Compared to larger grills, the only assembly this portable grill needed was to have the handle attached to the lid, the lid attached to the grill, the regulator capped and the grease pan slotted into place! Ten minutes of work and a cook was free to grill anything he or she wanted after that.

As promised, the grill is easy to light and heats up quickly, and cooks were pleasantly surprised to find that surface beneath the grill stayed cool throughout the cookout. Cooking on flammable surfaces is inadvisable, of course, but keeping the support surface cool is testament to the insulating qualities of the sturdy nylon frame.

Perfect Searing and Thorough Cooking

Despite its size, it comfortably fits up to 12 chicken thighs or 4 steaks on the cast iron cooking grate. Its size makes it a good grill to cater to a small gathering of 2-4 people. Cooks found the Weber quality evident in how quickly the grill heated up to create fantastic grill marks on their food, with some comparing the sear marks to "those in the magazines". Food also cooked evenly thanks to the complete lack of hot or cold spots on the cooking grates.

Even though the grill is small, its design is by no means shoddy - grills that produce virtually no flare-ups are a distinct Weber trademark, and that is no different for the Q 100. One cook deliberately tried to induce a flare-up with chicken thighs that had a lot of fat on them but to no avail.

The Q 100 also stands up to the most slapdash cleaning methods and remains rust free for years. Additionally, its size makes it easy to pack and transport, taking up a minimum of space whether in a trunk or on someone's small deck.

Drip Tray May Be Too Easily Removed

One review mentioned that the rather wide space between the drip tray and the bottom of the grill allowed the tray to be blown out of the base, thereby creating a huge, unwanted mess, on a windy day. Fortunately, securing the drip tray is just a matter of taping it down.

Most cooks found it difficult to determine if the grill was lit when they used it in the open. The flames are virtually invisible in bright sunshine, so cooks either have to wait for the smell of propane (to determine that the burner is unlit) or half-cover the grill to shade the area in order to view the flames.

No similar gas grills.