Regardless of the unpredictable weather we have suffered in the UK, in 2023, cooking outdoors is continuing to grow in popularity.  Whenever I give BBQ MasterClasses, I try to get my audience to broaden the range of dishes they cook but of course that also depends on the equipment they have in their backyard.

I’ve been sent a Fryton 4.1 gas barbecue to review by the company that makes them Landmann, so for the last 4 weeks I have been putting it to the test.  This particular barbecue has 4 gas jets, a side burner to heat up sauces and even a 3.5 litre air fryer!

For the first couple of days this beast of a BBQ sat in my living room still in the box, waiting for some dry weather to put it together. As always this review is my professional opinion and not a paid review.

First Impressions:

Landmann actually sent me what they call the “Ultimate Bundle” which is not only the Fryton 4.1 but includes their 145cm BBQ Cover, 13-Piece Stainless Steel Tool Set and Modulus Pizza Stone.  My first impressions of this gas BBQ were very good, looking at the quality of the materials.

The Build:

The manual for building the Fryton 4.1 is easy to follow though I do recommend reading it through before you begin and always count and check you have all the parts first.

Putting the barbecue together was easy enough but you do need two people when it comes to putting the heavy BBQ onto the frame. For anyone who is curious you can currently find a copy of the manuals before you buy online. The airfryer unit comes in one piece and it is easy to attach to the frame.

The Grill and Controls:

This BBQ comes with a decent size main cooking zone measuring 65 cm x 40 cm. I always prefer cast iron grill bars to so you can get attractive grill marks on your food.  The grill bars a good quality cast iron that has been enamelled to help prevent food from sticking. I also like the fact that the warming rack is easy to remove if you wish. Having 4 burners is definitely better than 3 to give you lots of options when it comes to creating heat zones. The controls feel sturdy and smooth in adjusting the heat from high to low. The smaller knob controls the side burner so it easy to remember which one that is.

The Lid and Thermometer:

Unlike many other barbecues,the Landman has a double walled lid which gives better heat retention and adds rigidity to the model. In the last month I have tested the integrated thermometer and found it to be surprisingly accurate compared to other gas barbecues I have used.

The Side Burner:

The Landmann Fryton 4.1 comes with a 3kW side burner which is very useful for making sauces, frying and reheating food, adding a lot more possibilities to your BBQ menu.

It  is also recessed giving you extra work space when not in use and is easy to clean.

The Modulus Pizza Stone:

In the last couple years making pizza in your backyard has become popular so why not make that part of your barbecue setup rather than buying a separate pizza oven? This 30.5 cm pizza stone comes as part of the Ultimate bundle when buying the Fryton 4.1 The pizza stone comes with a stainless steel disk which sits underneath the ceramic stone to help protect the stone and defuse the heat to prevent it from cracking.

In the last month I have used it make pizzas for my vegetarian guests and other flat breads such as Naan bread to go with my smokey chicken curry.

3.5 litre Air Fryer:

Having a built in air fryer is quite a statement on a gas barbecue and it definitely adds different possibilities to the more creative kings of the BBQ out there, but does it work?

It is powered by electric, so you’ll need to have a heavy duty all weather extension cable to pug it in.  The LED display is easy to read and the airfryer is ready to use quickly. I’ve only used it so far to fry chips, but the result were very good.

Besides cooking chips you can also use it for baking and warming up food which can be handy if you are cooking for a crowd. I’m keen to experiment and bake a chocolate cake in it, as soon I find a small deep cake pan to fit, so watch this space!

The Tools and Cover:

The heavy-duty premium 145cm Landmann cover is waterproof and also blocks UV rays to help prevent the fading of paintwork on your BBQ.  It also has velco ties at the sides help create a secure fit.

The 13 piece BBQ tool kit, comes in a attractive aluminium protective case and is a useful addition if you don’t already own any barbecue tools. For my in-depth opinion please check out my Landmann Ultimate Bundle review on YouTube (coming soon)

Cleaning:

Let’s face it, no one likes cleaning their barbecue so another important factor when choosing a gas barbecue is how easy is it to take down and clean?  If the barbecue has lots of nooks and crannies it just wont get cleaned. Again Landman’s good design makes this Barbecue easy to disassemble and clean.

My Conclusion:

So let me sum up my thoughts on the Landmann Fryton 4.1 gas BBQ, it’s an excellent piece of kit.  As a chef of 40 years international experience (UK, Holland, Bermuda and the US) I have used a lot of barbecues in both a personal and professional capacity and this Landmann still impresses.   It is well designed and the build quality should give you years of service if properly cleaned and maintained.

I do have one little niggle about the brakes on this BBQ. They do work well, but are hard to access due to the recessed nature of the wheels.

If you are already considering the Fryton 4.1 and don’t have a garage or shed to store your barbecue in the winter, I would strongly recommend also buying the premium cover to protect your investment.

You can also watch my review on my YouTube channel.

Kevin Ashton Product Reviews © 2023