Char Broil Patio Bistro Electric Grill Review

Quick Overview

Are you an avid griller? Do you love grilling but hate using charcoal or propane?

If so, then you’re like countless others who have decided to consider an electric grill.

In some cases, you may not be allowed to have a gas or charcoal grill because of your landlord’s rules or that of your HOA.

When that happens, an electric grill is ideal.

With it, you still get the classic grill markings and do so without heating up your entire home.

In our Char Broil Patio Bistro Electric Grill review, we talk extensively about the product’s features.

We also talk about who needs such a grill and how to use it correctly.

Char Broil Patio Bistro Electric Grill Review

The Char-Broil brand has been around since 1948. In fact, it is currently one of America’s favorite brands for grills.

What’s great about this brand is that people find new ways to “rediscover” the company because it is always changing and evolving to incorporate new technology and become more innovative.

Since the brand is so popular, its products are found in retail stores throughout the nation and some other countries.

Of course, it is also possible to buy the products online from the website or third-party e-commerce sites, giving you many ways to get such an amazing grill for your home.

Who Is This Product For?

If you have a large family and you all like to eat grilled food, this is the product for you.

It works well for people who dislike dealing with charcoal and gas because it runs on electricity.

Plus, it may be the only option available for those who live in a condo or apartment where a traditional grill is forbidden.

It’s also an excellent product for people who are focused on healthier eating habits.

With this model, the fat is drained away from the meat, similar to a traditional grill.

The fat is then pooled in a drip tray so that it is easy to clean later.

This allows you to enjoy the food you create without having to eat all the grease.

While it is ideal for large groups, it is also possible to cook smaller meals.

If you live alone or it’s just the two of you, you’re going to enjoy the spacing and ability to cook everything at once.

What’s Included?

Overview of the Features

One of the best things about this grill is the TRU-Infrared cooking system, which helps you cook food evenly without many flare-ups.

As such, you get juicier foods whenever you cook on this grill.

Of course, you also get 240 square inches of cooking space, making this unit ideal for large families or events.

The cooking surface is coated in porcelain, and the grates are cast iron, which guarantees that it is sturdy, strong, and designed to last.

The impressive thing is the storage on this model; it comes with folding side shelves, one on each side.

These shelves are highly durable, so you have room to prep or store food.

Plus, they can fold down when you don’t need them, such as during storage periods.

There’s also a rack toward the bottom of the grill where you can put condiments and other items when needed.

There is also an 80-inch warming rack included, which allows for more cooking space.

You may want that when you need indirect heat, such when toasting bread or keeping sides warm while preparing the rest of the meal.

You’re going to find a temperature gauge mounted onto the lid, too, and this helps you see how hot the grill is inside, allowing you to change the temperature control when needed.

Simple controls make it easy for novice grillers to use the product.

The knob controller is on the front of the grill and features an oven-style knob.

It also includes a light ring around the bezel, which illuminates when the surface is hot and ready to cook.

With the removable grease tray, you can easily catch all the fat and oil from the meat you’re cooking.

How to Use It

Once you’ve received the product and install it, you can start grilling with it.

Make sure it is set up outside, though, away from the side of the home.

It’s often best to let the grill run on the highest setting for at least 20 minutes before actually using the product to remove manufacturing oils.

Plug the grill into the outlet, and let it preheat on high for up to 20 minutes.

It is possible to use an extension cord when necessary; just make sure that you do so safely.

Also, ensure that the lid stays closed so that the grill gets up to the desired temperature quickly.

Once the controller light goes off, the ideal temperature is reached for that setting.

Still, the light is going to cycle on and off while it’s in use.

When you’ve got the grill hot, open the lid and put the food on the cooking grate, arranging it as necessary.

You may need to adjust the temperature setting at this time.

Check the temperature gauge on top of the lid to see the cooking temperature inside.

Close the lid once more, and allow the food to cook to your preferred doneness.

How to Shut off and Clean the Grill

When the food is ready, open the lid and transfer the food to a plate or platter.

Turn your controller knob counterclockwise back to the OFF position.

Then, unplug the cord from your outlet and then take the controller off of the grill, storing it inside.

Allow the product to cool off. In general, you can do this while you are eating.

After that, make sure that you clean the grill so that it is ready to be stored.

The controller case can be wiped down using hot soapy water or a damp cloth, and you don’t have to clean the heating element and should not do so.

However, the element bracket can be cleaned with hot soapy water and a damp cloth.

You should scrub the bottom of the grill with mild detergent and a brass bristle or plastic brush.

The cooking grates can be cleaned with a mixture of baking soda and water or warm, soapy water.

Consider using a non-abrasive cleaner on the body and lid.

Alternatives

An added bonus of this grill is that it can be used indoors.

All in all, you get 200 square inches of space in a unique rectangular design.

It also runs on electricity, so you don’t have to worry about charcoal or gas.

You get a removable temperature control, which is adjustable; that way, you can choose from five different heat settings to cook your food to perfection.

Of course, the nonstick coating is an excellent addition to the grill; you can easily clean it, food doesn’t stick to it, and it’s designed to last for many years.

This also means no extra butter or oil is needed for cooking.

If that weren’t enough, you don’t have to worry about grease spatters or flare-ups because the grill is sloped to help remove fat.

It’s a patented feature for all George Foreman grills and allows you to remove about 42 percent of fat from your meat.

Amazingly, the stand is removable, so you can cook right on the outside table or move it indoors and cook on your kitchen countertop.

This is a plus because many people prefer to grill when the weather isn’t cooperative.

With this grill, you can still do that without having to buy other equipment or appliances.

The patented drip tray is also exciting because it captures all of the grease from the food.

Plus, it is dishwasher-safe, so clean up is much easier and faster.

It looks almost like a skier going downhill, but don’t let the uniqueness of the product keep you away.

This portable electric grill has a grilling area of 145 square inches, and it also features a telescoping stand.

This means that the legs are wider apart than the base so that it is sturdier and safer to use in high-traffic areas.

It’s designed to plug into a standard electric outlet, and it sits on the stand, so you can easily remove it and pack away the stand when you don’t need it.

One unique fact is that this product doesn’t require any assembly; you just pop open the stand, set the grill on top, and start cooking.

The one caveat here is that it doesn’t stand very tall, so those who are taller may find that they need to stoop a bit to use this grill.

Still, the grill does most of the work for you, so it’s not like you have to slave away over a hot cook surface.

In fact, you should let the product preheat, put the food on, and close the lid.

While you may need to check for doneness periodically, the lid should stay down to keep the temperature at its desired setting.

Conclusion

This Char Broil Patio Bistro Electric Grill review talked about the product in detail.

You learned about the many features it comes with and how to use it appropriately.

With that, we think that this grill is going to make an excellent addition to your home, but the alternatives we looked at are great options, too.

The only thing left to do now is decide for yourself which grill is ideal for your home’s patio or backyard.