Honestly, we've only used this twice in a year. It doesn't make a lot of a mess, except the grease run off. Not much odor at all, thankfully, but it seems to not drain from the meats, at all. We almost have to "pat" off the grease on the food when we take it from the grill. The size is good. Can fit about 4 hamburgers, two steaks at a time on it. I do not know if I would buy it again, but it's a good substitute for having to grill outdoors.