Despite its 12,000 Btu output, it ran the coldest of all the propane portables we tested, yielding pallid burgers and flabby, undercooked chicken. The 240-square-inch grilling grate can accommodate up to seven 6-ounce burger patties at a time. As for the weight, the Q-series grills are a bit heavy for moving around often. If you prioritize portability over cooking performance, consider our runner-up pick. When the side tables are tucked inside the grill for transport, the Weber Q 1200 is about the size of a small carry-on suitcase. You need both hands to carry the Q 1200, because it doesn’t have a latch to hold the lid securely to the firebox.
Lugging around a 20-pound propane cylinder isn’t our idea of portability. If you wind up wanting to use a larger tank, you can purchase an adapter with a Type 1 connector for a 20-pound refillable propane tank. A temperature dial lets you control the heat easily and quickly, just as on a kitchen range. This control helps to mitigate flare-ups, excessive charring, or undercooking. Small it might be, but make no mistake about it, UNA Grill is big enough to fit a steak.
We also evaluated how secure or not secure they were, noisiness during transport, and cleanliness on the ride home. Building an intensely hot coal bed, that can later be spread out to create individual heat zones, is a critical skill in mastering the art of charcoal grilling. In general, a charcoal grill and bags of briquets cost less than a gas grill and propane canisters. If you have enough space for a full-size grill, you’ll probably be happier with one of our full-size picks . Their capacity and their compact size aren’t ideal for cuts of meat that require slow or indirect cooking, such as roasts or pork shoulder. All you need to do is take the lid off and use it as the base of your grill.
Weber makes affordable covers for both the Q 1200 and Q 2200 , and we strongly recommend the investment. The carrying case for the Char-Broil Grill2Go isn’t weatherproof, but you can use a heavy-duty contractor-style garbage bag or a tarp for protection. A swiveling metal handle tightly holds the grill together for easy transporting. The propane coupling juts out the side, and attaching 1-pound liquid-propane canisters is easy.
Easily schedule an at-home assembly of your new grill & patio furniture, powered by Handy. Scott Gilbertson is a senior writer and reviewer for WIRED, specializing in portable technology. He was previously a writer and editor for WIRED’s Webmonkey.com, covering the browser wars, web standards, the independent web, and all aspects of internet culture.
Grill size isn’t necessarily tied to value — in fact, the smallest grills in our review are among some of the most expensive. When considering carrying dimensions, grilling surface, and overall performance, the more average-sized grills tend to fall into a more reasonable price bracket. There is a broad range of prices in this category, but two of the lower-priced models stand out. The Cuisinart Grillster has the power you need to sear steaks, but due to its lower-end price point, it lacks the overall control of better grills.
When it comes to charcoal, you get full control of how much heat your charcoal grill produces. It takes a little practice to get the hang of it, but it’s all about controlling the airflow, portable bbq the coal patterns, and the food’s proximity to the hot coals. You’ll learn to allow oxygen in by opening up the bottom vents, fueling the coals, and creating intense heat.
For the gas grills, we also placed slices of white bread over the entire surface to map out the heating pattern. Grills with even heating really shined here, creating predictable patterns without noticeable hot or cold spots. There were a lot of things to like about the Fire Sense weber charcoal grill HotSpot Notebook. If this contest were all about portability, this one would win! It folds down completely flat and includes storage space inside for the three-hinged grill grate. Not only that, but it’s available for a fraction of the price as the other portable grills.
Whether you’re firing up the charcoal for a cookout or gathering friends around the electric grill in your kitchen to cook together, this versatile grill has you covered. This easy-to-use grill converts from electric for indoor or outdoor use to charcoal for outdoor use. The innovative weber charcoal grill grill grate covers the electric coil to reduce smoke. Shop this large selection of outdoor grills at DICK’S Sporting Goods and discover the perfect design for your needs. Are you looking for that premium backyard grill that can get super hot to perfectly sear steaks?
The Smokey Joe makes it easy to remove the cooking grates, dump the charcoal, and wipe everything mostly clean. The carry handle latches across the lid to lock everything in place, so the grill won’t spew ash around the back of your car. 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. The Broil King Signet 320 is a modestly priced, 3-burner gas grill that packs a lot of value and power under the hood. Broil King’s proprietary, dual-tube burners get hot fast and are able to achieve high, searing temps that rival most comparatively priced gas grills. The quality cast aluminum housing carries a Limited Lifetime Warranty.