can you cook with the lid down and does it have hot spots or cook fairly evenly over the grill?
746847
Yes, you can cook with the lid down, and the changeable plates you cook on, disburse the heat fairly evenly. If there are hot spots, it's very minimal.
746848
Yes, you can cook with the lid down. In fact that holds heat in. The burners are not huge so it is cooler in the edges. I've cooked beautiful tri-tips and have a range of doneness to suit everyone!
1131182
The pan will probably get as hot as you want it. The problem you might have is the side burner will not take a large diameter pan because it will hit the side of the grill hood.
1516452
The ease of cleaning the grill (the part that the food rests on) is possibly the best part about this grill. It's easy and the metal cleans nicely. The shortcomings of the grill are that the drip tray doesn't catch all the drippings so I have resorted to putting a pan under the grill but I still get grease splatter all over the tile floor of my balcony. Also, the temperature controller cycles on and off so cooking time is uneven and unpredictable and it never gets hot enough to sear anything. I'm waiting for it to die and then replace it. I have read some reviews that rate the Weber electric grill highly so hopefully that's a better choice. The ease of cleaning the grill (the part that the food rests on) is possibly the best part about this grill. It's easy and the metal cleans nicely. The shortcomings of the grill are that the drip tray doesn't catch all the drippings so I have resorted to putting a pan under the grill but I still get grease splatter all over the tile floor of my balcony. Also, the temperature controller cycles on and off so cooking time is uneven and unpredictable and it never gets hot enough to sear anything. I'm waiting for it to die and then replace it. I have read some reviews that rate the Weber... » Read More The ease of cleaning the grill (the part that the food rests on) is possibly the best part about this grill. It's easy and the metal cleans nicely. The shortcomings of the grill are that the drip tray doesn't catch all the drippings so I have resorted to putting a pan under the grill but I still get grease splatter all over the tile floor of my balcony. Also, the temperature controller cycles on and off so cooking time is uneven and unpredictable and it never gets hot enough to sear anything. I'm waiting for it to die and then replace it. I have read some reviews that rate the Weber electric grill highly so hopefully that's a better choice. « Show Less
1230953
The following excerpt from the Weber Q-140 Owner's Manual answers the question:"We suggest that you grill with the lid down. Why?Because it reduces the chance of flare-ups, and cooksyour food faster and more evenly."
1057772
You get the grill marks like you do on most grills. I have not noticed the top or bottom being hotter then the other so I would say it cooks well on both sides. Now when you use the word "crust" you must be asking about its ability to sear... that I have not seen this grill do. The only one that I know that does a great job at this is the Breville http://www.amazon.com/Breville-BGR820XL-Smart-Grill/dp/B003SIN0BC/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1401304965&sr=8-10&keywords=breville
1459978
I would not cook over it, it does not have a burner shield like a gas grill does.The tanks cost abt $3.50 and seem to last abt 6 hrs depending on if on high or low. It's more for looks than producing heat. I live in Fl and on a low wind, 60deg night, fun to have on the porch.
202596
The lid is not hinged, unfortunately and you do have to set it down somewhere, it also gets pretty hot
1230955
The following excerpt from the Weber Q-140 Owner's Manual answers the question: "We suggest that you grill with the lid down. Why? Because it reduces the chance of flare-ups, and cooks your food faster and more evenly."
262931
I wing it but love it. Hamburgers cook about 4 minutes per side. If I want to be sure to get grill marks, I preheat the pan in the microwave for a few minutes then don't cook for quite as long. Don't rest the lid the direction the pictures show; it will dribble. Put it the low way instead. When it cools I wipe it out with paper towels before washing it to conserve water in my RV. I can't believe how easily it washes! This has become my favorite cookware.
2091779
The entire grill has a no stick coating that is superb. Only one side can be used, namely he ridged side. The flat side has the non-stick coating; however, you my not use it for cooking because it does not have a lip to hold in food. it's a deal only if you use the one side; A-1 surface. Blessings. Anne
1178168
This grill has a dial from low to high heat, so there is a wide range. However, the low setting is hotter than most larger grills. When I'm roasting whole eggplant for baba ghanoush, for instance, I set it at one third heat. If you want to grill at a very low heat, this might not be the right model for you. I haven't found it too hot for anything we grill.
1497413
Yes....when you have the lid open you can rest a grill over the open half.....have done this....works great
218537
No the way it is designed there is an airspace between the SS exterior wall and the cooking vessel which is heated from the bottom. The lid will get quite hot but the sides are warm that is normal I think.
1786965
It has a narrow "drip tray" that sits kind of towards the back that catches some dripings. It does not sit under 100% of the surface area of the burners, covers about 30% of the underside of the grill.
1452035
Certainly you can grill with the lid closed. It may be the better way to grill some things, especially in windy conditions. Just be aware that this little grill puts out a lot of BTU's so pay attention to what you are cooking.
511637
Absolutely! The griddle does a great job of distributing heat evenly over its surface. It's thick enough so that I have not had any trouble with hot spots.
241864
It is great for cooking with on grill. It retains heat well. Cleaning is an issue tho