Compact vs Full Size Slot Grill: Which Collapsible Grill Fits You?
A side-by-side comparison of the Slot Grill Compact and Full Size: steel, weight, cooking area, air gap, packed size and price, from SlotGrill.com.
Both Slot Grills share the same tab-and-slot design. Slot Grill describes the Compact as the same design at 80% scale. The differences come down to size, steel thickness and weight. All figures below are from SlotGrill.com.
| Compact | Full Size | |
|---|---|---|
| Steel | 12-gauge carbon steel | 10-gauge carbon steel |
| Footprint | 17.5" × 10.25" (179 sq in) | 21.75" × 12.75" (277 sq in) |
| Cooking area | 16.25" × 9" (146 sq in) | 20.5" × 11.25" (231 sq in) |
| Height | 10.5" | 13" |
| Air gap | 2⅞" | 3⅝" |
| Packed thickness | About 1" | About 1.25" |
| Weight (grill only) | About 14 lb | About 27.6 lb |
| With 1 / 2 griddles | 16.2 / 18.4 lb | 31.8 / 36.4 lb |
| Setup | Tab and slot, no tools, about 30–60 seconds | Same |
| Fuel | Charcoal or cooking wood | Same |
| Price (grill only) | $89.97 | $149.97 |
Choose the Compact if
- You cook for one to three people.
- You carry it any distance, or pack a trunk, kayak or camp box.
- You want the lightest heavy-duty option.
Choose the Full Size if
- You cook for a family or a group.
- You want room for cast iron and bigger cuts.
- You travel by truck, UTV, RV or boat, where the weight is no problem.
Griddle either way
Both take one or two griddle plates. Grill-plus-griddle bundles are listed on each product page.
The two Slot Grills at a glance
| Compact | Full Size | |
|---|---|---|
| Steel | 12-gauge carbon steel | 10-gauge carbon steel |
| Cooking area | 16.25" × 9" | 20.5" × 11.25" |
| Weight, grill only | About 14 lb | About 27.6 lb |
| Packs to | About 1" | About 1.25" |
| Air gap | 2⅞" | 3⅝" |
Figures from SlotGrill.com. For the full breakdown, see Compact vs Full Size.
Fire safety on any collapsible grill
- Outdoors only. Burning charcoal makes carbon monoxide, which you can't see or smell. Never use it in a garage, tent, camper, vehicle, boat cabin or under a roof or awning.
- Non-combustible, level ground. Soil, gravel, sand, concrete, pavers or a fire-safe pad.
- Clearance. Away from walls, vehicles, tents, overhanging branches and dry grass. Kids and pets kept back.
- Seated tabs. Check every tab is fully in its slot before you add fuel.
- Water and gloves at hand. Hot steel looks exactly like cold steel.
- Leave it alone until cold. Don't move or take apart a lit or warm grill.
The one-minute care habit
Most carbon steel problems come from skipping the last minute of a cook. After the grill cools, scrape the grates, empty the ash, and wipe a whisper-thin coat of oil or Seasoning Balm on the cooking surfaces. Store it dry. That habit is the difference between a grill that darkens into a slick patina and one that shows orange freckles every spring. If freckles do show up, it's not a disaster: see surface rust.
Questions people ask
Which Slot Grill is lighter?
The Compact, at about 14 lb versus about 27.6 lb for the Full Size (grill only).