Char-Broil Grill2Go X200 Review

The Char-Broil Grill2Go x200 is perfect for those seeking infrared performance that will fire up immediately, reach high temperatures almost instantly, and sear your red meat in a flash. The handles and latches on the lid, along with the rectangular cooking surface, make it easy to carry from one location to another, while the metal scraper that comes with the grill makes for easy cleanup. Though this is not the grill for those who want to cook veggies, tofu, and chicken low and slow, it's perfect for those who want to cook red meat to perfection. Even on the lowest setting, it is just too hot for many grillables.

Performance Comparison

Output Power

There are no two ways about it: the Char-Broil Grill2Go x200 runs piping hot. We often didn't need to turn it past the halfway mark or even the lowest setting on the control knob. In fact, we found that there is often too much power in this grill. The lowest setting isn't low enough for the sophisticated grilling of poultry, vegan options like tofu, and most of the vegetables we threw onto the cooking surface. That being said, the super-high heat is great for searing red meat. For simple things like burgers and dogs, the output performance of this grill is top-notch.

“Infrared” is a buzzword in grills these days. “Infrared” grills are known to smoke more than others. The theory is that infrared cooking vaporizes the juices before they get below the heat source, smoking and steaming more. Char-Broil pitches the Grill2Go as an infrared grill. And while it does function more like an infrared grill rather than a traditional grill, the burner itself isn't actually anything different. What sets the Grill2Go apart is the super high heat available as well as the shape of the grill grate. The end result, as noted above, is excellent cooking when it comes to searing at high heat.

Control

Control is a function of a thermometer, range of adjustment, and overall evenness of grill temperature. In terms of the range of adjustment, the Char-Broil Grill2Go has a relatively narrow and hot range. For red meats and simple burger-and-dog-type grilling, this is fine. Poultry and most vegetables do better with a lower temperature profile than the Char-Broil can supply. In terms of control and temperature range, we are happy with the lid. Some other “Infrared” grills can only be used without a lid, so the Char-Broil offers greater range and versatility.

Grill surface temperature evenness is quite easy to assess but harder to interpret for its value. If you are cooking large amounts of single food, an even grill top is desirable. If you are cooking a whole meal, including multiple kinds of meats and vegetables, variability across the grill top is better to accommodate the different cooking needs each item may have. We can't say which is going to be better for you or even which is better in general, as the standards are likely to vary with each meal. In our “bread toasting” test, the grill surface of the Char-Broil Grill2Go shows average heat distribution overall. In our experience, the cooking surface is fairly even, with just one obvious hotter spot.

“Infrared” cooking is purported to keep foods juicer during cooking, and the Grill2Go certainly corroborates this theory, especially for burgers, where you'd like to sear the outside while keeping the inside nice and juicy. On the flip side, we found that for other types of foods, especially those that like to be cooked at lower temperatures, the outside of items can get quite unappealingly charred before the inside has enough time to cook. A red meat steak, though, can be cooked just right on the Grill2Go.

The Grill2Go X200 has a reliable and clear thermometer in the lid. It is one of the least expensive test products that includes this feature. Thermometers are handy, but they aren't foolproof. How one home chef grills at 400 degrees Fahrenheit could be entirely different than how another cooks at 400. Because of inherent issues in measuring grill temperature, we recommend that any of the lid-grill thermometers be used only to compare settings and cooking performance in one grill. It doesn't work to compare the lid temperature of one grill to that of another.

Portability

Portability is almost equally a function of size, weight, carry options, quietness, and cleanliness. The Char-Broil weighs 22 pounds. Its longest dimension is almost 2 feet, and its height and width are comparable to grills of a similar cooking surface area. It carries quietly, and the lid latches securely. A major perk of this grill, especially as compared to any of the other award winners, is that you can store fuel inside the grill box during transit. You cannot fit a single 1-pound fuel canister in any of our other award winners, but you can fit three inside the latched lid of this grill.

The main drawback in portability is that its legs don't fold away. Its “deployed” size is exactly the same size as its portable size. Removing the regulator for transport is a little problematic, and, similar to virtually all the others, the grease trap can fall out in transit. Overall, the compact size, beefy handles, and functional latches make this grill one of the more functional options for those who want to grill on the go.

Cooking Area

The Grill2Go has 187 measured square inches of cooking area. Every one of those square inches gets hot enough to cook nearly every food item, some better than others.

The size of the Grill2Go is about average. Most importantly, its portability is right in line with its grill surface area. Downsize the portability and, for the most part, downsize the cooking surface. The cooking surface is just enough to provide burgers and veggies for a small group to eat at once and definitely enough for two people to feast.

Wind Resistance

The heavy aluminum lid, the really hot burner, and the piezo igniter buried inside the grill box work together to make the Char-Broil Grill2Go fairly wind-resistant. We never had it blow out. The flame is so darn hot that anything lost to convective cooling can be replaced by turning up the knob a little further.

It was pretty much only in windy conditions, with the grill at its lowest setting, that we could cook a thick chicken breast “low and slow.” You need the wind to strip away some excess heat. At high setting, with the lid closed, we could still sear a steak quite readily in our fan test.

Should You Buy the Char-Broil Grill2Go x200?

The Char-Broil Grill2Go x200 is a fair value for those after high heat to sear a variety of red meats. It is average in size and portability and well below average in cost. If your cooking preferences lean towards hot and fast, as with red meat and simpler grillables, the cooking performance of the Char-Broil is at the top of the charts. Our main issue with it is the inability to cook low and slow, whether that is poultry, ribs, or most vegetables. The Grill2Go is a robust choice and is suited to high heat and lightning-fast cooking.

What Other Portable Grills Should You Consider?

The Char-Broil Grill2Go x200 provides a robust and sturdy construction, the portability is simple and reliable, and the high-heat cooking is top-notch when it comes to searing red meats. This is an affordable product that excels in certain situations and can be pressed into service in the remainder of your grilling. For more temperature control within another infrared option, check out the Solaire Everywhere. Though more expensive and a little less cooking surface, the Everywhere grill offered better performance and versatility when cooking at various different temperature settings. And if you're after a more affordable option that supplies solid performance, check out the Cuisinart Grillster that has a little less cooking surface and overall BTUs but is more affordable and still a great option for searing meats.