To evaluate these grills I assembled each one from scratch and then cooked an array of foods at various temperatures to see how they performed. Foods cooked included steak and burgers, which do best with a hot sear. We wouldn’t recommend using this as a combination smoker-grill due to its size, but it is excellent for direct or offset grilling for meats, vegetables, sausages, and the like.
There are several situations in which having portability is ideal. One situation is if you do not have a fully planned outdoor space. This will allow you to move the grill around as you are coming up with different options for the layout of your furniture and grill.
When I’m not writing about home products, I can be found putting them to the test, often with help from my two young children, in the 1860s townhouse I’m restoring in my free time. Whether you’re grilling on a deck, patio or small balcony, we found a storage solution for your grilling tools and more. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support our work. Learn how we create the world’s most carefully tested and objective gear reviews on our About page. The Char Broil Grill2Go is unique in that, for transport, you can carry fuel cans inside the lid.
The Cuisinart Petit Gourmet Portable Gas Grill stands out from the crowd thanks to its unique design, which converts from a freestanding model into a tabletop model in seconds. If you don’t want to shell out for our best overall option, this is a more affordable choice that also stood up to rigorous testing. Maybe you want to enjoy grilled meats or weber genesis 2 vegetables on your next camping trip or picnic, or you’re looking for that smoky flavor on your burgers at the next tailgate party. If it’s hard to move, it isn’t actually a portable grill; it’s just a grill that’s smaller than you’d like it to be. It has two magnetic vents which, when set to half open, allow the grill to stay at 250°F for an hour.
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.
It is a US federal crime to publish or distribute anything on this website without permission. Try to get one with a cover for the best temperature control and to prevent burning thicker meats. Try to get enough surface area so you can set up for 2-zone cooking.
Use two or three small fire starter blocks under the coals and start grilling once the flames have died down. GrillGrates amplify heat, prevent flareups, make flipping foods easier, kill hotspots, flip over to make a fine griddle, and can be easily moved from one grill to another. You can even throw wood chips, pellets, or sawdust between the rails and deliver a quick burst of smoke. You’ll need to start a campfire to get this grill going, but that just means you get to flex your lumbersexual woodsman skills in front of your buds. The grill grate also has retractable legs, so when you’re not cooking over the open fire, it collapses and folds to dimensions so small it can be stashed in your backpack.
On the charcoal side, insulation plays a much more important role in output power and efficiency. The Cuisinart Portable Charcoal and Weber Go-Anywhere are very similar in terms of coal bed volume, but the Go-Anywhere scores much higher thanks to its cast iron construction. U-shaped burners, as found on the Weber Q 1200, are the design of choice to efficiently deliver heat across the extent of a grill surface. Beneath those head-sized ribeyes you can see the glowing orange Solaire heating element. A nice option to have if you’re running low on fuel or only cooking a simple meal for one. Ultimately, there are many advantages that come when you get a portable outdoor grill.
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.