The Grill2Go’s cooking grate can grill up to six large burger patties at a time. The propane coupling sat a couple of millimeters too close to the body, and we had to flex the assembly away from the grill to get the canister to fit. We asked Q 1200 owners on staff if they had this issue, and they confirmed that attaching the propane was easy on their grills. We’re chalking this up as a one-off problem unique to our test unit. When the side tables are tucked inside the grill for transport, the Weber Q 1200 is about the size of a small carry-on suitcase. You need two hands to carry the Q 1200, because it doesn’t have a latch to hold the lid securely to the firebox.
Weber is highly regarded for the quality and performance of its products, and its grills come at a premium price, so we had high expectations for the Q1200. The best portable grills are all about utility, and they come in a variety of different styles to suit user preferences. It’s essential to consider how heavy a grill you’re willing to carry from the house to the car, the car to the grilling location, and back again. Portable grills tend to weigh anywhere from 2 pounds to a whopping 50 pounds, and that weight can affect portability. A Traeger wood pellet grill offers the best combination of portability, versatility, safety, and ease of use for car camping and RV-ing. If you’re lucky enough to have an apartment, condo, or townhouse with outdoor space or balcony, a portable grill is one purchase that will really help you enjoy it.
The George Foreman comes with a dome-shaped lid, which we used when we roasted our kabobs. The vent problem was minor given that we could fine-tune the temperature with a turn of the control knob, which allowed us to produce juicy chicken and evenly cooked veggies. Cleaning the Jumbo Joe, as with cleaning the smaller version, is pretty straightforward; simply remove the grates and flip the entire grill over to dump the ash and charcoal bits into a trash can. While this is decidedly low tech, it’s easy enough, though we ended up creating a cloud of charcoal dust every time. A portable grill should be manageable to move, and the Q1200 is.
The Solaire Everywhere infrared grill is the most unique product in our roster and performs very well in a few categories. First, it is very small and compact, and its construction is tight and carries quietly. Most importantly, the high-powered ceramic “flameless” burner that sits below a carefully designed grate of v-shaped bars cooks steaks better than anything else in our review. For those excellent cuts of red meat that require nothing more than a touch of flame, this is the best portable grill on the market. The grill grates are porcelain enamel, which aids in longevity and heat retention.
It’s also worth noting that you’ll be getting more of a broiled result versus a traditional grill since there is no actual flame so don’t expect char marks on your oblong burgers. There are a few sizes, including this mid-size GoSun Goand the larger GoSun Survival if you’re planning on cooking for a group. My only complaint about the Venture is weber genesis 2 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. 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.
Both grills are similar in diameter, inches, while the Urban Cowboy is constructed of plate steel, weighing a fraction of the Sea Island at 75 pounds. The 72-inch tripod adds another 47 pounds to the equation, along with the considerations of packing 6-foot poles. The Green Mountain Trek is a combination smoker and grill, equally suited for a couple of slabs of ribs or steaks for the group. It features an auger-fed pellet system with a hopper that can accommodate up to nine pounds of wood pellets, which is enough fuel for small smoking tasks without the need to refill. Before or after each use, crank it up to high for five or 10 minutes to incinerate all the drippings and stuck-on food. Scrape the hot grates with a grill brush, wipe them with a wet rag to remove the soot, and brush them with vegetable oil.
But the position of the side handles helps to evenly distribute its 30-pound heft and lessens the burden of hoisting and moving the grill. Grills equipped with an accessible coupling for 1-pound liquid-propane portable bbq canisters are a must. One-pound canisters are lightweight, inexpensive, and available at most hardware stores. Lugging around a 20-pound propane cylinder isn’t our idea of portability.