Grills that evenly distribute the heat across the entire grate cook food more consistently. Extreme hotspots cause patchy charring and require you to babysit your dinner, and flare-ups are annoying and can make food taste like burnt oil. The Weber Q 2200 Gas Grill offers the same high-quality build and stellar grilling weber q performance as our top pick, the Weber Q 1200, but with a 48% bigger grilling grate and 41% higher Btu output. However, this 40-pound portable grill isn’t lightweight by any stretch of the imagination. We conducted two sets of tests for scoring, depending on whether the grill was gas-fueled or charcoal.
It’s great for cooking multiple burgers the same way, for this reason. We were impressed with the high-heat grilling performance of the Weber Go Anywhere Charcoal Grill. But when the firebox got hot, the side vents that regulated airflow stuck in place, rendering us powerless when it came to heat control—critical for slow-cooking things weber genesis 2 like chicken and sausages. With 189 square inches of grilling area (17 by 12½ inches), the Weber Q 1200 has enough space to grill a full dinner for two or the main course for a small gathering. We found that this Weber model is capable of grilling six large burger patties, a whole cut-up chicken, or 10 bratwurst links at a time.
This will let you get used to the short space between the charcoal and grates. The corners of rectangular grills have a tendency to collect ash and other residue, so you’ll probably have to spend a little more time than you like thoroughly cleaning this grill after each use. Carrying this grill to various different cookout sites is easier than ever thanks to the Tuck-N-Carry lid lock. With a name like “Jumbo Joe” at first glance this doesn’t exactly scream portable grill. Our team of barbecue experts has put these grills to the test to see how well they perform, and how portable they really are.
Also, the grill grates are made of thin stainless steel whereas I would have preferred nonstick ceramic or iron. While the Weber Original Kettle may have taken the top spot in CNET’s list of best charcoal grills, this newcomer is my pick for the best portable charcoal grill. A smart and solid build allows you to take this small grill anywhere, including on a long hike.
For this reason, wood pellet grills are often permitted on patios or balconies — while gas and charcoal grills, which do use open flame for cooking, are prohibited. Cast-aluminum fireboxes are durable, corrosion resistant, and excellent at evenly absorbing and reflecting heat, so you have fewer hotspots. This means you don’t have to obsessively babysit your barbecued chicken to prevent excessive charring.
The simple ash catcher is a nice touch and keeps hot embers from falling on the ground. And the heat-resistant lid handle stays cool enough to grasp without a towel or oven mitt. After testing five propane models, we’re confident that the Weber Q 1200 Gas Grill is the best portable gas grill.