5 Portable Grills For All Your Outdoor Cooking Needs

The stand folds down flat for maximum portability, so it can wheel behind you like a roller bag at the airport—plus, that makes it easy to hang on a wall for storage. When set up, the grill has a relatively small footprint of 18 x 34 inches, making it ideal for apartments or places with limited space. Once open, two shelves swing out to provide handy staging areas on both sides of the grill.

VitalGrillOkay so maybe you prefer a grill with a more vibrant, sleek, and extraterrestrial look. In that case, the VitalGrill Gourmet Wood BBQ is just what you need. Place the compact 15-pounder atop any surface and you’ve got one refined grilling, simmering, frying, roasting, and smoking UFO.

Its 20,000 BTUs and ease when transporting make the Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill my favorite pick for a portable grill. Being able to fit everything you need in one package makes the Everdure Cube Grill another great choice. Made of quality materials from a brand that knows how to make a grill, it’s pretty hard to beat this affordable Weber model. While it’s small, you can cook up to eight burgers on this mighty grill. Luckily, there are a ton of small grills out there with plenty of fire in their eyes, maximizing your square-foot-to-grilling-power ratio.

The Char-Broil Grill2Go can handle up to six large burger patties at a time without crowding. Charcoal is smokier than gas, a possible issue for smaller, fenced-in spaces. The fire and fuel source is contained, so there’s no risk of hot embers falling on the ground. This grill folds up like a suitcase, and you can carry it with one hand. We’ve also noted some models we’re interested in for our next round of testing in 2022.

The collapsible scissor legs include two wheels, and they fold down into tote mode for easy moving and storage. The Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association has conducted a number of polls in recent years and compiled some interesting statistics. Among them, they have found that most gas grills retail for under $300, and last an average of 3 years.

A compact carrying case with an unsurpassed weight-to-grate ratio. Control is the criteria that most distinctly separates the highest performers from the rest of the contenders. For gas and electric, this metric was scored based on how many burners each product has and whether they can be adjusted to high, medium, and low temperatures.

portable bbq

Email updates from our community of grill masters, food enthusiasts, and lovers of outdoor cooking. If you’re planning a beach BBQ, there are a few factors you’ll want to consider when choosing a grill. First, it will be difficult to wheel or drag a grill through sand, so opt for a compact model that’s light enough to carry. A grill with telescoping legs is ideal in this situation, but if you have a tabletop grill, consider whether there will be a picnic table or other suitable surface to place it on. Finally, the beach is often windy, so you may want to look for a grill that has a wind guard—otherwise, the grill may struggle to maintain its temperature.

We’ve tried several piece of gear from Lodge over the years, and they’ve always produced excellent results, creating an exceptional sear on meats and vegetables. If you’re cooking for vegetarians, or people with food allergies the PKGO is the best portable grill available right now. It’s an equally good choice for hosts who want to ensure all of their guests eat at the same time. When fully opened , the Nomad has 425 square-inches of cooking space, when closed it has a little over 212 square-inches of cooking space. Nomad ships the grill with a single grate, if you’d like to take advantage of its full cooking area when completely opened, you’ll need to get a second one.

We loved that the 256 square inches of cooking area could hold up to eight burgers, which also means there’s plenty of room if you want to cook a whole pork shoulder or a spatchcocked chicken. Although we didn’t test the grill at low-and-slow smoking weber q temperatures, it’s capable of ranging from 180°F to 500°F. We were happy to see that it held its set temperature within 10°F when used at medium and high temperatures. At low temperatures, the pellets will smoke without creating a large fire.

She’s personally tested several grills and smokers, including our top pick for a portable grill, the Weber Q2200 Liquid Propane Grill, and the splurge-worthy HitchFire Forge 15. While researching portable grills for this article, she spoke with Jess Pryles, grilling expert and author of “Hardcore Carnivore” for tips on grilling on the go. This grill will become a staple at sporting events thanks to its sliding side tables, three precise temperature zones, and improved burner technology. Its legs fold up quickly for fast storage, and you can wheel it behind you for easy transport. The grill has a push-button ignition, and if desired, you can purchase separate griddles and stove grates to swap in, letting you cook all sorts of essential tailgating recipes with ease.