IKEA has released over a dozen products in the past two years, and to everyone’s surprise, most of these new launches have been speakers, lamps, wireless chargers, and even a motion sensor. Growing high on ambitions, the Swedish furnishing retailer left everyone stupefied this week when it announced its most surprising release to date.
The Swedish retailer took curtains off the Soluppgang collection, featuring a $4 spork (spoon-cum-fork), $40 picnic blanket, $25 folding stool, and $60 folding table. The most surprising and intriguing product, which formed the centrepiece of a broader collection, was the $80 Cast Iron Grill.
Gear Patrol was among the first to flag the grill’s appeal, noting that while IKEA has dabbled in outdoor cooking before, the $80 Cast Iron Grill remains its cheapest and most compelling entry into the category yet. To put that into context, IKEA’s GRILLSKÄR Charcoal barbecue, which the company released years back, is three times more expensive than the Cast Iron Grill.
Measuring 17 inches long and 8 inches wide, the grill is notably compact when compared to competing options on the market. IKEA has opted for cast iron construction throughout, both the body and the grates, ensuring even heat distribution across the cooking surface. Built-in handles make transporting it a breeze, while ventilation slots offer controlled airflow for better temperature management. Built around charcoal as its fuel source, the grill also sports a grate designed to keep smaller items such as fish fillets or sliced vegetables from slipping through into the coals.
The Soluppgang collection is available in the US, with prices starting at $4 as previously mentioned. The cast iron grill, priced at $80, is the standout piece of the lineup and likely the first to sell out.
Whether IKEA has truly evolved beyond flat-pack furniture remains up for debate, but just when you think the Swedish giant might finally reveal something rooted in what it’s long been known for, it finds yet another way to catch us off guard.
