Weber Lumin Electric Grill Black (92010901)

Product Information

The Lumin can reach temperatures of over 600°F, so you don’t have to worry about being able to get a great sear on steaks, burgers, and more. Plus, the smoke infusion function allows you to add wood chips and add a layer of smoky flavor to the food you’re cooking.

It also heats up fast and can be plopped safely on to any outdoor table (the heating element is slightly elevated, so even if you don’t get the dedicated grill stand, you shouldn’t do damage to whatever the grill is sitting on). Especially for an electric, the Lumin is a good grill. It requires fewer compromises than lots of other plug-in models. What can you do with the Weber Lumin? Since the juices from the wings dripped onto the red hot element below, vaporising in the process and creating flavoursome smoke, I honestly couldn’t have told you whether they were grilled on charcoal or gas, let alone electric. They had genuine barbecue flavour – and without the extra faff that charcoal and gas brings to the table. Like with other grills, you'll want to pay attention to the maximum temperature of your electric grill. A higher temperature will get you results that are closer to the food you'd grill over a live fire, like a nice seared steak or charred vegetables. Outdoor electric grills will give you the highest temperatures and the best performance, reaching temperatures between 600 and 700 degrees Fahrenheit. Indoor electric grills, meanwhile, usually max out between 450 and 550 degrees. Indoor vs Outdoor Use When it comes to other styles of BBQs I must say I am a complete electric BBQ convert. Compared to cooking on a gas or charcoal BBQ it was easy to do, and I didn't have to worry about controlling any flames. It made barbecuing feel much more accessible for every meal, and less like a massive mission in planning since you could cook from frozen. However, if you are after that authentic BBQ taste that the more traditional Weber BBQs provide then the Lumin isn't for you.Both of these electric grills provide roughly the same meal estate. The Weber’s split cast-iron grill grate measures 43cm x 28cm while the Ninja’s is 37cm x 28cm, give or take a millimetre or two. However, the biggest difference between the two – and this does have a bearing on how well each model performs when doing standard grilling – is that the Weber’s two-part grate is slated which means the juices from meats drip through to the hot element below, instantly vaporising and flavouring the meat in the process. By contrast, the Ninja’s grill grate is a solid griddle-like structure with raised grill-marking lines. This means the fats channel towards a drip tray and not onto the heating element below. So, is an electric barbecue as good as a charcoal or gas barbecue? Well, I got to try it out for myself as Weber kindly invited me to their launch event of the Weber Lumin. Despite the rain – which as any Brit knows is perfect UK barbecue weather – the Weber Lumin performed well, proving that it can be used in any conditions. When it comes to versatility and features the Ninja Woodfire wins hands down. Both models use a Calrod heating element beneath the grill grate but the Lumin’s temperature control is much easier to understand. Although each temperature setting is labelled Warming, Medium, Smoke, Steam and High, this is just a more user-friendly way of labelling the individual temperatures that are best suited to the task in hand. And speaking of tasks, this little thriller griller can sear, smoke, steam or boil with the capacity to keep food warm, too.

The Lumin standard and compact models are both more expensive that similar table top electric grill alternatives on the market. But it really is appearance that make the Lumin stand out against other electric BBQs. It’s important to note that you want to leave the lid closed as much as possible when using this function and that the temperature gauge may not be 100% accurate due to the presence of steam in the chamber. Otherwise, the inside can be cleaned easily, and the heating element can even be removed to allow the bowl liner to be cleaned. Performance All in all, I’d say all three tests were a resounding success and I might even consider switching over to electric when I’m not using my trusty pellet grill. Weber Lumin Compact: price & availability Another perk of the Weber Lumin is the fact that it is an electric grill. It’s a great option for people in condos or apartments that may not be allowed to operate a charcoal or propane grill in their living space. Additionally, the Lumin Stand allows you to convert the grill from a portable, table-top unit into a more full-sized, freestanding grill that doesn’t take up much space.Additionally, the heating element is removable but you do need a screwdriver to remove the screws that secure it into place. Being able to remove the heating element is a great feature when it comes to cleaning because you can ensure that you get down into every nook and cranny of the cooking chamber. The Lumin Stand By contrast, the Ninja Woodfire has loads of height under its seemingly east Asian-inspired industrial-style hood. To me, the Woodfire isn’t quite as appealing a looker as the Lumin Compact but then again the Woodfire looks more functional which, it turns out, it actually is. While the cooking area is smaller than a full-sized grill, it’s definitely big enough to feed a family. Plus, the ability to smoke, steam, and grill all in one gives you a lot of options when you’re cooking.

It has rather more basic controls than its competition, but even cooking and a great set of accessories in the box make it a success. Design and features At its highest temperature, this heating element glows red hot and draws 2.2kW of power which is about the same as an average kettle. Despite the high power consumption, electric barbecues are generally considered the cheapest style of barbecue to run in the long term, and the best part is that they never run out of fuel so you can go on grilling till the cows come home.At this juncture I should add that there are actually two Weber Lumin models available – a larger 66cm wide model with 1,562 square centimetres of cooking space and the smaller Lumin Compact model I'm reviewing here. But, the proof is in the pudding: how did everything taste? The steak and skewers tasted delicious and had a real smoky flavour, due to the Weber Lumin’s smoking system. I was also very impressed with the gyozas as they were perfectly steamed yet still had an undertone of smokiness too. The burgers were defrosted in 15 minutes, and I was able to move them straight onto the grill that was still in place. I then used the steamer set up to defrost the burger buns whilst the burgers cooked. In 30 minutes I had perfectly cooked burgers in a fluffy and slightly warmed bun. The only downside was that the steamer set-up halved the size of the cooking space so this would only be an option when cooking for three people max.