Can an electric grill really match up to the flavor and performance of a gas or charcoal grill? This Weber Q2400 review shows that it can come very close, especially for those people who live in “no open flame allowed” environments such as apartments and condos.
Weber has been a household name for decades when it comes to BBQ equipment. The company manufactures ultra high-quality grills and smokers, albeit more expensive ones. The Weber Q-series consists of electric grills designed to be compact and portable while still retaining maximum grilling capacity.
Our BBQ experts tested the Weber Q2400 electric grill and weighed the experience of other users from online forums. At the end of the day, we all agree that this is an electric grill of exceptionally high quality, and maybe even worth the title “best electric grill.”
The Weber Q2400, previously known as the Weber Q240, is the largest electric grill in the Q-series so far. With 280 sq. inches of total cooking area and maximum temperatures of up to 550F, this grill is perfect for searing and slow cooking.
This high cooking temperature is comparable to that of a gas grill, which is possible thanks to a powerful 1560W heating filament and a cast aluminum lid that helps to keep the heat inside. Even when you raise the lid, the heavy porcelain-enameled cast-iron grill helps to retain a lot of heat to maintain a consistent temperature.
Users have reported that after just 20-30 minutes of preheating, the grill easily achieves 540F. This means that it is perfect for searing steaks up to 1 ½” thick as well as pork, fish, chicken, vegetables, sausages, burgers, and more.
Measuring just 14.5” H x 31.5” L x 19.5” D (with the lid closed) and weighing 44 pounds, the Weber Q2400 is also highly portable and works great for camping, patio grilling, and tailgating. It comes with a 6-foot power cable and needs to be connected to a 120V outlet. For safety reasons, the outlet should be on a circuit fitted with a 30mA Residual Current Device (RCD).
With more and more people moving into shared multi-family living areas, gas and charcoal grills are not really a choice due to safety reasons. Electric grills are a good alternative, but some people don’t like them because they lack the same great charbroiled flavor of gas or charcoal grills and can take longer to cook.
Weber took on this challenge and designed the Q2400 (previously the Q240 but with redesigned handles and a better controller) to give it a higher cooking temperature, superb durability, and excellent performance.
Once the grill is hot enough, cooking should take just a few minutes depending on what you are grilling. Small steaks take 5-8 minutes to sear, but you also have the option to slow-cook meats as desired. The grill comes with a removable catch pan for grease to make cleaning easy.
The Weber Q2400 electric grill has a main cooking surface measuring 280 square inches in size with no additional warming rack. This is generous compared to the other compact electric grills out there and can cook meats and vegetables for a family of up to four people.
This grilling surface is enough to fit 6-8 chicken breasts and up to 12 burger patties. If you are just grilling sausages, hot dogs, burgers, or other treats for a party, the cooking surface is enough for 6 or more people at a time.
For family cooking where you may need to grill some vegetables as well, the cooking area is perfect for 3-4 people, giving it an allowance of 70 sq. in per person. This makes the Weber Q2400 especially useful for patio cooking when you want to prepare a delicious barbecue for the whole family.
Other compact grills such as the George Foreman indoor/outdoor electric grill and the Weber Q1400 are comparably smaller, measuring 240 sq. inches and 180 sq. inches respectively. The Q2400 is thus large enough to cook for multiple people while remaining compact enough to be easily portable.
The Weber Q2400 is designed to operate on 120V electric power. It works by heating up an element placed underneath the cast-iron grates. With enough time to preheat, the element produces enough heat to reach temperatures of 550F with the cover closed.
By using clean electrical power, the Weber Q2400 can be used in apartments, condos, and other shared multi-family spaces. While charcoal and gas grills have the potential to produce harmful and irritating by-products, electricity ensures that the only smoke you get will be the delicious aroma of your food.
The filament of an electric grill is not an open flame, which means that the Q2400 is far safer than gas grills. Electricity also offers far more control compared to charcoal, so it is less of a fire hazard. These factors mean the Weber Q2400 is perfect for use in areas where no open flames are allowed.
However, the Weber Q2400 is still an outdoor appliance due to the high heat output and its potential for smoke. It is perfect for use on a patio, apartment balcony, rooftop, or other spaces.
The element in the Weber Q2400 electric grill is rated at 1560W or 5,300 BTUs. Since it operates from a 120V outlet, it draws up to 15 amps of current and would thus cost about 20 cents per hour to operate given average electricity prices across the US. Using an electric grill such as the Weber Q2400 is probably cheaper than running a charcoal or propane grill.
However, this amperage still makes the Weber Q2400 a potentially hazardous appliance. The wall outlet you plug it into needs to have a 20amp breaker to avoid constant tripping. It also needs to be connected to a device known as a Residual Current Device, which is a type of breaker that is designed to react within milliseconds when it detects a short circuit to prevent harm.
In terms of performance, the electrical power produced by the element is more than enough. Even though it is the same element installed in the smaller Q1400 grill, it still manages impressive heating within a reasonable time. This is possible due to the Q2400’s excellent heat retention and control.
When it comes to electrical grills, excellent heat retention and control is imperative. Unlike gas or charcoal grills, the electrical element cycles on and off constantly to maintain the temperature at a specific range.
The Weber Q2400 uses a rheostat (resistor) to help control the heat output of the element. The rheostat increases or decreases the current delivered to the element; less electricity means less power and vice versa, which allows for very fine temperature control.
Unfortunately, the Weber Q2400 currently lacks a digital thermostat. Weber should really know to put one in by now, but many users have gone ahead to install third-party thermostats to allow for better temperature control. This is important when slow-cooking meats such as fish and poultry, where even a 50F degree variation in temperature can make a big difference.
We have already mentioned that the Weber Q2400 reaches impressive temperatures of 550F. That is comparable to the operating temperature of gas grills and most average charcoal grills, which means your meat gets the same delightful charbroiled flavor and beautiful sear marks.
Cast iron is well-known for its excellent heat retention properties, which is why it is used in bbq for grilling and searing. You can also take things a step further and place your meats on a cast iron skillet instead of directly on the grates, which should give you even better results.
Talking about grates, the heavy cast iron grates on the Weber Q2400 are enameled with porcelain to make them easier to clean. Cast iron provides excellent heat retention and transfer properties, while porcelain protects and seals the iron to keep food from sticking to and soiling the grates.
The grates in the Q2400 are particularly well-made and resist chipping over time, which is a common problem for porcelain grates. They are also corrosion and rust-resistant, which makes them safe for long-term use even with minimal maintenance.
For those who have been barbequing for some time, you know that porcelain grates are also very good at slow-cooking. They have better heat control and allow for more uniform and consistent heat transfer than stainless steel or plain cast iron.
Using the Weber Q2400 is very easy and straightforward, just as it is with other electric grills. Starting up is as easy as plugging in the power cord, setting the temperature timer to 20 minutes, and leaving it on the highest setting with the lid closed to preheat.
If your circuit breaker keeps tripping, you can set it at half capacity first (where it draws approximately 7 amps) then crank it up all the way to high after a few minutes. This trick could allow you to use a 15-amp breaker with no problems.
Compared to a charcoal grill that requires a lot of hassle to get started, the Weber Q2400 is as close as you can get to a one-button grill. The removable catch pan also makes it easy to get rid of grease and other food remains.
Traveling with the Weber Q2400 is stress-free, mostly because the compact size of the unit allows it to fit easily in your car, truck, camper, or RV. We highly recommend buying the corresponding Weber #6557 #6525 cart as well. The former is foldable and allows you to easily move the grill to and fro as needed.
The Weber Q2400 comes mostly pre-assembled from the manufacturer, and the remaining assembly work shouldn’t take more than 20 minutes. The only thing you need to do is install the cover, attach the power cord, install the handle, and put in the grates and catch pan.
In case you need any help with the basic setup instructions, Weber has an amazing 3D interactive guide through the BILT mobile app.
The Weber Q2400 electric grill measures 26” H x 31.5” W x 25.1” D with the lid open and 14.5” H x 31.5” W x 19.5” D when the lid is closed. It weighs in at 44 pounds (about 20kg) after assembly.
Weber managed to keep this grill so light thanks to a clever use of materials to maximize form and function. The lid and body are both made of cast aluminum, while the grates are porcelain-enameled cast iron.
Weber gives the same excellent warranty for the Q-1400 and the Q-2400 electric grill series.
If you have had a Weber before, you know that the warranty is not mere talk. The company has one of the best customer service records we know, and they will honor the warranty. We do recommend registering your Weber electric grill upon purchase to access the warranty, but Weber usually honors it even without registration if you can provide proof of purchase.
Just as it is easy to use the Weber Q2400 electric grill, cleaning it is also easy. The main care and maintenance concerns have to do with avoiding electrical mishaps. Here are some pointers as supplied by Weber:
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