Customer Reviews

Portable Kitchen PK 99740 Cast Aluminum Grill and Smoker

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Portable Kitchen is simply the best and most versatile charcoal grill ever built. It is a great smoker; it is great for steaks, chops, burgers, dogs, etc. You can cook anything on it you can cook in the kitchen. It will even bake breads and pizza. I inherited mine from my dad, who bought it when I was in my teens (I am now in my 50's). I have burned up the grill and the charcoal grate, but the PK is still in use and doing well. It is at least 40 years old and going strong. I was not able to find replacements for the grill and grate so I repaired mine using expanded metal from the hardware store. For a while the PK was not available. It is grand to see that it is back in production and readily available. The grill and grate are also available for those of you who have burned up yours.

I bought this unit over three months ago and have used it exclusively since. I am not kidding, I have cooked on nothing else but the PK - it is that good. The menu has included whole chickens, chicken breasts, chicken thighs, beef roasts, pork roasts, planked salmon, steaks, chops, brats, dogs, ribs and burgers. Everything has been perfect. Nothing else cooks like it. The genius of its design is that when it is closed (as is intended) the PK cannot support a flame. While the internal temperature remains hot enough to sear anything, meat will not burn from flare-ups. And, while the unit is closed, smoke - produced from the meat itself, wood chips or chunks, and/or your choice of charcoal - bathes your dish with wonderful aroma that you and your guests will truly enjoy.

The PK is virtually indestructible, sized right, and unique. It is pricey for those who expect to get a charcoal grill for nothing, especially in the age of shiney stainless gas units, but you won't find another cooker that cooks as well as the Portable Kitchen.

I used this grill for the first time a couple of weeks ago at my girlfriends cottage. I was amazed. It was better than any charcoal grill I have ever used. It cooks very evenly and has superb temperature control. The one I used was over 40 years old!!! So you know this thing will last a long time. I just got one as a gift and I know it will be a great grill for the next few decades.

My dad had one of these for as long as I can remember. I inherited it upon his passing, and it finally burned through on the bottom, after a decade of use in my family. I was heartbroken. I looked for a replacement for years, and have had to settle for the extremely thin junk that was on the market. Imagine my pleasure and surprise when I found this exact replacement. It did not take long for me to decide that this kitchen belonged at my house.

From the durability of the origional unit, and the quality of the food it prepares, I am sure that this will be the last cooker I will ever need to buy.

I bought the original in 1963 or 4. It lasted about 40 years. I now have one that I got in 1999 when they came back into production. It is the best way I know to cook a whole chicken to perfection without ever looking in. Keep the skin on for a moist & tender perfect chicken. Just set a whole chicken in a Pyrex or ceramic pie pan on one end of the grill with about 24 charcoal briquets in a pile at the opposite end. When the charcoal is starting to glow, close the lid. Totally open the vents over and under the charcoal and keep the vents closed over and under the chicken. It will be done in two hours. Or, for three hours open the vents over the charcoal only half open, but the bottom vents can be fully open on the charcoal end.

After removing the chicken, close all vents and any remaining charcoal will be available to cook your next meal. Remove the skin, carve the meat, spoon some of the juices over it & season with your favorite seasoning salt, just before serving. Optionally, remove the breast skin for the last 15 minutes of cooking and baste with barbeque sauce every five minutes. Close the lid while cooking. Either way, our guests have gone home and ordered themselves this grill.

If I owned the company, I would offer a deluxe life-time model with a nicely designed & more substantial stand with a larger & nicer ceramic tile or granite slab work table attached. I would paint the stand all black. As is, the grill is much better quality than the stand that comes with it. Portable Kitchen PK 99740 Cast Aluminum Cooker

Used the original whigh I bought new about 1958 until the grate burned out and I found the manufacturer was no longer going. Delighted to fine it is again being manufactured - have used in the interval several different grills and have no doubt this is the best, most versatile, over a period of time most economical grill on the market.

I purchased this cast aluminum grill 32 years ago, a bit smaller than my new one but the best grill I have ever had. The new portable kitchen a bit larger but high end quality. I love it.

This is the best grill I have ever used for cooking steaks over direct heat. I also have a Weber Smokey Mountain Smoker (indirect heat) I use for ribs and BBQ. My PK is 6 years old and still going strong.

PK charcoal grill

We purchased our grill as a young married couple in the fifties and I still use it frequently. I actually have a pork shoulder on the grill as we speak, for football company. The plastic wheels are gone but everyone raves over the flavor and tenderness of the meat. I am now in my seventies and the body of the grill is as good as ever.

I inherited the original from my grandfather and it is STILL going strong. It holds heat beautifully for slow smoking - just put the fire & wood chips at one end of the grill & the food (over a disposable pan) on the opposite end. It's easy to roll from place to place (great if it starts raining & you have to move to the garage to finish!). This grill is the envy of my friends & family - I never thought to see this level of quality reproduced.