Sizing a Collapsible Grill for Your Group
How much cooking area you need for one, two, four or a crowd, and how to cook in batches on a smaller grill.
Cooking area is the number that decides how many people you can feed at once. Here's how the two Slot Grills compare:
| Compact | Full Size | |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking area | 16.25" × 9" (146 sq in) | 20.5" × 11.25" (231 sq in) |
| Slot Grill says | Sized for one to three people | Room for big cuts, cast iron and a full family cook |
Rules of thumb
- Leave a cool zone: count only about two-thirds of the grill for direct cooking.
- Burgers: roughly 4 to 6 standard patties fit on the Compact at once; more on the Full Size. Exact count depends on patty size and how much cool zone you keep.
- Groups bigger than the grill: cook in waves and hold finished food on the cool side or in a covered pan.
Cooking for a crowd
Prep everything before lighting, cook in order (vegetables, then meat), and keep a second chimney going for fresh coals. Or bring both sizes.
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.