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. From lightweight grills that are ideal for camping to larger models perfect for a tailgate, we list our picks for the best portable grills to help you decide. For couples and small families looking for the convenience of propane, the Coleman Roadtrip 225 Portable may work better than a Weber.
When you’re done grilling, collapse the legs with one simple motion, and wheel it back to your car(the whole thing is about the size of a small carry-on roller bag). The wheels and legs do stick out a bit beyond the actual grill when it’s folded. But since it lays flat, it fits nicely in the bed of our truck and doesn’t move around—meaning we don’t need to worry about damaging it or spilling any residual grease on other things. Of course, living on the road comes with certain challenges, which meant whatever we picked would have to check a few important boxes. Space is limited, so any camp grill worthy of the rare real estate in the truck bed would need to pack up small.
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. For charcoal, we assessed how easy it was to maneuver the coal bed to create heat zones. We also considered if the grilling surface presents a consistent temperature throughout, whether it includes a thermometer or push-button ignition, and how well both perform.
Do not attempt to extinguish a grease fire with water or other liquids or by closing the lid. It is recommended that you have an ABC fire extinguisher nearby at all times. Either way, dragging a heavy clunky grill through sand sucks, so bring your GoBQ, some kabobs, a 6-pack of Corona, and enjoy life. Protect your grill from the elements and keep it looking like new — shop our full selection of durable grill covers from top brands. When you buy something using the retail links in our stories, we may earn a small commission.
Once the desired temperature is reached, the auger’s rotation slows, dropping fewer pellets into the pot to maintain the heat. The grill’s heat deflector plate acts as a physical barrier to keep the food from being exposed to the flames. The barrier also keeps cooking grease from creating weber charcoal grill flare-ups. The grill’s internal fans disperse the heat and smoke created by the burning pellet fuel around the grill, surrounding your food and heating the inside of the grill similar to a convection oven. For the price, you really can’t go wrong with this portable charcoal grill.
Then updates editor Michael J Kennelly used the Weber Q 1200 we tested to grill on his roof in Brooklyn from 2019 to 2020. They said the two-part grate was a little more annoying to deal with than the one-part grate on older Weber Q models, but it made up for it in ease of cleaning. They also noted that the burner tubes needed to be wiped down occasionally to make sure the grill would light effectively, especially if it’s only used occasionally. It was easy to clean out the grease tray underneath, and they found they didn’t need to buy Weber’s specialty tins—instead, they just lined the catch pan with aluminum foil and pulled it off when done. But, they said, investing in the bonnet cover and the collapsable cart were both well worth it.
Shop Ace Hardware to find a Weber portable grill to meet your outdoor cooking needs. Fire up your grill at the stadium, save space on your patio at home or add an extra grilling option to your arsenal for camping trips and overflow cooking if you love to host big parties. Timeless design with modern modifications, NOMAD Grills® are portable charcoal barbecue grills crafted from lightweight aircraft alloys. A compact carrying case with an unsurpassed weight-to-grate ratio. Charcoal grills give food a distinct smoky flavor that so many people love, which is why the Weber Smokey Joe Portable Grill is such a popular product. This compact grill is basically a miniature version of Weber’s cult-favorite charcoal grill, and it’s the perfect cooking device to take on the road with you.
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. Our top pick is the Weber Q2200 Liquid Propane Grill because of its quick and even heating and easy assembly. For an even lighter portable option, our tester loved the Cuisinart Petit Gourmet Gas Grill—and it’s cheaper than the Weber. The terms grilling and barbecue are often used interchangeably, which is fine, but if you get serious about cooking over flame you’ll want to learn the distinction. Grilling usually means cooking directly over high heat, while barbecue typically refers to cooking over indirect heat for longer periods of time.
Since the area of the basin exactly matches the surface area of the grill, we were then able to spread out those coals to create targeted heat zones. The George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor 15+ may offer a huge grilling surface, but can only be operated on a single heat-setting. Notice that while the onions were just beginning to nicely char, our burgers were over-browning to a crisp. Higher BTUs produce more heat, weber charcoal grill but it is challenging to determine the heat output from the BTU rating alone. Grill size, construction materials, and design all contribute to how much heat will be produced on the actual grilling surface. After weeks of research and two days of testing on burgers, barbecue, and whole chickens, the Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill 22″ is our pick as the best charcoal grill for most people.