It has a thermometer and some side tables to hold your plates and tongs. It’s also a champ at keeping a constant, even heat in pretty much any weather conditions. A storm blew in one afternoon, but it just kept on cooking despite the high wind and rain. We barbecued for weeks to find the right charcoal and propane grills for road trips—or just for smaller homes. It’s also worth noting that you’ll be getting more of a broiled result versus a traditional grill since there is no actual flame so don’t expect char marks on your oblong burgers.
Often, but not always, if you purchase a product after clicking a link on our site we get a finder’s fee. We recommend products based on quality and price, not on fees. These fees do not add to the price of purchase but they do help keep this site alive. Secondly, you need to look out for the grill size with these portable units – as well as how much they weigh if you really are after something you can carry down to the beach. Equally, you don’t want something you can carry but you can’t cook what needs to be cooked – especially if it means you need to do two or three batches of cooking. For two-person picnics, this natty barbie-in-a-case is a better bet than the disposable variety.
Invented in South Africa, the sturdy, kettle-style Cobb is a small, portable cylindrical unit that can grill, fry, bake and even roast a whole chicken, albeit a small one. Although Traeger says its maximum temperature is 230˚C, we noticed that the actual highest temperature reaches about 241˚C and with a roaring flame beneath the heat shield. This means it could feasibly be used to sear steaks, too; something pellet grills usually don’t excel at. Camp Chef claims it puts out 12,000 BTU, but it’s uneven—our bread test revealed comparatively cool corners at the front edge, owing to the coverage of one burner. Otherwise, that’s a lot of heat available to a relatively small grill surface. In some respects, we found it was actually a bit too much heat.
You’re also going to want other tools that make food prep and cleanup easy – tools like thermometers, grill brushes, and a wide range of grilling cookware. You can simultaneously fit a 12-inch pan and a 10-inch pan on this little grill. Two adjustable burners offer precise temperature control, and wind-blocking panels add to its camping-friendly appeal. With tens of thousands of positive reviews, it’s also one of the most highly recommended on our list. The wood pellet grill can get up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, and in addition to its main grilling area, it also has a removable upper rack. You can control the grill via its digital dial, and while the model is compact, keep in mind it weighs a substantial 42 pounds.
Yes, it’s large when folded and, at 28.141kgs, it’s extremely heavy too – at least for a portable. But on the plus side it can be transported like a shopping trolley on its large wheels with the whole barbecue section locked into place. But whether the wheels make it tough going on beach sand is weber charcoal grill open for debate. The top and base combine to form an attractive prep surface that clips alongside the grill. The single 9,000-BTU burner is fueled by a 16-ounce propane canister that conveniently stores in the base. Our R&D department develops high-quality, fairly priced grilling equipment.
There’s Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support, so you can keep tabs on your cook from anywhere. To test this I marinated some chicken in lemon juice and olive oil and laid it on the grills. Every grill flared somewhat, but the Q have heavy enameled cast-iron grates that are closed over the burners, which helps keep the flaring under control. But there are other models that may be a better fit depending on your grilling goals, including a few that are so portable you could take lug them on a long hike or bike trip.
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 genesis 2 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.