Customer Reviews

Solaire Anywhere Portable Infrared Propane Gas Grill, Stainless Steel

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This Solaire grill cooks by an infrared propane burner box. It creates unbeleivably high temperatures which we really appreciate because my family likes its steaks charred on the outside and mediuim rare on the inside. It also only takes 5 minutes to reach high cooking temperatures and the stainless steel cooking grates clean themselves by leaving the grill on for 5 minutes after you are done cooking. It is great for grilling burgers, fish, shrimp etc. It is necessary to monitor your cooking more carefully because it cooks so fast. Excess fat should be trimmed from meats to avoid flare ups. While the temperature of the grill is somewhat adjustable, it is not suitable for foods requiring lower temperatures for a longer period of time such as whole chicken breasts or ribs. We use a large Weber natural gas grill for such foods. We also tried the natural gas conversion kit that is available but I would advise against it because the heat output is significantly reduced using lower energy content natural gas.

We have used this grill on average of at least twice a week for the last three years regardless of season and it has never failed to perform. We rely on it so much that I bought another one we keep stored unused in the house just in case something were to happen to the one we use so heavily. Because we use the grill so much, we operate it with a 20 lb. propane tank using the optional converter hose and fittings. The grill is very efficient with fuel and will also work well with small propane canisters.

The grill has a relatively small cooking area so large quantities of food cannot be cooked at once. It is perfect for two or three steaks or burgers at one time. However, if you need to cook more that that, the grill cooks so fast that two batches can be cooked on the Solaire grill in less time than it would take to cook one batch on a normal propane grill.

In summary, even though this grill is expensive for its size, we believe it is worth every penny in performance, build quality and time savings. I would recommend shopping the Net to see if you can obtain a better price. We bought both grills for less than $300.

This grill is just what you're looking for if you want to sear steaks. It gets remarkably hot which is what I was always trying to get with other grills. I used to have to wait 20 minutes to heat up the large grill to get to the point where this grill is in a few minutes. Of course, with great power comes great responsibility and that means you have to watch your food closer and turn it sooner than you might be used to. However, I have had no problems. I have read about people cooking many things including chicken and pizza on this grill. I'm not there yet, but look forward to pushing the limits of this fine grill. It's very well made and lights instantly. I read that it will stay lit better in wind if it is warmed up first at a lower temperature.

Ten years ago I got a big solaire and it has been great, so much so that when I got a portable I bought the "go anywhere solaire" and it too is a good machine.

HOWEVER,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I had the stainless steel wire mesh and the grilling grids on the original full size grill start to fail and when I tried to make a warranty claim THEY CHANGED THE RULES OF THE GAME IN THE MIDDEL OF THE GAME!

The original Warranty was lifetime on entire grill except 2 years on the ignition (electronic) system. Their customer service department said the "Boss" changed the warranty a while back and the wire mesh was not covered. I had these fail once before and these were replaced free as per the warranty previously, but now it was new rules as per the "King" by decree. But it does not stop there the grilling grates that were replaced under warranty were stamped and not made with the same quality and workmanship as the original.

I don't expect that kind of thing from a company that has been representing itself and it's product as first rate.

Next time I get a new grill I will more than likely go with Lynx, still made with top quality and in America and standing behind their product too.

When I bought the first Solaire, Lynx did not have IR burners but now they do, and to be honest my "Marine Stainless Steel boat grill" made by Magma works great and was less expensive than the anytime solaire.

I as well as most people don't like being lied to and then the silent implied statement if you don't like it sue me.

Once a great grill now going to the cheap quality and unethical lying side of corporate American (made in China) company...................

Buyer be Ware!

I have a Big Green Egg which is without a doubt superb but naturally it takes a while to fire up. So when you only want hot dogs or hamburgers for the kids or a quick couple of steaks, this is the way to go. Ready in 5 minutes, out in a flash, easy to clean. No muss, no fuss.

I have used the Solaire Anywhere infrared grill for about three years. There are some very good things about this grill and some poorly thought out aspects as well. First the good.

1) Time efficiency. The grill heats up nearly all the way in about 50 seconds. It also cooks very quickly. This saves time and you have a feeling of hassle free use. It is one of my favorite things about the grill.

2) Fuel efficiency. It uses very little propane, a 20 lb tank lasts half the summer with frequent grilling.

3) It is VERY high heat. This means it grills thin foods very well. Steaks, burgers, veggies sear nicely.

4) The handles are well designed. They stay cool and if tightened properly, are sturdy.

5) It self-cleans. Not the bottom of course. But the grill does burn itself clean if used as instructed.

The downside:

1) It gets too hot and tends to burn food on the lowest setting. You have to toggle the gas off to lower the heat. Chicken breast needs to be par-boiled to cook well on this grill.

2) It does blow out in the wind due to poor design. IF the vents had a baffle it probably would stay stay lit.

3) The "stainless steel" hood turns brown quickly after six or so uses and no longer looks stainless. Again, a double wall on the sides and hood would help.

4) The grill grate is hard to clean. Grease and food gets stuck at the ends of the "V" groove.

5) It has strong hot spots typical of all cheap grills. Hot in the middle and cold at the edges.

6) The spark ignition breaks easily. See the other reviews. The plastic cap came loose on mine and I get a nice electric shock if I am touching the grill with my other hand when lighting it. Needless to say, It did not take long for me to learn to keep my hands off!

7) The grill grate burned through in the center (at the hot spot) after three years of use. It's not under warranty, but Rasmussen gladly offered me a $60.00 + shipping replacement- which was 40% off. (hmmm) It burned out at the fore mentioned hot spot- in the center. The grate is made of cheap "V" channel metal slats that cannot take the heat over time. It's not thick and it's not chrome.

8) It's too heavy to take anywhere more than 50 yards from your car. Yes, it comes with a little backpack and there is a cute woman toting it with extra cans of propane in the company photo. She is on steroids. If you are camping with Andre the Giant, bring it along and have him shlep it to your remote location.

9) Customer service is friendly- they smile while telling you "no." They do not stand behind the product as one would expect in this price range.

10) The highly concentrated heat creates a strong updraft over the grill which draws burned fats into the air. These settle in your hair. Yes, a bit of smoke is par for the course when grilling, but this little baby creates a fine grease cloud that you smell later on your clothes- not toasty grill smoke, animal fat. It's my least favorite aspect of the grill.

I give it a generous three stars.

I bought one of these for my parents to use when they take their motor home out. They love it, and for good reason: It cooks food fast, keeps meat juicy and tender, and ends up simply cooking tastier food than any other portable grill because you don't burn away all the subtle flavors. Because it cooks so hot, it takes some getting used to at first, but once you get the hang of it, other grills suddenly seem slow and primitive.

I just got this grill, set it up, and broke it in with some quick n easy store bought frozen burgers. First impressions: happy!

Unpacking it was harder than putting it together. The cardboard over pack is premium grade and they have placed folded cardboard crumple corners in the box to protect it. Cardboard layering inside on the top and bottom inside too. The entire grill was wrapped in paper and then encased in saran wrap. This whole thing is then stapled in the over pack box with about 11 more giant staples than they might have needed. I got the impression they were trying to insure it arrived in showroom fresh condition for war torn Marines on the front line of some especially distant war. Seriously. The last TV I bought wasn't packed this good. Needless to say no shipping damage.

After a few quick turns with the screwdriver it was ready to go. I got the tripod stand too. The grill is obviously quality made and it is sturdy and solid. Stand too. It sprang to life when I lit it the first time and got hot as blazes right away. After about 10 minutes to kill any bacteria/germs and burn off any manufacturing oils, I threw on a frozen burger. Almost 2 minutes and 45 seconds later the burger was done. Seared both sides (no excessive char), warm red center, 1-2 flips. Not even kidding. This grill is hot and cooks fast. The first burger wouldn't win any awards, but it was a pretty tasty grill up for a first effort...especially considering starting from frozen! (the same burger would have taken about 8 minutes on my old WeberQ) I made a second burger from frozen on the low setting, flipping about every 45 seconds or so and it took about 5 minutes...seared nicely on outside. Not excessive char. Perfect medium rare, and very moist/juicy inside. Also tasty. I burned it off after to clear off the grates and drippings. It did this very well - white ash in only a few minutes and the honeycomb burner was free of anything.

It is going to take some time to make friends with this grill...it behaves a lot different than a "regular" gas grill. I will have to work up to thick steaks or chops as my confidence grows and I get used to its capabilities. It is a LOT hotter than my WeberQ (which wouldn't get hot enough to burn off the grates to ash if I let it run for 2 hours on high with the lid closed). I can see myself really liking this grill after I make better friends with it.

I was scared to buy this grill because of all the comments about it being so hot, and also not really having experienced IR grilling in general. I am happy I got it, though. It is hot, but it is manageable and does seem to grill well. The IR style does seem to have some advantages (juicy meat!) and I think it is good overall. The following comments might help anyone who was in my boat on IR grilling and the heat in general.

Technique:

Dont be shy. Lid open. Flip often to distribute the heat among the sides. Stand there and monitor. Dont walk away for 7 or 8 minutes or you will return to a carbon ball. Take all your gear to the grill...you will not have a chance to get it while its cooking. I think if you are converting to this IR from charcoal you might be ahead in the learning curve more than converting from traditional gas. The window of meat done-ness seems to be smaller than with traditional gas...especially on high.

Pros:

Well made. Hot, even, fast. Gets plenty hot to ash the grill grate on high even with the lid open after only a few minutes. Flare ups no issue & seemed more prone on low than hi. Drippings vaporize or stay in grill vee and carbonize so it does not seem to get greasy or messy down in the floor pan. The grates are thin and there did not seem to be too much sticking like I am used to with typical gas grills. Not nearly as scary or unmanageable as I first thought. The food was very moist...not dried out or baked...I think the juice may stay in the meat instead of dripping out. Tasty grilling right out of the box for a first time IR user on a new grill = Happy Success!

Cons:

Lots of smoke...unexpected...more like charcoal here. When I got done grilling I smelled like a beefy grilly campfire. The grill got so hot the little puffy plastic ornamental logo they glued to the front burned / fell off. The nameplate on the side also had a little plastic cover on it that got hot and wrinkled up. The tripod stand holds the grill a little high for my taste...nearly chest high for me at 41" (lowest). The IR heat really radiates at that height and hits you in the face pretty square. Not sure about smoking chips or more advanced grilling techniques with this model...I really wanted some side wings to set things down on cause it was like the good scene in a hot action movie with lots of fire and lots of flipping and when its time for a plate you better have one in arms reach. For me, all this only equaled -1 star.

UPDATE 7/28/10:

I registered the grill online and commented that the plastic logo had burned off during the first use...just so they would know it might be a potential issue going forward...anyway, someone responded by e-mail in <24 hrs and apologized and is sending me a replacement one in cast metal! Nice touch, and really nice customer awareness! Kudos Solaire / Rassmussen Gas logs and Grills! I was impressed enough to give them a 5th star.

Had it for about 3 years now. At the time, I was looking for a new grill and wanted something more convenient so I can grill more often. Looked at many different gas grills, but they just didn't get hot enough ... definitely not like charcoal grill. Then, learned about this product and tried it out. It sure does get hot! As another reviewer mentioned, perhaps it doesn't get not hot enough even when you dial it down ... but if that's the case, just put a steel plate between the meat and the grill after searing. (When I used charcoal grill, there weren't that many options of turning down the heat.) This thing really sears. Burgers taste so much better. Bottom line is because this is a gas grill, it is VERY convenient. It's like a charcoal grill that I can turn on and off with a flick of a switch!

We like many of the features of the Solaire Anywhere grill -- the quick heat-up, etc. However, I'd still caution folks from buying one for a very simple issue: Value (as in: It's not a good one.)

The Solaire is the most expensive grill of its type (with replacement parts that are also 3X the typical cost) and while it's "proudly made in the USA" by a "100+ year old company", their 1-year very-limited warranty is of little actual use and the materials and manufacture leaves quite a bit to be desired. Much of the claims about high-quality and provenance seem to be little more than lofty marketing claims by Solaire/Rasmussen... make no mistake, this is not a lifetime purchase and most folks would be better off saving quite a bit of money and selecting a less expensive grill. A good company makes good products backed by a good warranty... Solaire is none if these.

I'm presently in a very unpleasant e-mail exchange with a very ill-suited customer service agent (Rich Robles) with no satisfaction in sight. Again lofty claims that dealing with an American company is a good thing is very much untrue: Solaire's products and service are no better than the competition.

Specifically: We've owned (and babied) a Solaire Anywhere as a patio grill for the past 5-years -- the entire kit (grill + tripod + shipping) clocked in at well over $500. This season, we discovered that the stainless steel grilling grid -- having seen no direct water -- has rusted clear through. The part is not warrantied past one year and the replacement cost is $100. A $500 grill used for five years with infrequent use (20X/year) = $5/use... insanity.

Solaire's excuse for not warrantying the part is that: (Rich Robles) "Being that it is portable grill, it is difficult to offer a lengthy warranty because people take these grills on the road and I am sure your are [sic] well aware of road conditions. Our full size grills offer a limited lifetime warranty on the burners and grates."... The disappointing irony is that the Anywhere and the full-size grils have the same grate: same design, same materials. One is warranted, and one is not. Had the grate on the Anywhere been warrantied and replaced, this one-star review would have been quite a bit higher.

Shoppers: Don't be duped that this is a superior product backed by a trustworthy company -- it's not. Save your money. Keep shopping. Even if a grill 1/3 of the price last 1/2 as long, you're still ahead.

The infrared cooking element really does get insanely hot in about 5 minutes. I've made burgers, filet mignon, ribeye, tuna, corn on it --- everything comes out with a beautiful char that doesn't penetrate very deeply. Food really does retain its moisture better than on a convection grill. If you like foods with a nice sear and rare inside, this is a great grill.

The down side is that it's not as easy to clean as you might hope given the high heat --- food stuck to the grate will burn off, but drippings that fall into the grill itself have to be wiped by hand. (On the other hand, because it's designed to be portable, it's not like they could leave the bottom open for debris to fall out.)

But for the price, it's hard to complain.