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 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. Similar to other gas grills, the Coleman uses 16-ounce propane tanks. After preheating the grill, the Coleman registered temps approaching 600 degrees Fahrenheit on the surface despite having one of the largest cooking surfaces of any portable grill we tested. Coleman uses three burners, including a central circular burner that’s accompanied by two C-shaped burners on either side.
The Jumbo Joe’s wide base gives it a stable, sturdy feel even when cooking on an uneven lawn. Many gas-powered grills feature an electronic push-button ignition to fire up the fuel source quickly. This convenient weber charcoal grill feature can send a near-constant spark until the grill lights, unlike striker-style ignitions that take repeated pressing. I can easily cook up to 6 steaks while not taking up my entire patio.
A portable grill should be light and compact while also offering enough cooking surface to handle meals for your family. The Jumbo Joe boasts some 240 square inches of cooking space, and it feels that large. We could easily have loaded a dozen patties onto its cooking surface and still had enough buffer between them to allow for flipping. To set it up, all we needed to do was unfold the weber q legs and attach a standard 20-gallon propane tank or 16-ounce canister to its gas line. This makes the Pit Boss Grills more versatile than other portable grills, which are typically limited to a canister. Portable grills pack the basic functionalities of their standard counterparts into a more compact design, but reduced size and price tag don’t necessarily indicate reduced quality.
Make sure that the grill is set on a level surface that offers the right amount of balance. Some grills, like the Coleman, come with fold-able legs that keep it steady. Full sized grilling capabilities in a portable package – cook anything from roasts to burgers. Despite these issues, the Cuisinart produced flavorful food and is a great budget-priced option for those looking for a super-light grill to tote to a park or stadium parking lot.
Portable grills cost anywhere from $50 for a simple Weber charcoal grill all the way up to $500 or more for fancier gas and propane grills with bells and whistles galore. My favorite portable grill, the Weber Q-1200, sits at about $259 but you can find it for less on sale. Most sturdy small grills should last you several years to a decade if the unit is cleaned, covered and cared for properly.