For grills that lack this feature, you’ll need to use extra-long matches or a match holder to ignite the propane and get the burner started. Some portable grills are meant for tabletop use—they can also be used on the ground if you’re comfortable with that, but it may not be as convenient. Grills with tall legs let you work at a comfortable standing height, but the legs add weight and bulk, so they’re not as convenient to carry. This grill uses TRU-Infrared technology to prevent flare-ups and provide even cooking every time.
Charcoal or propane grills require you to bring your fuel along, but they can be used anywhere, as long as an open flame is allowed. When it comes to portable gas grills, definitely consider the gas hook-up since you’ll also need to bring that with you. If you don’t have space for a freestanding grill, you can still enjoy it with a tabletop version, like the Pit Boss weber q Portable Gas Grill. This offers a cooking area of 275 square inches and two independently-controlled burners that give off 20,000 BTUs of heat . There’s also electronic ignition and a built-in dome thermometer for knowing exactly how hot the grate is. If you’ve decided you want a portable charcoal grill, there is nothing like the Nomad—it’s expensive but worth it.
However, if you want to use a larger propane tank—such as a 20-pound tank—with a portable grill, you’ll need an adapter and regulator. Most brands sell the appropriate attachment for their portable grill weber q models. Electric grills save you from having to carry fuel, but you’ll need access to electricity to use them; they tend to be best for home use or RV cooking where you have an outlet available.
We’ve tested more than 60 grills, including gas grills, charcoal grills, pellet grills and smokers and more. We’ve also tested a slew of portable grills as part of our typical grill testing over the years. Each time we test, we use the same testing methodology and ingredients to make sure our results are comparable.
We loaded the grates with 6-ounce burger patties and assessed the evenness of the heat, the temperature control, the searing performance, and any flare-ups. In our tests, its built-in thermometer confirmed it reached 600ºF in less than 10 minutes. It made great steak quickly and nicely browned chicken thighs in under 20 minutes with no noticeable flareups. Grease drips into a disposable drip pan, which makes cleanup easy.