This is a woodfire grill, and you can actually use found twigs and branches to get the fire going, as long as you know what you’re burning is food safe. It can also be used to cook using a cast iron skillet, or to brew a pot of your favorite campsite coffee in a fire-safe kettle. I’ve scoured the web to find the best portable grills for every situation. So, pack up the cooler with burgers and hot dogs and get ready to grill all summer long.
We prefer 1-pound liquid-propane tanks because they’re small and lightweight enough to stash in a backpack or tote bag. In spring 2017, Tim and Wirecutter writers Lesley Stockton and Michael Sullivan spent over 40 hours testing full-size gas and charcoal grills, as well asgrill accessories. With all this knowledge in hand, Lesley and Tim spent 16 hours, over the course of two days, testing nine portable grills. The Napoleon TravelQ is perhaps the best portable propane grill out there.
From lightweight grills that are ideal for camping to larger models perfect for a tailgate, we list our picks for the best portable grills to help you decide. The Big Green Egg is a Kamado-style portable bbq cooker (Kamado is a Japanese word that roughly means “stove”), which makes it much more than a grill. The ceramic construction retains heat and turns it into a portable oven as well.
The grill produces up to 20,000 BTU per hour, and you can buy interchangeable cooktops that allow you to swap out the grill grates for griddles or stove grates. For on-the-go barbecues, the Weber Q is the best portable grill. It gives the same great, even cooking without flareups that you get from full-size Weber grills. For fuel, it uses a one-pound propane cylinder, which weber charcoal grill will let you cook for a couple hours — that’s more than enough time for several rounds of burgers, just-caught trout or even chicken. Though, this wouldn’t be enough time for smoking a turkey breast or pork butt, unless you want to bring along a second tank to connect while cooking. On the porcelain enameled cast iron grates, there’s enough room for about six hamburgers.
Use extreme caution when handling or removing the grease drip tray. Grease will be hot during cooking and after cooking and will cause serious burns if spilled. Residue left on the grill surfaces will cause excessive amounts of smoke or may cause fire if portable bbq not properly cleaned. Converts from electric for indoor use to charcoal for outdoor use. We spent over 85 hours researching and testing—and selected our favorite tools and gadgets from past guides—to bring you the best gear for picnics and cookouts.