The KettlePizza add-on kit ($200) is fun, but way more expensive than the grill itself; there’s a cheaper basic version, but it’s currently out of stock. Single-use grills exist, and while they may not be the most practical option for everyday use, if you have one long hike planned and want to do some grilling, this is a good option. The Casus grill can only be used once, of course, but it actually gets fairly hot in about five minutes and stays lit for over an hour. It also has enough space to cook three or four burgers, sausages, dogs, veggies or chicken. Weber still makes our favorite portable grill overall but with so many new models on the market, I wanted to test a few of the other players in the small grill game. Turns out there are some that may be a slightly better fit depending on your grilling goals, including a few that are ultraportable.
None of our choices are poor options and all can facilitate memorable dining experiences. We are proud of the work we’ve done to hash out all the options and honored to be a small part of your transient culinary journey. The Cuisinart All Foods Roll-Away scored the lowest in wind resistance. We grew frustrated at the number weber genesis 2 of times we had to re-light this model in high winds. The Weber Q 1200 comes with a disposable aluminum drip tray insert that you can place in the more permanent drip tray. This is nice for aiding with cleanup, but it’s not very wind-resistant, so it usually ended up on the ground after flying away in windy conditions.
Get excited for the big game with the Coleman RoadTrip Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill. This model has a number of features that make it ideal for tailgating, such as its quick-fold legs, rugged wheels, and swappable cooktops. It has a large grilling area of 285 square inches, and it delivers up to 20,000 BTUs when connected to a 16.4-ounce propane cylinder .
Try to get one with a cover for the best temperature control and to prevent burning thicker meats. Try to get enough surface area so you can set up for 2-zone cooking. On the flip side, we didn’t love the lid, which was heavy and felt like it was going to fall off if we didn’t open it carefully enough. The bottom vents were also really hard to access and hot coals fell out if you opened them during the cooking process. The grill also lacks an ash bucket; it does have two ash catches, but they were impossible to clean out without making a mess on my driveway. Unfortunately, while you can arrange the coals inside of it for indirect heat cooking, the Solo Stove’s lack of vents means that you can only use the grill at one temperature.
That’s big enough to handle burgers and veggies for our family of five. Like the Takibi, the Kamoto doubles as a fire pit when you’re done cooking, which is handy for campsites where ground fires aren’t allowed . It’s also considerably cheaper than the Takibi, though not nearly as well made. While slow-cooking on the Takibi would be challenging, you portable bbq can at least adjust the grill height to control temperature. It is designed to let heat out the sides, as well as up to the cooking surface, so it’s slightly less efficient than a covered grill, but this is only really a factor when cooking large cuts of meat . I wanted to love this model because the concept is great but it does have some flaws.
We like the spacious dome lid, because it has 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. This Weber model’s long handles make this 30-pound grill comfortable for one person to carry, too. And Weber backs this model with a warranty that covers most parts on the grill for five years.
While it doesn’t come equipped with any handles to help move it from place to place, the AS3000 folds down into a compact enough package to carry from one space to another, when it’s cool. Although the Weber Smokey Joe did a fantastic job of grilling our food, it lacked a few features that would have bumped it up in our rankings. You can get a premium version that has a lid lock, but the basic version provides no way of carrying the grill. That means when it’s full of hot coals, it stays where it lies until it cools down.
Grease will be hot during cooking and after cooking and will cause serious burns if spilled. This product is built to United States electrical standards and is intended for use in the United States and Canada only. Converts from electric for indoor use to charcoal for outdoor use.
Dial thermometers are often off by as much as 50°F so if you are not using a good digital thermometer we probably can’t help you with time and temp questions. Get twice-weekly reviews, advice, deals, and how-to guides from the experts. Lindsay D. Mattison weber genesis 2 is a professional chef, food writer, and amateur gardener. She is currently writing a cookbook that aims to teach home cooks how to write without a recipe. Weber’s Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill is almost as functional as their full-sized models.
While we liked the idea of its pull-out drawer to add coals, the door stuck badly and was frustrating to use. And because the drawer’s grates ran vertically, it was difficult to rake the coals from side to side to create an indirect heat pattern. The grill itself was easy to clean and sturdy as we used it, but it was difficult to see inside the grill and the rounded lid design funneled the smoke straight into your face. Add in the fact that the carrying handles got extremely hot as you used it and it was a touch on the heavy side at 30 pounds, and this one fell to the bottom of our list. This portable grill has foldable legs and only weighs 17 pounds, making it easy to carry around but also simple to prop up for grilling. The spacious cooking surface is designed to be large enough to prepare food for four to six people, so you everyone can eat at the same time.