A heat shield keeps the plastic lid handle cool to the touch. And since the spacious firebox fits a full chimney starter’s worth of coals, you can get two or three rounds of grilling per load. In our tests, the Jumbo Joe produced the best seared burgers, barbecued chicken, and grilled bratwurst. The two adjustable vents, in the lid and firebox, allowed the quickest and easiest temperature control of all the grills we tested.
The igniter works well and, once lit, the grill got hot, reaching its advertised 500 degrees Fahrenheit after just 15 minutes with the lid closed. The flame is easy to control and keeps a consistent temperature throughout cooking, even when grilling with the flame turned low. One-pound propane cylinders weber q take up very little space for transport. Charcoal is bulky and heavy, but open fire does provide flavoring from the terpenes in the wood. Running out of gas without a refill can bring your cookout to a halt, while foraging for firewood may prove possible when the charcoal burns out too soon.
It’s not as sophisticated as the SmartFire, but it’s more portable, and two probes is generally all I need on small grills. Not everyone has a yard, and it’s increasingly common for apartments to ban open flame grills on balconies. Three portable grill subjects assembled and ready for testing. I live in Brooklyn where I write about food subscriptions, cooking, kitchen gadgets and commerce. Greg Baker is an award-winning chef, restaurateur, and food writer with decades of experience in the food industry.
From Weber camping grills to tabletop grills, shop a variety of grill sizes and styles to find your perfect portable gas grill at Ace Hardware today. Portable grills are smaller than typical backyard grills, but they still come in a range of sizes. If your need for portability is limited to moving your grill from storage to the patio, a larger option might be best since you’ll have more grilling capacity. If you’re planning on taking your grill on a camping trip, though, a smaller, super lightweight model might make the most sense. Also, look at the grilling surface area specifically to see how much you will be able to cook at one time. The Weber Q 2200 is powered by disposable liquid propane cylinders .
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. Plus, you won’t get any of that flame-grilled goodness since there’s no, well, flame. While all the grills on this list are portable to some degree, certain weber genesis 2 models are decidedly more portable than others. The NomadiQ portable propane grill folds up into a case the size of a small bag, with easy-grab handles. It also weighs just 12 pounds, making it the best truly portable gas grill I tested. The value of your portable grill depends on your cooking needs and and your intended usage.
3) Tell us everything we need to know to help such as the type of cooker and thermometer. Dial thermometers are often off by as much as 50°F so if you are not using a good digital thermometer we probably can’t help you with time and temp questions. Our most important source of sustenance is people who join our Pitmaster Club. Click below to see all the benefits, take a free 30 day trial, and help keep this site alive. Since the compact Q 1000 uses small propane cylinders, it’s easy to transport; yet you’ll still get half-a-dozen five-place meals out of each canister.
We enlisted fresh bratwurst links to gauge each grill’s ability to handle a grate full of fatty meat. You have the added chore of snuffing out hot coals and emptying ashes after grilling. You need to return them to designated locations, such as big-box hardware stores, for disposal and recycling. Sign up to receive the latest info on new products, special offers, and exclusive sales. When you make rubs at home we recommend you add salt first them the herbs and spices because salt penetrates deep and the other stuff remains on the surface.
Adjustable temperature dials make it easy to get the food just right, while dome lid gauges help you keep track of the heat. Portable doesn’t necessarily mean small, with some grills featuring 240 square inches of cooking space. Enjoy delicious grilled meats year round or wherever you go with weber q grills from BJ’s Wholesale Club. If you’re looking for a professional-quality grill that you can also take on the go, this model from Blaze delivers.