Are you looking to elevate your grilling skilll with the latest in digital charcoal grills and smokers?
In this in-depth review, we’ll compare two excellent Masterbuilt Gravity Series models: the creative 600 and the efficient AutoIgnite 545.
Here you can find out how these grills blend the rich flavor of charcoal with modern technology, delivering unparalleled comfort and precision.
From WiFi controls to instant heating capabilities, these grills can transform your outdoor cooking experience.
Find out which model best suits your needs and why this is the finest choice for digital grilling by reading on..
Recommended Reading:
– Char-Griller Gravity Fed 980 Review
– Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800 Review
– Understanding Gravity Fed Smokers
– Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 vs 560
– Old Country Gravity Fed Smoker Review
– Best Gravity Fed Smokers
| Features | Masterbuilt Gravity Series 600 | Masterbuilt AutoIgnite 545 |
| Brand | Masterbuilt | Masterbuilt |
| Color | Black | Black |
| Outer Material | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Weight | 168 Pounds | 128.7 Pounds |
| Dimensions | 30.4″D x 52.8″W x 49.7″H | 24″D x 56.5″W x 43.8″H |
| WiFi Control | Yes | Yes |
| Fuel Type | Charcoal | Charcoal |
| Total Cooking Area | 600 sq. in. | 545 sq. in. |
| Dimensions | 30.4″D x 52.8″W x 49.7″H | 24″D x 56.5″W x 43.8″H |
| Hopper Capacity | 18 lb. | 7 lbs of briquettes, 5 lbs of lump |
| Temperature Range | 225° – 700°F | 250° – 650°F |
| WiFi Control | Yes | Compatible with both 5G and 2.4 Wi-Fi. |
| Cooking Grates | Cast Iron | Porcelain-coated cast iron grates. |
| Removable quick-sear cast iron griddle | No | Yes |
| Meat Probes | Supports 4, Comes with 1 | Low-and-slow smoking or high-heat searing |
| Versatile Barbecue Cooking | Low-and-slow smoking or high-heat searing | Low-and-slow smoking or high-heat searing |
| DigitalFan | Yes | Yes |
| Side Shelf | Stainless steel side shelf for additional food preparation space | No |
| Assembly | Standard | Complicated, recommended pre-built |
| Price | Check Price | Check Price |
| Pros | More cooking space, magnetic switches | Quick heating, smart features |
| Cons | No front wheels | Difficult assembly, small ash pan |
# Masterbuilt Gravity Series 600 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker
The 600 series is a recent addition to the Masterbuilt Gravity series, replacing the 560 series.
The range now includes the 600, 800, 1050, and XT models, all of which have a square appearance.
Specification
- Brand: Masterbuilt
- Model Name: Gravity Series 600
- Color Black
- Outer Material: Stainless Steel
- Color: Black
- Item Weight: 168 Pounds
- Product Dimensions: 30.4″D x 52.8″W x 49.7″H
- Inner Material: stainless_steel
- Fuel Type: Charcoal
- Item model number: MB20041023
- Total Cooking Area: 600 sq. in.
- Hopper Capacity: 18 lb.
- Capacity: 19 Chickens, 8 Pork Butts, 28 Burgers
- Cooking Grates: Cast Iron
- Meat Probes: Supports 4, Comes with 1
- Exterior Finish: Black
Features:
- It comes with Masterbuilt’s WiFi technology and digital control panel which allows you to set your desired grilling temperature.
- It allows you to set and monitor grilling temperature, track temperatures over time and receive alerts when you connect the control panel with the Masterbuilt App.
- Its digital fan precisely maintains desired grilling or smoking temperature from 225° – 700°F for low-and-slow smoking or high-heat searing methods.
- Its charcoal hopper holds up to 12lbs of lump charcoal or 18lbs of briquettes.
- Allows to cook for up to 18 hours at low-and-slow temperatures without needing to refill charcoal for an uninterrupted cooking experience.
- Masterbuilt 600 comes with reversible cast iron grates for high heat searing or low and slow smoking methods. Apart from this it has stainless steel side shelf for additional food preparation space
- This smoker has 600 square inches of cooking space.
- You can control your grill from anywhere with Masterbuilt WiFi technology.
- You can attach Pizza Oven and Rotisserie.
- It has a heavy-duty powder-coated folding front shelf and stationary side shelf for additional food preparation space.
- This smoker comes with a grease tray that is easy to access and can be removed from the front for simple cleaning.
- Provide you magnetic safety switches to create a safe grilling experience
- It allows you to smoke, grill, sear, bake and roast.
- Integrated temperature gauge and meat probe thermometer provide consistently accurate readings.
Changes and Improvements:
- The 600 series features 600 square inches of cooking space.
- It has a control panel similar to previous models in the Gravity series. However Masterbuilt XT has a more advanced panel.
- A painted side shelf, a front shelf that folds, and a warming rack in the shape of a square are the three new features.
- Along with a thermocouple on the left side, the 600 series includes a porcelain-lined manifold system to help with cleaning and limit rust.
- Along with a large warming rack and an additional traditional rotisserie attachment, the cast iron smoker and cast iron grills are still present.
Additional Features:
- In this model magnetic switches have been added.
- The charcoal hopper’s outside is now lined with ceramic, making repairs easier.
- The ceramic-coated charcoal grate in this model is an upgrade.
- The seal has been improved which will reduce smoke leakage.
- Like the XT, this model features a magnetic switch as well as a stainless firebox.
Ease of Access and Mobility:
- There’s a small door on the front to help access the drip tray easier.
- It has two big wheels at the back and none at the front, so you have to lift it up to move it.
Pricing and Availability:
- In the UK, the 600 series costs £799.
- The 600 series are ready for dispatch throughout the United Kingdom and are more widely available than the XT variants.
- It is also available on Amazon.com.
The Good
- More cooking space.
- Magnetic switches are available.
- Ceramic lined outside of the charcoal hopper.
- Ceramic-coated charcoal grate.
- Inbuild a robust seal.
- Square design.
- Stainless firebox
The Bad
- It has no front wheels.
What do I love the most ?
My favorite foods can be seared at 700°F on a high heat or cooked at 225°F for up to 18 hours using slow smoking methods.
I can use the pizza oven and rotisserie easily.
It has Magnetic switches.
Quick Checks
Good :
- Reaches 105°C in 7.5 minutes or 370°C in 10 minutes
Bad:
- No front wheel
How to use?
- Simply add up to 12 pounds of lump charcoal or 18 pounds of briquette to the GravityFedTM charcoal hopper to get started.
- Ignite the fire starter.
- Choose the desired cooking temperature with the Masterbuilt app or the digital control panel.
Overall:
- The 600 series is a wonderful update with new features and advantages.
- Despite the 560’s enormous popularity, the 600 is a strong addition to the range with its extra upgrades.
# Masterbuilt AutoIgnite 545 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker
Convenience and Speed: Combines the flavor of charcoal grilling with the convenience and speed of propane.
Smart Features: Equipped with Wi-Fi and app controls for temperature and probe settings, allowing remote monitoring.
Features & Specification
- Brand: Masterbuilt
- Model Name: AutoIgnite 545
- Power Source: charcoal
- Color: Black
- Outer Material:: Stainless Steel
- Product Dimensions: 24″D x 56.5″W x 43.8″H
- Inner Material: stainless steel
- Fuel Type: Charcoal
- Item Weight: 128.7 pounds
- Allow to Use the QuickStart Auto-Ignition to light your fire starter with the press of a button.
- It has a digital control panel or Masterbuilt app and the digital fan easily maintains the desired cooking temperature for you.
- It enables you to keep temperatures between 250° and 650°F for high-heat searing or low-and-slow smoking.
- It has a removable quick sear cast iron griddle plate for frying or roasting your favorite foods.
Additional Features and Performance
Smart Grill:
- Power Button and Controls: It includes a power button, temperature control, timer, and Wi-Fi settings.
- App Integration: You can customize the probe settings, temperature, and receive notifications with an app.
Charcoal Mini-Hopper System:
- Gravity Fed: This smoker holds 7 lbs of charcoal briquettes or 5 lbs of lump charcoal.
- Quick Heating: The charcoal is ready for cooking food in 5-10 minutes, maintaining a constant temperature until cooking is finished.
Searing Grill Plate: There’s also a quick-sear cast iron griddle plate which is detachable, however it’s not the most functional.
Efficient Charcoal Use:Using Charcoal Efficiently
- There is very little charcoal left behind because the grill burns almost all the charcoal.
Ash Pan and Shelf:
- Shelf Accessibility: To easily reach the auto-ignite process and ash pan, the shelf flips up.
- Ash Pan Size: The ash pan overflows, it could be a large ash pan. A possible modification is required.
Quick Heating:
- It has the ability to heat up quickly; It only takes ten minutes to reach 250°F after pressing the red button.
Cooking Versatility:
- Temperature Flexibility: Able to reach a temperature of 575°F to accommodate different cooking needs.
- Variety of Foods: It has the ability to produce excellent results when cooking a variety of foods such as potatoes and sirloin steak.
Assembly and Build process:
- Complicated Assembly: It takes five to six hours to assemble using twisted parts and unclear instructions.
- Recommendation: One option is to buy pre-built to save time and energy.
Usage and Performance
- Lighting Process:
- Auto-Ignite System: Use a hot element to ignite fire starters.
- Thicker fire starters:Use thicker fire starters and keep the hopper open during ignition for best results.
- Butane Torch: You can use a butane torch to aid in the ignition process.
- Temperature Control:
- Consistent Heating: Maintains temperature well, with control panel and fan to regulate heat.
- Probe Accuracy: To obtain exact cooking results, use a probe.
- Cleaning:
- Easy Cleanup: The removable grill, flavor plate and ashtray make cleaning easy, although it does get dirty quickly.
- Grease Trap: A build-up of grease requires regular cleaning.
- Storage and Portability:
- Limited Space: Fits a whole bag of charcoal, however it’s a little too small.
- Cord Management: It features a designated storage space and a detachable power cord.
Pros and Cons
- Pros:
- Quick heating
- It has Smart features and app integration for remote monitoring.
- Stable adjustment of temperature.
- Simple to maintain.
- adjustable temperature control to accommodate varying needs during cooking.
- minimal waste and cost-effective usage of charcoal.
- Cons:
- Difficult to assemble.
- Requires additional tools for the auto-ignite system.
- Regular cleaning is required due to the accumulation of grease and ash.
- Flimsy side tables and little space for storage.
- Small ash pan that overflows.
Conclusion:
The Masterbuilt 545 Gravity Smoker is well worth the $500 price tag, particularly if purchased pre-assembled. It offers a satisfying combination of performance, flavour, and usability. However, if you are willing to spend more then you can consider the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 for more features.
Well, I hope this post will help you to choose. Family enjoys the grill, making charcoal grilling easier and more enjoyable..