Grilling season is in full swing and that means spending more time outside in front of your trusty grill.
For some of you, grilling has been a task delegated to neighborhood friends, but it is not as intimidating as you might think. The best place to start is the most obvious piece of equipment: a grill.
For newcomers and up and coming pit masters alike, the Char-Griller 1515 Patio Pro Charcoal Grill is a valuable tool to have in your arsenal.
Impress your neighbors and keep the summer grilling traditions in full swing with your new patio charcoal grill.
Key Features of the Char-Griller 1515 Patio Pro Charcoal Grill
The exterior is made from durable steel and is powder coated to make it even more durable. The cast iron grill is an enviable cooking surface and will provide a beautiful sear to accompany the smoky flavor the charcoal will bring.
Due to its small size, less charcoal is required therefore reducing the time its takes to get the fire going. You can use either coals or pellets. The ash that is produced can be then be removed from the ash pan that is included.
The Char-Griller 1515 Patio Pro Charcoal Grill includes an ash pan that is easy to remove. Simply pull out the ash pan and dump out the ash. Unlike other grills, you don’t have to fumble with the greasy grills to remove the debris that has collected inside. That being said, this grill does not include trap to collect grease that falls through the cooking surface.
A convenient feature of this grill is that it comes with a side tray that attaches to the grill. Having this attached to the grill itself reduces the hassle of having to juggle your food before it is cooked, your grilling tools, as well as your food that may be already coming off of the grill.
This grill is essentially portable. It includes two wheels that should be attached during assembly. Combine the mobility with the fact that it weighs only fifty pounds and is under four feet tall, moving this grill around the backyard should not be difficult.
Pros
- Compact – Great for small patios and outdoor spaces
- Easy to Move
- Easy to Maintain
Cons
- No Built-In Thermometer
- May be Too Small If Cooking for Large Gathering
Char-Griller 1515 Patio Pro Charcoal Grill Detailed Review
Design and Build Quality
Some customers who have purchased this grill have had a love-hate relationship with its make.
The steel exterior makes it durable against the elements, but many consumers have complained about the paint peeling on the outside. This is increasingly frequent in locations where the summers are incredibly hot and humid.
Some consumers say that you can get away with a quick re-paint once every few years. Additionally, some have claimed that when you wash the cast iron grills with soapy water, they tend to rust.
Of course, with time and exposure, some deterioration will occur, but perhaps more frequently than expected.
Some have also complained about poorly designed seams that allow grease to drip through the bottom of the grill and onto the ground.
Coming in at around fifty pounds, the Char-Griller 1515 Patio Pro Charcoal grill is good for small spaces and can be easily loaded into the back of a truck for outdoor grilling events like a tailgate.
Keep in mind that this grill does not come with a cover, so when grilling season is over be sure to store it in a dry place like a shed or garage to keep it protected from the elements.
Other features of the grill are the removable ash tray, cast iron grate, sturdy side shelf and bottom wire storage rack.
Ease of Assembly
This grill does not make assembly easy. In fact, the difficult assembly is the most common complaint among those who have purchased this grill.
For some, the parts were not the proper size and did not fit properly. This included holes used to connect the pieces as well as the included nuts and bolts.
The instructions may or may not be in English, but they do include pictures to provide a visual of what the assembly should look like at a given point.
Ease of Use
While it may be difficult to assemble, once assembled this grill is simple to use. Either coals or pellets can be used to fuel it. This grill is a good way to slowly introduce yourself to grilling with a charcoal fire. The ash produced by the fire is easy to remove with the ash pan than can be pulled out.
Something to consider is the tendency for the smoke to escape the grill. Due to the way it is designed, the lid may not trap heat and smoke as well as you may like. This can be an issue when it comes to cooking your food because with variable temperature comes uneven cooking. This can then lead to undercooked food which should be avoided for health reasons.
Additionally, this grill does not have a thermometer attached to it which will make determining the temperature you’re cooking at more difficult. A thermometer can be attached, but we recommend having a good digital thermometer on hand for precise results. Overall, this grill cooks food well and the cast iron grills provide a good cooking surface.
Ease of Cleanup
Cleanup for this grill is both good and bad.
With regard to removing ash accumulated by the charcoal fires, the easy to remove ash pan collects the ash and it can be promptly removed. Simply remove the pan after each use and discard the ash, and then replace the pan.
This grill does not include a trap or pan to collect fallen grease and other debris. Some consumers who have purchased this grill have complained about grease accumulating in both the left and right sides, and dripping onto the floor through the seams or down the legs.
Larger and more expensive grills typically have a feature to avoid messy grease.
Price
For a small grill that has pleased more people than it has displeased, the value for money seems to be there.
With consideration to ill fitting parts found upon assembly, it might even be worth it to find replacement parts for a low price than to toss the entire grill.
Something to keep in mind is that because this grill is on the inexpensive end of the spectrum, it may not be as high quality or perform as well as more upper-tiered grills.
The issues that some have complained about– peeling paint, cheap wheels, and grease drippings– may be avoided by purchasing a higher quality charcoal grill.
How Does it Compare?
Let’s take a look at some of the Char-Griller 1515 Patio Pro Charcoal Grill’s competition:
Weber Original Kettle 22-Inch Charcoal Grill
For those looking for no-frills quality charcoal grill, the Weber Original Kettle might be right for you.
Check out our review here.
Char-Broil Tru-Infrared Kettleman Charcoal Grill
Designed to compete with Weber, the Char-Broil Tru-Infrared Kettleman offers a lot of features for a very good price.
Check out our review here.
Weber Performer Deluxe Charcoal Grill
For those with a bigger budget, the Weber Performer Deluxe offers a built-in table, propane ignition system and ash bin.
Check out our review here.
