FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Slot Grill made of?

Both Slot Grill models are made from heavy-duty carbon steel. It is durable raw steel designed for repeated outdoor cooking, not thin disposable sheet metal.

What is the difference between the Full Size and Compact models?

The Full Size provides more cooking room for larger meals and groups. The Compact is lighter and easier to carry when storage space and portability matter most. Both models assemble using tab and slot (that's why it's called the Slot Grill), with no tools, pack flat (about 1.25 inches for the Full Size, about 1 inch for the Compact), and can cook over charcoal or cooking wood.

What are the cooking surfaces and approximate weights?

• Full Size: approximately 20.5 by 11.25 inches of cooking surface and about 27.6 pounds in the grill-only configuration.
• Compact: approximately 16.25 by 9 inches of cooking surface and approximately 14 pounds in the grill-only configuration.

Adding one or two griddles increases the packed weight. Exact dimensions and configuration details are listed on each product page.

How flat does it pack?

Each model disassembles into flat steel pieces that stack together for transportation and storage. The Full Size packs flat to about 1.25 inches thick and the Compact to about 1 inch.

How do you sell such a heavy-duty grill for such a low price?

We are able to offer the Slot Grill at such a low price because we manufacture it and sell directly to you with very little margin built in. There is no distributor, retail middleman, or separate storage and warehouse operation adding layers of expense. Our manufacturing process begins with stacks of sheet metal and ends with a finished grill that is packaged, labeled, and shipped directly to your door. We operate from our 4,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and work directly with our American manufacturing partners when needed. When you buy a Slot Grill, you are buying serious, heavy-duty cooking equipment directly from the manufacturer without the additional markups normally added between the factory and the customer.

Does it come assembled?

No. It ships in its flat-pack configuration and assembles by hand using tab and slot, with no tools. Tab and slot is why it's called the Slot Grill. Once familiar with the process, most owners can set it up or take it apart in approximately 30 to 60 seconds.

Can I cook with wood or charcoal?

Yes. You can cook with wood or charcoal in the Slot Grill. Follow local fire restrictions and use only outdoors in a properly ventilated area.

Will heat make the steel move or flex?

Carbon steel naturally expands and contracts as it heats and cools. Some temporary movement or flexing can occur during high-heat cooking. Allow the grill to cool naturally and use it only as intended.

Do the grates and panels stay secure while cooking?

The interlocking slot design holds the components together when the grill is assembled correctly on a stable, level surface. Always verify that every piece is fully seated before lighting a fire.

Can I use cast-iron pots and pans?

Yes. Appropriately sized cast-iron cookware can be used on the grill. Keep cookware centered and stable, and distribute heavy loads across the cooking surface.

What surfaces can I safely use it on?

Use the Slot Grill outdoors on a stable, level, non-combustible surface such as bare soil, gravel, sand, concrete, or a properly rated fire-safe pad. Keep it away from structures, vehicles, tents, dry vegetation, and combustible materials. Never use a charcoal grill inside a home, garage, vehicle, tent, or other enclosed area.

How do I clean the Slot Grill?

After the grill has cooled completely, remove food residue and ash. For a thorough cleaning, wash the pieces with hot water, Dawn dish soap and a cheap wire mesh scouring pad (about $1.50), dry every piece completely, and lightly oil the grilling surfaces.

If you keep the grill assembled between uses, such as storing it under a carport or leaving it at a permitted campsite, a complete cleaning is not necessary after every cook. Many regular users simply remove one side panel, empty the completely cooled ashes, slide the panel back into place, and the grill is ready for the next fire.

The flat-panel design also makes it easy to clean every surface whenever you want a freshly cleaned cooking setup. You know exactly what has been cooked and burned in your Slot Grill, unlike some shared campground grills that may also have been used as trash-burning receptacles.

Does it need seasoning?

Seasoning is recommended for raw carbon steel. A thin layer of food-safe oil heated onto the clean steel helps protect it and creates a darker cooking surface over time. Keep the grilling surfaces lightly oiled. For the grill body, high-temperature BBQ paint is a good option; it's what we use, and it's covered in the instruction manual. You can also use Slot Grill Seasoning Balm.

Will it rust?

We like high-temperature BBQ paint on the grill body and keep the grilling surfaces lightly oiled, as described in the instruction manual. Light surface rust is purely cosmetic: clean it off and re-season. Because the Slot Grill uses thick steel, it will last many years even if it is badly neglected.

Can it be used as a small fire pit?

Yes. The steel is thick and durable enough to handle fire pit heat, so you can cook on it and then hang out around it with friends. We have used both the Full Size and Compact Slot Grills as small outdoor fire pits. When you are finished cooking, safely remove the cooking top or grates with appropriate heat-safe tools, add untreated food-safe hardwood or sticks, and enjoy the fire for the rest of the evening. You can even roast s’mores.

Use clean hardwoods such as oak or fruit and nut woods such as apple, peach, or pecan. Never burn treated or painted lumber, construction scraps, trash, or unknown materials. Always follow campground rules, burn bans, and local fire regulations, use the grill on a stable non-combustible surface, and never leave the fire unattended.

Can I stand on the grill?

The safest and most responsible answer we can give as the manufacturer is no. That said, two full-grown adults have stood on a Slot Grill without any issues, which demonstrates the impressive strength of its heavy-duty carbon-steel construction. Although standing or jumping on the grill may be a fun way to show how strong it truly is, it is a stunt and not an intended use. We cannot responsibly recommend that customers attempt to recreate it because someone could lose their balance, position the grill improperly, or otherwise be injured. Slot Grills are designed for cooking and are more than capable of supporting appropriately sized heavy cast-iron cookware, with substantial strength to spare. Beyond normal cooking use, our official and responsible answer remains no: please do not stand, climb, or jump on the grill.

Is it suitable for camping, tailgating, or beach use?

Yes, where grills and open fires are permitted. Use it outdoors on a safe non-combustible surface, maintain clearance from combustible materials, and follow all local rules.

Where is the Slot Grill made?

Slot Grills are made by Keith at Precision Cut Metals LLC, right here in Southeast Texas. During times of very high demand, U.S.-based business partners help with manufacturing, so every Slot Grill is made in the USA.

How has the Slot Grill design evolved?

Production began in early 2024, and the product was officially sold under the Slot Grill name beginning in August 2024. The current design is significantly different from the earliest version because it has been continually refined through real-world use and suggestions from friends and customers. To watch it evolve, visit our YouTube channel, youtube.com/@SlotGrill, click Shorts and scroll back to the oldest videos.

• Increased clearance beneath the firebox improves airflow and helps minimize radiant heat to the surface below, making the grill better suited for tailgating and outdoor cooking on an appropriate non-combustible surface.
• Built-in bolt holders in the legs keep the hardware organized while the grill is assembled.
• A formed press-brake bottom and ash catcher adds substantial strength during use and creates a more secure assembly when the grill is flat-packed.
• The two-piece top supports the modular plancha-style griddle system.
• The flat griddle plates stack with the grill body, so the grill-only, one-griddle, and two-griddle configurations can each travel as one compact flat package instead of requiring a separate griddle to be carried by hand.

Every revision has followed the same goal: keep the Slot Grill strong, simple, quick to assemble, and easy to transport without sacrificing real cooking performance.

How long does shipping take?

Orders normally ship from Texas within a few business days, depending on current order volume. Tracking information is provided when the order ships.

What is the return policy?

Unused products in their original condition may be returned according to the current refund policy. Original shipping costs and return shipping costs are not refundable unless required by law or the item arrived defective or incorrect.

California Proposition 65 and carbon-monoxide warning

WARNING: Burning charcoal or wood produces carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless gas that can cause serious injury or death. Use this product outdoors only. Never use it inside a home, garage, vehicle, tent, or other enclosed area. Carbon monoxide is listed by the State of California as causing developmental toxicity.