We received the promise of a product that would upgrade the camping experience, food preparation and eating in outdoor conditions, in the middle of a hot summer, so we waited for the right temperature, found such a day in the middle of the month of Tishrei and went to a family gathering in the great outdoors with a portable gas grill recently launched by "Carmel Direct".
The PRO 285X portable gas grill belongs to the NAPOLEON brand, one of the leaders in the gas grill category in the world. It is considered a high-quality product that is easy to use. The price sounds a little high to us considering the product's features, but as grilled food enthusiasts, we set out to test it and understand how much (if at all) it is worth the investment.
Napoleon's X285 PRO gas grill looks compact, easy to move and powerful and the purpose of its launch is to provide a hospitality experience at home or in nature and to be a perfect partner for the experience of eating outdoors. The product comes with a cart (on wheels) for easy movement in any terrain conditions.
The grill has two quality stainless steel burners that reach a heat intensity of: 12,000 B.T.U. According to the manufacturer, this product can grill 20 hamburgers together.
The grill has a JETFIRE electronic ignition system, for each burner on a separate side to regulate the grilling temperatures. Removable nets made of high-quality iron casting in a wavy design unique to the NAPOLEON brand. The unique design of the grill grates allows the food to be moved very easily. The grill structure is made of aluminum casting in the classic black color and is suitable for any design of a yard/balcony. You can add a smooth plancha to the grill for grilling small pieces, eggs, vegetables and more.
The grill is equipped with an ergonomic lid handle that allows easy opening and closing. On the sides of the grill there are two spacious handles for comfortable and safe carrying.
Dimensions of the grilling surface: 37X 54 cm.
The Canadian brand NAPOLEON is considered desirable in its field thanks to innovative technologies, quality, production and advanced design. The company leads and promotes the BBQ culture and OUTDOOE culinary in Israel and around the world by creating solutions in the form of advanced gas and charcoal grills and guarantees reliability, long-term use and meticulous service.
The grill that came to us is packaged as purchased in the store, easy to disassemble and assemble. The connection to the gas cylinder is in the lower part of the surface and is very easy to disconnect or connect as needed.
Getting around: We loaded the grill and went out into nature. In order for him to come with us to the meeting place, we took off his legs and easily put him in the back of the vehicle. We took it camping in the woods, and thanks to its wheels, we didn't have to carry it either, it just rolled easily to the destination. At the end of the towing, the cart turns into legs for the grilling surface to stand statically in the place we determined.
Stability: The grill stood on the cart in a stable manner and in a way that felt safe. It is possible to use it on the ground or on a table without the cart, depending on the terrain conditions and personal preference.
Lighting: Compared to a charcoal grill, we are spared the lengthy, smoky and dirty lighting process. We have saved the time of traditional charcoal lighting with all its methods that are passed down through the generations. The ignition is so simple that by "pressing a button" and waiting a few minutes, the surface heats up enough to receive meat, fish or vegetables for grilling.
Home use: another experiment we did was already at home, on the balcony of the apartment, since the product is also suitable for use in a permanent place. Preparation time for vegetables: within minutes after the simple assembly and connecting the gas cylinder, we have already arranged corn cobs, onions, eggplants and tomatoes. A few minutes later, they were ready - there is no doubt that this is an upgrade to the longer preparation times we are used to at a picnic.
Grilling the meat: immediately after the vegetables, the meats were placed. The iron grid was already very hot and the roasting of the meat continued almost as we are used to, maybe a little faster. We turned the meats several times to make sure that the grilling reaches all parts of the cut.
Convenience: for the grill, two service trays on the sides of the grilling surface on the left and right. The trays allow you to cut on them or simply place spices, products before and after grilling and even the bottle of beer for those responsible for the execution. In addition to the trays, there are hooks to place the dishes that every mangalist needs.
At the end of use: a light cleaning of the roasting grid, emptying the oils, releasing the gas cylinder that was then used to prepare the coffee for dessert.
The portable gas grill we tested, as mentioned, a model of the Canadian brand Napoleon, is an excellent solution for lovers of trips and camping. It is easy to move around, relatively light, compact and easy to load as equipment that goes with you into the field. We performed the test in field conditions in order to test its leading features, the first of which is portability, but it should be noted that the product is absolutely suitable for home use on the balcony or in the home yard.
Its mobility outside is not its main use but another added value we found for it. Even with reference to the price, we found that if we are people who like to prepare our food in outdoor conditions and that the frequency of our going camping/picnic/trips is high, then the price of the grill meets in one product everything we will need to take with us (except for a mat and raw materials). Add to that the fact that it does not wait in the warehouse for days of camping, but stands as a design item next to the pots on the balcony and can be used by us at any given moment also as a stationary grill at home - and we got value for money.