Weber Q100 Review - An In-Depth Look at the Q100 Portable Gas Grill

The Weber Q100 is one of the bestselling portable grill models, and is arguably the first choice of those new to grilling. It is a gas grill that delivers a creditable performance, even for those completely uninitiated to the art of grilling. It is quite small and light, and is even lighter on your wallet.

First, let's take a look at the technical specifications. Small in size, the Weber Q100 measures 16 x 27 x 23.5 inches. The cooking area is 189 sq. inches - perfect for an evening cookout with a small group of friends. The burner is made of stainless steel and delivers 8,500 BTU-per-hour of heat. It weighs in at a meager 29 pounds, making it ideal for portable use.

The Q100 is often called a 'tabletop' grill because of its small size and light weight. Yet, the performance it delivers can make even some of the so-called heavy duty grills blush. The push-button ignition works great and the heat can be easily adjusted through the infinitely adjustable regulator valve. Don't let the light weight fool you though: its frame is made of glass reinforced nylon, and the grill body itself is made of cast iron. A cast aluminum lid with a weather resistant handle completes the entire package. It works on a 14 ounce propane tank.

The first concern I had with the Weber Q100 was the heat distribution, considering the fact that I'm used to working with far more powerful grills. Steaks especially require high temperatures to be seared effectively. At first glance, the 8,500 BTU-per-hour of heat may seem inadequate, but Weber has squeezed every ounce of heating power from this grill. The end result is that the Q100 is surprisingly hot and very effective at grilling/searing almost any meat. The heat conductive cast iron grate definitely helps in this respect.

Preheating the grill can take some time, but that is to be expected with a smaller model. The good thing is that the heat distribution is very even, and the cooking area is large enough to feed 4-5 people comfortably.

Another downside with a low power grill such as the Weber Q100 is that indirect cooking isn't possible. Nevertheless, this grill works great if you want something for portable use, or if you are entirely new to grilling. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of its much larger cousins - the Q300 and Q320 - but for a beginner, it is a great starter grill.

To recap:

Pros:
- Small size, light weight
- Powerful enough to sear steak easily
- Adequately large grilling area
- Cast iron body, strong frame; overall sturdy construction
- Great Weber customer service
- Great for beginners
- Low price
- Effortlessly easy assembly

Cons:
- Preheating can take a while
- Susceptible to strong winds, which can reduce cooking time
- Holes in the burner tend to get clogged up

Overall, the Weber Q100 is an ideal grill for an outdoor family vacation, or for beginners who are new to grilling. It is small in size and light in weight, yet doesn't compromise on the performance.

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