The Portable Kitchen PK360 Grill: Tradition Gets an Update

This Portable Kitchen (PK) grill and smoker is the next model up from the Original PK, and it doesn’t disappoint. The PK360 has a capsule-shaped oven, increased cooking area, and better vents for precision temperature control.

Whether you’re looking to grill up dinner or slow cook BBQ, you’ll want to check out this charcoal fired cooker.

PK 360 in Silver and Black Shelves available on Amazon

At a Glance:

Pluses:

• Rust-proof, thick aluminum cast grill capsule
• 360 square inches of grill surface
• Two-zone heating for direct or indirect heat cooking
• Four air vents for temperature and airflow control
• Tel-Tru Thermometer guaranteed within +/- 1% accuracy
• Two fiberglass reinforced polyester shelves for food prep

And Minuses:

• Not height adjustable
• Ash cleanout could be more streamlined

There are a multitude of benefits this portable cooker offers, so let’s dig into the details.

Heavy Duty and High Quality Materials

The PK360’s thick aluminum cast capsule means two things:

First, it has superior heat conduction, so it can maintain a steady, hot temperature even in the winter. The radial and cylinder vents will let you fine-tune the air intake to reach that perfect temperature.

The built-in Tel-Tru thermometer is guaranteed to display temperatures that are accurate within 1% of true span, give or take.

Secondly, this grill will never rust. Seriously. It’s science.

Many return buyers have upgraded after decades of using the Original PK, which was also made from thick aluminum casting. Every reviewer stated that the new purchase was because they passed on the Original to another family member, or just wanted a second smoker. These grills cannot be killed.

The PK360 is built solid, and its durability can literally be felt straight out of the packaging.

Increased Cooking Surface

The capsule shape of the PK360 has an advantage over its round grill-and-smoker competitors, and that’s the cooking surface area.

The grill surface fits larger cuts of meat such as longer racks of ribs or full sides of salmon. Upright chickens and multiple cuts of Boston Butt aren’t out of the question either.

The engineered design of the 360 makes better use of the space, too. Unlike its predecessor, the Original PK, the PK360 hinges on the back rather than along the side, which users like a lot more (as that’s what they’ve become accustomed to with most modern grills).

The inside hinged metal rack (23.5 x 15 inches) makes it easy to feed in charcoal or wood pellets while slow cooking or smoking meats.

And the functionality of space doesn’t quit on the inside.

The Control Tower™ stand has two reinforced high-heat resistant shelves of 218 square inches, either in Durabilium™ (a glass-fiber reinforced polyester material) with the standard model, or teak wood with the teak model.

A steel rod runs along the front of the shelves to hang tongs and spatulas for easy access as well.

4-Point Venting System™

Two radial vents in the top of the capsule and two cylinder vents under the base make for precision temperature and airflow control. These features also allow for PK’s Two-Zone heating method.

The radial vents are on top of the capsule like what you’ll find on a conventional grill – except there are two of them, allowing for the creation of different temperature zones.

Also, they are formed of aluminum like the body and are more robust than the thinner stamped metals found on lesser models.

The cylinder vents are unique to the PK360. They are on the bottom of the cooking capsule and rotate to allow airflow.

The vents open to the inside under the charcoal grill, and have removable covers to keep ash from collecting in the vent holes.

Direct Heat, Indirect Heat, and Smoking Capabilities

The direct heat method is accomplished by keeping all vents open and placing the food directly over the hot coals. This cooks the food with direct high heat, which is great for getting that perfect sear on your steak.

PK360 in Graphite with Black Side Shelves, available on Amazon

Alternatively, the grill can be turned into a convection slow cooker. We could easily go on and on about heat zones, but the short-and-sweet of the process is that air is pulled through one cylinder vent, moves through the hot coals, and indirectly cooks the meat placed on the other side of the oven. The heat then escapes through the opened radial vent directly above the meat (see the video at the end of this article for visuals).

The combination of two-zone cooking and additional space makes this charcoal grill more accommodating for pans and griddles.

Built for Portability

With initials that stand for Portable Kitchen, this model can absolutely go camping or tailgating. The side shelves can be quickly removed with the quick-release knobs.

And, there is single quick-release knob that separates the capsule from the Control Tower™ stand.

This makes for easy packing, and the two heavy-duty wheels on one side of the base help with moving it in and out of the garage. This grill/smoker combo even has its own special waterproof cover that doubles as a carrying bag.

PK360 Pro Series Cover and Carry Bag, available on Amazon

This model is easy to assemble the first time and a cinch to move around afterwards. Alternatively, if the backyard needs a complete outdoor kitchen, the PK360 is perfect for that too – just remove it from the stand and it’s good to install wherever it’s needed.

Tips, Tricks, and Techniques

Now that you’re looking to invest in a quality charcoal-fired grill for the backyard, be sure to invest in quality ingredients as well.

Choose good cuts of meat and high-quality charcoal. Stubb’s is an all-natural briquette that infuses your food with a true wood-fired flavor. It’s a favorite among serious outdoor cooks.

Stubb’s 9-Pound All-Natural Charcoal Briquets

If you haven’t already, check out a butcher shop in your neighborhood. They can help choose the right cuts for your barbecue, and most butchers even grind and stuff house specialty sausages that are incredible for camping. Building that relationship is always worth the extra trip, and the cuts of meat are going to be great.

Cleaning and Care

Thanks to the quality of materials, the PK360 doesn’t take a ton of maintenance. It’s good to follow the best practices of general care and use a cover when the grill is not in use. I mentioned the special cover/carrying case above, but for a regular cover that will fit over this unique model, there’s the PK360 Standard Grill Cover.

PK360 Standard Grill Cover, available on Amazon

PK also casts their grills with ash holes for easier ash removal (yes, I also giggled like an 8-year-old when I read that).

While users like this design better than that of the Original, the time it takes to clear out used charcoal and wood chips can be significantly reduced by using the PK Grills Heavy Duty Charcoal Basket.

PK Grills Heavy Duty Charcoal Basket, available on Amazon

It’s highly recommended here, for the decreased hassle.

For information about cooking the best possible grilled food, be sure to read our article on Cleaning and Maintaining Your BBQ Equipment.

Dimensions and Specs

From shelf tip to shelf tip, the PK360 measures 54 inches across, 26.9 inches deep, and 42.9 inches high. The actual cooking surface of this capsule-shaped grill is 23.5 x 15 inches with 8 inches of clearance, so there’s plenty of room for some serious grilling or slow cooking.

PK360 in Graphite with Teak Shelves, available on Amazon

The actual cooking height from the ground is 34.2 inches. Some taller users grumble about this a bit, but for the most part, it doesn’t bother many cooks.

The thick aluminum-cast grill capsule alone weighs about 60 pounds. Including the shelves and stand, the PK360 comes in at 90 pounds total. At the risk of sounding redundant: this grill is built solid.

What’s Included:

• Thick Aluminum Cast Oven Capsule with Tel-Tru Thermometer
• Marine Grade Stainless Steel Cooking Grid
• 304 Stainless Steel Fuel Grate
• Marine Grade Stainless Steel Kit Hardware
• Control Tower™ Stand
• High Heat Black Durabilium™ or Teak Shelves with Steel Rod Tool Organization System

Colors:

The PK360 is available in four color combinations including silver with black shelves, graphite with black shelves, silver with teak shelves, and graphite with teak shelves.

PK360 in Silver with Teak Shelves, available on Amazon

Warranty Information

Portable Kitchen offers a 10-year limited warranty on their grill capsules.

First, there is a 30-day guarantee that the PK will be defect-free. After that, you a 10-year guarantee that the oven will not burn out. It’s very unlikely to, as people have reported their OG PK from the 1960s has been used regularly and the ovens still haven’t burned out.

According to a representative from the PK Support Team, the PK360 was designed and engineered in the USA. These grills are manufactured in China, and shipped across the world from their facility in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The Next Best Thing

Take a look at where Portable Kitchen began with the Original PK. This model first appeared in the American Midwest in the mid-twentieth century and resurfaced in the late nineties.

The Original PK Grill & Smoker in Classic Silver, available on Amazon

The Original solidified PK’s reputation, as it’s made of the same thick aluminum cast material and maintains heat well. While it lacks the Tel-Tru Thermometer, the high heat shelves, and the Control Tower™ stand, it’s still a high quality, portable grill/smoker.

Foodal’s Rating

Before You Go…

For those who are looking for truly enjoyable grilling and smoking experiences, Portable Kitchen has you covered with this combo unit. The PK360 is absolutely worth the investment, and we’re not the only ones saying this. The durability of the cast oven, the precision of the vents, and the quality of the accessories leaves us feeling good about investing in a product that is going to last.

Check prices and read customer reviews on Amazon now!

Do you have any questions about PK products that we can answer for you? Give us a shout in the comments below – and for some great tips, check out our article about barbecuing essentials! Be sure to check out all of Foodal’s BBQ grill guides and reviews here.

Photos by Mike Quinn, © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Isolated product photos courtesy of Portable Kitchen. Originally published on May 5, 2018. Last updated on September 27, 2021. With additional writing by Mike Quinn and Allison Sidhu.