Combustion produces odorless carbon monoxide, which can kill in minutes without warning. 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. The 240-square-inch grilling grate can accommodate up to seven 6-ounce burger patties at a time. The propane coupling juts out the side, and attaching 1-pound liquid-propane canisters is easy.
The 31-pound Weber Q 1200 is still surprisingly portable due to its useful handles. Special mention should be given to the fact that it can be purchased as a tabletop model or can easily be integrated into a separate wheelable, folding stand for enhanced parking lot convenience. Single-burner options, like the Cuisinart Grillster, often don’t afford the same amount of control over temperature zones as other multi-burner grills. On the charcoal side, insulation plays a much more important role in output power and efficiency.
Everything but the grill grate on the GoBQ is made of flame-retardant fabric, and the whole thing weighs nine pounds and packs easily into something about the size of a knife roll. Great quality product, I’ve been cooking on it ever since we got it. If you have the space for something bigger, check out our guide to full-size portable bbq charcoal grills. For more backyard-grilling options, check out our guide to full-size gas grills. In general, a charcoal grill and bags of briquets cost less than a gas grill and propane canisters. If you have enough space for a full-size grill, you’ll probably be happier with one of our full-size gas or charcoal picks.
The wood pellet grill can get up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, and in addition to its main grilling area, it also has a removable upper rack. You can control the grill via its digital dial, and while the model is compact, keep in mind it weighs a substantial 42 pounds. Among the charcoal models, the Weber Go-Anywhere scores top marks for control. Thanks to a relatively deep basin, we were able to build and stoke a substantial volume of coals to achieve the exact heat we desired.
The Cuisinart CCG-100 GrateLifter Charcoal Grill has a convertible cooking grate that lifts when you open the lid for easier access to the coal bed. Levers on the sides of the grill adjust to keep the grate in the up or down position. During our tests, one side of the grate would get stuck in a different position than the other about a third of the time, forcing us to wrestle with hot metal. While the grill is hot, scrape the debris and stuck-on food from the hot grates with a wire grill brush. We prefer to do this when the grill is preheating and the embers are their hottest. Wipe the grates with a wet rag to remove the soot, and then brush them with vegetable oil.
Flattop grills operate like traditional portable gas grills without lids, but their stainless steel tops act like griddles. They don’t provide the flame-kissed flavor of a charcoal grill, but temperature adjustments are pinpoint. It’s even possible to use some electric grills indoors, but of course they need to be plugged into an outlet, weber genesis 2 generator, or vehicle’s 12V outlet. Those who host frequent backyard cookouts tend to have firm opinions about what kind of grill keeps mouths watering. Picking the right portable grill to satisfy taste buds on the go—like for a camping trip or in a parking lot before the big game—means considering the same variables and then some.
Charcoal grills’ simple construction is what makes them budget friendly. Think of portable gas grills as small, outdoor, propane-powered ovens. The push-button ignition and the temperature-control dial should be easily accessible and clearly marked so you can quickly start the grill and adjust the heat without fumbling.