Finally, we assessed the grill’s portability by physically carrying each grill to our vehicle and attempting to place it in the trunk. The Cuisinart uses a kettle style that’s notably shallower than other kettle-style grills. On the plus side, the shallow kettle required just 12 briquettes to heat the entire 14-inch cooking surface. The Green Mountain Grills Davy Crockett Pellet Grill differentiates itself from standard portable grills with its ability to smoke as well as barbecue, making it the most versatile grill we tested. Like its little brother, the Jumbo Joe heats evenly and can reach temperatures well above what’s needed for searing.
We also took into account how simple or challenging each contender was to clean. If you’re cooking only one type of food that covers the entire grilling surface, then you will want to have consistent heat throughout. If you are cooking a variety of foods all at once, you might prefer weber genesis 2 different temperature zones. To test the distribution of heat across a grill, we grilled different food types in different corners of the grill. The Petit Gourmet is lightweight with a small footprint that is great for packing in small spaces, making it great for camping.
Every grill flared somewhat, but the Q have heavy enameled cast-iron grates that are closed over the burners, which helps keep the flaring under control. Warm weather is still a ways off for many of us, but this is time of year when, like a groundhog, the grill starts to poke out of the snow and show its rusty, neglected self. 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.
Higher BTUs produce more heat, but it is challenging to determine the heat output from the BTU rating alone. Grill size, construction materials, and design all contribute to how much heat will be produced on the actual grilling surface. Weighing pricing and the included accessories, the $2900 Sea Island base model includes the kettle and the boot rail stand.
Grilling with wood pellets has become quite popular, and smaller portable pellet grills are now available. Some might argue that pellet grills offer the best flavor, and they also have easy temperature adjustments. However, pellet grills are often much more expensive than charcoal, propane, or electric grills. Plus, some models are modular, meaning setup could be time-consuming and complicated. The three main types of fuel sources for grilling are wood pellets, propane gas, and charcoal briquettes.
Lining up grills side-by-side to test the backyard ultra-classics, hamburgers and portabella-burgers. Beneath those head-sized ribeyes you can see the glowing orange Solaire heating element. weber q It depends on whether you have a small cylinder (typically 1-pound) or a 20-pound tank, which are the type that you can find at home improvement or convenience stores for swap-out.
Plus, you never have to wait for the grill to cool down before closing up shop again because the Char-Broil grill features heat-resistant handles and legs that fold over and lock portable bbq the lid. Gas grills are more expensive but easier to use and maintain than charcoal grills. You can fire up your gas grill in as little as five minutes and start cooking.
We especially liked that the shelves that were big enough to hold tools, plates and cutting boards. So many portable grills require users to either squat over them or procure a tabletop on which they can be placed. The Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill sets itself apart by including its own stand. Although the stand—a hefty 50 pounds—does add to the RoadTrip’s weight, it’s easier to move than many lighter grills.
The problem is that the 13-inch grilling surface of the MiniMax can only grill for about four people. That’s a lot of hype, and I was prepared to be underwhelmed, but the Takibi lives up to the hype and then some. It folds flat, leaving more room in your trunk; the grill top is a grid so small things won’t fall through, and when you’re done cooking it turns into a fire pit. There is an add-on cast iron coal bed ($26) that holds charcoal, but I don’t see it as necessary .
The Weber Smokey Joe is a staple at park cookouts and on camping trips and that’s for good reason. Youwillneed a proper hitch to attach it, however, and I’d suggest taking a short test drive to ensure it’s properly installed. And worth noting you’ll also want two small propane tanks to get the whole grill lit. There’s also an adapter sold separately to rig it up to a full-sized tank if you prefer.