Crossray vs. Weber

While searching for an integrated BBQ, you'll probably come across some notable brands like Weber and Crossray on the best-seller list – and no this has nothing to do with another Lee Child book.

Crossray is an award-winning choice for your grilling requirements. This grill provides exceptional quality with features like infrared technology and other unique functions. On the other hand, Weber BBQ also boasts outstanding features and attributes that improve your cooking experience.

This article will compare the main features of the two built-in grills, the Weber Q built-in BBQ and the Crossray 4 burner built-in BBQ, to help you make an educated choice.

Let's dive into the overview, features, functions, and comparison of Weber Q and Crossray built-in grills in detail.

Weber Q Overview

The Weber Q series of barbecues has world acclaim for its versatility. It launched in Australia and later reached New Zealand, leaving a significant mark on outdoor cooking.

Initially introduced in the early 2000s, the company noticed changing trends in outdoor cooking. People wanted smaller grills that fit in snug spaces. They preferred to own something portable for outdoor activities like picnics, camping, and road trips. Considering this niche in the consumer market, the Weber research and development team worked on a compact gas barbecue that could offer excellent cooking performance as long as you don’t barbecue like Chuck Schumer.

The first Weber Q model, launched in 2003, quickly gained popularity. A year later, the company launched the Baby Q, a more compact option, while the Family Q was introduced in 2006, catering to larger households and entertaining. Ultimately, in 2023, the Weber Q introduced the latest evolution, marking 20 years since its original release. As the Weber Q continues to evolve, it remains a symbol of innovation and quality.

Crossray Grills Overview

The Crossray BBQ, created by the Australian brand HEATSTRIP, represents 14 years of innovation in outdoor cooking. Designer Mark Stone and the Porsche Design team established the CROSSRAY as a leader in quality and performance in the BBQ industry.

The most exciting feature is that this unique BBQ can control heat from 110°C to nearly 400°C using 50% less gas. It functions as an oven, pizza oven, slow smoker, conventional grill, and wood-fired stove. With patented infrared burner technology, it stands out as the most efficient BBQ available. The Crossray has won a Good Design Award for its exceptional design and innovation. These grills offer a versatile cooking experience with quick heating, easy cleaning, and multiple cooking methods. They are simple to install, spacious enough for family meals, and provide an efficient grilling solution. In this review, we explore the Crossray built-in BBQ in detail!

Weber Q Built-in

 

Weber Q built-in BBQ is for beginners and chefs who want a simple cooking appliance that requires little maintenance. The best part is the models come in different sizes. They are budget-friendly and offer high-performance features that make cooking easy, fast, and fun.  

The Weber built-in Q combines the features and aesthetic of the Family Q, transforming it into an exceptional outdoor kitchen centerpiece. It’s ideal for preparing delightful family dinners throughout the week.

Your Built-in Weber Q offers accessories to grill, sear, roast, bake, cook slowly, fry, sauté, and smoke. If you need an outdoor kitchen that fits in a smaller area or cook for a small family, the flexibility of the Weber Q built-in could be the perfect choice for you!

Attractive Features

Improved heat regulation with the + burner: This accessible and innovative burner allows you to change the temperature range with a simple twist. This feature is available on most models and boosts the potential for outdoor cooking. You can choose from various options, whether you favor slow-roasting lamb chops or searing steaks.

Lid design enhances capacity: The first factor that will draw your attention is the generous high dome lid design. This quality accommodates a higher quantity of your preferred dishes while promoting excellent heat circulation for optimal cooking performance, especially with the lid closed.

Durability: Featuring divided porcelain-enameled cast iron grills and a tall domed lid, you can prepare your meals according to your preferences.

Effective and uniform heat distribution: This high-efficiency burner design provides even and consistent heat across the entire cooking surface. This feature leads to superior cooking results and optimizes gas usage efficiency.

Convenient front-facing controls and access: All the controls necessary for your next cooking session are conveniently front-facing. The push-button ignition, grease tray, and control dials are readily accessible, allowing for convenient operation and maintenance. In this way, you can manage your Weber Q's kitchen hassle-free.

Smooth integration with Weber Connect: With the Weber Connect Smart Hub, you can remain connected and receive cooking notifications, alerts, and countdowns for perfectly prepared meals. It has specially designed ports and housing areas that seamlessly integrate the Weber Connect Smart Barbecue Hub into the new Weber Q series.

Accurate temperature monitoring: During low and slow cooking, roasting, and baking, the Weber Q has a thermometer conveniently placed in the lid for easy temperature monitoring. The Weber Q range is compatible with the Weber Connect Smart Barbecuing Hub for more precision cooking.

Portability and trolley option:  Weber Q allows transportability to your preferred outdoor location. Even better, The Weber Family Q+ BBQ series has a premium fixed trolley, or you may opt for a separate portable cart. The cart offers effortless grilling on the move. You can place your Q grill on the cart for a stable setup at the ideal grilling height. When it is time to embark on your grilling excursions, fold the cart and transport it to your vehicle or the beach.

Specifications

Fuel type: Weber Q built-in barbecues use natural gas or liquid petroleum, like a refillable cylinder sold separately, depending on availability or preference.

Ample cooking space: The Weber Q built-in series features models in varied dimensions. They are each tailored to meet diverse needs for a small family seeking a backyard grilling experience or a larger outdoor kitchen to entertain guests. Hence, it expands your grilling capabilities beyond the confines of your patio.

Precise Temperature Control with an Infinite Control Burner: The Weber Q features an infinite control burner valve. You can fine-tune the temperature with precision, whether grilling burgers or slow-roasting chicken.

Warranty: The Weber built-in BBQ is backed by a 5-year warranty, covering porcelain-enameled cast iron cooking grills, Lid assembly, stainless steel burner tubes, the Cookbox, and plastic components. In addition, all other parts carry a 2-year warranty. The warranty excludes coverage for ordinary wear and tear and is subject to the specific terms and conditions outlined in the warranty agreement.

Crossray 4 burner built-in BBQ -TCS4FL

The Crossray 4 burner built-in BBQ is an exceptional enhancement for any outdoor kitchen, elevating your grilling experience to new heights. Unlike traditional gas BBQs, which can often leave you longing for the smoky flavor and even cooking of food grilled over hot coals, the Crossray redefines this experience. Its innovative design allows for a cooking method that mimics the effects of charcoal grilling, ensuring that your meals are infused with rich flavors and cooked to perfection. This built-in BBQ provides consistent heat without flare-ups and is a versatile outdoor cooking tool for a master chef or a novice. It's ideal for integrating into your outdoor kitchen design.

Outstanding Features

Infrared burners: The Crossray 4 burner built-in BBQ has ceramic infrared burners. These multiple burners offer a highly versatile cooking experience.

Heat intensity: Engineered to deliver elevated temperatures and intense heat with 13MJ heat intensity, the Crossray 4 burner built-in BBQ is perfect for high-performance grilling.

Durable and user-friendly: The Crossray 4-burner built-in BBQ has 304-grade stainless steel front and rear panels. Based on this, it has robust die-cast aluminum side and end panels. This Crossray 4-burner gas BBQ offers easy-to-use and long-lasting durability.

Uniform cooking with even heat distribution: It ensures consistent heat across its expansive cooking surface, with controllable temperatures ranging from 140°C to over 350°C.

Versatility: The Crossray 4 burner built-in BBQ features electronic ignition and user-friendly knobs. Hence, this BBQ performs an effortless start-up.

Flexibility: The Crossray built-in grill provides limitless culinary opportunities with multiple burners and cooking surfaces. The two-piece upper-level cooking area enhances cooking space by 60%.

Safety elements: The design significantly minimizes flare-ups and adheres to indoor code regulations. With advanced safety mechanisms and intuitive controls, the Crossray 4 burner built-in BBQ ensures a secure and enjoyable cooking experience for beginners and seasoned chefs.

Effortless clean-up: The front drain tray gives the user easy access, making the cleaning and maintenance simple. So, you can focus on enjoying delightful meals with loved ones.

Specifications

Cooking area: The Crossray 4-burner built-in BBQ is a versatile outdoor cooking appliance with an integrated BBQ and plenty of cooking space on two levels. With dimensions of 915mm in width, 505mm in depth, and 560mm in height, it offers a substantial cooking area of 5382cm² to accommodate all your grilling needs.

Fuel type: This BBQ operates on LPG and can be converted to natural gas with an additional accessory, allowing you to elevate your outdoor cooking experience.

 

Warranty:  Crossray products come with a two-year warranty that covers defects in stainless steel, enamel, and coated components. With that said, this warranty does not extend to certain irregularities, including improper assembly, misuse, exposure to excessive heat, natural wear and tear, burn marks, and damage inflicted by third parties. In addition, the warranty won’t cover paint loss or rusting from regular use and inadequate maintenance.

Trolley option Crossray TCS4PL 4-burner trolly BBQ:  Crossray offers the same features in another model with a trolley for added convenience. The Crossray TCS4PL 4-burner trolley BBQ offers elements similar to the built-in model. It has enhanced mobility and additional accessories to improve your culinary experience. Even better, it has the comfort of ample stainless steel side shelves for effortless meal preparation. Its foldable design simplifies transportation and convenient storage space. 

Another feature, an LED timer, ensures you accurately time the cooking duration. Also, it maintains the same dual-zone cooking functionality for versatile meal preparation. This trolley BBQ also comes standard with a grill and a hotplate, providing flexibility in cooking options.

Crossray 4 Burner Built-in Vs. Weber Q Built-in: A Head-to-Head Comparison

Crossray and Weber Q are esteemed options for built-in gas grills, each presenting distinguishable features tailored to diverse requirements. Let us look at a comparison based on essential criteria.

Technology: Crossray is known for its infrared technology, which directly heats food, ensuring uniform cooking and rapid searing. It also provides accurate temperature regulation. Meanwhile, Weber Q operates on +burners that adjust the temperature range with a simple twist. Although practical, it may require more time to reach optimal temperatures and offers less precise temperature management, unlike infrared systems.

Build quality: Crossray has a premium 304-grade stainless steel construction for assured longevity and resistance to corrosion. At the same time, Weber Q has a robust design with porcelain-enameled cast iron grills. The quality may differ among various models.

Features: Crossray includes amenities like a hot plate, 4-infrared burners, and safety features like anti-flare. Correlating with that, Weber Q can differ but typically encompasses essential functions like front-facing controls and Weber Connect.

Price point: Crossray generally commands a higher price point at $1,599 due to its sophisticated technology and superior build quality. On the other hand, Weber Q is more budget-friendly and starts at $1299, making it an attractive option for cost-conscious buyers.

Customer Reviews: These brands enjoy favorable customer feedback. Furthermore, buyers should check specific models and user experiences to understand their performance and overall satisfaction.

Cooking surface area: When planning your built-in BBQ, it's essential to evaluate the dimensions of your outdoor space. The Weber Q built-in series offers various sizes for outdoor spaces, while the Crossray 4-burner BBQ has 4-Crossray Burners that generate 13 MJ of heat. It is also more spacious and provides a two-tier cooking area.

Design: The materials used to design your built-in BBQ, such as stainless steel with Crossray and cast iron for Weber Q, play a crucial role in its overall aesthetic and functionality. The construct can significantly impact the appearance and durability. It’s always an astute idea to choose a product that aligns with your taste and outdoor space. This tip can help establish an inviting space for outdoor culinary activities and hosting guests.

Warranty: When investing in an outdoor kitchen, it's vital to examine the warranty terms offered by each brand. A solid warranty will give you peace and protect your investment against potential defects or issues that may come up. Crossray products have a two-year warranty covering defects in stainless steel, enamel, and coated components. But excludes irregularities such as improper assembly, misuse, heat exposure, natural wear and tear, burn marks, and damage caused by third parties. 

The warranty does not cover paint loss or rusting from regular use and inadequate maintenance. Contrarily, the Weber built-in BBQ has a 5-year warranty on plastic components, cook box, lid assembly, stainless steel burner tubes, porcelain-enameled cast iron cooking grills, and plastic components, with all other parts having a 2-year warranty. Do pay attention to the warranty and what it specifically covers. By thoroughly reviewing the guarantee terms, you can invest wisely in your outdoor kitchen that will stand the test of time.

Most importantly, while reviewing all these factors and the size, consider whether you frequently host large gatherings or enjoy cooking elaborate meals. In that case, you may need a larger grill, more prep space, and additional storage. Assessing these factors will help you create an efficient outdoor kitchen that meets your culinary needs.

Wrapping Up: The Best From Award-Winning Brands!

Determining the most suitable option hinges on your taste and cooking preferences. If your goal is to achieve uniform cooking, rapid searing, and accurate temperature regulation, the Crossray may be the preferable choice. Conversely, choose Weber Q for reliable and budget-friendly essential features.

Both the Weber Q and Crossray stand out as remarkable built-in solutions that enhance the convenience of cooking, whether at home or in outdoor environments. Nevertheless, several distinctions may influence your purchasing decision. Generally, the Weber Q and Crossray differ in aspects such as design, the number of burners, power output, ignition methods, control knob placement, thermometer features, pricing, and warranty options.

A notable distinction is that the Weber Q includes a burner designed for lid-down indirect cooking, and the Crossray features multiple burners that also function effectively with the lid closed. With that said, you should assess the available space in your outdoor kitchen. The Weber Q can fit small spaces, whereas the Crossray 4-Burner necessitates a large area due to its size.

Ultimately, your choice and what suits you will depend on your needs, preferences, and budget. The Weber Q and Crossray 4-Burner exemplify exceptional performance and quality, warranting a thorough evaluation of their benefits to inform a prudent decision.