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MasterbuiltAutoIgnite Series 545 Charcoal Grill

Charcoal

£499View retailers

Test score

Lowest available prices

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The Masterbuilt Autoignite Series 545 Digital Charcoal Grill + Smoker is a full-size barbecue designed for enthusiasts looking to combine the nuances of traditional charcoal cooking with some cutting-edge technology. But does this hi-tech approach leave this model missing the basics of barbecuing? Read our full review to find out.

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What's included?

What is it?
How well does it cook?
Is it easy to assemble and use?
Is there anything else I should know?
Should I buy it?

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KEY TEST RESULTS
Cooking performance
Convenience
Build quality

Jun 2024First reviewed by Which?
Jan 2024Released

The overall Which? test score is made up of the following star ratings, all determined by our rigorous lab tests.

How we test barbecues

11 Mar 2024

Cooking performance

Overall
Evenness
Succulence
Flavour
Appearance
Cooked food quality

How we test cooking performance

This rating takes five different factors into account. How evenly food cooks through, including whether the outside burns easily or cooks before the middle (evenness); whether it remains moist or becomes dry (succulence); how tasty the food is and whether it has that distinctive, char-grilled barbecue taste (flavour); how appetising the food looks and whether it has a nicely char-grilled appeal (appearance); and the overall quality of the cooked food. This rating accounts for 30% of the total score.

Convenience

Overall
Pre-heating time
Cooking time
Ease of cooking
Lack of flare-up
Ease of cleaning

How we test convenience

We time how long it takes for the barbecue to reach cooking temperature and rate the ease of using the controls and components. We also measure the cooking time, how easy it would be to clean the barbecue, and how much the barbecue flares up whilst cooking.

Assembly

How we test assembly

We assemble each barbecue using the instructions provided, timing how long it takes to build, how easily the components fit together and how easy the instructions are to follow.

Build quality

How we test build quality

We take into account whether the components are well-made and free from faults and sharp edges, and assess how good the quality of finish is after assembly and whether it shows signs of wear and tear after we have conducted our cooking tests on it.

Stability

How we test stability

We test stability with a full fuel and food load, and assess how likely the barbecue is to move or topple if accidentally knocked or kicked.

Manoeuvrability

How we test manoeuvrability

We rate how heavy the barbecue is to move, whether it tips as you move it and how easy it is to manoeuvre.

General
Type	Charcoal
Recommended fuels	Charcoal briquettes or small lump wood
Weight	52.5kg
Height	147cm
Width	145cm
Depth	62cm
Portable	No
Grill area width	49cm
Grill area depth	41cm
Adjustable grill height	No
Hood	Yes

Features
Warming rack	Yes
Griddle	Yes
Side burner	No
Fat drip tray	Yes
Ash collector	Yes
Storage shelves	yes
Tool hooks	Yes
Temperature gauge	Yes
Air vents	No

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MasterbuiltAutoIgnite Series 545 Charcoal Grill

Lowest available prices