5 Portable Grills For All Your Outdoor Cooking Needs

We grew frustrated at the number of times we had to re-light this model in high winds. The Weber Q 1200 comes with a disposable aluminum drip tray insert that you can place in the more permanent drip tray. This is nice for aiding with cleanup, but it’s not very wind-resistant, weber q so it usually ended up on the ground after flying away in windy conditions. This can be remedied by doing away with this disposable part or just by putting a rock in it. The Char Broil Grill2Go is unique in that, for transport, you can carry fuel cans inside the lid.

The split Y propane hose creates two temperature-controlled cooking zones, which is unique considering that most portable gas grills only have one temperature control knob. After assembling each of the grills, my goal was to assess the size of each grill’s cooking surface, as well as its weight and shape, fuel type , ease of transport, and overall performance. The Biolite’s grill surface is only about 130 square weber q inches, so it isn’t as large as some of the other portable grills we tested for this guide. However, we were able to fit and cook four burgers over direct heat or four chicken drumsticks when the coals were arranged to indirect heat. If our top gas pick is out of stock, or you’re looking for a portable grill that’s well suited for cooking for a crowd, we recommend the Weber Traveler Portable Gas Grill.

At the end of the day, BTUs are simply an indication of how much heat your grill can produce, not how hot it will actually get inside your grill. So, look at the number if you like, but don’t put too much stock into it. The COBB Frying Pan is not just restricted to eggs and pancakes but makes the perfect pizza and scones every time. If you don’t have the luxury of a permanent outdoor space, or want to grill indoors during the colder months, we can’t recommend Kenyon’s All-Seasons Portable Grill highly enough. Next, we cooked about 30 pounds of juicy hamburgers (hand-formed from ground chuck), marinated bone-in chicken, and veggie patties, with Joachim’s help.

And while it’s size may have made it bulky and hard to transport, Weber’s round, kettle design kept it from being intimidating. This somewhat simple, unassuming grill turned out to be the sleeper in our test. We were really impressed by how easy it was to cook with either direct or indirect heat. The charcoal tray is adjustable, hanging from a ladder rack that can quickly raise or lower the coals as needed.

I am definitely going to ask the store employees about all of the things you mentioned. If I hadn’t read this article, I probably would’ve gotten a much pricier grill even though we have a small family and we have only one or two barbecue cookouts a month. It also comes with stainless folding shelves, a temperature gauge, and a removable grease drip tray. Measuring 20 x 28 x 13”, its one piece welded grill base is porcelain coated steel, and this made in China model can convert to 20 lb. It will help to hold the heat within the cooking area, and it conducts the heat into the food for cooking – which leaves the characteristic char marks. But the BTU rating doesn’t get the final say in determining how hot the model will get.

portable bbq

The classic kettle shape is hard to position in a tightly packed vehicle, but we were able to fit it into the truck bed without a problem. Do you really need a massive grill decked out with special features to cook the perfect burger? This is particularly true since today’s best portable grills are designed to be versatile, functional and affordable. You can bring these grills to campsites, use them during a tailgating session or get one for your vacation home and enjoy the same delicious outdoor flavors that you experience on your deck or patio. Granted, the Grill2Go isn’t as compact or as light as the Primus Kuchoma reviewed above, but it isn’t too heavy to carry short distances; the two fat handles are a big help in this respect. Let’s closely compare the smallest grills in our test regarding control.

They also often have heat deflector plates that prevent direct searing and grill marks. For tailgating, camping, or a barbecue in the park, the RoadTrip 285 is easy to haul and set up. It runs on 16-ounce propane canisters—bring spares if you’re cooking for a crew or making multiple meals. The two-piece grates are made of cast iron and coated with porcelain, covering three burners which yield 20,000 BTUs. The burners all sit under the solid center sections of the grates, which our bread test revealed to be the hottest area on the grill.

Though the grill weighs a hefty 30 pounds, the comfortable side handles make it easy to carry. This handsome, lightweight propane-powered grill has modern Scandinavian design cues like a wood-faced handle, stainless steel folding legs, and boxy lid with triangular vent holes. The 16×9-inch grilling surface is made from a non-stick ceramic and rests over a stainless drip tray, both easily removable for washing. An integrated Piezo ignitor blasts off a powerful 8,500 Btus of indirect, hot dog-roasting heat. Overall, Ginevra recommends looking for a heavy duty grill with a steel grilling surface, which brought us to this small propane gas table-top grill.