The Weber Smokey Joe 14-inch is a kettle design that features most of the features found in Weber’s larger kettle models. The dual damper system provides the ability to easily control the heat inside the grill for slow cooking or high-heat searing, and the porcelain enamel finish provides excellent weber charcoal grill heat retention. Wirecutter’s 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.
Porcelain-coated cast-iron cooking grates are best at searing foods. Though cast iron adds an extra 5 to 10 pounds to the total weight of a grill, we think the flavorful dark weber genesis 2 crust on burgers and steaks makes it worthwhile. We also prefer an open grate design that allows ambient heat from the firebox to brown the areas in between the grill marks.
Charcoal, with its inherent messiness, may not be ideal depending on your portable grill needs but this is a workhorse that will get the job done and last you a good while. Plus, it clocks in at a budget-friendly $48 , making it my pick for the best cheap portable charcoal grill. weber q We love that the lid, which has two vents that stay cool enough to adjust during cooking, stays put on the grill in the open position and has a large, oversized handle for easy check-ins. Best of all, the lid can be inverted onto an included base and used as a second grill.
They’re small enough for a balcony or patch of grass outside your back door, plus you can pack them up for car camping and tailgating. And there are models are from major grill and home appliance brands, like Weber, Cuisinart, and Camp Chef, plus options across price points, from under $50 to upwards of $250 or more. The Weber Q 1200 is one of the highest-scoring in this category due to the adjustability of its control knob and a sound electronic ignition system.
Ultimately, I found food fell in between the bars of the grate too easily and the grill itself was too small to be useful. One of the best portable grills for camping is the Coleman portable grill. It features a built-in stand, extendable portable bbq wings, and three burners for temperature control. For each grill, we cooked a hamburger patty; chicken kabobs with chunks of boneless, skinless chicken breast; and vegetables that included squash, zucchini, onions, and bell peppers.