For its first foray into the electric BBQ world, Weber has decided to use a portable format. A grab-and-go device, the Weber Lumin can be set up and cooked on in minutes, and stored away when not in use. 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.

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. 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. 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. Preheat the grill on the high heat setting for about 10 minutes, then reduce the temperature to the steam setting and add your food. After you’ve done some cooking on the grill, it’s important to look inside the cooking chamber for grease and leftover food. If too much accumulates inside the cooking chamber you will run the risk of a grease fire, so it’s important to keep it clean.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. Read on for all the details about Weber’s Lumin range, plus all you need to know about which electric barbecue is right for you. 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

Weber has launched its new Lumin electric range, which is its most energy-efficient barbecue**. Using as little as 43p for an hour of use (15 minutes of pre-heating, plus 45 minutes of grilling)*, the Lumin range is a great way to make the most of the summer and eat delicious food without too many extra costs. 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. The true advantage of electric cooking is that it offers fast warm-up times and is responsive to changes. These two combinations make the Weber Lumin exceptionally easy to cook on, and far less hassle than gas or coals. In fact, I BBQ a lot more with an electric model than I do otherwise, as it’s just so much easier to get going. 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.

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?

If you’re looking for something to take on the road camping, hiking, or traveling then the Weber Lumin is a fantastic choice. It will give you a lot of the versatility of a full-sized grill in a compact and portable design that can go virtually anywhere. 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. 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 Through the grill is the exposed heating element. This arrangement means that heat goes straight up into the food, but it’s possible to lose smaller bits of food between the gaps. To that end, both the Smart-E and Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker OG701UK are slightly easier to cook on, as their cooking surfaces don’t have gaps in them. As if grilling and smoking weren’t enough, the Weber Lumin also has a really cool steaming feature that will allow you to steam delicate foods such as vegetables and seafood.I've probably already made it pretty clear that I am a serious fan of the Lumin Electric Barbecue. If you have a small outdoor space and are looking for a BBQ that is as easy to use as your oven then it is worth the investment. It has been made for even the smallest outdoor spaces with the Lumin compact option. 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.

My first impression of the Weber Lumin was how easy it is to set-up. It was ready to go in minutes and it reached incredibly high temperatures. As someone new to barbecuing, I found it very easy to use and was amazed by the amount of things it could do, from steaming gyozas to perfectly searing steak, shrimp and pork and pineapple skewers. Overall, I can definitely see the Weber Lumin being a firm favourite for many people, due to its ease of use, authentic barbecue flavours and compact size. New barbecues and experienced grillers can both benefit from using the Weber Lumin and it’s well worth considering if you have a small outdoor space. However, if you are after a BBQ for entertaining at parties and you need space for cooking multiple things at once the Lumin is very limiting in terms of capacity. While it comes with plenty of clever features to switch up the cooking style these can only be used one at a time so you are committed to it until the BBQ cools down. 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.My next experiment involved smoking a salmon fillet so I followed the instructions and replaced the left-hand grill top with the smoking tray and filled it with wood chips. Why Weber suggest the left side and not the right I don't know – I mean it’s not as if the left side of the heating element is a different temperature to the right. But anyway, Weber recommend starting on full heat for about 5 minutes to get the chips smoking and then reducing the temperature by turning the dial to the smoke icon. I’ve got to say, the results were really impressive – the fish was perfectly cooked and it definitely had a light texture and very pleasant smokey flavour. I think that having a steam function on this grill is a huge selling point. Not many grills are equipped to steam food and there are some foods that just taste better when they’ve been steamed. It’s a great option for vegetables, seafood, shellfish, and other delicate foods that just don’t need to be exposed to the high heat grilling function. Cleaning the Weber Lumin The setup for the steaming feature is similar to the setup for the smoking feature. You can preheat the grill and have it ready to steam food in about 10 minutes.