As you know, most of us like to BBQ but we don’t always have the room or the patience to deal with a traditional charcoal or gas grill. But there is one solution that can help you to get great results that are giving you all the satisfaction of grilling from a name that BBQ fans will already respect and love.
Weber is a very popular brand name for everyone who ever owned a portable charcoal backyard grill. In fact, it’s the whole reason that backyard grilling became such a big thing in the 1950s and 60s. But not everyone owns a home anymore and even fewer of us have a backyard where we can use a conventional BBQ grill. This is why Weber has developed a radical new concept for grilling nearly anywhere with very little effort.
Well, not just anywhere since you do need to have an electrical outlet, so if you have a portable generator or patio outlet, you’re in business. This article will introduce you to the Weber Q 2400 model and all the pros and cons we experienced when grilling steaks and veggies. As an upfront disclosure, none of the electric grills we’ve cooked on ever yielded a final product that beats a charcoal grill; this model is no exception.
So to be fair, we’ll list all the good and bad points about the Weber Q 2400 electric grill so you can judge for yourself if this model, our top pick as the best overall electric grill, is right for you. After that, you’ll have a better understanding of why it might be ideal for your backyard, outdoor balcony, or anywhere you have plenty of fresh air (do not use indoors as these grills are far from claims of being “smokeless”). If you bring the right power supply, you might have a good opportunity to take this to tailgate parties, to the beach, or going camping in an RV.
Compact but not flimsy
The entire grill itself is measuring 31.5 inches long, 19.5 inches wide, and stands over 14.5 inches tall. On any standard outdoor table, this makes it ideal for grilling nearly anything, and won’t be too low to the ground either. The entire grill body itself is constructed from heavy-duty cast aluminum that has a cradle frame that supports the body. There are two handles on either side so you can pick it up and move it where you want it to go.
There is also a sturdy aluminum lid that helps store the heat inside so your food cooks faster. Luckily, this design allows the lid to lift up like a clamshell and because it’s built so well, the lid will stay up when you open it to stand vertical. There’s an extra bonus if you like the traditional-style BBQ stand. Weber also offers a matching cart for better mobility and is perfect for those who don’t want to grill on a tabletop.
Great design, material construction, and performance
To be honest, it looks like a cook Weber BBQ except for one little detail, it’s electric! Then again, everything that has gone into this model makes it perfect for making BBQ where you can’t have an open flame. The grill itself is surprisingly well constructed and is porcelain-coated cast iron, making it better for being non-stick. The frame is made of plastic but because of the glass fibers that are added to this high-temperature plastic, it’s incredibly tough.
There is a temperature that can reach near BBQ level heat with 550 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer, but noticeably lower in the winter. Now, when it comes to the amount of space you get on the grill is very enticing. You have a total space worth 280 square inches of grill space. This means you can grill up to 12 full-size burger patties, or alternatively six to eight chicken breasts. You can easily cook for a family of three or more.
Weber also has a cooking griddle accessory that can be placed on one side so you can make pancakes, and cook eggs too. You can adjust the heat very quickly so you never need to worry about temperature fluctuations. It’s designed to have great airflow but you do need to have clearance on the back so smoke can escape without any problem. This will impact your food when smoke is created by dripping on the heating element.
Easy to clean
BBQ grills are often a dreaded item when it comes to cleaning, but this grill is one of the few that has some great built-in bonuses. First of all, any grease that comes off your food will flow down into a grease trap. This gets funneled into an aluminum pan that you can replace very easily. These trays, you can buy at the supermarket and fit right into the slide-out container on the bottom of the grill body.
The grill grates are also porcelain-coated, so these will wash off just as easily in the sink once they cool off. There are two of these grates so each one can be cleaned separately. As for splatters or spitting food that’s cooking, you can also take a washcloth and wipe down the inside of the lid. The lower heating element and draining pan can be lifted out and washed off too. These will also wash off just fine with ordinary dish soap and water.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Only takes 20 minutes to preheat
- Quick assembly right out of the box
- Use it anywhere you have electricity
- Easy to clean
- Long lasting and sturdy design
- Great for all kinds of grilled foods
Cons:
- No built-in thermometer
- It doesn’t come with a standing cart
- Will take up a tabletop
- Cooking temperature is lower in cold weather
- The weight may be heavy for some people to move around
- It’s not going to give you the smoky flavor like standard grills
In closing
Despite this grill not being a regular BBQ grill, you might be lacking that fantastic smoky flavor. This doesn’t mean you can’t add liquid smoke or use a portable smoker afterward. These types of portable smokers can put that flavor into meats and veggies in less than a minute and aren’t hard to use. Aside from that, the Weber Q 2400 is one of the best choices you can have for an electric grill.
