It’s that time of year again. The sun’s coming out, your grass is green, so what better way to spend your day than having a BBQ with friends and family.
The Outback Meteor 4 Burner Barbecue includes a broad range of features that make it one of the best grills you can get. Keep reading to find out if it’s worth the cost…
What I’ll Cover in this Review…
- The key features of this gas BBQ
- The grill and griddle feature
- How this BBQ uses “lava rocks”
- The advantages and disadvantages
- Why a copper grill mat might help you
But first, let’s take a look at the highlights:
Premium Quality
- Porcelain-enameled hinged cooking hood
- Cast iron burners
Easy to Use
- Turn on the heat by pressing a button
- Connecting a gas bottle takes less than a minute
Trusted
- Made by Outback, a brand recognised worldwide
- Four main burners, plus an extra side one
High Performance
- Backed by a 10-year guarantee
- Uses lava rocks, perfect for extra smoky flavour
Now let’s take a more in-depth look
Porcelain Coated BBQ Hood
The Outback Meteor features a porcelain coated hood, which has a built-in thermometer. You can verify your cooking temperature without having to open the lid and it has both C. and F. readings.
Close the lid, and your BBQ turns into an oven. Perfect for roasting chicken.
High Quality Knob Control
Each of the five knobs is chunky and easy to operate. To light your barbeque, you just need to push and hold the knob and then push the red igniter button.
It features a piezo ignition system that lets you forget about matches and lighters.
This is the main advantage of a gas grill. You have total control of the heat, unlike a charcoal heat where you need to wait until it reaches the proper temperature.
Having several burners makes cooking even easier. You can create different temperature “zones” and move your food around as it cooks.
Top Tip: Sear your steak on the hottest side, and then move it over to a warm zone to slowly finish cooking. This produces and excellently finished steak without the blood running out of it on your plate.
A Grill and a Griddle
One great feature is that your cooking surface is split into two. Not only do you have a grill, but also a griddle.
Both of them are removable, so cleaning them is a breeze.
Take them out, give them a wash, and slide them back in. Simple and clean isn’t it?
Cooking with Lava
Well, not exactly lava, but lava rocks. The theory behind using lava rocks in grills is that when you heat up the food the fat will drip off it, hit the hot lava rock, and evaporate.
All that fantastic traditional BBQ smell will go straight back into the food, so you get a real authentic taste while cooking on a gas BBQ.
Useful Warming Rack
The Outback Meteor 4 includes a warming rack, which swings above the grill. This lets you keep your food warm without burning it.
It is also great for bringing out the creaminess in potatoes. Just wrap them in foil and put them on the warming rack. Depending on the potatoes size, it should take about 45 minutes to get it perfectly cooked.
This rack is removable, which is pretty handy. Once you’re done cooking, take it to the kitchen and give it a good wash.
Versatile Side Burner
As soon as you lift its flap you will see an extra side burner. This is perfect for cooking any extras like chillis or sauces.
It is also controlled individually by its own control knob.
If you are not going to use that burner, just keep the lid down and you can use it as an extra table!
Advantages
- The red coating makes your BBQ look amazing
- Large gas knobs and easy to ignite burners
- Convenient side table. The side burner can also be used as a table when the lid is closed
- Storage drawer keeps your tongs and turner ready for your next BBQ
- Built to last. Backed by a 10-year guarantee
Disadvantages
- Lava rocks are a bit big; it can take some time to get a proper heating level
Alternatives to the Outdoor Meteor
I’ve also reviewed the cosmogrill gas BBQ, which is another excellent option for those wanting a gas bbq. Check out that review, before you decide which one to buy.
To be honest, both are very good choices so which one you decide to get will be down to the price and features you want the most.
Before we continue with this review…
I wanted to make a quick detour to talk about a new product that has recently come to my attention for all you BBQ lovers out there. The grill mat. Let’s take a look in more detail…
Why buy a Grill Mat?
Copper grill mats help you to cook your food perfectly, even creating grill marks in your food to make it look authentic. They also help minimise mess and reduce cooking time.
Manufacturers claim that the grill mat will help to prevent vegetables from falling through the grates, fish from sticking and marinaded meat from dripping off into the flames which ultimately causes a large flare-up of flames.
In grill cooking time, grill mats “state of the art construction” help you to deliver even heating. Also, with its chef-grade nonstick coating, we’re told you won’t have to worry about cheese from your burgers and grill taking an eternity to clean up.
It can also increase heat up to 600 degrees! Now that will definitely help cook a few things…
Grill mats are becoming more and more popular when BBQ cooking because they offer a simple and effective way to ensure even heating, and therefore cooking, with the added benefit of a cleaner BBQ grill.
They’re not too expensive either, from just a few pounds per sheet. You can easily dispose of them after every use.
Sound like something you’d try out this summer on the BBQ? You can find many proper reviews online, such as this copper grill mat review I was reading the other day.
Now let’s get back to business and talk about the Outback BBQ.
Convenient Storage
With the Outback Meteor, you have a straightforward storage system.
Simply pull the handle forward and you can store all your condiments and utensils in a handy sliding drawer.
Perfect for having everything ready for your next garden party BBQ this summer.
Meals on Wheels
Moving your BBQ to the perfect spot on your garden or patio could be a two-man job since it weighs over 55kgs. That’s why having a pair of large wheels on the Outback is a welcomed feature.
Just lift it up on one side and move it around.
Snap It On
Every Meteor BBQ includes a propane regulator and a gas hose.
All you need to do is put it in the open position, press it onto your gas bottle, snap it into place, and you’re done. Ready to go and cook up a feast.
Buy the Outback Meteor BBQ for the Best Price Online
Verdict
- Price
- Ease of Use
- Quality
- Performance
- Economy
- 10 year guarantee
- Uses lava rocks for extra smoky flavour
- High quality ignition and burner system
- Easy to move and good internal storage
- Heavy (55kg), but can be moved on wheels
An eye catching, mouth watering gas BBQ to get you cooking in your garden this summer
Approx. price: £299