Pros: Fairly easy cleanup. Easy setup. Quality Build. Great Asthetics.
Cons: No side table or "tool" hooks for BBQ tools
The Bottom Line: This is a must buy for condo and apartment users. And should be seen as a valid alternative to Charcoal and Propane even if your residence's fire code allows it.
wathomas's Full Review: Masterbuilt ESBMPG Electric Grill
When I moved into my apartment in South Florida, I was a bit disappointed when my apartment would not allow gas or charcoal grills on our enclosed balconies, ensuring that I would have to walk downstairs and grill in my driveway.
Not only was this a pain in the kiester, but I really hated running up and down stairs to cook meat. Not to mention, my existing "camp" grill was a pain to put away in clean.
Hoping to find a "small" footprint gas grill I could move in an out of the garage, I came across this unit at WalMart.com
Suddenly, the lights came on. Electric = Can be placed on my balcony. Electric = No having to roll the grill in and out of the garage. Electric = No more having to buy charcoal or propane.
And at $138 it seemed to be a steal. Not to mention, it received very good reviews from the Walmart.com users.
So I plunged in and am very suprised at the results.
As others have mentioned. Assembly could not be easier and consists of simply inserting 6 screws (in two sets of 3) on the Pedestal pieces to bring the unit to it's normal height.
Then just plug in and heat. The unit has a stainless steel cooking area with a "oven" type burner element that is controlled much like the controls on an electric frying pan. You have High Medium and Low settings listed on the thermostat, but have fully variable heat control across the whole range.
A built in Thermometer helps measure actual temperature inside the cooking chamber.
The cooking chamber consists of 200 sq. Inches of cooking space which is more than sufficient for a family of four. The 1650 Watt element easily heats the grill area to over 500 degrees and plugs into a standard 110 Volt 3 plug outlet. The thermostat cord is well over 6 feet, so you should not have any issues placing it next to an available outdoor outlet. Since this unit is a very high current drawing unit, the use of extension cords is highly discouraged.
The unit includes a one piece cover which flips back to access the grill surface.
The unit itself has no "rocks" or "bricks" and as such does not tend to have as many "flareups" as similar gas or electric models. However, the heating element is separate from the grill, so meat grease will still "vaporize" on the element which gives you a smoky taste to the meat, much like a gas or charcoal grill. The grill itself can be removed for easy cleaning and is open like a standard grill surface, not like the "solid" grill surfaces found in a George Foreman type grill. I like this feature as it tastes more grilled than "fried" like the Foreman type elements seem to taste.
Beneath the grill plate is a stainless steel liner that contains the cooking element. This too can be removed for cleanup, making this grill much easier to clean than a propane or charcoal alternative.
While the liner is not dishwasher safe, it is removable so you can hand clean it in the sink. This is a real nice feature and guarantees that you don't need to stay "outside" to clean your grill.
Beneath this liner is the actual stainless steel kettle that has an integrated grease drawer which collects any fat or drippings that did not get burnt on the liner. This grease drawer is also very easy to remove and clean.
Cosmetically, this unit is one of the sleekest, elegant grills out there. The black metal petestal and stainless steel kettle and cover look absolutely splendid on the patio, and the round cooking surface adds some distinction to the grill.
About the only negative thing I can say regarding it's cosmetics is that it does not have any side tables or tool racks on the unit. I imagine this has to do with the pedestal design. Since I have a small table on my patio, this is not an issue. But be aware by the photos that there is no place on the unit itself to laydown plates, utensils, or other "Grill" accessories.
I have compared this unit online to the Patio Electric Buddy made by Char Broil and this unit seems to win hands down, not only on asthetics, but also build quality, price and performance.
As an apartment dweller, your grilling options may be limited as mine are, but you no longer need suffer. The Veranda Grill a perfect option if your Condo or Apartments have rules regulating the use of charcoal or gas grills.
Outdoor electric grill with powder-coated pedestal stand Grill rack offers 200 square inches of cooking space Adjustable 1650-watt cooking element for...More at Amazon
Outdoor electric grill with powder-coated pedestal stand Grill rack offers 200 square inches of cooking space Adjustable 1650-watt cooking element for...More at Amazon Marketplace
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