Plus, with its fast heat-up time and even heat distribution, you’ll get perfect cooking results on everything from standard burgers and dogs to grilled chicken and more. In general, gas or propane grills make for the best portable grills since they’re clean, easy and fast to get fired up. Charcoal is a fine weber bbq alternative but the charcoal is heavier and messier than a small propane tank and charcoal generally takes longer to light. Small electric grills are also an option and while they sound great, remember you might not always have access to power, especially if you’re camping or spending a day in the park.
Across all tests, we paid attention to ease of use, performance, and design. USA-made Weber grills cost more than many of their competitors (although they’re by no means the priciest weber bbq girls on the market). This is in part due to the relatively high labor costs for onshore manufacturing. They’re also made from premium materials, guaranteed to last a long time.
The compact Traveler grill cart is designed for easy, one-handed set up and fold down, and has an automatic lid lock and all-weather wheels for navigating rough terrain. The Weber Traveler operates on a portable-sized 14.1 or 16.4-ounce propane cylinder (sold separately). Grill size isn’t necessarily tied to value — in fact, some of 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.
They did so on the heels of testing full-size gas and charcoal grills, as well as grill accessories. Lesley built on her decade of experience in professional kitchens (much of it spent on the grill station) to design and run all of these tests. Portable grills aren’t just great for toting to a campground, park, or tailgate. If you don’t have the space or budget for a full-size grill, they might also be the best option for your backyard. After grilling 65 burgers, 30 pounds of chicken, and 25 pounds of bratwurst on nine portable grills, we have recommendations for both gas and charcoal options.
Refunds are issued to the original form of payment, unless returned in store where some exclusions may apply. We inventory many of our products in our warehouse in North Liberty, Iowa to provide quick and flexible shipping options for the entire country. Certain custom-finished products and other items will ship factory direct from the manufacturer when necessary and can take additional time to process. It’s a step-by-step grilling assistant, built into the grill, that sends notifications on everything from when it’s time to flip & serve to a food readiness countdown. My only complaint about the Venture is that the grease tray is small and therefore prone to spilling if you aren’t careful when you slide it out. Despite that, this is a clever, fun, well-designed grill that’s perfect for searing on the go.
It gets hot and has, as one tester noted, “highly responsible” temperature control. In our tests, it produced “nice golden-brown” steak with “defined grill marks” and a “good crust.” During one test, even a delicate fish filet did not stick to the grates. Another tabletop option, this portable gas grill from Weber was a standout for our testers, who named it the winner of the group, and even noted its performance rivaled standard-size grills. “This thing could be priced even higher and I would buy it,” a tester noted, although at under $300, it’s attractively priced as-is.
Simply attach the included RV quick connect hose to the external liquid propane (LP) port on your Airstream and your grill and you’re ready to go. From charcoal-grilled fare when camping to a Weber portable gas grill for tailgates, Ace Hardware makes it easy to get the grill that’s right for you. Shop Weber grills near you at your local Ace, and explore a host of other products to make grilling a breeze. Order online for quick delivery to your home or choose in-store pick up at participating locations. One specific part of a portable gas grill where you’ll want to check the material is the grates. Cast iron, porcelain-coated cast iron, and stainless steel are all popular materials used for grill grates, and each has its advantages and drawbacks.
The Weber Q 2200 is compact enough to take tailgating or to the beach, but this top-rated grill still offers a spacious cooking surface and powerful heating elements. If you plan on camping, the smaller Cuisinart CGG-750 Venture Grill has a convenient carrying handle and a cutting board top. The Travelq really does pack a lot of useful space into a small package.
A swiveling metal arm holds the grill together for transport and doubles as a lid holder while you’re grilling. The comfortable plastic handle allows you to lift the grill with one hand, while a heat shield keeps it cool to the touch during grilling. The Q 1200’s design caused the fewest flare-ups of any model we tried, thanks to built-in channels in the porcelain-coated cast-iron grill grates. These helped keep grease and drippings away from the flames while still allowing ambient heat to brown between grill marks.