If you’re in need of a new grill this year, here’s our guide to the very best portable grills. We’ve researched and tested dozens of portable grills to see which can brat the best. The sturdy handles extend far enough away from the grill body to make it reasonable to pick up and move even while lit. Last, but certainly not least, we wish this model came with a latch to secure the lid.
Some portable grills have dishwasher-safe components, although all we tested can be wiped down with a damp cloth, scrub brush, or even hosed down. For the purpose of this review, we’ll be discussing gas grills exclusively, although we did review portable charcoal grills here. I often start these lists with some variation of “when I was young,” and weber kettle bbq I don’t mean to — it makes me seem like a curmudgeon. It’s just that, as an elder of Gen X, it’s hard to believe the grilling technologies on the market have replaced the often life-threatening pieces of equipment that were commonplace in my youth. They also happen to be easy to move, light, cool, clean, and repack on top of that performance.
All of these are heavy-duty, making the Q 1200 sturdy, durable, and likely to last a very long time. That aside, foods cooked fairly evenly and sported aesthetically pleasing grill marks in our tests. Heat regulation is very easy, with one knob to control everything.
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. The grill surface itself also has a lot to do with the effectiveness of the Q 1200. Unlike so many other grills that are outfitted with a simple, stainless steel grate, the range of this barbecue is porcelain-enameled cast iron.
While UPS and FedEx are our carriers for smaller items, be aware that larger items and orders are shipped via freight. The freight process is a bit more complicated than what we’ve all come to expect for small parcels, so it’s important that you’re prepared and understand what’s required of you well before delivery day. All products available on our website
qualify for free standard shipping.
Her expertise builds on a lifelong career in the culinary world—from a restaurant cook and caterer to a food editor at Martha Stewart. She is perfectly happy to leave all that behind to be a full-time kitchen-gear nerd. The tiny Cuisinart CGG-180T Petite Gourmet Portable Tabletop Gas Grill suffered major flare-ups when cooking burgers and turned into a raging grease fire when cooking chicken pieces. Everything we cooked on this grill had a dark, sooty film and tasted like torched fat. Even after loading the Jumbo Joe grill with a full chimney starter’s worth of red-hot embers (about 90 briquettes), we could still tamp down the temperature to medium heat.
The only part about using the Nomad that I didn’t love was emptying it. Because it needs to be emptied while completely open, it was hard to lift when attempting to dump the ash into a bin. On its website Nomad suggests using a shop vac to get all the spent charcoal out. I have no doubt that that would do the trick, but if you’re off on an adventure an hour from an electrical outlet, a shop vac might not be practical.
In my opinion, cast iron holds its seasoning longer and sears meat the best. There are plenty of older portable gas grills on the market, but in my opinion, they’ve either been too small or inconvenient to transport. Grab the handle of your Smokey Joe® Premium portable charcoal grill and throw a BBQ, tailgate, or grill lunch anywhere you go. Its lightweight design and carry handle make it easy to pack up your charcoal and grill wherever the day takes you. Load up the car and hit the road with your Smokey Joe® portable charcoal grill. Its durable, lightweight, compact design is perfect for grilling on the go – whether walking to the beach or taking a road trip.
Keep in mind that this is a little different than normal grilling, since it cooks from the top and bottom, which means your food cooks faster. Make sure you preheat your grill until the green light clicks. This will ensure that your food doesn’t stick to the grill plates.