“This thing could be priced even higher and I would buy it,” a tester noted, although at under $300, it’s attractively priced as-is. Portable gas grills Expert Grill Combo Grills will always be fueled by a portable propane gas hookup. Propane will need to be procured separately at your favorite home improvement or outdoor store.
I also took into account ease of assembly and how sturdy a grill felt once it was assembled (for those that required assembly). I also dug through verified purchase reviews to determine if any had any consistent or glaring wear-and-tear issues to be concerned about. Surely you’ve seen — and possibly owned — one of these little guys in the past. The Weber Smokey Joe is a staple at park cookouts and on camping trips and that’s for good reason. Grill all the good stuff, no matter where this summer takes you, with a high-performance portable grill. All that now stands between you and mobile grilling is your final choice and a big pile of grillable grub.
But at least there’s a barrier to keep hot embers from falling on the grass or your deck. Be sure to clean your grill thoroughly to keep it working as long as possible. If you use the grill only occasionally, you may need to wipe down the burner tubes to make sure they light effectively. First, the setup was challenging as the legs were difficult to install properly. Next, the heat distribution was very uneven, where a uniform layer of coals still resulted in a hot spot in the center. My gear expertise stems from 6 years of gear reviews for Backpacker Magazine, 8 years of guiding, years of camping adventures, and a plethora of gear-head friends.
In our tests, it produced “nice golden-brown” steak with “defined grill marks” and a “good crust.” During one test, even a delicate fish filet did not stick to the grates. But if you’re not likely to grill frequently, a portable grill is a fine option. For one, it can be broken down or tucked away in storage (and it should be when not in use, to minimize weather-induced corrosion). Portable gas grills are also usually easier and more intuitive to set up, use, and keep clean, so they’re great for beginners, or anyone who doesn’t want to invest too much effort into cooking a few burgers.
Without worrying about food falling through the slats of a grill, your options open up; you can stirfry and hibachi in the woods or griddle up veggie burgers and fry up eggs in the morning. If your desired grill doesn’t Grills Portable Grills already come with a griddle option, you could opt for an additional griddle plate (like this option for round grills or this rectangular option). However, griddles aren’t always the best option for portability’s sake.