We also update our tests as needed to ensure they’re still relevant and we’re keeping up with the trends and latest innovations. For a great portable grill that won’t break your budget, the Weber Go-Anywhere Gas Grill should be at the top of your list. This affordable grill comes from one of the most well-known brands in grilling, and it has all the features you need to cook up delicious meals on the go. It features 160 square inches of cooking space over one stainless steel burner, and it kicks off 6,500 BTUs per hour.
(I was able to get up to 592 degrees off a digital thermometer.) There’s very little smoke, though I do suggest using it in a well-ventilated area if you’re indoors. I grilled everything from pork chops to asparagus and was quite happy with the results. If you want to expand the City Grill’s weber q capabilities, you can buy a flat top surface for $135 that you can use to cook up a pancake breakfast. You get a lot of convenient features with this portable grill — there are two side tables to rest your spatula and beverage of choice, and, just like the stand, they fold up for traveling.
Even though the Weber Q 1200 neatly folds up (albeit into a not-so-compact package), the lack of a lid latch is perhaps more annoying than anything when considering the portability of this grill. Lining up grills side-by-side to test the backyard ultra-classics, hamburgers and portabella-burgers. The electronic ignition system ensures fast and reliable start-ups with just the push of a button, so that you can begin grilling right away. The grill comes with a comfortable carrying strap that allows you to conveniently tote it with you anywhere you go, whether it’s via car, bike, train, boat, or even skateboard.
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 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.
If you can’t shut the lid, it will take significantly longer, but the water will eventually reach its boiling point. This grill delivers cooking power up to 20,000 BTU, and it has a pressure-regulator for consistent performance, even in extreme conditions. It also has built-in wind panels to keep your flame going portable bbq on blustery days. What makes this grill special is that the telescoping VersaStand holds the grill at ideal cooking height, yet shrinks down for easy transport and storage. Our tester did find the grill was a bit wobbly at its full height, but it put great sear marks on a variety of food with minimal sticking.
The Weber Q 2200 Gas Grill offers the same high-quality build and stellar grilling performance as our top pick, the Weber Q 1200, but with a 48% bigger grilling grate and 41% higher Btu output. However, this 40-pound portable grill isn’t lightweight by any stretch of the imagination. And, you can rely on it to preheat quickly and cook evenly, so you won’t need to move all those patties around to have them all ready and weber q nicely browned at the same time. Just like larger grills, these models are powered by either gas or charcoal. In addition to the weight of the grill, you should also factor in the weight of a bag of charcoal or a tank of charcoal to take with you. Portable gas grills work will small, one-pound propane tanks that provide enough fuel for about two hours; some can be used with a hose adapter to connect to a larger tank.
The non-stick coated surfaces should be cleaned carefully with a wet towel. See the included instruction manual for more details about cleaning. Protect, connect, and griddle with these popular accessories for the nomadiQ Grill. The base of the nomadiQ cleverly doubles as a locking mechanism. While resting the grill on a flat surface, rotate the foot clockwise from the side to open the base and unlock the grill from the base. Charcoal can also be started using a chimney or electric charcoal starter.
Bahr owns a Q1000 that he came to almost by accident, receiving it from his mother, who won it as a prize. The variety of portable grills on the market may seem daunting, but we’ve enlisted the help of three experts in the field to help you find the right grill for your needs. Cory Bahr is the chef and owner of Parish restaurant in Monroe, Louisiana, a finalist on The Next Food Network Star, and a Food & Wine Best New Chef. Jake Wood is the owner and pitmaster of Lawrence BBQ in Durham, North Carolina. Finally, Tank Jackson is the pitmaster and hog farmer of Holy City Hogs in Charleston, South Carolina. We paired their input with combing retail and review sites to research the best portable grills, dubbing the Weber Q1200 the winner.