Who a Collapsible Charcoal Grill Suits (and Who It Doesn't)
An honest look at who gets the most from a flat pack charcoal grill: campers, tailgaters, small-space cooks, hunters and more.
A collapsible charcoal grill is a specific tool. It's ideal for some cooks and the wrong choice for others.
Good fit
| Who | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Car campers and overlanders | Packs flat with the gear; burns charcoal or wood |
| Tailgaters | Flat pack in the trunk, sets up quickly |
| Apartment and small-home cooks | Stores on a shelf or behind a door (check your building's grill rules) |
| Hunters and anglers | Goes in the truck, UTV or camp box |
| Paddlers | The Compact packs about 1" thick for a kayak or canoe (cook on shore, never on the boat) |
| Anyone who likes cooking over real fire | Charcoal and wood, direct heat, griddle option |
Probably not the right fit
- You want long, lidded low-and-slow cooks every weekend.
- You want push-button heat with no fire to manage.
- You can't commit to oiling carbon steel and storing it dry.
Picking a size
The Slot Grill makers say the Compact is sized for one to three people, while the Full Size suits a family or group and bigger cuts. See sizing for your group and Compact vs Full Size.
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.