Cooking on this gas grill is also a breeze since there’s only one knob to get the heat going, and our tests showed the temperature is accurate and easy to regulate. We found that the design of the grates helped create a good sear and nice caramelization. The only real caveat is that the grates are a bit more difficult to clean, as brushing them can cause the entire unit to shake. That said, we suggest cleaning the grates after taking them out, or you’ll have to manually stabilize the grill.
Similar to charcoal grills, pellet grills take some time before they’re ready for cooking, and this model takes a while to warm up. Lastly, the Camp Chef Portable Pellet is very heavy compared to the majority of portable grills we tested. Although the wheels are helpful, it’s not super fun to drag this grill very far from your vehicle – other top options like the Weber Traveler are much more portable. Despite that, we loved cooking with the Camp Chef Portable Pellet grill – it is the perfect addition to an RV setup. Over the past seven years, our experts have purchased more than 30 of the best portable grills to test side-by-side.
We got some pretty wild swings in temperature when opening the lid and adding food. Well-designed portable gas grills will produce evenly-cooked food with solid sear and grill marks. During our testing, we even found some could rival standalone models for versatility. (The Coleman RoadTrip X-Cursion, for example, excellent in direct and indirect heat cooking methods, making a good choice for searing steaks and baking fish alike).
Upon delivery, the driver will take it off the truck for you but it is your responsibility to bring it onto your property. According to our years of testing, the best charcoal grill is the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22” Grill. The best gas grill according to our tests is the Weber Spirit weber portable grill II E-310—both mainstays by the Weber brand. For the charcoal options, I also smoked ribs, pork, and brisket, If you’re planning to smoke, I highly recommend investing in some kind of thermometer system. It has adapters based on your grill and offers one temp probe and three food probes.
A temperature dial lets you control the heat as easily and quickly as on a kitchen range. This propane grill is sturdy, easy to use, and big enough to grill burgers for a small crowd. It’s on the heavy side, but it has comfortable handles for transport. This could be a good starter grill for someone who wants to try grilling but doesn’t want to make a large commitment to the endeavor.
There is a broad range of prices in this category, but a few of the lower-priced models stand out. After two rounds of thorough testing, we’ve found our favorites for folks who would prefer a portable gas grill. The sturdy Weber Q 2200 has a number of high-end features usually reserved for full-size grills, such as a built-in lid thermometer, electronic ignition, and infinite control burner valve. When it comes to the gas grill’s performance, it gets hot quickly, cooks food evenly, and is easy to clean when you’re done. The unit has a cast aluminum body and ergonomic side handles to make it easy to move from one place to another. It’s a bit heavy for a portable option, weighing in at over 43 pounds, but most of the weight is actually its cast-iron grates, which can be carried separately for easy transport.
Of the wheeled options that we tested, we want to give a special shout-out to the Weber Traveler, which is so easy to use and transport that you can do it with only one hand (and foot). The grill also features a lock that securely fastens it into its compact and portable position, while the long handle and durable wheels make upright portability a breeze. When it’s time to load it into your vehicle, another large handle on the other side of the grill makes it much easier to pick it up and place it into your pickup. But we also recognize that this 49-pound grill is large, and we understand that this alone might be a limiting factor for some people. But when directly compared to the cumbersome and awkward portability of the top-heavy Coleman 285, the Traveler is clearly superior thanks to a more thoughtful and user-friendly design. The Cuisinart Petite Gourmet is one of the smallest grills in our tests, and the size does affect control.
Most sturdy small grills should last you several years to a decade if the unit is cleaned, covered and cared for properly. The big drawback with this nifty portable oven is its cooking capacity. Since food has to be loaded into a tube, you can’t really cook many of the traditional barbecue meats such as ribs.