10 Best Portable Grills

The Cuisinart portable grill also runs on any small propane tank you can find at camping or hardware stores. The GoBQ also performed well, cultivating a steady and hot fire, and has a robust 185 square inches of grilling space. There are no bells and whistles on this grill, so you’ll have to adjust and maintain the fire as you would most charcoal fires or campfires — with a careful flow of oxygen and good charcoal management. It’s a little more expensive than some on the market, but it’s built to last.

In our testing, we grilled burgers, hot dogs, and bone-in chicken on the GoBQ, all of which culminated with the expected, delicious results. While the standard fare was quite easy, the chicken cooked over indirect heat required a little more manipulation of the charcoal, which wanted to settle to the middle of the basket. This one gets the job done almost entirely through conduction—its single burner provides heat to a porcelain-coated cast-iron cooking grid that functions much like a 189-square-inch pan. There’s something decidedly sophisticated about the grey-beige hue of this pint-sized grill. This portable grill comes with two drip trays, a gas hose/regulator, and a carrying strap, and the brand claims it can be set up in as little as 45 seconds . It boasts an electronic ignition system for quick and easy start-up, and the grates are even dishwasher-safe, making it easy to clean up after a fun day at the beach or park.

This is a small grill with a big heart; it had no problem when covered with hamburger patties and buns. Lastly, whether you’re tailgating or having a picnic at the park, one thing is certain; you want a swift and easy cleanup, and our portable grills deliver just that. Our products, such as the Weber Premium 14-Inch Smokey Joe, which is a powerhouse despite its compact nature, is ideal for smaller outdoor spaces that can’t accommodate the larger counterparts. With porcelain-enameled layering and triple nickel plating, it’s backed by a 10-year warranty and designed to thrive in nearly all outdoor environments. Soaring in popularity, they come in a vast assortment of fuel types such as gas, pellet, electric, or charcoal.

GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure weber charcoal grill complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. What better occasion to “force” a spring picnic than grill testing. A family event, comparing grills and eating good food in March in Drictor, Wydaho.

portable bbq

To use, simply unclip, fill the titchy charcoal grate with a very small amount of charcoal and a couple of firelighters, and rest the steel grill on top. The Smokey Joe is a doddle to control, large enough to accommodate about 16 sausages, and light enough to carry to a beach, campsite or picnic spot of your choice (as long as it’s not too far a walk). weber charcoal grill It’s also perfect for small patios or as a second standby barbecue. We tried a number of ingredients on it – burgers, sausages, chicken legs – and they all cooked perfectly well with only one visit to turn the food over. We even took a flier and lobbed on a whole medium chicken which was more succulent than any we’ve cooked in the indoor oven.