When closed, this portable grill is easy to carry one-handed thanks to a soft, grippable handle. When opened it has 212 square inches of cooking space—that’s enough for a whole chicken with room to spare, a rack of ribs, or close to a dozen turkey burgers. And the weber q design of the grill surface—made of small hexagons instead of slim bars—is incredibly effective at keeping food from sliding down into the coals. Flipping and turning food on the Nomad was easier than on some grills I’ve used that had twice the space to maneuver.
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.
This design allowed us to create three possible heat zones, which is impossible to do on most other portable grills. This capability allowed us to grill a burger at sear temperatures on one side while cooking our chicken and vegetable kabobs at a lower temperature on the other side. The Coleman roasted well weber charcoal grill with the lid closed, although we found the lid’s latch a bit hard to operate. Portable gas grills that work with natural gas operate similarly to propane units, but the gas nozzles that control the fuel are different. They’re efficient, easy to light, and controlling the temperature is almost intuitive.
The stainless-steel grill weighs two pounds, sets up in 30 seconds or less and is dishwasher safe. Remove the grilling grate to transform the portable grill into a fire pit in a snap and when the flames die down, throw it in the stylish carrying case to keep your backpack clean between meals. When shopping for a portable, the same rules apply as when you are shopping for other grills. You need to consider price, temperature control, ease of cleanup, ability to smoke foods, high heat, durability, safety, and, of course, size and weight.
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.
We enjoyed the ease of setup, and once we were familiar with the grill, we could open it up in seconds. Travel bag included to ensure cleanliness and make transport and storage EASY. STURDY & THICK premium carbon steel, heat resistant up to 600 ̊ C (1112 ̊F). If you have questions related to barbecue or grilling, please post them to the comments section at the bottom of any page. If you have business or tecnical issues, please contact us with this email form. Is the first propane smoker with a thermostat, making this baby foolproof.
Many of the best portable gas grills make adjusting the temperature incredibly easy with dials that clearly indicate low, medium, and high temperatures. For pellet-fueled grills, temperature adjustment is related to the speed at which pellets are fed into the grill. For charcoal-style grills, control amounts to how much charcoal is burning.
We like the spacious dome lid with a built-in thermometer that lets you know when it’s hot and ready to grill. The small fold-out side tables are convenient for keeping grill tools within reach. And its roomy handles make this 30-pound grill comfortable for one person to carry, too.
Becoming familiar with these aspects will help shoppers make a smart decision. Shop this large selection of outdoor grills at DICK’S Sporting Goods and discover the perfect design for your needs. Are you looking for that premium backyard grill that can get super hot to perfectly sear steaks? Or do you want to go low and slow for your signature 14-hour pulled pork?