Growing up in Hawaii, I’ve always viewed grilling as a daylong event with lots of food to fill the stomachs of a big group of family and friends. Even small barbecues meant at least 10 people.
So when I first tested the CasusGrill I was disappointed that only four chicken thighs or three strips of steak would fit on the 12-by-9-inch bamboo grill. And while the grill did get hot — the meat sizzled when it touched the bamboo, and the items developed a nice char — my thick pieces of steak didn’t finish cooking before the grill lost its heat, which the manufacturers note is limited to an hour. So after that test, while I really liked the grill for other reasons, I came away thinking it was a failure.
But after doing some online research, I realized Susanne and Carsten Brogger, makers of the grill, didn’t have huge groups in mind when developing their biodegradable product. The pictures and videos I saw showed at most four people using the grill while taking a break from hiking, skiing or a day at the beach.
The amount of food cooked on the grill was enough to provide sustenance to continue their activities, not so much to induce a food coma — the way I should be eating as opposed to the way I have been eating.
So with that mindset, I tried it again. I already liked this grill because it’s light (a little over 2 pounds), compact (it can fit into a normal-size backpack) and, as I mentioned earlier, biodegradable. Also, the lava stone in the bottom of the box provides insulation, so the outer parts stay cool enough to touch. That way it can be carried while the food is cooking, if needed.
Thin slices of teriyaki cooked great and sliced veggies turned out fine. The website, casusgrill.com, shows people grilling small fish, kebabs, hot dogs, marshmallows, etc., almost anything that is bite-size or thinly sliced.
How it works: The instructions are easy to follow and should be read for their safety warnings, such as “grilling food with a high fat content may result in flames and the bamboo rack catching fire!” (Note: My Uncle Tootsie, the grill master, said it’s best to use skinless chicken with this product.)
The grill is simple to set up, consisting of a box that holds doughnut-shaped briquettes. Four tabs on the sides of the box pull out and fit into notches in a cardboard stand that keeps the box off the ground.
The instructions say to light the briquettes from the four corners first but my uncle started from the center. It took about seven minutes for all the disks to be covered in ash, the sign that it was time for grilling.
Place the bamboo rack on top, making sure it is securely in place. Then begin grilling.
For an idea of cooking time, it took 36 minutes to cook a not-too-thick chicken thigh. At 40 to 45 minutes, the grill lost most of its heat, but it could be used as a warmer.
Does it work? Yes.
Pros: Easy to put together and use. Compact. Disposable, so cleanup is a breeze (although you do have to wait until everything is cooled down or douse it with water). Cooks pretty evenly. Good to have on hand for emergencies — the only additional item needed is a match or lighter. Lighter than lugging around a hibachi. Better for the planet compared with other disposable grills that have metal or aluminum parts.
Cons: Only good for two people or four light eaters. Food items must be cut into small or thin pieces.
Cost and availability: $21.99 on amazon.com with free shipping. It’s also available at casusgrillusa.com for $19.95 plus $5 shipping, or in packs of three for $47.95 and six for $88.95 with free shipping.
Worth it? Yes. For a disposable grill it’s pretty cool, and it’s always better to be kinder to our planet.
Got a gadget that you love? Or are you curious about one you’d like us to test? Email mramos@staradvertiser.com or write Crave, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza Suite 210, Honolulu 96813.
