Current Backyard Smart Grill | Review

Over the past two decades, I’ve lived in condo-style apartments in various cities, including Houston, Austin, Coral Gables, San Jose, and Las Vegas. I longed for the day when I could have a gas grill on the patio wherever I lived, but I was subject to homeowner association rules that prohibited gas grills on patios.

The gas grill was a staple of my upbringing as a child and young adult in New Jersey, and the smell of grilled hamburgers and steaks with those characteristic charbroil marks that a gas grill still haunts my dreams. This memory faded after moving out in the early 1990s and becoming an apartment or condo resident.

A new startup, Current Backyard, caught my attention. It promises to bring back those days with an electric grill that can mimic the heat of a gas grill—something traditional electric grills typically can’t provide—and even char food like a gas grill. I was skeptical to say the least, but decided to check it out.

Out-of-the-box experience

On a typically hot 105-degree day in Las Vegas, I got the new Model G Dual Zone Electric Grill from the current backyard, so I set it up in my townhome living room, just five feet from my outdoor patio.

There was no need to worry about propane gas or charcoal fumes. I manually turned on the grill (an important safety feature) and set each side to a preset temperature before searching the app for recipes. I grilled some filet mignon, asparagus and a few ears of corn and then turned the grill to clean, blasting the grilling parts on high heat for half an hour.

The grill notifies my iPhone when each side of the grilling surface reaches the correct temperature and when my times are complete. I’ve since used the meat thermometer probes that connect to the side of the front panel and I’ve gotten notices for that as well.

The grill’s display is pleasingly bright and large, making it easy to see the current mode and temperature. You don’t need any apps to use this gadget, which is a huge plus. Everything can be managed from the front screen. However, the accompanying app lets you monitor the grill’s temperature and its integrated timer in case you want to head back home.

Stunning design

This grill looks stunning. The bronze accent to the right of the handle mirrors the metallic logo in the center of the grill cover.

Everything is in rounded rectangles and the various shades of gray contribute to a sense of quality and polish. This is the kind of barbecue you won’t mind looking at even if you’re not cooking. If you don’t know it, this grill looks like a traditional gas grill from a mere appearance standpoint.

Side tables are easy to install and remove but stay in place once installed. Everything from the exterior to the interior feels solid, with heavy-duty but easily removable grills over electric heating elements. Optional cabinet doors are available to hide the warming tray.

Smartphone app features

Cooking on the grill is easy: set the temperature, add food and turn as needed. For high-heat conditions, the grill can reach 700 degrees, which is remarkable for an electric grill. While I’m away from the grill, getting messages on my phone makes outdoor cooking more enjoyable.

The current Backyard app, which supports both Apple iOS and Google Android, has recipes with buttons to preheat the grill and set cooking timers, which is helpful but lacks specific information.

For example, when I wanted to cook some steak to medium-rare, the app simply told me to use the thermometer probes to determine the desired doneness. I still had to look up the internal temperature to reach the meat on another cooking website. Let’s hope that the current backyard adjusts the app in the future, because incorporating that information into an app would make it fantastic.

I experienced some screen formatting issues with the current Backyard app, which distorted some of the information displayed. Still, I attribute this to using beta versions of upcoming iOS 18 apps. I’m sure the issue will be resolved when Apple officially releases iOS 18 to the public in September.

Another great feature that can improve the user experience is the ability to display two recipes simultaneously. Indeed, this may be an “advanced dance lesson” for some users, but one of the benefits of dual-sided grills is the ability to cook multiple things at once. Currently, software forces you to switch between recipes and search for a second dish while cooking.

Manual operation is a breeze

Manually operating the Model G Dual-Zone Electric Grill is very easy. This product is ideal if you want a great electric grill that looks great and can cook up to 700 degrees.

You can adjust the temperature on each side, use the provided thermometer probes, and set the timer from the front panel controls, which include a large, clickable knob and numerous small tactile buttons.

The Current Backyard Grill’s LED panel is bright and easy to read, even in direct sunlight.

It took about 15 minutes for the current Backyard to hit 650 degrees from cold start, as opposed to a gas grill, which can hit that temperature in less than 10 minutes. Still, that wasn’t a showstopper for me.

Assembly and cleaning

On the plus side, the current Model G Dual-Zone Electric Grill took about two hours to assemble, which, according to the well-designed installation videos you can watch on your smartphone or tablet, required two people to lift the cooking unit. and install it in the cart. I was able to put it all together on my own.

Cleaning the barbecue is a mixed bag. It has four removable grills that can be easily removed and reattached. They discolor quickly once cooked, although the cleaning process tends to ash the remaining food particles. Still, you’ll need some steel wool to scrape some in the sink to avoid adding carbonized particles to your food. I’m using a wet sponge designed to clean gas grills and remove any residue.

Market size and potential

The apartment and condo market in the United States is a significant part of the housing industry, with more than 20 million apartment units and millions of condominiums nationwide.

The multifamily housing market, including apartments and condos, is worth more than $3 trillion. The sector has experienced steady growth driven by increasing urbanization, demographic changes and increasing preference for flexible living arrangements in urban areas.

As cities expand and population density increases, demand for apartments and condos continues to be a key driver in the real estate market. This is a huge potential market for current backyard smart grills as most cannot have gas-based grills on patios due to HOA or landlord restrictions.

Price and Availability

The standard current Backyard Model G Zone Grill starts at $899, with everything you need to go to the races. The company also sells accessories like a soft cover to protect the grill and stand from the elements.

At $899, this barbecue is an affordable, excellent choice for anyone looking for a durable, functional, and stylish grill that’s ideal for outdoor cooking and, with proper ventilation, can also be used indoors. It provides delicious tasting food.

Smart features let you step away from the grill more often and rely on notifications to help you manage heat and cooking time, though the app could use a few improvements to be truly useful. Those looking for a stylish, efficient electric grill with innovative features should consider it.

Current Backyard Smart Grills and accessories available Company website.