Two months ago I bought a portable grill. It looks like a suitcase made of sheet steel when folded and doesn’t take a lot of space. However, it cost me only € 14 (or circa $16) and I bought it in a Kaufland supermarket. So, what’s the catch?
The Countryside brand grill isn’t a very complex structure. The whole set contains a case with built-in handles and supports, a two-part basket-like fire pit, and a grate. After assembly, the grill looks like in the photo below.
I used this grill mainly during my scout trip to Austria. It was a lot easier to find a spot where we could use our grill than to light a campfire, so it was our go-to option when it came to cooking on fire. We didn’t use it as our main food preparation method as our group consisted of 6 people, but we used it regularly to make hot additions to our meals.
It turned out that the grill is quite robust – I dropped it accidentally a few times and transported it in my car for a while. It endured all of it and didn’t bend or break in any spot.
The pros and cons of this particular grill
As I mentioned earlier, this grill was really cheap and doesn’t take much space when folded. It also endures transport and use quite well. The fire pit can hold a generous amount of fuel and the vent holes allow it to burn evenly.
I can say many good things about it, but I also have to mention its downsides. The grate itself is quite narrow. You’ll be able to cook for one or two people using this grill, but it can get frustrating when the grate gets overcrowded – there is no barrier to prevent the food from falling out. Additionally, there’s no way to feed the fire with fuel while cooking — the grate leaves no space to add charcoal or wood. However, when using good quality charcoal that makes lots of hot embers, this shouldn’t be a problem. The last downside of this particular grill is its instability. The foldable supports built in the case bottom work only on flat and firm surfaces, like asphalt or brick. They don’t work so well on unhardened ground or when the ground gets uneven. I have to find a way to modify those supports in order to mitigate this problem.
Conclusion
Pros:
+ cheap
+ takes little space when folded
+ easy to unfold
+ has plenty of space for fuel
+ robust
+ easy to transport and carry
Cons:
– supports are not stable enough
– grate is narrow
– no way of adding fuel while cooking
This grill was a purchase I won’t regret. It can be used as a main food heating station to cook for 1 or 2 people or as a side heat source for a larger group. It’s easy to transport, but its portability comes with a cost — it doesn’t have all the traits of larger grills. If you’re looking for a grill to take on a long trip or to travel with in your car, this is a great choice. If you’re looking for something to cook on for your family in your backyard I suggest considering something bigger and built specifically for stationary use.
