Weber Q 220 Portable Propane Gas Barbecues customer reviews:
Another wonderful BBQ from Weber I bought this portable gas bbq because of the Weber name - I have owned several full-size Weber products over the years and have always been very happy with their design and performance. This Q220 is made in the same tradition. The grate is almost the same size as the Genesis model. The folding shelves is a great idea because it really reduces the amount of space I need to store the Q220. The push button igniter works every time. The only shortcoming is that the wire support for the propane cylinder does not support the 16oz cylinder and I have not found the 14oz in any of my local stores including Home Depot and Lowes. Weber Q 220 Gas Grill I purchased a Weber Q 220 Gas Grill several months ago and it was thoroughly tested before I wrote this review. The grill was primarily used on my balcony and also during a windy camping trip with 15 or 16 hungry guests.
MY FINDINGS:
- This grill is large enough to cook regularly or frequently for a family of 3 or 4 people.
- The cooking grate is heavy cast iron (feels like 20 pounds) and porcelain-coated. They retain heat and sear meat beautifully.
- For 15-16 camping guests, food had to be rotated on the grill but it still does the job. We had about 7 burgers and a few smokies cooking simultaneously. Everyone loved their food. It's not often I have to cook for 10+ people so this grill suits us perfectly.
- Flare-ups are infrequent and easy to control. Food cooks very evenly.
- The grill is easy to clean, easy to operate, and visually appealing.
- No flame-outs in 20 knot winds.
- The plastic side tables feel somewhat flimsy. They "sag" a bit under the weight of 1 or 2 plates. If you placed anything spherical/cylindrical on the tables, they will roll off. It would be nice if the tables stay fully erect but they still do the job, there's no problem holding a flat tray of 4-6 chicken breasts per table. During camping trips we parked the grill next to a table so we have more room to set food on for 15-16 guests.
- With portable propane tanks, the heat hardly exceeds 450F. With a large propane tank + hose adapter, I could reach or exceed 500F with ease.
- The temperature gauge is handy, which is why I shelled out a bit more money for a Q 220 instead of a Q 200. However, if you pick up a Q 200 or lesser, you could buy a temp probe/gauge ($10?) from a local BBQ aisle and drill a hole into your Q lid. One of the amazon.com reviewers did just that to his Q 100.
TIPS:
- Before cooking with a Weber Q Grill the first time, CLEAN the grate with mild dishwashing liquid (non citric based) to remove the protective oil coating. Otherwise your food will taste funny during the first few grillings because of the oil. This is mentioned in Weber's FAQ page, although often overlooked by us.
- If using a large propane tank with a tank adapter hose, open the propane tank valve SLOWLY. Opening the valve too quickly may cause the Weber Q regulator to place more restriction on propane flow, thus limiting heat. Weber is aware of this issue. This doesn't inconvenience me.
- As other reviewers have already noted, this grill DOES NOT ACCEPT the common green "Coleman" or similar portable propane tanks. I made the mistake of trying it and it simply won't fit. The grill only accepts the skinny blue 14.1oz propane tanks that are commonly used by plumbers and mechanics. Finding these is relatively easy at local hardware stores. You could however modify your Weber Q Grill to accept the green propane tanks if you really have to; simply remove the metal ring that holds the tank - you'll need to find another way to support the green tank.
- One 14.1oz blue propane tank (e.g. $4.99) lasts approximately 1 hour to 1 1/2 hour with medium to high heat grilling (around 400 degrees F) in a Q 220 series grill. If you will grill both lunch and dinner with 10+ guests, plan on one or two propane tanks a DAY. The tanks may last a bit longer in the smaller Q 100 series grill because of lower BTU and smaller cooking volume.
- Based on Weber's recommendations (as stated in the manual), scrape the grate with a brass bristle brush BEFORE cooking and AFTER you have pre-heated the grill to high heat (450-500F, 10-15 minutes). Do not brush after cooking. You should factor in the pre-heat time when determining how long your portable propane tank will last. For example if you're going to do the actual cooking for 20 minutes, add 15-20 minutes of pre-heating and brushing time. That's almost 50% of your propane tank's life in just one cooking session. I took 6 propane tanks to my 4 day camping trip and emptied 5. This is just for typical food for an average of 6-8 guests: chicken, burgers, smokies, potatoes, misc. vegetables, etc.
- If you plan on using the grill to cook at home at least occasionally, a large propane tank with a tank adapter hose is HIGHLY recommended. It's much less expensive and much more convenient than replacing the blue portable propane tanks.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
- A rolling collapsable cart for camping trips. In pictures it appears pretty flimsy but it actually holds up well. While brushing my grate, the grill does shake a bit on the cart. Simply hold the grill with your other hand while brushing and it's stable.
- A large propane tank with a tank adapter hose if you're cooking at home. The adapter hose can be found for less money at Walmart or a local store.
- A Vinyl grill cover or some sort to keep dust and debris away.
This grill + cart fit in the trunk of my 2006 Volkswagen Jetta. It took up a fair bit of trunk space, but fits no problem. I'm very happy with the purchase, I couldn't have asked for more.
QUESTIONS:
Please leave a comment if you have specific questions. Don't waste your money! This is an adorable grill, but it just won't start! Every time we've turned it on to actually use it to cook, it won't start! Even with a match! And, once we tried it just for the heck of it, it worked! GO figure! Called Webber as we've heard about problems with the regulator. Well, they are happy to replace it, but that piece is out of stock and back ordered for a few weeks! (just an indication that we are not the only ones with the problem!) We have turned the valve on very slowly like they've suggested, and that doesn't even work. Then you have to wait 5 minutes before you can try it again! This is our first Webber grill, and it will be our last! It's a piece of junk! GREAT PRODUCT, however I did have problem with the "regulator" This is a great BBQ grill!! We live in a condo with an average size balcony and since there is just two of us, this grill is just perfect size!! My initial purchase was a disappointment :( The grill would not start. I took it back to the store where it was purchased and it was cheerfully replaced. Please do not let this deter you from buying this great product. I did not have the problems others had regarding the 16.4 ounce green portable propane tank. It fit perfectly and worked like a charm (The original unit did not accomodate the 16.4 ounce tank, the replacement unit did... same exact model *puzzled, defective unit?*)!! I also purchased the stationary cart (highly recommended although a tad pricey) and it came with the hose to attach to the 20# tank.
The only problem so far: There is a common problem with the "regulator". Also, there was a problem with the threads where the portable propane tank attaches to the unit. This is where some had problems with the 16.4 ounce tank which did not fit. I have a new one now and it works great (it starts quickly and easily accomodates the aforementioned tank)!!! Weber has great technical support as well. Weber is a great company but not perfect. I recommend purchasing this grill at a retail store and let them test the unit before walking out the door. You will be glad you did!
BTW, I did purchase the BBQ utensils, stationary cart (come with adaptor for 20# tank), and the cover.
Great grill for camping and for home Weber 566002 Q 220 Gas Grill Big and heavy for a portable grill, but it really helps hold in the heat and is probably one of the main reasons this grill cooks so good. It's tough to slow-cook with a gas grill, but the integral thermometer is a real help and we regularly cook pork ribs, using a rib rack. The Q 220 provides a lot more clearance than other grills we looked at, which is a real plus when grilling taller foods.
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