If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the winner is, then we recommend the Weber Q2200.
Weber is an iconic gas grill company that many people have grown up with, and finding the right model for yourself can prove to be quite a challenge. I love a good tabletop product because you can just toss them in the trunk and go. In this guide, I am going to be taking a look at two great tabletop propane models to compare them to see which will work best for your needs. In the battle of the Weber Q1200 vs Q2200, which will come out on top?
In this article, we’re going to review the following weber grills:
Things to Consider Before Buying One of These Weber Grills
Weber has been around since the year 1952 as a grill company. It is a well-known producer of high-quality products that will be durable enough to last for years. Durability in a grill is something that you are going to want, especially if you plan on using it for years. This can be ideal if you have a large family or a crowd of people that you will be cooking for from time to time.
The last thing that you want is a flimsy grill that can fall apart on your patio when a strong wind comes through. In fact, I had even used a grill in the past that had shifted when I went to flip the burgers that I had been cooking. So trust me when I say that stability is essential when it comes to purchasing a grill.
In addition to the durability of the grill, they’re going to be additional considerations that you will want to take into account as well, which can include:
- The Size of the Grill: How many people are you going to cook for? If it’s only two to three people, then the grill size does not need to be that large. However, for larger meats to cook thoroughly, a larger cooking surface may be best.
- Portability: When you are looking for a new grill, chances are that you are going to need to move it with ease. If you’re going to take it in your vehicle, something that folds up easily could be worth considering as well. Small, portable grills typically can cook nearly just as much food as a larger model. If you’re cooking for a larger crowd, you may have to cook less at once, but everyone will still be able to eat.
- The BTUs: BTU, which stands for British Thermal Units, is the measurement of the heat that you get when you use a grill. The higher the BTUs are, the more fuel that the grill tends to use to create the heat that the burners need. Most people believe that it is imperative to have at least 80 to 100 BTUs per square inch for a good grill, especially when using a three-burner grill.
- Ease of Assembly: When you purchase a grill, one of the first things that you should consider is how easily you will be able to put it together. When assembling, some grills can take hours to put together. One of the goals of most grilling companies should be to create a grill that most consumers can put together quickly without the assistance of a professional.
Weber Q1200 vs Q2200: Presenting the Weber Grills
Weber Q1200
This is a model that’s designed with portability in mind so that you can grill with ease no matter where you are cooking out. It has cast-iron grates that are great at preventing the food from sticking as it cooks. It also has an easy to start ignition that I found to be great for getting the grill started when you are hungry.
Pros
- It provides a reasonably consistent, even grill.
- This grill is very lightweight, which makes it easy to carry.
- It comes in several different color options.
Cons
- It only works to feed a few people.
- It comes with a one-pound propane tank.
- It’s difficult to thread on the propane tank.
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Weber Q2200
The Q2200 is a newer model that is portable and perfect for a family to travel and eat. It’s designed with a reinforced frame, folding side tables, and cast iron cooking grates. It has a cooking space that is 280 square inches, which will provide about 12,000 BTUs per hour.
Pros
- This is a grill that’s easy to transport.
- The burners are quite efficient.
- This grill is simple to clean.
Cons
- Since there is only one burner, it will not allow for indirect heating.
- The low setting on the grill produces adequate heat.
- It’s only available in a single color option.
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Weber Q1200: Features and Benefits
A Portable Option
Since you are looking for a lightweight grilling option, you will find that the Weber Q1200 is a great option that works. Even though it’s about 31 pounds, it’s slightly heavier than most models that you’ll encounter. With that said, the grill can easily make it to your grilling location.
One of the biggest complaints that I could say about the portability of this grill is that the propane bottle regulator is positioned right under one of the handles. This positioning makes it a little challenging to carry, even when you detach the propane bottle from the grill. In addition, the lid does not latch to the grill in any way, so it will need you to haul it in an upright position, which can be cumbersome.
An Ideal Cooking Area
This is an option that provides quite a bit of space for grilling. The total sizing of the cooking space is 189 square inches. In addition, the cast iron grates are coated with porcelain-enamel that makes it non-stick and easy to clean. In fact, the grill is easy enough to clean with just some soap and water. Too much pressure is not beneficial, and a wire brush is likely to ruin the porcelain-enamel coating. If the grates don’t easily come clean, try soaking the grates and washing them in the dishwasher. This grill can cook enough food to feed three to four people with ease.
The cooking grates are designed to retain the heat as well, which means that you will not need to use as much fuel to cook your food. They are made of cast iron, so these grates work just like a cast iron pan and retain the heat. If you don’t want your steak or burgers to be well done, then make sure to remember this feature as you are cooking. In addition, there is a grease pan under the grill that will help make clean up a breeze.
A Good Amount of Power and Control
This portable Weber has a single stainless steel burner that will provide up to 8,500 BTUs of heat within minutes. In fact, I found that it heats up so quickly that it leaves char marks behind. This is not a typical feature of a gas grill, but once it’s heated up, it can easily be controlled. Even with this quick starting process, the food on the grill will cook evenly every time.
I found that this is a grill that is relatively simple to control as well. It has a push ignition that only requires you to press the button once to get it lit. You can easily use the burner valve to adjust the flame to the level that you need it to be at. There are low, medium, and high settings, but even the lowest setting is still relatively hot. If it’s too hot, open the lid so that it can cool off a bit.
Accessories and Additions
There are a lot of options that you can consider with this grill to make it exactly what you need. It comes in a variety of color options that range from plain color choices like black and red to colors that are a bit more out there for most grills like orange, purple, and fuchsia. In addition to the color option, there is a wide variety of accessories that are available for this grill. I believe that the best one that you can take advantage of is the cart option. Since this grill is a bit on the heavy side, it will make it even more portable for a smaller individual.
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Weber Q2200: Features and Benefits
Exceptional Portability
When it comes to this grill, you are going to find that it’s a little less portable than many small grills of this type, but it’s still easy to carry by stronger individuals to your grilling location. It’s actually a little more than 40 pounds, so it may be difficult to carry for some. It still has the same issue with the location of the propane regulator, which means that its located right under the handle in this model as well. This design can make it more difficult to carry for some, so it may be beneficial to have a cart if you need to move the grill on a regular basis.
Cooking Space for Many
I love how much cooking space this grill provides. It is a single-burner device that has a cooking space of about 280 square inches. This is plenty of space to cook for a family, and it will even provide 12,000 BTUs. With that, the grill will heat up quickly and efficiently.
The grates will heat up quickly and retain the heat once they are hot. They are crafted out of cast iron that has been coated with a porcelain-enamel coating that will help keep the food from sticking to the grill. This means that even without a cooking spray, the food will be easy to remove from the grill. In addition, this is a type of material that is easy to clean, so it will not require much more than soap and water to clean up when you’re done grilling. Avoid using a wire brush though, because it could do damage to the surface of the grates.
Burner Performance
Even though this is a single-burner grill, the heat that it maintains is quite comparable to grills with more burners that you can use. Typically, a grill of this size can have trouble retaining heat, but the grates and the aluminum burner work well together to maintain the heat. In fact, for some foods, the lowest setting for the burner could even produce too much heat, so you will need to watch it carefully so that the food does not burn.
Accessories
I really love the built-in temperature gauge that is on the exterior of the lid. It is easy to read and accurate, which makes it easier to tell exactly when the food that you are grilling will be fully cooked. In addition, the fold-out tables on the side of the grill are quite large. It will provide enough space to set your food before you are ready to place it on the grill, and it even has attachments where you can hang your cooking tools. This is only a viable option when you have a stand that you can use to set the grill on.
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Social Proof
When it comes to the quality of each of these Weber grills, I thought it would be a good idea to scour the net. This gave me an idea of what other folks were saying and determine whether they are good options in general. For both models, most Weber owners agree that these are great when it comes to portability. Most also agree that these perform almost as well as full-sized Weber grills, and they love the extensive warranties. Additionally, Weber’s use of porcelain enameling is also favored by the owners because it provides a good level of even heat. For the Weber Q1200, many really love the color options because it makes it easy to accessorize. With the Weber Q2200, people seem to really love the extra grate space; you can cook a lot with 280 square inches.
Weber Q1200 vs Q2200: Final Thoughts
When it comes to the Weber Q1200 vs Q2200 roundup, the winner is clear. Both are excellent grills that work well as a portable option that you can use to cook for your family. Both offer a great amount of cooking space and BTUs, but the one that stands out more is the Weber Q2200. Simply put, it provides more space and power when you grill. It’s also a compact size that is easy to start, and there are accessories available that you can purchase to make it a grill on wheels that will still fit in your vehicle. All Weber grills also have fantastic warranties that are backed by the company so you can get the grill that you purchase repaired if there is a need. Click here to check the price of Weber Q2200 on Amazon.
You can also read our Weber Q3200 review here.
