For those of you who are still interested in this wonder of a portable grill, look into the Napoleon TravelQ. It’s essentially the same grill, as far as I can tell.
If you want a truly portable that can pack up and go in seconds, this might be a great option for you.
With enough space to cook for a couple or a young family, the O-Grill is lightweight and easy to use. Not to mention how well it cooks!
You can also look for the Napoleon Travel Q, which is the same grill under a different brand name.
This is a perfect solution for anyone who wants the convenience of a hot grill in a get-up-and-go package.
About the O-Grill 3000
If you purchased an O-Grill previous to 2012, please visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to find out how to identify if yours has been recalled, and how to have it replaced.
Do NOT buy a used O-Grill!
The O-Grill currently sold through reputable retailers has had its design flaw corrected and is considered safe.
Now that that’s out of the way…
Features
The O-Grill 3000 is easily one of the most portable gas grill I’ve seen to date.
It’s really light compared to grills of the same size, and you can’t beat that it can easily be carried with one hand thanks to the well thought out design.
Storing it is just as easy. The legs fold in underneath it, and it has a second set of feet that allows it to stand.
It’s small enough that it will fit in the trunk of any car with plenty of room to spare. RV’s with smaller exterior storage won’t have a problem, either. And for those living in apartments, this grill can easily tuck away in a larger cabinet or closet.
The O-Grill 3000 also cooks very well for a portable grill. With a 9,450 BTU circular burner and a large cast iron grate, it is hot enough that it will cook most BBQ fare with little trouble. And with 225 square inches of cooking space, it will cook enough for a small family quickly and easily.
Other Noteworthy Features
- Funky clam shell design gets attention
- Small removable storage compartment for carrying utensils
- Uses standard disposable portable propane cylinders
- Removable 1 piece porcelain coated cast iron grill grate
- While most retailers offer in only orange, some offer in a variety of unconventionally bright colors
What’s Included?
The box contains the grill, the grill grate, and the mini-storage container – not to be confused with a carrying case.
Initial Assembly
Absolutely none! It’s ready to go out of the box.
Dimensions and Weight
The O-Grill 3000 weighs 24 lbs and measures 10.6″ x 23.6″ x 25.4″.
Fuel Sources
It’s designed to run off of standard 14.1 oz or 16.4 oz disposable propane bottles, but with the addition of a 4′ hose – sold separately, it can run off of larger refillable propane tanks.
It is suggested that you can cook for 4 hours on a 16 oz bottle, which is really quite economical.
Warranty
There is a 1 year warranty against defects and workmanship. Keep your receipt!
Available Accessories
There are a few accessories available for the O-Grill. There is a carrying case, a 4′ fuel hose for use with refillable LP tanks, and my favorite – the folding table designed specifically for use with the grill.
Keep your eye out for them when shopping around – not all retailers carry them.
Specifications Overview
In-Depth Review:
How Portable Is It?
This is the grill that will go nearly everywhere you can. Perfect for small spaces, RV’s, trunks of small cars, will even fit in cabinets at home. It’s light enough that carrying it around with one hand for a fairly short time is doable for most people, so think about taking it to some serene spots where a bit of a trek is needed.
Once you carry it out to a table or level surface, simply set it down in its upright position, fold the legs out and tip it over. Remove the storage container at the back, unlock and lift the lid, and presto! You’re set up and ready to light!
Once cleaned, packing it back up is just as easy.
Cooking Capabilities
Over the course of the last year, I’ve used this grill mainly to grill meat and poultry, but I’ve also done sliced veggies in tin foil, corn and potatoes, all with no problem.
I like to let it warm up with the lid down for at least 5 minutes before putting anything on the grill, especially anything that I want to sear and burn in those lovely grill marks. The reason is that the cast iron grate is thick enough that it does need a few minutes to get up to temperature.
I will warn that you should not expect this or any other portable grill to work like a big, expensive full size grill, because you won’t find one. However, the O-Grill is very capable of doing a good job, especially when you consider how easy it is to pack around.
Also keep in mind that there isn’t a bunch of clearance under the lid, so whole chickens may need to have their backbone removed and laid out in order to cook properly, depending on the size.
Cleanup
As I mentioned earlier, this O-Grill (or Travel Q) cleans up very easily. The interior requires very little elbow grease with a soft cloth and soapy water, but if you like your grill really easy to clean, simply line the bottom with tin foil. Just make sure to leave access to the drip pan for the grease to drain and avoid big flare-ups.
The grill grate is relatively easy to clean as well, mostly because it is porcelain coated. If it’s placed in a sink or pan of water with dish detergent when it’s still a touch warm and let it soak for 10 minutes. Very little scrubbing is needed if pre-soaked, but even if it’s left to cool completely, not much extra work is needed.
The grease pan, which attaches to the bottom, is easily removed and emptied and requires very little washing.
It is a good idea to inspect the burner regularly and scrub out any clogged holes with a wire brush, but that too is quite easy.
Quality
The O-Grill is a very solid little unit. Its body is made out of a reasonably thick metal that won’t easily dent. The paint can change color after repeated use, but I haven’t experienced that yet – even after quite a bit of use.
Everything else feels very stable, too. The hinges and folding stand don’t feel at all cheap or thrown together.
The only issue that some may have is with the little storage container. The plastic material that it’s made of is not rated for any real heat, and if it’s left in its slot in the back of the unit, it will melt very easily. Just don’t forget to take it out, and you won’t have any problems!
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Hot, 9,450 BTU output
- Very reliable and good quality construction
- Extremely portable because of its design and weight
- Stores well as a camping stove
- Funky looking clam shell design available in several colors
- Large, 225 square inches of grilling space on a thick cast iron grill
Cons
- Requires a table, stand can be purchased separately
- Depending on the meal, may not have enough room to cook for 4 people
- Painted exterior may flake or turn color from heat
Ratings and Recommendations
Consumer Satisfaction
Generally, people who have purchased the O-Grill 3000 seem to be a very happy bunch. Frequent mentions of how easy it is to clean, how easy it is to haul around and store and of course, how well it cooks, all appear no matter where you look.
The majority of customers give this grill top marks. Very few people rated this grill poorly – or even average. Of the two unsatisfied reviews I have found, I would guess the users probably didn’t let the cast iron grill heat up before attempting to cook with it.
Our Recommendation
Based on my own personal experience as well as the number of O-Grill 3000 owners reporting above satisfactory results, I wholeheartedly recommend this grill.
Those that might not be thrilled with it will be those that are expecting a portable grill to not be a portable grill. It won’t cook for 20 people. It won’t cook 30 different styles. I wouldn’t even recommend it to boil water.
For those of us who want something that will travel easily, take up little room, and do a good job of cooking what it can, this is the grill for us.
Note: While searching for retailers to list on this site, I noticed a number of listings cite this grill as having a 10,500 BTU output. I have contacted the companies that sell this grill under their own brand, and have confirmed that the 10,500 BTU listing is incorrect. The proper BTU listing should be 9,450.
Just Portable Grills Rating
| Portability |  |
| Cooking Ability |  |
| Cleaning | |
| Quality | |
| Customer Rating |  |
| Overall Rating | |
I would give this grill a full 5 stars, but I feel it does fall short – though only slightly – when it comes to cooking. That’s only because there are other grills that are more versatile in this area. Otherwise, I haven’t reviewed a grill that deserves this high of an overall rating.
Alternatives
Since the O-Grill is really in a class all by itself, I really don’t have any alternate suggestions.
If you think the O-Grill isn’t right for you, you can always see all the portable grills I have reviewed by visiting this page.
Prices and Where To Buy
It’s becoming more difficult to find a steady supply of the O-Grill 3000, especially at a decent price. When I first did this review, it was widely available, but for the last few years, it has become virtually impossible to find under its original name.
As of early 2020, it is still available as a Napoleon Travel Q (TQ2225PO) in North America, and the Eurocarry O-Grill 3000 in the EU and UK.
Click the logo to see current price and availability
Commissions may be earned from this link.
is there any way to convert the O-grill 3000 to use a natural gas hookup at the house?
Thanks!
Hi Dixie,
While I do consider myself very knowledgeable on the topic of portable grills, I must admit that I am not qualified to answer your question. I have no experience with Natural Gas hookups other than I am thinking about having one installed on my next house, but even then, I’m not sure I would recommend a portable grill for that. There is a version of the Weber Q 3200 that comes NG-ready. You can see it here at Amazon.
Looks like the O-Grill may have been discontinued due to a recall – risks of gas leak and fire: https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2012/01/o-grill-portable-grills-recalled-for-risks-of-gas-leak-and-fire/index.htm
Hi Christopher,
The O-Grill continued on for some time after that recall. I had a section dedicated to the recall but it looks like it was lost in our most recent site upgrade. Thanks for pointing it out – I’ll dig it up and put it back where it belongs.
Josh