The Solaire Anywhere Portable Infrared Grill is a full-sized, no-compromises top-quality grill wrapped up in a super-portable package -- it even comes with its own carrying bag, and -- a very nice touch -- has flip locks that hold the lid closed when stowed. This grill is small in size but not cooking power, putting out 14,000 BTUs, or nearly twice what is typical for portable grills. The secret is that instead of conventional burners, it uses a ceramic infrared grid that heats in seconds (less than three minutes), cooks in a flash, and cools down fast (pack away in about 15 minutes) with no coals to dispose of. It uses 1-lb. propane bottles or a 20-lb. tank with optional adaptor, and can also be converted to use natural gas.

The surface area of the grill (155 sq inches) may seem small, but things cook so fast, it will handle a meal for four without any trouble. Proof of the Soliare Anywhere grill's no-compromises performance lies in the fact that its distributor, Rasmussen's, recommends that customers buy this small grill as an introduction if considering purchase of the larger Soliaire patio grills that cost thousands of dollars.

Best of all, the Solaire is elegantly designed and ruggedly built for a lifetime of use. The basic unit is commercial grade 304 stainless steel, but one can get a marine grade version in 316 stainless as well. And the unit is super easy to clean: the burner self-cleans simply by letting it run at high for a few minutes after everything is off the grill -- anything on the burner simply vaporizes. Both the grilling grate and burner easily lift out, allowing for easy wipe-down of the steel housing.

I never take my grill anywhere beyond our patio, but I wanted a high performance grill that I could set up in an instant and hide away in a closet, as I hate the look of those big grills that take up deck space (it is 21"W x 12"H x 13"D, including the carrying handles, and weighs 20 lbs. with the carry bag). The Solaire fits the bill perfectly, but it is really designed for Rv-ers, car-campers, tailgaters and boaters -- anyone who needs convenient, portable no-compromises grilling. It also has some nice accessories: car-campers will like the collapsible tripod base, while boaters should check out the gimbaled deck rail clamp.

The only hitch is cost -- at $285-$400 the Solaire is more expensive than other portable grills. But as our parents told us, sometimes spending a bit extra on quality saves money (and grief) in the long term. Cost kept me from buying the Solaire three years ago; instead, I purchased another brand name portable for $150. It was great at first, but it was hard to clean and started failing in the second season. I repaired it and donated it to a charity -- and then bought the Solaire.

-- Paul Saffo

Solaire Anywhere Portable Infrared Grill
$323
Available from Amazon

Manufactured by Rasmussen Iron Works, Inc.